st. andrew’s united church “experience is the name we give our mistakes.” march 1, 2015 oscar...

St. Andrew’s United Church“Experience is the name we give our mistakes.”

March 1, 2015

Oscar Wilde

Opening our Doors

Prelude Doug BothwellWelcome & Announcements- UCW Mitten Drive: See Judy Prophet- World Day of Prayer: March 6th* Sharing a Word of Peace* Hymn "It's a Song of Praise…” (More Voices #30 & Screen)

“Experience is

the name we give our mistakes

.”Oscar Wilde

It’s a song of praise to the Maker, the thrush sings high in the tree. It’s a song of praise to the maker, the gray whale sings in the sea.

And by the Spirit you and I can join our voice in the holy cry and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

It’s a call of life to the Giver when waves and waterfalls roar. It’s a call of life to the Giver when high tides break on the shore.


“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the bumblebees hum along. It’s a hymn of love to the Lover; the summer breeze joins the song.


“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

It’s a chorus of all creation; it’s sung by all living things. It’s the chorus of all creation; a song the universe sings.


“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

* Invitation to WorshipOne: Mother Earth, our Mother

birthing ev'ry creature from the ground. Jesus, too, was flesh and breathing; kin to all that's green and brown.

ALL: Celebrate with all creation: God has formed the web of life; celebrate with all creation: God has formed the web of life.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

One: Sister Air, our Sister lifting ev'ry creature born with wings; Jesus shared the breath of forests, breath that makes our spirits sing.


“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

One: Brother Water, Brother pulsing deep through ev'ry vein and sea, Jesus drank the very raindrops for our wine and in our tea.


“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

One: Father Fire, our Father burning with the sacred urge to live. Jesus' death completes the cycle, bringing life beyond the grave.


- Words: Norman Habel (1999)

Opening our Hearts

Prayers for Peace & Candle LightingSilent Prayer & Lord's Prayer Presentation of Tithes & OfferingsOffertory Doug Bothwell* Song "God of Love" Screen (sung to the tune of "Edelweiss")

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

God of love, hear our prayer, bless this offering we bring you. May our lives do your will, guide and guard us forever. Give us courage to stand for truth, help us care for others. God of love, hear our prayer, bless this offering we bring you. * Prayer of Dedication

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

* Hymn “Dear Mother God” (Voices United #270 & Screen)Dear Mother God, your wings are

warm around us, we are enfolded in your love and care;

safe in the dark, your heartbeat’s pulse surrounds us, you call to us, for you are always there.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

You call to us, for we are in your image. We wait on you, the nest is cold and bare;

high overhead your wing beats call us onward. Filled with your power, we ride the empty air.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

Let not our freedom scorn the needs of others- we climb the clouds until our strong heart sings;

may we enfold our sisters and our brothers, till all are strong, till all have eagles’ wings.

Opening our Minds

Children's Message Rev. JamesAncient Wisdom: Genesis 17:1-7; 15-16Song "Each Blade of Grass" (More Voices #37 & Screen)Contemporary Wisdom: “Life Is_____”Message Rev. James

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

Each blade of grass, every wing that soars, the waves that sweep across a distant shore, make full the circle of God.

Each laughing child, every gentle eye, a forest lit beneath a moon-bright sky, make full the circle of God.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

Each silent paw, every rounded stone, the buzz that echoes from a honey’d comb, make full the circle of God.

Each fire-brimmed star, every outstretched hand, the wind that leaps and sails across the land, make full the circle of God.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

Each icy peak, every patterned shell, the joyous chorus that the dawn foretells, make full the circle of God.

Each cosmic hue, every creature’s way, all form the beauty of this vast array, making full the circle of God.

Opening our Minds

Children's Message Rev. JamesAncient Wisdom: Genesis 17:1-7; 15-16Song "Each Blade of Grass" (More Voices #37 & Screen)Contemporary Wisdom: “Life Is_____”Message Rev. James

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

* Hymn “I Come with Joy” (1-4) (Voices United #477 & Screen)I come with joy, a child of God,

forgiven, loved and free, the life of Jesus to recall in love, laid down for me, in love laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread, in Christ’s communion bread.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends. The love that bade us, makes us one, and strangers now are friends, and strangers now are friends.

The Spirit of the risen Christ, unseen, but ever near, is in such friendship better known, alive among us here, alive among us here.

Opening our Minds

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION• Congregational Prayer "God Is the One Whom We Seek Together" God is the One whom we seek together,

God is the Life which is part of us all; God is the Truth and the maker of mystery, God is the Love and the Joy that makes us whole.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

* Hymn. “All Things Bright….” (Voices United #291 & Screen)All things bright and beautiful, all

creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: in love, God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colours, God made their tiny wings.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: in love, God made them all.

The purple headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde


The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruit in the garden: God made them every one.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde


The rocky mountain splendour, the lone wolf’s haunting call, the great lakes and the prairies, the forest in the fall.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde


God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how Great is God our maker, who has made all things well.

“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde


“Experience is


.”Oscar Wilde

* Benediction* SongLet me, God, be open, let me

loving be; let your world of people speak to me.

Praise to you be given, love for you be lived, life be celebrated, joy you give.

* Postlude Doug Bothwell

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!“Experience is the name we give our mistakes.”

Oscar Wilde

st. andrew’s united church “experience is the name we give our mistakes.” march 1, 2015 oscar...

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