2026-01-04-Service
€h Summerlea United Church
225 50th Ave, Lachine, Québec, H8T2T7, Canada. 514-634-2651


(Last updated 5-1-2026)

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Sunday, January 04, 2026

Fourth Sunday of Advent - Epiphany





'Click' above to read
the Sunday bulletin.


- Introit -

How Brightly Beams the Morning Star
(VU 98, verse 1)
How brightly beams the Morning Star!
What sudden radiance from afar
Doth glad us with its shining,
Brightness of God that breaks our night
And fills the darkened souls with light
Who long for truth were pining!
Thy Word, Jesu, inly feeds us,
Rightly leads us, life bestowing;
Praise, oh praise such love o'erflowing.


Call to Worship

From many different roads and circumstances,
we come to this place to be together.
May we set aside our cares and worries
for at least this little while.
The word spoken at the beginning of time
has been born once again and is here in our midst.
May we open our hearts to this presence.
May we recognize the Christ in each of us
and open our arms to one another.
Let us raise our voices in praise!











Inviting the Light

Jesus said:
I am the way,
I am the truth,
I am the light.
Those who follow me
will never walk in darkness
but will walk
in the light of life.
Amen.






Call to Worship

From many different roads and circumstances, we come to this place to be together.
May we set aside our cares and worries for at least this little while.
The word spoken at the beginning of time has been born once again and is here in our midst.
May we open our hearts to this presence. May we recognize the Christ in each of us and open our arms to one another. Let us raise our voices in praise!



Arise, Your Light Has Come!
(VU 79)

Arise, your light has come!
The Spirit's call obey;
Show forth the glory of your God
Which shines on you today.




Arise, your light has come!
Fling wide the prison door;
Proclaim the captive's liberty,
Good tidings to the poor.

Arise, your light has come!
All you in sorrow born,
Bind up the brokenhearted ones
And comfort those who mourn.
Arise, your light has come!
The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing,
God's power will make us strong.


Opening Prayer

God, who came as a child to dwell with us, to be one with us, open our hearts and minds that we might feel your presence. Where difference and separation exists, let the walls come down so that we may meet one another face to face, heart to heart, and soul to soul. We are created in the image of the Divine; we are each beloved and made holy through the power of Christ, in whom all are made one.
Amen.




Prayers for Grace & Transformation

In Christ we are blessed with every spiritual blessing,
but what separates us from each other most often is fear.
From fear of security, we often take advantage of others,
acting mainly to protect what we have.
Out of fear of loneliness, we manipulate others
into relationships which are not always
mutually satisfying.
Fearing that others may want more
than we are able to give,
we shut them out or
refuse to see their needs.
Holy One, we long to be healed of our fears.
Hear our prayers
and help us to do better.
Amen.






A Light Is Gleaming
(VU 82)

R: A light is gleaming, spreading its arms
Throughout the night, living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God's radiant joy 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. R.

 
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." R.
And Jesus showed us a brighter path to walk.
He showed us things we hadn't seen.
Now we, like Jesus, can help creatio0n shine,
And this will be a sign. R.

 
So let us live in the brightness God has given
And let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here a sparkle and a blaze,
Warming our days. R.

- Scripture -


Jeremiah 31:7-14

Follow the written text HERE.
Scripture, this week,
read by Undeg E.

Psalm 147 (part 2)
(VU 869)

R: Sing to God in great thanksgiving.

"You give snow like wool
and sprinkle hoar-frost like ashes..."

Follow the Voices United text HERE.



John 1:1-18

Follow the text HERE.


The Rev. Beryl's

Sunday Message

- Anthem -
He came down from heav'n on high,
He came down! He came down!
Glory! Glory! He came down!
Tell the good news all around!
Glory! Glory! Come and see!
He came down! ...

(John Carter/Mary Kay Beall)


- Communion -




- The Offering -
Offertory Prayer

God, from you come all the gifts of life.
The gifts we offer in return
keep the circle in motion.
Receive these tokens of our gratitude.
May they be used in service
Of your love for all people.
Amen
Offertory Hymn
(VU 544)

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.







The Lord's Prayer
(Maori & Polynesia)

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain Bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God in Whom is heaven:



The hallowing of Your Name echo through the universe;
The way of Your justice be followed by the peoples of the world;
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
Sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trial too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that us evil, free us.
For You reign in the glory of the power that is love,
Now and forever. Amen


I Am the Light of the World
(VU 87)

Refrain:
I am the Light of the World
You people come and follow me
If you follow and 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!

To find the lost and lonely one
To heal that broken soul with love
To feed the hungry children
With warmth and good food
To feel the earth below the sky above!
To free the prisoner from his chains
To make the powerful care
To rebuild the nations
With strength and goodwill
To call a man your brother everywhere.
To bring hope to every task you do
To dance at a baby's new birth
To make music in an old man's heart
And sing to the colors of the earth!


Extinguishing the Light

As the candle is extinguished
and the smoke rises upward,
we remember that in our fears,
in our yearnings,
in our anger and in our losses,
we embrace you,
God-with-us.
Amen.














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