KNOX

 Church of Canada’s Pioneer Pastoral Charge of Alsask, Saskatchewan, Cereal & Oyen, Alberta & Knox United Church, Consort, Alberta, Canada

 

WORSHIP: Sunday May 18, 2025 @ Knox United, Consort – 11am

 

ORDER OF WORSHIP TO THE GLORY OF GOD

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Land

Lighting of the Christ Candle

Welcome/Announcements

· 100th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada is Tuesday 10 June 2025!

Call to Worship (Adapted from Psalm 130)

Minister: From the bottom of my heart I call to you, Lord.

Congregation: Hear our cry, O Lord; listen to our call!
Minister: If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned?

Congregation: But you forgive us, so that we should stand in awe of you.

Minister: I wait eagerly for the Lord's help & in God’s word I trust.

Congregation: I wait for the Lord more eagerly than sentries wait for the dawn.

Minister: Trust in the Lord, because God’s love is constant
Congregation: God is always willing to save.

ALL: God will save His people from all their sins!

 

Prayer of Approach

Hymn of Praise VU #315 “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!”

 

Minute for Mission: Mission & Service of the United Church of Canada - Renewing Hope & Growing Love

Offertory/Doxology – tune VU#541 “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Prayer for Offering

Scripture Readings: Psalm 9:1-8 GNT – Giving Thanks to God for His Justice

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the wonderful things you have done. I will sing with joy because of you. I will sing praise to you, Almighty God. My enemies turn back when you appear; they fall down & die. You are fair & honest in your judgments & you have judged in my favour. You have condemned the heathen & destroyed the wicked; they will be remembered no more. Our enemies are finished forever; you have destroyed their cities & they are completely forgotten. But the Lord is king forever; God has set up His throne for judgment. God rules the world with righteousness & judges the nations with justice.

John 3:22-36 GNT

Jesus & His disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where Jesus spent some time with them & baptized. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water & people were coming & being baptized. This was before John was put in prison. An argument developed between some of John’s disciples & a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. They came to John & said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - look, He is baptizing & everyone is going to Him.” To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits & listens for Him & is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine & it is now complete. Jesus must become greater; I must become less.” The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth & speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. Jesus testifies to what He has seen & heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Holy Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son & has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Hymn VU #375 “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”

God’s Word Expounded: “Love for the Ages - Baptism” 

 

Reception of New Members by Profession of Faith: 

Aria (Maria) Mageau & Mo (Maurice) Wiskerke

Candidates for Membership - Aria Mageau & Mo Wiskerke

Profession of Faith: Rev. Rhoad asks of the candidates for membership: 

Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin & renounce evil & its power in the world? Do you? I do.

Do you turn to Jesus Christ & accept Him as your Lord & Saviour, trusting in His grace & love? Do you? I do.

Will you be Jesus’ faithful disciple, obeying His Word & exhibiting His love? Will you? I will.

Affirmation of Faith (unison): A New Creed (1968)

We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created & is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile & make new, who works in us & others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence: to live with respect in Creation, to love & serve others, to seek justice & resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified & risen, our judge & our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Prayer

Welcoming the new Members

Sharing the Peace of Christ: Beloved Church, we are one in Christ! The peace of Christ, who unites us in love and discipleship, be with you all.

Congregation: And the peace of Christ be with you.

 

We greet one another in the peace & love of Jesus

 

Baptism - The Sacrament of Baptism

Baptism of Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke children of Mo Wiskerke

Baptism – Presentation - Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 2:39 

Baptism Hymn VU#444 “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”

Presentation of Candidates: May we celebrate with joy our own baptism, as we observe this Sacrament of Baptism. 

Session Elder, Nonavee Kary says: On behalf of the Session, I present Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

Rev. Rhoad asks Mo Wiskerke: Do you desire that Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke be baptized?  I do.

Do you promise, through prayer and example, to support and encourage Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke to become faithful followers of Jesus? I do.

Session Elder, Nonavee Kary asks of the congregation: Do you, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging her to know and follow Jesus? Congregation: We do

Prayer

The Baptism: Rev. Rhoad asks Mo Wiskerke parent of the children their names: 

Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke.

Rev Rhoad then uses water and says: “Ruby Jean Wiskerke & Evan Case Wiskerke” - I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” May the Spirit of God dwell in you & uphold you, now & forever. Amen.

Presentation of Candle & Certificate of Baptism

Welcome: We welcome Ruby & Evan into the family of God: See what God has given us that we should be called the children of God; and that is what we are. 1 John 3:1. Ruby & Evan are sealed with God’s love. They are children of the Covenant, and of our Master and Saviour Jesus.

Unison Response: With joy and thanksgiving we welcome you into Christ’s church to share with us in His ministry, for we are all one in Christ.

 

Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread & forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us & lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom & the power & the glory, forever & ever. Amen.

Hymn VU #365 “Jesus Loves Me”

Benediction - Jude 1:24-25

Parting Blessing: “May the LORD, mighty God, bless & keep you forever. Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavour. Lift your eyes & see God’s face, feel God’s grace forever. May the LORD, mighty God, bless & keep you forever.”