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Wesley United Church– Year C
October 5, 2025, 11:00 am.
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
Worship Leader: Joan Chaisson
Reader: Bev Bragg
Music: Bev Bragg
Greeter: Debbie Moss
Bell Ringer: Ross Cooper
Gathering in the Spirit
Welcome to our worship service either online or in printed form.
Life and Work of the Church may be found at the end of the service.
Our Blessings & Birthdays for this week are:
Lighting of the Christ Candle
L Dear Lord, some days our hearts may feel heavy and restless. As we light this candle, let us remember that Your light is stronger than any worry. Let this small flame remind us of Your steady presence. Fill our hearts with peace that does not depend on circumstances. Amen
*Introit: MV #18 Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary
Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary,
Pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for you.
Lord, Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary,
Pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living
Sanctuary for you.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
L: In the fullness of time, God gave us Jesus that we might understand God’s love.
P: Yet we turned our backs on him and went our own way.
L. God’s loving presence continued in the disciples, bringing again the message of hope and reconciliation.
P: Open our eyes and our hearts, O Lord, to receive this message.
L: Let the bread and the juice we receive today give us strength and courage to do God’s will.
P. Let our lives thus strengthened be a witness to God’s eternal love for all God’s people. Amen
*Opening Hymn: VU # 377 Holy Spirit, Hear Us
1 Holy Spirit, hear us,
help us while we sing;
breathe into the music
of the praise we bring.
2 Holy Spirit, shine now
on the book we read;
light its holy pages
with the truth we need.
3 Holy Spirit, prompt us
when we bow to pray;
speak within and teach us
what we ought to say.
4 Holy Spirit, help us
daily by your might,
what is wrong to conquer,
and to choose the right.
Opening Prayer
Lord, throughout the world today, Christians may be sharing in the sacrament of Holy Communion. We come together with a bountiful table set in the midst of struggle and strife. Help us to receive the elements of bread and juice for the nourishment of our souls and for the strengthening of our witness to your love for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Invitation to Prayer of Confession
When Jesus was born, he came to a world filled with poverty, and violence, and fear. He lived among people who did not always walk their walk perfectly, which is to say, Jesus was no stranger to sin. Our sin comes as no surprise to him. His love and mercy should come as no surprise to us. Therefore, let us make our confession before God and one another, first in silent prayer.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, our Wonderful Counsellor, the Almighty God, we come to you to confess. We know that sometimes we are distracted by the changing of seasons and opening of the school year. In our distraction, we do not heed the cries of the world. we turn a blind eye to suffering and need and grief. Forgive us, and more than that, turn us around to see all your children, with the truth of their lives, that we would set aside our distractions and answer your call to go out, to heal, to help, to proclaim good news and joy. Through Christ we pray. Amen
Words of Assurance
L. Friends, hear the Good News: God so loved the world that God sent Jesus to us, not to condemn the world but in order that we might be saved-healed and forgiven- through him. Thanks be to God!
P. Alleluia! Amen.
Listening for the Spirit
*Hymn: VU # 661 Come to My Heart
1 Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
come to my heart today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
2 Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
fill me with love today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
3 Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
teach me to walk in your way.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
answer my prayer today.
Give me the peace and joy
that only you can bring.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus;
give me a song to sing.
Scripture Readings
Lamentations 3: 19-26
These verses are a profound expression of hope and trust in God’s faithfulness and mercy. They convey the message that despite the hardships and despair, there is always a new beginning and a promise of hope. The passage is a testament to the enduring nature of God’s love and the importance of waiting quietly for His salvation. It serves as a reminder that God’s mercies are new every morning, and that those who wait for Him will find His presence and comfort.
Lamentations 3: 19-26
The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Psalm 137
This psalm expresses the deep sorrow and longing of the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. It reflects on themes of faith, homeland and memory, emphasizing how integral these elements are to identity, even in despair. The psalm also conveys a desire for justice against their captors, illustrating the pain of loss and the hope for eventual restoration. Overall, it serves as a reminder of the enduring connection to one’s homeland and faith amidst adversity.
Psalm 137
L. By the Babylonian rivers we sat down in grief and wept,
P. hung our harps upon a willow, mourned for Zion while we slept.
L. There our captors in derision did require of us a song;
P. so we say with staring vision, and the days were hard and long.
L. How shall we sing songs of Zion in a strange and bitter land?
P. Can our voices veil the sorrow?
L. O God, hear your lonely band.
Refrain:
By the rivers of Babylon, there we wept.
Response to Psalm
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Video: Rivers of Babylon
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down
Yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down
Yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion
There the wicked, carried us away in captivity,
Requiring from us a song
Now how shall we sing the Lord’s song,
In a strange land?
There the wicked, carried us away in captivity,
Requiring from us a song
Now how shall we sing the Lord’s song,
In a strange land?
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight
Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart
Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight.
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down
Yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down
Yeah, we wept, when we remembered Zion
By the rivers of Babylon (dark tears of Babylon)
Where we sat down (you got to sing a song)
Yeah, we wept (sing a song of love)
When we remembered Zion (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
By the rivers of Babylon (rough bits of Babylon)
Where we say down (you hear the people cry)
Yeah, we wept (they need their God)
When we remembered Zion
Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 5-10
In this reading Jesus addresses the disciples’ request to “Increase our faith” by illustrating that even a small amount of faith, like a mustard seed, can achieve great things. He emphasizes that serving God is a duty, and we should not expect special praise for our service, as we are merely doing what is required of us. The passage also highlights the responsibilities of discipleship, reminding followers that faith and humility are essential in their service to God.
Gospel Reading: Luke 17: 5-10
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Message: How Much Faith is Enough
Inspired by Pastor James Laurence
I wonder how many of us feel as though we have enough faith or do we sometimes wish that we had a little more? A little more trust that God really is in control of this world. A little more belief that it is all going to be okay. I believe we are all here because we do have faith, and I am sure there have been times when we have wished that we could have more - we are certainly not alone.
In today’s gospel reading, it is Jesus’ apostles who are asking for more faith. Even they sometimes struggled with believing and trusting in God and in their leader, Jesus. The apostles are the ones who have left everything to follow Jesus. But they have been listening to his recent teachings. Which have been challenging, to say the least. It is no wonder that Jesus’ apostles responded to these teachings with a desperate plea: Increase our faith! And their honest request should bring comfort to any of us who has ever wished for the same: a little more faith, a little more trust that it's all going to be okay, that God is in control, and that God cares about us all. We just have to have a little faith- or, perhaps, just a little more faith.
How much faith is enough?
The apostles felt as though they needed more faith to face the challenges that Jesus was placing before them. So, they asked Jesus to increase their faith. They felt that if they were going to do everything that Jesus asked of them, they would certainly need more faith. At least that is what they believed. But that turned out not to be true. They didn’t need more faith.
When the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith, he offered a very famous response. He told them that if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they had more than enough faith. The mustard seed is not the smallest seed that exists. But it was the smallest seed that the disciples knew about. It is tiny. And Jesus told them that if they had faith the size of this tiny seed, they had more than enough faith. And I think that what Jesus is saying, to them and to us, is that if we have any faith at all, it is enough. Or, to put it another way, if we have enough faith to ask for more, then we already have enough.
It’s really not a question of how much faith we have- it’s a question of who we put our faith in.
Also, in today’s gospel reading, Jesus follows the statement about the mustard seed with a rather strange example involving a slave doing what is commanded. Pastor Laurence feels that this is simply to remind us that we’re not in charge. So, we do not have to have it all figured out. We do not need certainty. We do not need to see the whole picture. God is in charge. And God knows what he is doing. There is more going on than any one of us knows or understands. We are asked to trust him and to do our job. We do not have to wait until we have it all figured out.
Part of figuring it out comes by trusting the master and doing our job anyway. Or, as the great saint and theologian Agustine put it, “We do not understand in order to believe. We believe in order to understand.” We need to trust Jesus. Do what he says and in time we will understand his purpose and his plan. Jesus says to us, to trust me and follow me and eventually it will all become clear. However, it will not be in our time- it will be in God’s time.
This is, to Pastor Laurence, the basic message behind this gospel reading. If we have enough faith to ask for more, then we have enough faith already. Because it’s not a matter of how much faith you have- it’s a matter of who you put your faith in. I know I am repeating myself, but it is worth the repetition.
Laurence asks if there is something that we can do to increase our faith. Mustard seeds, when planted, grow, so can’t our faith grow?
He suggests three specific things that we can do to grow our faith.
First, and perhaps the most obvious, we can do what the apostles did: we can ask for more faith. When we are struggling to believe, we can simply talk to God about it. Sometimes, we may wonder what God will think about our situation. But really, who is better to talk to about what is happening to us. And truthfully, he already knows. So, we can ask God- we can talk to him.
Another thing that might be obvious is that if we feel as though our faith is in short supply, the best thing we can do is come to church. We do not have to wait until we believe to come to church, because church is where our faith is best nurtured by hearing God’s Word and sharing in the sacrament.
A third way to increase our faith is to share our struggles and even our doubts with a Christian friend. We do not have to keep it to ourselves. We need to share our struggles with someone we trust. We all have heard of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church.
Well, John Wesley went through a period in his life when his faith was very low. So, what did he do? He talked to some friends that he trusted. One of them offered this advice to him: “Preach faith until you have it, and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.” He was also invited to attend a meeting at the church one evening, where they were studying Martin Luther’s writing on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. And this is how John Wesley himself describes what happened when he heard Martin Luther describe the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ:
“I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
After that, as we know, John Wesley went on to become one of the greatest preachers and evangelists the church has ever known. Even though he may have struggled in his faith, he learned to talk to a trusted friend, pray to the Lord to ask him to increase his faith and he went to church. His mustard seed sized faith proved to be enough to dramatically change the church forever.
Pastor Laurence reminds us that this is the point that Jesus is trying to make today. Our faith, however small it may seem, is plenty big enough. Because it isn’t about how big our faith is, it is about who we put that faith in. No matter how little our faith, when we put it in Jesus, there is no end to what he can accomplish.
Thanks be to God.
Responding to the Spirit
Sacrament of Communion
*Hymn: VU # 457 As We Gather at Your Table vs 1
Let us stay standing and say the New Creed of the United Church of Canada
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and 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 and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Invitation
On this World Communion Sunday, we realize that this is not our table. This is not this church’s meal. This is God’s feast laid out for each and every one of us. You are welcome here. Come and be fed.
L. The Lord be with you.
P. And also with you.
L. Lift up your hearts.
P. We lift them up to the Lord.
L. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
P. It is good to give God thanks and praise.
Ever-living God, we do give you thanks and praise for you are majestic in holiness. In the beginning you created the universe. You made the sun and stars above our heads, and the earth beneath our feet. Your word brought forth the rocks and streams. You fashioned life in all its myriad forms. You spoke your word to your people through prophets and priests, men and women of courage and compassion. You never forsake us, even when we turn away from you.
You came in Jesus, the word made flesh, to live and love this life in all its fullness- only to be shunned, despised and forsaken. You made the cross of death a tree of life, the empty grave a sign of glorious hope. And, with all your people and with the whole company of heaven we praise you:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heaven, creation sings your praise.
And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said; “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Drink from this, all of you: this is the true vine, the cup of life…drink! Do this, as often as you drink it, remember me.” And so, in remembrance we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us gathered here, and on these gifts through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your church, all honour and glory is yours, now and forever.
At this time, we also remember all those with whom you would have us share your feast. We pray for who are in sorrow or in pain…all who are ill or alone…all who live with fear, oppression, or hunger…all whom the world counts as last and least…We pray for your church and its varied ministries…for nations as they strive for peace and justice…for the earth and the fragile web of life we share…for our families and friends. Hear those name that we say aloud or silently in our hearts_________. With Jesus we pray together, saying: “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; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen”
Come now, on this World Communion Sunday, let us share with many around the world this wonderful feast.
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Prayer After Communion
We give thanks that bread broken brings wholeness; the cup poured out replenishes; that the time spent with the risen Christ and one another is gift and grace. Amen
Hymn: VU # 457 As We Gather at Your Table vs 2 & 3
2. Turn our worship into witness
in the sacrament of life;
send us forth to love and serve you,
bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion
to forgive as you forgave;
may we still behold your image
in the world you died to save.
3. Gracious Spirit, help us summon
other guests to share that feast
where triumphant Love will welcome
those who had been last and least.
There no more will envy blind us
nor will pride our peace destroy,
as we join with saints and angels
to repeat the sounding joy.
Offertory Invitation
We sing our praises to the Lord, for God is good and worthy! We give our whole selves — our talents and material possessions — to the Church with the expectation that they be used to further God’s dream for our world. Our offering will now be presented.
*Offertory Hymn MV # 191 What Can I Do?
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.
*Offertory Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for every blessing You have given us. As we present our gifts and offering, we do so with a grateful heart. You are our source and provider, and all that we have comes form You. Receive our gifts as a token of our gratitude and love. May it be used to glorify Your name and bless others. Amen.
*Closing Hymn: VU 586 We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection
1 We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sign our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
within the vision of new life in Christ.
2 We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping,
raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
including all in circles of our love.
*Benediction & Commissioning
May the God of all nations and people, who gathers us as one at the table of grace, send us forth in peace and unity.
May the symbols of the bread we have broken and the juice we have drunk, strengthen us to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world.
Let us leave now, carrying the love that exceeds borders, the hope that overcomes despair and the light that shines from within.
Go in the love and peace of our Lord. Amen
*Sung Benediction MV # 215 Peace Be With You
Peace be with you, peace forever,
Peace be with you, my friends.
Till we meet again, may God be with you.
Peace, peace, peace.
Peace be with you, peace forever,
Peace be with you, my friends.
Till we meet again, may God be with you.
Peace, peace, peace.
Life and Work of the Church
Today, on our Memory Board, we remember Beryl Anderson 1943-2024, Samuel W. Anderson 1934-1996 and Bruce R. Bennett 1954-1996.
Fall & Thanksgiving Decorations: Thank you to everyone who helped out with the decorating of our Sanctuary. Next Sunday, we are asking for people to bring food items which we can lay on our alter railing and around the front of our church. These items may be home grown vegetables, fruit, bottled preservatives or anything you wish to bring.
UCW’s Luncheon- The women wish to say thank you to everyone who helped to make this event a great success even on such a rainy day. Also special thanks to Rowland and Gertie Clarke for the donation of their plums which was sold at the luncheon.
Wildfire Fundraiser Night of Music For the Community of Kingston and surrounding areas will be held at tonight at 7:00pm. Monetary donations will be accepted at the door. If you are unable to attend and wish to donate, please visit the site salvationarmy.ca/wildfires.
Thanksgiving Weekend- Joan is planning to be out of the province from Friday, October 10 to Tuesday, October 14. Please contact Bev Bragg or Evelyn MacDonald if you need assistance.
Welcome Back Sunday along with our first Music Sunday will be held on Sunday, October 19 for our morning worship. This will be followed by a light luncheon in the hall. Please bring a friend!
Safe and Sound Recovery Rally will be held at the Lion’s Club on Sunday, October 12 at 7:00pm.
UCW will be hosting a fall fair where people have rented a table to sell their items on Saturday, October 25 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Wesley United Library- Please bring books which we can add to our new Library which is located in the old Choir Room. Shelving will be hopefully added this week.
Recovery Is Possible Support Group meetings are held in our church hall on Sunday nights at 7:00 pm. The coordinator for this group is Andrea Feaver.
Walking Group meets on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 am. Dinah Carter is the coordinator for this group.
Darts are played on Tuesdays at 1:00 pm. David Davis & Debbie Moss are the coordinators for this group.
Quilting, Sewing, Knitting, Crafts and Social get-togethers are held on Thursdays, at 1:00 pm. Evelyn MacDonald and Ruth Deveaux are coordinators for these groups.
Previous bulletins have been placed on the Information Table in case anyone would like one. These are nice to give out to people who are unable to attend.
Small and large Print Copies of “Our Daily Bread” are available on the Information Table.
Columbarium Niches: There is just one niche left that can be reserved. Each niche, which can hold two urns, cost $2500.00. Please contact Mabel Spencer if you are interested in purchasing this niche.
Food Bank –The Food Bank needs sugar, can milk, tea bags, butter or any nonperishable item. You may bring your items to church or drop them off at the Thrift Store.
Recycling Depot Thank you to those who have been donating their recyclables to our account. Our account total is now $81.35. You may donate by using the pin number 6953434 (our telephone number) when you drop off your recyclables.
Sunday Morning services on our web site. You are able to read our worship service by clicking on the following link: www.wesleyunitedchurch.sitew.ca Once you are on the site, click Sunday Worship which will take you to the service.
PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance Program)-This is a program where you can authorize for your bank to deposit a certain amount each month into our church’s bank account. Please contact Mabel Spencer or send an email to us if you would like to take part in this easy program.
Offerings Needed to Meet 2025 Budget
Local: $5000.00 Monthly
M & S: $200.00 Monthly
Date Local Account M & S
January 2542.00 262.00
February 3969.00 217.00
March 3544.45 288.00
April 3058.79 178.00
May 4711.85 199.00
June 2815.00 1389.00
July 1813.50 157.00
August 1850.50 179.00
September 2512.85 312.00
Many blessings for this week and let us remember, no mater the size of our faith, we can place it with our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Website Designer, Creator And Administrator: Curtis Francis
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