Eldad – Hampton Pastoral Charge
of the United Church of Canada.
Rev. Doug Ferris
Music Director: Evan Funnell
May 17, 2026
Services are recorded, contact eldadunitedchurch@gmail.com,
if you wish to receive a link each Sunday to the service.
PRE-SERVICE: WE PREPARE FOR WORSHIP
PRE-SERVICE SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. For you do not give me up to the grave or let your faithful one see the Pit. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right had are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:7-11).
GATHERING AND WELCOME
Welcome! May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE LAND
The East Central Ontario Regional Council (ECORC) of the United Church of Canada acknowledges that its buildings and ministries are on traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples.
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CELEBRATIONS
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Today, we light this candle to symbolize the light of Christ that shines with us and with us.
WE GATHER FOR WORSHIP
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: On this seventh Sunday of Easter, we affirm that Christ has risen!
ALL: Christ has risen, indeed!
One: God is Alive:
ALL: and new birth is given
One: Hope is Alive:
ALL: and a new age is dawning
One: Joy is Alive:
ALL: and redemption is here
One: Love is Alive
ALL: and despair cannot overwhelm us
One: We are Alive:
ALL: and God’s spirit enliven us.
HYMN OF APPROACH: More Voices #26 “Your Love is Amazing”
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION AND AFFIRMATION:
One: In the springtime light of the resurrected Christ, we become more aware of the growing weeds of doubt, despair and discouragement that have bloomed in the soil of our lives. Let us confess our doubts and disappointments to the Gardener, trusting that God can root out the weeds that have overshadowed the sunlight of the resurrection. Let us join together in responsive prayer: Loving God, in the birth light of Christ’s Resurrection, our shortcomings are exposed. When we deny you,
ALL: Loving God, Forgive.
One: When we wash our hands of the responsibility of helping others,
ALL: Loving God, Forgive.
One: When we cast lots, betting on the powerful and the oppressor,
ALL: Loving God, Forgive.
One: When we fail to witness for truth amongst society’s influential elite,
ALL: Loving God, Forgive.
One: When we scorn other because they remind us of our own vulnerability,
ALL: Loving God, Forgive.
ALL: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent. Forgiving God, have mercy on us and forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your name through Jesus Christ, Amen.
One: Friends, this is the Good News: Easter had come, and Christ is Risen, indeed. God loves each one of us with a deep and profound love beyond our human understanding, and God delights in an honest and contrite heart. Through transparency we are renewed, through humility we rise, and through contrition we are restored to a vibrant relationship with our Eternal source.
PASTORAL AFFIRMATION
WORDS FOR THE YOUNG–& EVERYONE: The Wonders of Springtime at the Fairgrounds
FAMILY IN SONG: Voices United 41 “O Beautiful Gaia“ (link–scan down to #41)
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
PRAYER OF ENLIGHTENMENT:
One: Living Spirit give us eyes to see with, your heart to feel with, your insight, your understanding. Amen.
Luke 24: 34-53 [Link to Scriptures]
Acts 1: 6-14
One: The Word of God for the people of God.
ALL: Thanks be to God for the Word.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
RESPONSIVE PRAYER:
THE CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE WORD
THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION: Offertory
We bring our Gifts of Service and Support before God and for the Work of the Church.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER:
One: The Scriptures remind that, ‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. Therefore, as we pray, let us do so asking that God will shape us in the image of our prayers. LET US PRAY: Gracious, Loving, and Living God, we pray: For the faithful all over the world, that all who love you may be united in your service. We pray for the church both here at home and throughout the world that your people will share your good news with the poor, and liberation for the captives, and witness that the day of the Lord has come near. Loving God, hear our prayer
ALL: AND IN YOUR LOVE, ANSWER.
One: God of Peace, we pray for peace. We pray for the people and leaders of the nations, that they may be reconciled one to another, in pursuit of Your justice and Your peace. We pray for our fragile world… God of Peace, hear our prayer
ALL: AND IN YOUR LOVE, ANSWER.
One: God of the victim, we pray for all who suffer from prejudice, greed or violence, we pray for all who suffer from war, and insecurity, we pray for all who suffer injustice because of the misuse of politics, religion, and power. We pray for relief from oppression and for the return of justice for all. God of Equality, hear our prayer
ALL: AND IN YOUR LOVE, ANSWER.
One: And here at home, Our Loving Parent, here in our own community, we pray for all who suffer the pain of sickness, loneliness, fear, or loss. We pray for those whose names are on in our hearts, in our thoughts, and on our lips. We pray for weaknesses known to all, and for challenges known by You alone. Loving God we pray that they may receive strength, courage, healing, grace, and a renewed love and understanding of your presence in their lives, as we recall their needs in silence or repeat their names aloud in supplication before you.
[PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT OR EXTEMPORANEOUS PRAYER]
One: God, you have promised that where two or three are gathered in your name, you are here, in our midst. Fulfill now the desires and petitions of your people as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come, life everlasting through the Spirit of Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
ALL: 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 for ever. Amen.1
1 In this season after Easter, we will share some variations of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Today, we share the ELLC version printed from Voices United, p. 910, printed above.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD IN THE UNITED CHURCH’S EXPRESSION OF FAITH, “A SONG OF FAITH”:
With Christians throughout time, we affirm our belief in the Old and New Testaments as primary standards of Christian faith and life. The United Church of Canada also affirms these timeless truths as expressed for our day in the poetic phrases of “A Song of Faith.”
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.
RENEWED, COMMISSIONED AND SENT FORTH INTO THE MINISTRY OF THE BODY OF CHRIST
HYMN OF COMMISSIONING: More Voices #176 “Three Things I Promise”
BENEDICTION & BLESSING
Hampton United Church 