Celebrating 90 Years - Hamilton Conference, The United Church of

Resources from General Council
To help celebrate 90 years
Worship resources for the Anniversary
http://www.united-church.ca/planning/seasons/churchunion
Archival Documents
http://www.united-church.ca/history/overview/archival#inaugural
History
http://www.united-church.ca/history/overview/brief
Historic Time Line
http://www.united-church.ca/history/overview/timeline
Partners in Mission
http://www.united-church.ca/partners
A Lens of Generosity
http://www.united-church.ca/exploring/stewardship/lens
Covenanting for Life
http://www.united-church.ca/economic/globalization/covenanting
Letters from Overseas
http://www.united-church.ca/communications/overseas
The United Church Crest
http://www.united-church.ca/history/crest
Global Partners in Ministry and Mission-
from the 1969/1976
(Blue) United Church of Canada Service Book
‘for the use of ministers conducting public worship’
(adapted)
The United Church of
Canada
Celebrating 90 years
O
God who biddest us to dwell with one mind in
thine house: of thy mercy put away from us all that
causes faction and bitterness, that, through thy
bountiful goodness, we may keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace; through Christ, the Prince of
peace. Amen. (p.155)
A
lmighty God, whose purpose is that all people
should love thee and give themselves to thee, we pray
for the church. Stir it from its complacency, that it
may bear witness to the world in simplicity and in
truth. Fill it with thy Holy Spirit that, as in the days of
Pentecost, men and women may be set afire with
passion and work for your kingdom on earth. We pray
in the name of him who is the head of the church,
even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 154)
http://unitedchurch.smugmug.com/
Dare to Be (United Church) (9 min video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66WctH5kE-M
Ap
A
lmighty God, by whose inspiration our fathers
and mothers built this church: we thank thee for
bringing us to this hour of worship and this day of
celebration. We honour thee for giving thy Son, who
founded the church in his death and resurrection, and
has sent it forth through the ages as a witness to thy
love. We bless thee for bestowing thy Holy Spirit, who
has hallowed this sanctuary and made it a source of
strength. We thank thee for calling women and men to
serve thee, and for calling us in our time. Praise be to
thee, O God, for thy work in our midst; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. (p. 146, 147)
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Prayers of Intercession and Thanksgiving
From the Desk of Lorna MacQueen
Conference Minister
Faith Formation for Discipleship
RESOURCES FOR
CELEBRATION
The United Church Celebrates 90 Years since church Union
A Litany of Remembrance
Other Litany Ideas
* Congregational Response
We remember…
*we remember before you and this
community with gratitude and
thanksgiving:
faithfully in so many capacities seen and unseen,
recognized and often unrecognized, supporting
and sharing the work of Jesus in the world, and
the ordered ministry personnel who ministered
with and among them.

(silence/song/ritual)

The faithful communities through many
centuries upon which the church in the world
today stands: Men and women who carried
the faith and were sustained by it through
persecution, trial and adversity. Women and
men who taught the faith to their children and
carried the faith with them to new lands and
communities.
We remember…
(silence/song/ritual)
O Holy God of Grace… we remember with
gratitude and pray that we too may leave an
inheritance of faith and faithfulness: That we too
may express Jesus’ passion for justice and be his
vehicles of love in the world. That we too may be
means for others to be nurtured by faith and that
this community may also be a foundation of faith
for future communities to build upon.
We remember…
*we remember before you and this
community with gratitude and
thanksgiving:
The courageous and visionary Methodist,
Congregational, and Presbyterian churches,
the General Council of Union Churches of
Western Canada, other scattered union
churches and the United Evangelical Brethren
as together they sought a new unity through
which to live their faith and work for your Reign
of Love in this United Church of Canada.
(silence/song/ritual)
We remember…
*we remember before you and this
community with gratitude and
thanksgiving:
The laity of (name of local church – or name of
amalgamated or joining churches) who served
*I remember before you and this community
with gratitude and thanksgiving: The
individuals and groups and communities who
helped to inspire and guide, teach and support
me in my faith journey.

(silence/song/ritual)

(silence/song/ritual)
A ritual might be incorporated into the above litany with
candle lighting or a symbol or image offered to enrich
this time of remembrance.
The silences should be long enough for people to
remember names, faces, stories, events that have
shaped and nourished the community and their own
lives.
A sung response might be added such as MV 104
Know That God is Good or an Alleluia of your choice.

Post newsprint over a number of weeks
and invite people to add their own
names, stories, prayers of thanksgiving
or petition. Pull them together into a
litany of thanksgiving.
Invite the children and youth to put
together a mural or poster of images
and words that express things for which
they are thankful in the United Church
and their local church. Use this in a
visual litany of thanksgiving projected
for worship.
Invite people of various ages and
representing both historic and new
families and adherents, languages and
cultural backgrounds (if possible) to
offer their voices to a litany of
thanksgiving offered in worship. Be
sensitive to be as inclusive as possible.
Flash Mob Litany coming out of the
congregation with music… to sing … or
rap… a litany of thanksgiving. You
could use a current piece of popular
music. As long as it was in worship
context and the words were not
projected or printed you would not need
performance permission. You could
also live stream a YouTube video to
sing/dance along with in celebration.
Depending upon the size and
participation comfort of your church
community, you could pass around a
microphone into the congregation
asking for people to offer a word or a
phrase of gratitude for the church, or to
pray for the United Church and/or local
church and the challenges and
opportunities of this time.