CANDLE LITURGY
Jesus noticed Zacchaeus, the reviled and possibly corrupt tax collector. Jesus invited himself to dinner, transforming Zacchaeus in and for love. Then Jesus declared, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a child of God. For I have come to seek out and to save the lost.” As we light this Christ candle, let us pledge to follow the Way of Jesus as people also transformed for love.
     (Light the Christ candle.)
     Adapted/Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Gord Dunbar

Sung Response: Vu 641 “Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song”
Verse 1 seated
1.  Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey,
I'll tell everybody about you wherever I go:
for our life and our peace and our love is yourself.
Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey.

2.  Lord Jesus, I'll praise you as long as I journey.
May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.
May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.
Lord Jesus, I'll praise you as long as I journey.

3.  As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant
to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears,
for you saved me by giving your body and blood.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.

4.  I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey,
but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side;
and with all of my brothers you saved by your love,
we'll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.

1.  CALL TO WORSHIP:
This is no ordinary place:
this is the house of God.
This is the place where the prophets cry out for peace and justice and righteousness.
It is the place where God reaches down into the corners of our lives, to offer us the mystery of holy love.
This is no ordinary gathering.
This is no ordinary place:
this is the house of God.
     Used with permission from Celebrate God's Presence 16A002

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Holy God, you know us as we are. You know that each one of us comes with things to celebrate and gloomy thoughts that cloud our perspective. You reach out to us in this time of worship, that our perspective may be cleared and refocused. You reach out to us and invite us to experience the healing and the joy of your company. Let us be transformed by your actions and your presence.  Amen.
     Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Ryan McNally

3. LEARNING TIME:

4. HYMN: VU 664  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
1. What a friend we have in Jesus
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Christ the Saviour is our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do our friends despise, forsake us?
Are we tempted to despair?
Jesus' strength will shield our weakness,
and we'll find new courage there.

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Welcoming God, draw us close to your heart of love. Fill us with compassion and recognition of your grace. Reveal your truth in the words that are shared and in the silent moments. Help us to notice your voice of acceptance. May the familiar be heard in a new way as we receive the words of scripture today. We ask, in Jesus' name.  Amen.
     Used with permission from Gathering: Pentecost 2; 2025: Laura J. Turnbull

6. SCRIPTURE LESSON
Habakkuk 1: 1 - 4, 2: 1 - 4
1 I am Habakkuk the prophet. And this is the message[a] that the LORD gave me.
Habakkuk Complains to the LORD
2 Our LORD, how long must I beg for your help before you listen? How long before you save us from all this violence? 3 Why do you make me watch such terrible injustice? Why do you allow violence, lawlessness, crime, and cruelty to spread everywhere? 4 Laws cannot be enforced; justice is always the loser; criminals crowd out honest people and twist the laws around.
The LORD Answers Habakkuk Again
2 While standing guard on the watchtower, I waited for the LORD's answer, before explaining the reason for my complaint. 2 Then the LORD told me: “I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance. 3 At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting- it will happen! 4 I, the LORD, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me.”

Responsive Reading Psalm 119: 137 - 144 part 6 VU page 841
REFRAIN: 2 “Righteous are you, O God.”
Part Six (137-144) Tsade* letters of the Hebrew alphabet

You are righteous, O God, and your judgements are just.
The decrees you have made are righteous and true.
I am consumed with rage because my foes neglect your words.
Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.  REFRAIN

Though I am belittled and despised, I do not forget your commandments.
Your righteousness is eternal and your teaching is true.
Though trouble and anguish come upon me, your commandments remain my delight.
Your righteous decrees are eternal; give me understanding, that I may live.  REFRAIN

7. REFLECTION:

8. HYMN: VU 677 “O God of Every Nation”
1.  O God of every nation,
of every race and land,
redeem the whole creation with your almighty hand;
and heal our strife-torn world.

2.  From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right,
from trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night,
from pride of race and station and blindness to your way,
deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray.

3.  Give strength to those who labour that all may find release
from fear of rattling sabre, from dread of war's increase;
when hope and courage falter, your still small voice be heard:
with faith that none can alter, your servants undergird.

4.  Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease,
when hatred and division, give way to love and peace,
till dawns the morning glorious when peace on earth shall reign
and Christ shall rule victorious o'er all the world's domain.

9.  SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
2 Thessalonians 1: 1 - 4, 11 - 12
1 From Paul, Silas,[a] and Timothy. To the church in Thessalonica, the people of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! When Christ Returns
3 My dear friends, we always have good reason to thank God for you, because your faith in God and your love for each other keep growing all the time. 4 This is why we brag about you to all of God's churches. We tell them how patient you are and how you keep on having faith, even though you are going through a lot of trouble and suffering. 11 God chose you, and we keep praying that God will make you worthy of being his people. We pray for God's power to help you do all the good things you hope to do and your faith makes you want to do. 12 Then, because of the undeserved grace of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, you will bring honor to the name of our Lord Jesus, and he will bring honor to you.

The Gospel of Luke 19: 1 - 10
Zacchaeus
19 Jesus was going through Jericho, 2 where a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes[a] and was very rich. 3-4 Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. 5 When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.” 6 Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus.
7 Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.” 8 Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much[b] to everyone I have ever cheated.” 9 Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved,[c] because you are a true son of Abraham.[d] 10 The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.”

10.  REFLECTION:

11. HYMN: VU 508 “O Jesus Think on Me” (can use tune 542)
1.  O Jesus, think on me and purge away my sin;
from selfish passions set me free and make me pure within.

2.  O Jesus, think on me, by anxious thoughts oppressed;
let me your loving servant be and taste your promised rest.

3.  O Jesus, think on me, nor let me go astray;
through darkness and perplexity point out your chosen way.

4.  O Jesus, think on me, that, when the flood is past,
I may the eternal brightness see and share your joy at last.

12.  PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Great Creator, we come to you as a people who believe we know you, and yet we struggle to recognize you in our daily interactions. We find it easier to fall back into the smallness of our lives, to let pettiness dictate our reactions and to allow cynicism to invade our thoughts. How do we find you, Lord, when the noise of the world drowns out your call? When we come together in worship, we become infused with your glory and your grace, yet during the rest of the week, those things can be far from our minds. Teach us to seek you through the clamour of the world. Remind us of your presence when daily life is swirling us away from your truth. We long for that connection with you, with your love, and with your precepts. Have mercy on us as we struggle to keep you nearby.  Amen.
      Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Leeyan Steinthorson

13.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
In Christ, we receive a glorious inheritance and God's redeeming grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are sealed with the saints in holy love.
Thanks be to God.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

14.  SUNG RESPONSE: VU 506 “Take my Life and Let it Be”
1.  Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, all for thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2.  Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and purposeful for thee.

3.  Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

4.  Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

5.  Take my love: and I will pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

15.  PASSING OF THE PEACE:
In Christ, we find peace, a gift beyond price, as we are reconciled to God. Let us share this precious gift with one another in joy and thanksgiving, as we pass the peace of Christ with one another.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

16.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
Beloved people of God, let us give to the work of God's kingdom today. May we take this opportunity to work for the common good, and especially for the family of faith. Let us present our offering.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.

17. OFFERTORY VU 544 “In Gratitude and Humble Trust”
In gratitude and humble trust we bring our best today
to serve your cause and share your love with all along life's way.
O God, who gave yourself to us in Jesus Christ, your Son,
teach us to give ourselves each day until life's work is done.

18.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Loving God, we recognize that your blessings come in so many ways; we seek to be a blessing to others. Use and multiply these gifts so that the work of our church here and around the world can be a sign of your caring presence.  Amen.
     Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Beth W. Johnston

19. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:

20. HYMN: 427 VU  “To Show by Touch and Word”
1.  To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
to hold in full regard all life that comes to birth,
we need, O God, the will to find the good you had of old in mind.

2.  Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
our hearts to long for truth till pride of self is lost.
For every challenge that we face we need your guidance and your grace.

3.  Let love from day to day be yardstick, rule, and norm,
and let our lives portray your word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have your wits about us where we live.

21.  BLESSING:
Go out from here, assured of the love of God, encouraged to bring our lives to God in prayer, and inspired to hope, trusting in God's eternal care.
May God guide us today and always, to love, pray, and hope in Jesus' name. Amen.
     Used with permission Pentecost 2 Gathering 2025; Gill Le Fevre

22. THREE FOLD AMEN

Next Sunday:  Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost
        November 9, 2025:
         Haggai 1: 15b - 2: 9;   Psalm 145: 1 - 5, 18 - 22;
         2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 5, 13 - 17;  Luke 20: 27 - 38.

1. SUNDAY, November 2, 2025  “TWENTY - FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST”   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”   ALL ARE WELCOME!


2. TUESDAY, November 4, 2025  BIBLE STUDY  10:00 AM  Board Room  


3. TUESDAY, November 4, 2025  Jubilation Handbell Ringers   If you are interested in ringing some bells, come out and give it a try;   6:30pm in the Choir Room.


4. TUESDAY, November 4, 2025  “YOUTH ACTIVITY CLUB (YAC)”  7:00 - 9:00 PM.  Logie hall GYM  All Youth 12 years and older are welcome


5. SATURDAY, November 8, 2025  “CRAFT & COLLECTIONS FAIR”  10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.  Wesley Hall  Come and Enjoy the Many Displays


6. SUNDAY, November 9, 2025  “TWENTY - SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST”   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”   ALL ARE WELCOME!


7. SUNDAY, November 16, 2025  “SUNDAY BRUNCH”  11:30 AM - 1:00 PM  ALL ARE WELCOME!
   SEE POSTER ON “HAPPENINGS” TAB FOR SUNDAY BRUNCH DATES