Minister Rev Robert McDowell

Accompanist/ Choir Director Joyce Andrews

Office Administration Jennifer Chiasson

Oromocto United Church

144 Winnebago

Oromocto

oromoctopinegroveunitedchurch.ca

These days many of us are investing in seeds and plants, expecting to see great

results over the coming months. Mission and Service is investing in agriculture in a

bigger way. Here’s a story about conservation farming in Zimbabwe.

Christian Care, a Mission and Service partner in Zimbabwe, is part of an exciting

project helping farmers produce more maize on less land and also work independ-

ently of global farm corporations. All that’s needed is mulch and a hoe.

Farmers in Zimbabwe have faced seven droughts in eight years. Their soil is less

viable, and they have become dependent on chemicals and unreliable hybrid seed

on the bad advice of commercial seed corporations. As a result, up to 80 percent of

households have needed food aid donations in recent years to survive.

The Christian Care conservation farming program has significantly improved the

situation for over 500 families by training farmers and organizing farm exchange

visits and community seed banks. The results have been extraordinary. The farmers

produced ten times as much, even in drought conditions, and were able to save and

share huge amounts of seed. The techniques are simple: create an organic layer of

mulch over all the ground; fertilize with manure; and prepare the fields well during

the dry season for planting. Another partner supported by United Church congrega-

tions and Mission and Service, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, collaborated with

Christian Care in this project.

Your gifts to Mission and Service are supporting conservation

farming in Zimbabwe. Together, we can focus on people’s

right to food.

MINUTE FOR MISSON

Rev Bob McDowell

Office 357-3423; Cell 470-1155; Home 488-2154

Email: mcdowell@nb.sympatico.ca

A p r i l 2 2 , 2 0 1 2

1 0 : 3 0 a m

We welcome everyone to this time together in worship. We gather in this church in

the belief that we are all equally God’s guests whether we’ve been here all our lives

or this is our first time. We welcome everyone in this spirit of Christ as it is our belief

that this is how we are to live. Everyone, without exception, belongs equally at

God’s table.

If you are visiting with us please sign our guest book opposite the usher’s table. If

you are new with us and wish a follow up contact please fill out a ‘Guest/New

Member Card which can be found with the guest book. As well you may pick up an

orientation package on the table in the entrance. We invite visitors from other

churches to pick up one of our Peace Candles to take home with you. An

explanation of this symbol accompanies each candle and these can be found on the

usher’s table.

Should you require a rest room it is at the end of the hall and it is equipped with a

baby change station. If you have young children who become restless there is a

nursery behind the back pew where they can play while you hear the service over

the speakers. You are welcome to bring a coffee into worship with you. The coffee

pot is in the entrance.

*While we stand for most hymns and at others times in our worship, please feel free

not to if for any reasons you can not or would rather not. VU stands for Voices

United and MV for More Voices. You are also invited to pick up a Bible version of

your choice at usher’s desk. Should you have any concerns please speak to an usher.

VU: Voices United – our hard cover red hymn book

MV: More Voices – our soft covered hymn book

O r d e r o f W o r s h i p f o r

O R O M O C T O & P I N E G R O V E

U N I T E D C H U R C H

S E R V I C E

Welcome and Announcements

A Time of Silence as We Begin

*Introit: to the tune VU 352

It’s a time to be welcomed, it’s a time to be free,

It’s a time to join hands in community;

And when we feel released from all shame and fear,

We’ll know that the love of God is near.

Refrain:

True affirmation is gained

When all God’s children are loved the same.

For justice, we’ll seek what is right,

With the Spirit’s guidance we’ll spread God’s light

To embrace diversity is Christ’s greatest call.

We will love our neighbour and reach out to all.

The barriers will fall down so all belong;

Our stories we’ll tell, and we’ll sing our songs.

*Our Prayer for a New Beginning

*Our First Hymn: VU 409, Morning Has Broken

Lighting our Resurrection Candle:

Leader: We dedicate this candle God to this time of worship. We gather to open

our hearts to you and to one another.

All: We confess our hearts are not always open. We often leave our hearts

closed, as we do our minds and our hands as well.

A n n o u n c e m e n t s

A New Offering Process: Beginning today we will be reversing the offering process

at the request of the Committee of Stewards. They remain after the service to pre-

pare the bank deposit, often with family members waiting. This will give them some

additional time.

We will begin with the sung offering response, have the prayer of dedication and

then collect the offering and the counters will leave and begin their work.

Please sign up to help lead in worship by lighting the candle, reading scripture or

some of the other roles. Signup sheets are in the Narthex [entrance].

G. S. T. AUCTION & PLANT SALE Reserve Saturday ,June 2 ,7 PM for our annual

G.S.T. (Goods,Services & Talents) Auction & Plant sale.

We hope you will plan to join us for an evening of Fun, Fellowship & Fundraising.

Please add your items to the sign-up sheet in the narthex

Annual cemetery cleanup at Pine Grove will take place April 28th at

9AM. Rain date will be May 5th.

Concert to help Bishop McAllister College

A country, bluegrass and gospel show will be held on Saturday evening, May 12th,

at St. Mary's Anglican Church on Fredericton's north side to support Canon Paul

Jeffries and Bishop McAllister College.

"John Jeffries, who is an excellent musician, is organizing the concert again this year

to help his cousin Paul," said Samuel Mayo, chair of the Missions Committee at

Christ Church Cathedral. "It's a fun evening and a good way to help the students

and staff at the school in Uganda."

In addition to John Jeffries, featured entertainers include Al Sherwood and Eileen

Hanson, Reid Merritt, Amy Yerxa, Bubs Brown and many others. Admission is $8 at

the door. The start time for the concert is 7:30 p.m. The church is located at 770

McEvoy Street.

The lists are coming out this week for the church supper. We will be calling for

people to bring vegetables etc for the dinner. Also will be asking for servers and

dishwashers as we desperately need help.

Our dinner has changed it's time from 4.00- 6.00 PM More to follow. Thanks,

Joanne, Co-ordinator. 357-3064

D a t e s T o N o t e

Apr 23, 6pm, Pine Grove Special Com Meeting

Apr 24, 6:30, Church Council

Apr 26, 4pm, OVCL Board Meeting Oromocto Municipal building

Apr 26, 6pm, Oromocto Pioneer Garden Cemetery AGM, Hazen Park Ctr

April 28, 9am, Pine Grove Cemetery cleanup

Apr 29, Ecumenical service to recognize and thanks Emergency Service Personnel

at SVDP, 7pm, Rev Bob speaker

May 4, Oromocto Baptist Church 175th

Anniversary service

May 5, Spring Supper 4 pm

May 10, 7pm, Special Meeting of Session to vote on the Remits

May 14, Municipal Election Day

May 31st

, Oromocto Pioneer Garden Fund Raising Dinner to Honour Mayor Tidd

June 2nd, GST Auction and Plant Sale

June 23, OVCL AGM, 1pm, Hazen Park Ctr, Watling Room

The Oromocto and Valley Co-operative Living Project has been granted SEED

money from CMHC to draft a business plan and conduct a professional feasibility

study. That should be complete about the end of May. We will then submit the

PDF [project development funds] application for $100,000 to complete the plan-

ning phase for part one of the new Aging In Place Non Profit Seniors Housing Pro-

ject.

S E R V I C E

Leader: Yet we also acknowledge that we are here because our hearts are restless.

All: We want to live more openly and more lovingly than we do now. We know

there is a better life in living with open hearts, with open minds and with open

hands.

Leader: Stir our hearts God.

All: Reclaim us, renew us, and enliven us in our hearts, in our minds and in our

reaching out.

Leader: Bless us such that we might leave your presence this day shifted, altered

and changed in the ways we need to be.

People: May we leave here open and receptive, honest and vulnerable, unafraid

and embracing of life.

Leader: Unto you God-

All: Not unto each other

Leader: Not unto our pet projects

All: Not unto our favourite charity or passions

But unto you may our hearts be opened for we are yours.

Our Hymn: VU 639, One More Step Along the World I Go, vs 1-3

Some Time with the children

Our Prayer & Lord’s Prayer

Our Hymn [seated] : VU 639, vs 4-5

Light Our Candle of Concern

Our Reading for Today:

S E R V I C E

*Our Hymn: MV 154, Deep In Our Hearts

Our Message for Today

Our Anthem:

*Our Words of Faith: page 918 VU, A Contemporary Creed

*Our Offering [603 VU, vs 1]

In loving partnership we come,

seeking , O God, your will to do.

Out prayers and actions now receive,

we freely offer them to you.

*Our Offering Dedicated

Our Offering Collected:

Our Prayers of Gratitude, Concern & Our Lord’s Prayer

Our Hymn to Leave With: MV 161, I Have Called You By Your Name

*Our Benediction

*Our Choral Benediction

Ev’ry Morning is Easter morning from now on.

Ev’ry day is resurrection day, the past is over and gone.

Ev’ry Morning is Easter morning, Ev’ry Morning is Easter morning

Ev’ry Morning is Easter morning from now On!