Gloria Dei Vivens Homo – the Glory of God is Humans Who are

Fully Alive

Fully Human.

St. Irenaeus, second century Bishop of Lyons

artwork ‘Many Voices, One Vision’ ~ Jane Evershed

2

WELCOME TO PICTOU UNITED CHURCHWELCOME TO PICTOU UNITED CHURCH Rev. MaryRev. Mary--Beth Moriarity B.A., B.Th., M.Div.Beth Moriarity B.A., B.Th., M.Div.

David & Shelley Pos: Ministry of MusicDavid & Shelley Pos: Ministry of Music www.pictouunited.com

April 8th, 2018 First Sunday after Easter

Easter is about God saying “yes” to Jesus and what he was passionate about,Easter is about God saying “yes” to Jesus and what he was passionate about,

and what Jesus was passionate about was God and the kingdom of God.and what Jesus was passionate about was God and the kingdom of God. God was the central reality of his life God was the central reality of his life

and the kingdom of God was the center of his message.and the kingdom of God was the center of his message. The kingdom of God was not about heaven, not about life after death,The kingdom of God was not about heaven, not about life after death,

but about the transformation of life on earth….but about the transformation of life on earth…. The kingdom of God on earth was about God’s passion The kingdom of God on earth was about God’s passion –– and Jesus’s passion and Jesus’s passion ––

for the transformation of “this world”:for the transformation of “this world”:

the humanly created world of injustice and violence the humanly created world of injustice and violence into a world of justice and nonviolence.into a world of justice and nonviolence.

That’s why the powers that ruled the world of Jesus killed him.That’s why the powers that ruled the world of Jesus killed him. In this context, Easter is about God’s “yes” to Jesus and God’s “no” In this context, Easter is about God’s “yes” to Jesus and God’s “no”

to the powers that killed him. to the powers that killed him. That is the central meaning of Easter.That is the central meaning of Easter.

God has said “yes” to Jesus and what he was about.God has said “yes” to Jesus and what he was about. It’s not over. He’s still here, still loose in the world, It’s not over. He’s still here, still loose in the world,

a figure of the present, continuing to recruit for the kingdom of God.a figure of the present, continuing to recruit for the kingdom of God. Marcus Borg

New Testament Scholar & Theologian

We Gather in CommunityWe Gather in Community

As the music begins, we are invited to prepare ourselves for worship.

Music to Gather Us

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Words - Moment to Pause

I wonder how will we know when joy is here. The dictionary defines “joy” as a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. But Easter Joy is more than a feeling. Easter Joy is more than happiness.

Joy is a gift of grace. Joy invites us to refuse to allow our lives to be ruled by fear.

Joy shifts death and dying, obstacles and endings, into creative new possibilities.

Joy strengthens us to ‘keep on keeping on’ even in the midst of hurts and grief,

and anger and pain. Easter Joy is so much more than a feeling;

3

it is the gift of the One who is Easter. Like any gift, Easter Joy is ours to accept and unwrap.

No conditions. No exceptions. So, how will we know that Joy is here?

We’ll know. We’ll know!

adapted from a meditation by Janice MacLean in Festival & Sabbath Spring 2018

As the Worship Candle Is Lit, We Sing

Joy comes with the dawn; joy comes with the morning sun;

joy springs from the tomb and scatters the night with her song,

joy comes with the dawn. Voices United 166

We Gather Together

One: May our time together renew our hope. ALL: May the stories we hear speak a wisdom for our living. One: May the time we share refresh our courage. ALL: May the songs we sing lift our spirits. One: May the words we speak invigorate us. ALL: May this gathering of community renew us, inspire us,

transform us and empower us.

Hymn Creator God You Gave Us Life More Voices 27

We are Gathered in Prayer in unison

“Great Doubt: great awakening. Little Doubt: little awakening. No Doubt: no awakening”

An ancient Zen saying

Life-giving God, awaken our spirits that we may become aware of your presence – here; now.

Unclench our hands that we may reach out with compassion.

Open our mouths that we may drink in the delight of this day.

Unclog our ears that we may hear your agony in our inhumanity.

Clear our eyes that we may see the living Christ in one another. For we long to be your Easter people, living, proclaiming, your promise of new life and love with all of our being…

4

Spirit of Life, come unto me. Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.

Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.

Roots hold me close; wings set me free; Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

Voices United 381

Moment for All

Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord!

Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah!

Praise ye the Lord!

We Open Ourselves to WisdomWe Open Ourselves to Wisdom

Your words, O God, give everlasting life, richer than gold, whispers in my heart.

Your words, O God give life.

from ‘Your Words, O God’ – Michael Mangan Seasons of the Spirit Songbook Vol 7

Responsive Psalm Psalm 118: 19-29 Carpe Diem - Seize the Day! a modern adaptation – James Taylor in Everyday Psalms

Show us our doors, God,

so that we can step through them into new tomorrows. Show us our opportunities, so that we can seize them!

God gives us many doors;

we hold back instead of knocking boldly.

Knock, and the doors will be opened.

Seek, and we will find the opportunities God offers us. Even a quivering coward can conquer new worlds.

With God, we can fling our fears aside;

we can dance through every day.

Show us our doors, God;

help us to recognize our opportunities.

Open the door.

Happiness is yours in God's company.

Those who live as God's companions welcome you.

You will be surrounded by a swirl of light,

and pulled into the very pulse of God.

You, God, you are my only God.

There is no other like you;

I want nothing more than to be with you.

5

I will open your door;

I will live in the light of your love forever.

Hymn Seek Ye First the Kingdom verses 1 & 2 Voices United 356

Gospel Story John 21: 15-17-; 19a ‘Follow Me’ p. 1090 as translated in ‘The Story’

Hymn Walk with Me refrain, verse 4, refrain Voices United 649

Reflections ‘Walking the Walk’

Moment for Reflection

We Respond and Move into the WorldWe Respond and Move into the World

We Prepare to Offer our Gifts ~ Offertory ~ Prayer

Reamo leboga, reamo leboga, reamo leboga, modimo was rona.

We give our thanks to God, we give our thanks to God, we give our thanks to God, we give our thanks to God.

traditional song from Botswana ~ More Voices 187

Ministry of Music ‘God Is’ accompanied by Angela Campbell on flute

We Go into the World

One: To live in the present moment is a miracle. The miracle is not to walk on water.

ALL: The miracle is to walk on the green Earth in the present moment, to appreciate the peace and beauty that are available now.

One: Peace is all around us - in the world and in nature and within us - in our bodies and our spirits.

Once we learn to touch this peace, we will be healed and transformed.

It is not a matter of faith; ALL: It is a matter of practice. from the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh

We Go Out Singing Go, Make a Difference More Voices 209

Music to Send Us Out into the World

Unless you live as if the world you imagine exists,

the world you imagine will never exist. Alice Walker; author

6

This week's bulletin is dedicated in loving memory of son, Willie,This week's bulletin is dedicated in loving memory of son, Willie,This week's bulletin is dedicated in loving memory of son, Willie,This week's bulletin is dedicated in loving memory of son, Willie, by Beth MacDonald.by Beth MacDonald.by Beth MacDonald.by Beth MacDonald.

A place of welcome… A place of learning… A place of exploring… A place of laughter… A place of prayer… A holy place…

A people of faith making a difference in our community and our world.

WELCOME

Greeting the congregation are Robert & Carol Morris.

Our Steward today is Bruce Wallis.

Our Ambassador today is David Steele.

♫ Thank You Angela for your gifts of music. Visit pictouunited.com & united-church.ca

THIS WEEK AT PUC | O����� 902 485-8081 TUE. 8:30 ��-12:30 ��, M"#/W�%/T&'() 4-6 +� & S'#%�- +(�"( ." & �"//"0�#1 0"()&�+.

B'//�.�# )'3��))�"# %��%/�#� = W�%#�)%�- @ 5 +�

TODAY following worship

3:00pm

Coffee Hour hosted by our Pastoral Care & Outreach Committee

Finance & Stewardship Committee Meeting

‘Spring Into Jazz” ♫ An Afternoon of Jazz with Cecely & Friends

Tuesday, April 10 7:00 pm ♫ Choir practice. All Welcome! ♫

Wed. April 11 8:30 am

10:45 am

1:00 pm

1:00 pm

2:30 pm

7:00 pm

PU Healthy Lifers

Grab & Go Lunch Program Prayer Shawl Ministry

Worship Committee Meeting

Ways & Means Committee Meeting Pastoral Care & Outreach Committee Meeting

Friday, April 12 9:30 am Friday FunDay

Next Sunday 10:30 am We Gather in Worship ‘Day is Done’

Celebrating the Spirituality of Camping

REMEMBER! FUNDSCRIP REMEMBER! FUNDSCRIP REMEMBER! FUNDSCRIP REMEMBER! FUNDSCRIP order pickorder pickorder pickorder pick----up is today! up is today! up is today! up is today!

As well as the PickAs well as the PickAs well as the PickAs well as the Pick----Up of Your Midwinter Take Out Lunch Order Up of Your Midwinter Take Out Lunch Order Up of Your Midwinter Take Out Lunch Order Up of Your Midwinter Take Out Lunch Order

Please Join Together for Coffee Hour Following WorshipPlease Join Together for Coffee Hour Following WorshipPlease Join Together for Coffee Hour Following WorshipPlease Join Together for Coffee Hour Following Worship this month hosted by our Pastoral Care & Outreach Committee.

7

From time to time we pause in worship to hear the stories of those peo‐ple and organizations within our community who are making a differ‐

ence as they live out their faith. Today we welcome Christine MacKenzie. Born in Chatham, Ontario, her family moved to Pictou when she was in elemen‐tary school and she was raised as a Christian in Pictou. She earned a degree in Computer Science from Acadia University and then moved away to Ottawa to work as part of a globally distributed team of system engineers who have been through many corporate transitions together, starting in Bell Northern Research, then Nortel, then Computer Sciences Corporation. A few years after starting her own family, she moved back to Pictou County, where she continues to work as part of the same team, from her home as an I.T. Advisor for DXC Technology. Christine is a wife, a mother of three children, a member of Lyons Brook United Church, a very active community volunteer, and someone who experiences chal‐lenges with mental disorders daily. As Christine shares with us her living faith, she also invites each of us to “Walk the Walk for Autism” by joining her “Virtues in Action” team or making a donation to Autism Pictou County.

http://walkthewalkforautism.ca/team/378

You may also wish to check out her Facebook page and her personal blog http://isitaspergerssyn.blogspot.ca/

as she continues her passionate interest in helping people experiencing mental disorders.

W��� ��� W��� � A����

www.walkthewalkforau�sm.ca

Saturday, June 16th, 2018

GR Saunders Elementary School- Stellarton

9:30 am - Registra�on & Sign In, 11 am - 1 km walk

11:30 -2 pm - Carnival Games ~ Silent Auc�on ~ BBQ

A Whole Family & Community Event

THANK YOU for your donations to our

“Grab & Go Pantry” Outreach Project.

Remember every Wednesday we continue to meet the food needs of

PA Students through our “Grab & Go” Lunch Program.

If you are interested and wish to volunteer or just want more Info

please contact Mary MacCallum at 902 396-6294.

Win a Hand Made Bath K� Basket!

Tickets $2 each or 3 for $5 Available from the Hutch. Proceeds in support of our Grab & Go Pantry Project!

8

FINANCIAL UPDATE: Last week’s attendance: 122. Offering was $1,989.92 (includes PAR & fundraisers).

Budget for the week was $2,781.73.

Tapestry ... A Gathering of WomenTapestry ... A Gathering of WomenTapestry ... A Gathering of WomenTapestry ... A Gathering of Women Faith ~ Friendship ~ Fun,

Mark Your Calendar - Monday, April 16th @ 7 pm. Joins Us as We Gather Together for an

Informative Evening with Dr. Amy Punke.

Amy, a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, will share with us information about caring for our Immune systems.

ALL INVITED ~ BRING A FRIEND!

“Spring Into Jazz”

This afternoon at 3 pm Join us for an afternoon of jazz music with Cecely Gilby

accompanied by David Pos & friends. Admission is pay what you can with all funds raised in support of Jeana’s Girls. Hope to see you there.

You may now donate your cash recyclables to Pictou United at John’s Recycling, Depot St. Pictou.

Just mention you want the donation to go to PUC and they will add it to our fund. Thank you.

Mark Your Calendars!Mark Your Calendars!Mark Your Calendars!Mark Your Calendars! On Sunday, April 29On Sunday, April 29On Sunday, April 29On Sunday, April 29

thththth our Worship will be grounded our Worship will be grounded our Worship will be grounded our Worship will be grounded in the Life and Music of Glen Travis Campbell.in the Life and Music of Glen Travis Campbell.in the Life and Music of Glen Travis Campbell.in the Life and Music of Glen Travis Campbell.

S����� L�� �� L����, Lyon's Brook Hall Friday, April 13th at noon. Guest speaker is Heather DeVouge, who shares ideas on making your home an efficient and functional living

space. Free will donation. All welcome! To help plan, please reg‐

ister with Lynn 902 485‐8358 or Eleanor 902 485‐9284.

E%&'()*+, -./ F0-0'/: Tuesday, May 1st, 10:30 – 1:30, Bren‐da MacKinnon of Community Links & Aging Well Coalition & Mary MacLellan of Seniors’ Outreach present a Lunch and

Learn program at Pictou United. The focus will be upon aging in

place through community engagement and enhancement of

personal security. To facilitate planning, please register by Tues‐day, April 24th by calling 902 485‐8081.

Prayer Shawl Ministry: As a reminder of God’s love, and the love of those who surround you, please help yourself to the embrace of a prayer shawl (draped over a back pew) during worship and let Mary-Beth know of anyone you feel should be gifted with a shawl to bring healing and wholeness, comfort and celebration.