This Week - at Nelson United Church

Today is

 

Sunday, February 5 – The Season of Epiphany and Light
                                   Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

   In Worship, we use MV (More Voices) and VU (Voices United)

           WE GATHER IN THE LIGHT OF GOD

             9:45 a.m. – Congregational singing

           10:00 a.m. – Worship

The flowers today are in loving memory of
Robert and William Reid
from the Stacey Family
and
in loving memory of my mother, Dee Braffet,
from Robin Murray
and
are in honour of all people with dementia, their families and supporters, from Linda Hoskin.

   WELCOME and THE LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY

   PRELUDE: "The Heavenly Table" by James Southbridge

   CANDLE LIGHTING / PRESENTATION OF THE BIBLE AND COMMUNION ELEMENTS

   CALL TO WORSHIP

   HYMN: VU 888 "Earth and All Stars"

   OPENING PRAYER

   ANTHEM: "Give Me Jesus" trad. Spiritual; arr. Howard Helvey

           WE TELL THE STORIES OF LIGHT

   STORYTIME / ECHO PRAYER

   SONG: "God Hears Your Prayer"

   LIGHTING OF SUNDAY SCHOOL CANDLE

   RESPONSIVE READING: Psalm 147, VU 869, Pt 1

   GOSPEL READING: Mark 1:29-39
        "Wisdom for the church..."   Thanks be to God

   SCRIPTURE REFRAIN: "Listen in the Silence"

   HOMILY / SILENCE

           WE RESPOND TO GOD'S LOVE

   PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

   OFFERING HYMN: MV 200 "You are My Body"

   PRAYER OF DEDICATION
   INVITATION TO COMMUNION
   GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING / JESUS' PRAYER
   SHARING COMMUNION: VU #480 and VU #471
   PASS THE PEACE
   PRAYER AFTER COMMUNINON

           WE GO FORTH IN LIGHT

   HYMN: VU 626 "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say"

   COMMISSIONING / BENEDICTION

   CHORAL BLESSING: MV 221

   POSTLUDE: "Kingsfold" by David Paxton
        Postlude Quiet: In respect for those who enjoy prayerful and meditative thoughts at the end of our worship gathering, please listen quietly as the Postlude is played.

 

                Coffee, Tea and Conversation follows worship in the Church Hall

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                7:30 p.m. – Taizé Service in the Church Hall

                  

 

Monday, February 6 5:00 p.m. – Prayer Shawl knitters meeting in Trinity Lounge

 

Tuesday, February 7

 

Wednesday, February 8

                 7:00 p.m. – Jubilate Deo Handbell Choir practice in St.Paul's Room

 

Thursday, February 9

                 6:45 a.m. – Breakfast Book Bunch meets in the Trinity Lounge

                 7:00 p.m. – Chancel Choir Practice in the Sanctuary. All voices are welcome!

 

Friday, February 10

               10:00 a.m. – Valentine Coffee Party in the Church Hall

 

Saturday, February 11

 

Sunday, February 12 – EPIPHANY 6

               9:45 a.m. – Congregational Singing

             10:00 a.m. – Worship in the Sanctuary
                 The Lectionary readings are 2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45

               7:30 p.m. – Contemplative Prayer in Trinity Lounge

 

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Announcements

 

For the Comfort and Inclusion of all... Please do not use perfumes and all other scented products for church. We have some members with allergies to these products.

REMINDER: There are those in our congregation who wish to spend quiet moments preparing themselves for worship and those who wish to prayerfully enjoy the organ postlude. Respecting these desires, please be mindful of those who wish some quiet before the service and during the postlude. You are invited to enjoy coffee, fellowship and conversation in the lower hall after the worship gathering. This reminder is not for absolute silence—being part of a community means that we engage one another in conversation—but it is a reminder to be mindful of those who wish a few quiet moments.

Join the Team: Have you always had a desire to find out how the worship services at Nelson United are planned? Better still, would you like to help plan them? Come to the first meeting of the newly formed Worship Planning Team in the Trinity Lounge on Wednesday, February 15th at 1:30 pm.

We are looking for a teacher for the beginner class for the period from February 26th to April 1st. The curriculum is very easy to follow and the children are a delight to teach. The curriculum is very easy to follow and the children are a delight to teach. If you are able to help out for that period, please talk to Janet Boyd. Thank-you.

Thursday Morning Breakfast Book Bunch continues. We will meet at 6:45 Thursday mornings in Trinity Lounge. The book we are reading is The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning by Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham.

Lenten Reflections Devotional, Rising with the Morning Star, Daily Reflections for Lent, invites us "to move out of the depths of ashes to the heights of Easter where we can experience the heart and wholeness of all." This devotional is available for $11.50. Please contact the church office if you would like a copy.

Contemplative Prayer Group gathers the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 7:30 pm in the Trinity Lounge. All are welcome.

Intentional Christian Living: Our next gathering will be Wednesday, February 14th at 7:00 pm in the Fairview Room. All are welcome—the seekers and the curious alike.

This year's Valentine Coffee Party, Book & Bake Sale will be on Friday, February 10th at 10:00 am to 12:00 noon. Admission is only $3.00. Donations of baking and/or books will be gratefully appreciated. Come and support the 56 Unit and enjoy some coffee and delicious goodies.

Try Something Different: On the first Sunday of each month, a Taizé service is offered in the Church Hall at 7:00 pm. This is approximately a one-hour service of prayer, song, candlelight and quiet meditation. The next service will be February 5th at 7:00 pm. ALL are welcome.

Outreach News: the Outreach Committee that started the Nelson Refugee Committee, is committed to supporting the endeavors of the NRC to bring two young women in their early twenties to Canada from a refugee camp on the Thai-Burmese border. Hsa and Htoo are cousins, speak some English and have educated themselves while living in deplorable conditions at a camp all their lives. They are eager to come to Nelson.

Would You Like to Join the Outreach Committee? "Following Jesus' example of social activism, the Outreach Committee of Nelson United Church is dedicated to affirm the worth and integrity of all creation" If you would like to join the Outreach Committee or if you would like more information on what we do, please speak to one of the members: Marion Bergevin, Mary Ann Morris, Ann Alma or click on the Outreach link.
Outreach Ideas to Share: The Outreach Committee is looking for your ideas about what projects we might engage as a church with respect to outreach in our community and more globally.To help us determine what projects of our of interest, you will find two ledger sized sheets of paper, one on the Outreach bulletin board in the Church Hall and one on the bulletin board just outside the church office; please write your ideas on the space provided on the sheets of paper.As you look at the ideas presented, they may spark other ideas. We appreciate your ideas and your assistance.Thanks.

the NUC Benevolent Fund is used for emergency assistance by the Ministers for people in crisis. If you feel you can make a special donation it will be much appreciated.

Have you heard? Nelson United Church has a newsletter called NUCNews that will come to you via email. To subscribe log on here and follow the instructions. Or email Donna Strongman , or catch me after church. This newsletter will not replace The Mustard Seed, it is meant as an additional means of communication. You may also contact Donna to contribute "news" to the newsletter. Thank-you from Donna Strongman. You may unsubscribe at any time, and your email address will never be shared or made public.

Come and SING and/or RING with Us: The Church Choir seeks new voices!. We practice Thursdays at 7:00pm in the Sanctuary. New members more than welcome!
The Hand Bell Choir's practices every Wednesday at 7:00pm in St Paul's Room. New members are also welcom, needed, and appreciated (as are present members). If you are interested in either group contact John Pengelly

The Pastoral Care Committee hosts the Prayer Shawl Ministry. We invite individuals who like to knit to join us once a month to knit shawls for members of our congregation and extended family members who are going through life changes. We will be weaving our hopes, blessings and prayers into the shawls as we create them. Contact Anne Corbett for more information.

Children's Corner: Children are welcome to enjoy the quiet play area which is set up at the front right side of the sanctuary. Thank you to parents and guardians for supervising their children in this space. Quiet toys and books are available for use in the children's corner or you may take them to wherever you are sitting. For younger children or for a more "private" space, there is the nursery upstairs off the stairwell to the balcony; the nursery has a speaker so that you can still participate in the worship.

David's reflections are added each week to our website for your opportunity to read and reflect, or to see if what you think he said is what he did say! AND the reflections are also posted on the blog site. There you can add a comment or question about their reflections. Questions will be answered and comments might spark a "discussion" with others. Nelson United Church is also on — Facebook can help us keep in touch with our friends here at church. We're not exactly sure how we will use Facebook, but we will be able to join discussion groups, share photos and generally keep in touch. It's free and everyone can join. To join you will have to register with Facebook (it's FREE). If you would like to receive an "invitation", please contact David ... just a couple "new age ways" to interact in this "Web 2.0 universe".

NUC Library: Lots of titles: Reference Books and Magazines, Grief and Loss, Children's Books, Special Interest, Theological, and much more... Located in the Church Hall. Read a book today!

Greeters Wanted: If you have a sunny smile, a warm handshake and are free for a couple of Sundays before church every 3 months, you are a good candidate for the Nelson United Church Greeting Team. Please contact Judy Cameron if you can help us out.

Lost & Found Box is kept in the narthex for lost and found items. If you're missing a glove or ? — please take a look in this box.

Rides available - Do you need a ride to church on a regular or occasional basis? The Pastoral Care Committee is happy to connect you with a driver. Contact Edna Whitely or Judy Cameron if you need this service.

Did You Know This? – We do our best to be an interactive church. There are many ways that you can be active. There are 47 folks in our congregation who volunteer to read scripture on Sunday mornings and 15 volunteers who write the Prayers of the People for Sunday mornings. There are openings in both of those volunteer groups. If you would like to be a part of either one, please talk to Leah Gray. We are blessed to have so many people willing to participate in the Sunday services. Thanks to all of you!

Watch for: HOT TOPICS, DISCUSSIONS, BLOGS, and FEATURES on wondercafe.ca

The pillar candle on the communion table is a PEACE CANDLE which will be lit during each Sunday Worship to symbolize our continuing prayers for peace. This peace, hope, and justice candle comes from Ivory Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, and is part of the Nehemiah Project. The candle is sold through Hobson Methodist Church in Nashville, Tenn., as an international fund-raising ministry of self-determination for craftspeople of South Africa and their families.

Pre-authorized Remittance (PAR): If you contribute to your church monthly, why not try PAR? For those who are unfamiliar with PAR, it is a payment authorization to have funds come out of your bank account and sent to your church on a monthly basis. You can designate funds however you like, e.g. General Funds, Mission & Service, Nelson Food Cupboard, Building Funds, etc. Please contact Lois or Mildred at the office if you have any questions or would like to pick up an application form. Please think about it.

Send an e-hug to someone in the Nelson hospital! you can now send an e-hug through the Kootenay Lake Hospital web page and click on the teddy bear.

Mandate Magazine: The newest issue of the United Church of Canada Mandate magazine is available in the narthex.

The Upper Room Devotional Booklet, current edition is available on line, or in print in the pamphlet shelf in the Narthex. A donation of $1.25/copy (given to the ushers) would help to offset costs and be greatly appreciated.

 

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Stewardship Second

Great are the works of the Lord.
As stewards of God's creation, we delight in them.
 
 
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