First Sunday of Lent | February 22, 2026 скачать в хорошем качестве

First Sunday of Lent | February 22, 2026

Our worship service at Ebenezer as well on Zoom was led by Ian Carreon, Julian Munro for pulpit supply, Diane McLean for Children's Story time and Sunday School, and Margaret Tribe for musical accompaniment, Susan Ryman for the bulletin & slides, and Jamie Tribe and Doug Mark for our audiovisual and broadcast support. The Apologies - United Church of Canada https://united-church.ca/social-actio... *The 1986 Apology *The 1988 Response *The 1998 Apology During Lent, we will be using a new liturgy from Affirm United/S’affirmer Ensemble called “From Ash to Fire”. This follows the Church’s road of repentance and renewal, rooted in the 2025 Apology to Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people from the United Church of Canada. Here, Lent becomes not only a journey of repentance, but a pilgrimage toward wholeness - for those who have carried the Church’s wounds in their own bodies, and for the wider Church that must now bear the labour of repair. WE GATHER TO WORSHIP 1988 – The long Lent of inclusion begins: some stayed, some fled, all were changed *Please stand or adopt any posture that is comfortable for you. ♫ Prelude VU 672 “Take Time to be Holy” Words of Welcome & Announcements 1988 - The Church votes to affirm that all people are welcome in membership and ministry at General Council 32. Joy and relief for some; fear and fury for others. Congregations divide. Pastors resign or are shunned. Families and friendships fracture. The wilderness opens, and the Spirit waits there. Chimes Lighting of the Candles/Candle Processional Call to Gathering- Where Faith Meets Fear ♫ *Hymn MV 23 “Come, O Holy Spirit, Come” (video) Poetic Meditation Words of Assurance Sharing of Peace Let us turn to our neighbours, and share the peace of Christ with one another, saying: May the peace of Christ be with you, and in response: And also with you. WE LISTEN AND SHARE GOD’S WORD Learning Together (Children’s Time) (Diane) Prayer O God, as we journey together through the season of Lent, help us to think about how we live each day and how we can become more loving and caring following in your way. Amen. ♫ *The Lord’s Prayer “West Indian Version” (sung) Prayer of Illumination Let us pray: Gracious and merciful God, lend yourself so we may have humble, teachable hearts, that we may receive what you are to reveal to us and follow your way. Amen. Scripture Reading: Matthew 4: 1-11 Message Testing, Truth, and Transformation by Julian Munro ♫ *Hymn Taize Chant “Jesus, Remember Me” WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD Stewardship Seconds Invitation to the Offering Offering Our Gifts (Our Offerings will now be received) ♫ *Offertory Hymn MV 188 “I Thank You, Thank You Jesus” (ENG + SWA) *Offertory Prayer Prayer Prayers of the People (Prayer requests) WE GO INTO GOD’S WORLD ♫ *Hymn VU 115 “Jesus, Tempted in the Desert” Blessing/Sending ♫ *Sung Blessing MV 214 “May God's Sheltering Wings” ♫ Postlude VU 670 “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” Ebenezer United Church Markham, Ontario Canada https://ebenezeronline.ca/ Mission Statement As disciples of Jesus Christ, we celebrate God’s presence through worship, seeking justice, and serving our community with compassion. Vision Statement Making a difference by supporting our members, connecting with our community, and serving our world. Subscribe to our Ebenezer United Church - eNews https://us10.list-manage.com/subscrib...