Sandcastle Sunrise Service
July 7, 2013 – Shelter Point Park
TUC has been doing this service on the Sandcastle weekend for many years. It is our pleasure and privilege to worship God here with you on this beautiful morning in this incredibly beautiful place!
Is there anyone visiting from off-island today? (introduce and welcome)
Call to Worship: (responsive)
Greetings to our brothers and sisters in the faith.
We come to celebrate God’s presence,
And God’s love expressed through Jesus Christ.
We come remembering Christ’s life and ministry,
And the life we are called to live.
We come as pilgrim people searching for ways to live out our faith.
We come seeking the strength to carry on our journey.
Let us rejoice in God’s gift to us!
Let us pray: (unison)
Gracious God,
Who creates, sustains, and redeems all life,
We come seeking your disturbing presence and comforting peace. We praise you for the joy of being your people.
May your Spirit be with us and move within us, in this time of worship.
Give us hearts that hear your Word, and minds that are open to the transforming power of your love. Amen.
Hymn: “Morning has broken”
Jesus was asked by a man who was an expert in the law, “What is the greatest commandment? What must I do to have eternal life?” and Jesus answered, “You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” And in another place (John 15: 12-13), “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Hymn: “When I needed a neighbour”
1st Scripture reading: Psalm 82 – a Plea for Justice (Dale)
Here we sit this morning, in the midst of the incredible beauty of God’s creation. But the Psalmist reminds us of our call – our mission as children of God – to do justice in the world. He reminds us that we “are Gods, children of the Most High, all of you.” He calls on God to come and judge the world, for it is not us but the Creator who owns all the Creation. All the nations, all the rulers, all of us, must answer for our deeds – for the Earth is the Lord’s.
Some of us are the princes, the rulers – the rich and powerful. Others of us are addicted to a variety of substances or practices. Some of us are poor and hungry. Some are ill or grieving. Any of us may at times find ourselves lost and alone, weary and broken in heart, mind and spirit, and feeling far, far from God.
But what did Jesus say? “Love one another as I have loved you.” Such an important message – for this is how we can heal one another – by simply loving one another!
Let’s sing together an old hym that I love very much, because it says it all:
Hymn: “Come in, come in and sit down”
2nd Scripture Reading: Luke 10: 25-37 “Who is my neighbour?” (Donna)
We are gathered here this morning on this beautiful land called Shelter Point Park. Generations of Texadans have used and enjoyed this land: first for logging, and then set aside for recreational use and camping.
We love this park. But we are not the first to use and enjoy this area. If you walk down the nature trail you will see at mid-low tide the fish weirs of the Sliammon people. Those circular stone fish traps are very old. They pre-date the arrival of the rest of us. There are middens too – large piles of shells and bones indicative of human settlement a very long time ago.
You have probably noticed that there are people putting up little flags and digging holes all over the park – but especially this area where we hope to rebuild our food concession, and a new home for the park manager. You see, we had a bad fire here in the park last year, and we lost those two buildings completely.
So now we must build new – and in a new spirit of partnership and cooperation, the Regional District is consulting with First Nations peoples who may deem this area of significance to them. The people you see digging are from the Archaelogical Branch of the Provincial Government. They are mapping the area, looking for sites that may be of historic interest.
Nine 1st Nations groups have been asked to sign off on whether or not this area is of cultural or historical significance to them.
Until both these processes are complete, there will be no new building on this site.
So that’s a bit of information as to what is going on right now. And some of us aren’t very happy about it. This has been our park for a long time. We forget that it hasn’t always been ours.
The Sliammon people , about 860 of them now, live on reserve land 12km north of Powell River. The Sliammon nation is one of about 20 nations comprising the Coast Salish people who inhabit the coastal regions of BC and the Pacific Northwest.
Before contact with Europeans, there are estimated to have been about 20,000 members of the Sliammon nation alone, spread out in villages from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay.
Land ownership the way we define it was foreign to them when first contact was made. Sharing of abundant and God-given resources was an important cultural value to them, and so they were easily dominated by the more aggressive and distinctly territorial settlers.
They had little resistance to the diseases of the settlers, and so their population was decimated by smallpox and tuberculosis and syphilis. With no built up tolerance to social use of alcohol, they were easily manipulated by settlers who well knew it’s effects.
The Indian Residential Schools, which separated very young children from their families and systematically destroyed language and culture are a legacy of shame which we are still trying to heal from, and from which the 1st Nations people are still trying to rebuild their pride and their culture.
So when we look at the process going on in this place today, literally right under our feet, we might take a moment to ask ourselves: where does justice lie in all this, and who is my neighbour?
Prayer of Confession: (unison)
Jesus, who sat at the table with outcasts and sinners,
We confess that too often our words and actions are not consistent with our beliefs.
Often we ignore the needy, show indifference to the lonely, and reject those who seem different from us.
Forgive us, we pray.
Empower us to reach out in love and acceptance, and to make amends to those we may have harmed.
Words of Assurance:
God hears us. God forgives us. Let us be willing to be cleansed and healed in the light of God’s great Love.
Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love:
Where there is injury, pardon:
Where there is doubt, faith:
Where there is darkness, light:
Where there is despair, hope,
And where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Lord’s Prayer: (unison & in the language of your choice)
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,
Forever, and ever. Amen.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus said, “Follow me. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” For us, he is the Way – and the journey of our lives is to follow him. In so doing, may we be a light to the nations, bringing forth great gifts of justice and of truth in his name.
Let us go forth from this place now, knowing that
The love of God is ours to share,
The peace of Christ is ours to extend,
And the power of the Holy Spirit is ours to offer.
Let’s go out with joy this morning, as we join together to sing:
Hymn: “You Shall Go Out With Joy” (Isaiah 55) 2x
Minister: Karen E. May, DLM
Pianist: Maureen Northrop
July 7, 2013 – Shelter Point Park
TUC has been doing this service on the Sandcastle weekend for many years. It is our pleasure and privilege to worship God here with you on this beautiful morning in this incredibly beautiful place!
Is there anyone visiting from off-island today? (introduce and welcome)
Call to Worship: (responsive)
Greetings to our brothers and sisters in the faith.
We come to celebrate God’s presence,
And God’s love expressed through Jesus Christ.
We come remembering Christ’s life and ministry,
And the life we are called to live.
We come as pilgrim people searching for ways to live out our faith.
We come seeking the strength to carry on our journey.
Let us rejoice in God’s gift to us!
Let us pray: (unison)
Gracious God,
Who creates, sustains, and redeems all life,
We come seeking your disturbing presence and comforting peace. We praise you for the joy of being your people.
May your Spirit be with us and move within us, in this time of worship.
Give us hearts that hear your Word, and minds that are open to the transforming power of your love. Amen.
Hymn: “Morning has broken”
Jesus was asked by a man who was an expert in the law, “What is the greatest commandment? What must I do to have eternal life?” and Jesus answered, “You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” And in another place (John 15: 12-13), “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Hymn: “When I needed a neighbour”
1st Scripture reading: Psalm 82 – a Plea for Justice (Dale)
Here we sit this morning, in the midst of the incredible beauty of God’s creation. But the Psalmist reminds us of our call – our mission as children of God – to do justice in the world. He reminds us that we “are Gods, children of the Most High, all of you.” He calls on God to come and judge the world, for it is not us but the Creator who owns all the Creation. All the nations, all the rulers, all of us, must answer for our deeds – for the Earth is the Lord’s.
Some of us are the princes, the rulers – the rich and powerful. Others of us are addicted to a variety of substances or practices. Some of us are poor and hungry. Some are ill or grieving. Any of us may at times find ourselves lost and alone, weary and broken in heart, mind and spirit, and feeling far, far from God.
But what did Jesus say? “Love one another as I have loved you.” Such an important message – for this is how we can heal one another – by simply loving one another!
Let’s sing together an old hym that I love very much, because it says it all:
Hymn: “Come in, come in and sit down”
2nd Scripture Reading: Luke 10: 25-37 “Who is my neighbour?” (Donna)
We are gathered here this morning on this beautiful land called Shelter Point Park. Generations of Texadans have used and enjoyed this land: first for logging, and then set aside for recreational use and camping.
We love this park. But we are not the first to use and enjoy this area. If you walk down the nature trail you will see at mid-low tide the fish weirs of the Sliammon people. Those circular stone fish traps are very old. They pre-date the arrival of the rest of us. There are middens too – large piles of shells and bones indicative of human settlement a very long time ago.
You have probably noticed that there are people putting up little flags and digging holes all over the park – but especially this area where we hope to rebuild our food concession, and a new home for the park manager. You see, we had a bad fire here in the park last year, and we lost those two buildings completely.
So now we must build new – and in a new spirit of partnership and cooperation, the Regional District is consulting with First Nations peoples who may deem this area of significance to them. The people you see digging are from the Archaelogical Branch of the Provincial Government. They are mapping the area, looking for sites that may be of historic interest.
Nine 1st Nations groups have been asked to sign off on whether or not this area is of cultural or historical significance to them.
Until both these processes are complete, there will be no new building on this site.
So that’s a bit of information as to what is going on right now. And some of us aren’t very happy about it. This has been our park for a long time. We forget that it hasn’t always been ours.
The Sliammon people , about 860 of them now, live on reserve land 12km north of Powell River. The Sliammon nation is one of about 20 nations comprising the Coast Salish people who inhabit the coastal regions of BC and the Pacific Northwest.
Before contact with Europeans, there are estimated to have been about 20,000 members of the Sliammon nation alone, spread out in villages from Sarah Point to Saltery Bay.
Land ownership the way we define it was foreign to them when first contact was made. Sharing of abundant and God-given resources was an important cultural value to them, and so they were easily dominated by the more aggressive and distinctly territorial settlers.
They had little resistance to the diseases of the settlers, and so their population was decimated by smallpox and tuberculosis and syphilis. With no built up tolerance to social use of alcohol, they were easily manipulated by settlers who well knew it’s effects.
The Indian Residential Schools, which separated very young children from their families and systematically destroyed language and culture are a legacy of shame which we are still trying to heal from, and from which the 1st Nations people are still trying to rebuild their pride and their culture.
So when we look at the process going on in this place today, literally right under our feet, we might take a moment to ask ourselves: where does justice lie in all this, and who is my neighbour?
Prayer of Confession: (unison)
Jesus, who sat at the table with outcasts and sinners,
We confess that too often our words and actions are not consistent with our beliefs.
Often we ignore the needy, show indifference to the lonely, and reject those who seem different from us.
Forgive us, we pray.
Empower us to reach out in love and acceptance, and to make amends to those we may have harmed.
Words of Assurance:
God hears us. God forgives us. Let us be willing to be cleansed and healed in the light of God’s great Love.
Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love:
Where there is injury, pardon:
Where there is doubt, faith:
Where there is darkness, light:
Where there is despair, hope,
And where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.
The Lord’s Prayer: (unison & in the language of your choice)
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,
Forever, and ever. Amen.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus said, “Follow me. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” For us, he is the Way – and the journey of our lives is to follow him. In so doing, may we be a light to the nations, bringing forth great gifts of justice and of truth in his name.
Let us go forth from this place now, knowing that
The love of God is ours to share,
The peace of Christ is ours to extend,
And the power of the Holy Spirit is ours to offer.
Let’s go out with joy this morning, as we join together to sing:
Hymn: “You Shall Go Out With Joy” (Isaiah 55) 2x
Minister: Karen E. May, DLM
Pianist: Maureen Northrop
