ST. COLUMBA
ANGLICAN UNITED CHURCH
Transfiguration, Last after Epiphany
Service of the Word
March 2, 2025
Worship leader: Robert Fyles
Mission Statement
As followers of Jesus Christ, our church is a community called to love, honour, worship, and serve God. We invite others to share our Christian journey as we grow in faith and engage in ministry in our town and mission in our world.
9190 Granville Street
PO Box 1260, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0
Office Phone: 250-949-6247
E-mail: admin@stcolumbaporthardy.ca
Ministers: Rev. Sheila Cook
(250)-230-7433 scook@bc.anglican.ca
and Rev. Bob Gilbert (250) 686-5695
Wardens: Robert Fyles and Heather Jones
Treasurer: Judy Fyles
Music Ministry: Judy Fyles
Video: Ammie Yuipco
Community Partner: Cathie Wilson
www.stcolumbaporthardy.ca
~ Leader: regular font
~ All: bold font
~ Sung words: bold italics
~ Asterisk* stand as you are able
Welcome and Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
THE GATHERING OF THE COMMUNITY
Lighting the Christ Candle
When the going is uphill…Jesus leads us.
When the going is downhill…Jesus leads us.
Whenever we follow Jesus…God’s presence abides.
May this candle be our reminder of God’s ever present love.
Call to Worship
We come to worship our Creator.
Come to worship!
We come following Jesus who is transforming our lives.
Come to worship!
The Spirit is calling and we will not lose heart.
Opening Prayer
Creating God, your apostle Paul tells us to not lose heart.
He writes that you have generously let us in on what you are doing.
He writes that in your great mercy we are not only forgiven but called to be a part of the Spirit’s transformation of the whole world!
Where there are hungry ones we are called to feed.
Where there are lonely ones we are called to sit with them.
Come and encourage us, allow us to not give up even when following Jesus feels like an up hill climb.
For at the top of this mountain is your new reign, the fulfilment of all your promises, the making of all things new!
We will not lose heart.
We shall not give up.
We will need you every step of the way as we follow Jesus in whose name we pray, Amen.
*Hymn: VU 87 I Am the Light of the World
“I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow in love you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds have found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun:
“I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow in love you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above!
“I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow in love you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God's children everywhere!
“I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow in love you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby's new birth,
to make music in an old person's heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth!
“I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!”
If you follow in love you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
Words and music: Jim Strathdee.
Passing of the Peace
We follow Jesus and are never alone.
We are glad to journey together.
The peace of Christ be with you
And also with you
Let us share the Peace
Prayer for Transformation
Theme Time
*Hymn: VU 82 A Light Is Gleaming
A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night,
living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
living in the light.
When light comes pouring into the darkest place,
it hurts our eyes to see the glow.
Sometimes a word of hope reminds us of our fears,
our memories and tears.
A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night,
living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
living in the light.
When night is round us and every shadow grows,
a star is there to light our way.
It tells a story of Jesus who came near to say:
“God’s light will ever stay.”
A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night,
living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
living in the light.
So let us live in the brightness God has giv’n,
and let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here a sparkle and a blaze,
warming all our days.
A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night,
living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
living in the light.
Words and music: Linnea Good.
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Hutłilala's! Listen deeply as Scripture is proclaimed.
Hebrew Scripture: Exodus 34:29-35
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
*The Gospel Luke 9:28-36-26
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church
Thanks be to God.
Sermon by Keith Murray
*Hymn VU 104 We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding
We have come at Christ’s own bidding
to this high and holy place,
where we wait with hope and longing
for some token of God’s grace.
Here we pray for new assurance
that our faith is not in vain,
searching like those first disciples
for a sign both clear and plain.
Light breaks in upon our darkness,
splendour bathes the flesh-joined Word,
Moses and Elijah marvel
as the heavenly voice is heard.
Eyes and hearts behold with wonder
how the Law and Prophets meet:
Christ, with garments drenched in brightness,
stands transfigured and complete.
Strengthened by this glimpse of glory,
fearful lest our faith decline,
we like Peter find it tempting
to remain and build a shrine.
But true worship gives us courage
to proclaim what we profess,
that our daily lives may prove us
people of the God we bless.
Words: Carl P Daw, Jr. Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Invitation to the Offering
*Hymn VU 559 Come, O Fount of Every Blessing
Come, O Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing your grace;
streams of mercy never ceasing
call for songs of endless praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount; I'm fixed upon it,
mount of God's unfailing love.
Here I pause in my sojourning,
giving thanks for having come,
come to trust, at every turning,
God will guide me safely home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God,
came to rescue me from danger,
precious presence, precious blood.
O, to grace how great a debtor
daily I am drawn anew!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to you.
Prone to wander, I can feel it,
wander from the love I've known:
here's my heart, O, take and seal it,
seal it for your very own.
*Response VU 540 Grant Us, God, the Grace
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.
Prayer over the Gifts
Prayers of the People
Mission story: Mission & Service or Alongside Hope
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
*Hymn VU 602 Blest Be the Tie that Binds
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the unity of heart and mind
is like to that above.
Before our Maker’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
our comforts and our cares.
We share each other's woes,
each other's burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
The glorious hope revives
our courage on the way;
that we shall live in perfect love
in God's eternal day.
Sending Forth
Go from this place into your community.
We go to serve our Creator by serving our community.
Go from this place into your community.
We go following Jesus who is transforming our community – with our help.
Go from this place into your community.
We will not lose heart. We shall not give up. We will follow Jesus!
*Three-fold Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God! Gilakas’la!
Announcements
- Coffee following the service!
- Canned and dried food are always appreciated
- Mission Focus: Camp Spirit
- March 4 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner 5-7 PM
- March 5 Ash Wednesday 5 PM
- March 14 World Day of Prayer Service 7 PM
- March 15 deadline for tribute donations in June Broadview
- April 1 deadline to order 100th anniversary commemorative edition of Broadview
This service of worship was initially prepared by Together We Worship. Thanks to Keith Murray, Knox United, Calgary for the sermon and Rev. Leigh Sinclair, St. Davids United, Leduc, AB for the liturgy.
Music copyright:
Words for hymns reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 or CCLI License # 11033010. All rights reserved.
Voices United 87 I Am the Light of the World Words and music: Jim Strathdee, 1967. Words and music copyright © 1969 Desert Flower Music. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#59955) or CCLI License # 11033010 (7068562). All rights reserved.
Voices United 82 A Light Is Gleaming Words and music: Linnea Good, 1992. Words and music copyright © 1992 Borealis Music. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#117693) or CCLI License # 11033010 (1157968). All rights reserved.
Voices United 104 We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding Words: Carl P Daw, Jr. 1988; Music: Cyril Vincent Taylor 1941. Words copyright © 1988, music copyright © 1942, (renewal) 1970 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#24923) or CCLI License # 11033010 (5064816). All rights reserved.
Voices United 559 Come, O Fount of Every Blessing Words: Robert Robinson 1758, altered; Music: John Wyeth, Repository of Sacred Music, Part II 1813. Music: copyright, public domain. Word alterations copyright © 1993 The Pilgrim Press. Reprinted, streamed and/or podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-720359 (#12929). All rights reserved.
Voices United 540 Grant Us, God, the Grace Words: anonymous; Music: attributed Christian F. Witt, P, Psalmodia Sacra, 1715; adaptation Henry John Gauntlett, 1861. Words and music copyright: Public domain.
Voices United 602 Blest Be the Tie That Binds Words: John Fawcett 1782, altered; Music: attrib. Johann G. Nageli 1728; arrangement Lowell Mason 1845. Words and music copyright: Public domain.
