BlackHistoryMonthService Feb 1, 2026

Merging Waters United Church
Black History Month, Fourth after Epiphany “Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with God” Sunday Morning Worship February 1, 2026

WELCOME / BIENVENUE

People of all ages, identities, and walks of life are welcome.

Wherever you are, whoever you are, we welcome you in love and community to worship.

Keep our worship scent-free! To help fellow worshippers with chemical sensitivities, please do not wear perfume or scented products (lotion, hair spray) if attending in person.

Veillez à ce que notre culte soit exempt d'odeurs ! Pour aider les fidèles souffrant de sensibilités chimiques, nous vous demandons de ne pas porter de parfum ou de produits parfumés (lotion, laque) si vous assistez au culte en personne.

To protect personal privacy, please do not take photos or videos without authorization.

Pour protéger la vie privée, ne prenez pas de photos ou de vidéos sans autorisation.

Toutes et tous sont bienvenus, peu importe l’âge, l’identité ou les conditions de vie.

Peu importe où que vous soyez, qui que vous soyez, nous vous accueillons dans l'amour et la communauté pour louer Dieu ensembles.

Notre amour n’est jamais limité par la distance. Please join in the responses in bold text. Veuillez-vous joindre aux réponses en texte gras.

Wherever we are, we’re close in one another’s hearts.

WELCOME

LIFE AND WORK OF THE PEOPLE

GATHERING ACKNOWLEDGING THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY

Before we begin, we also resituate ourselves
within the community of God’s good Creation.
We express gratitude to Earth and her creatures,
who sustain us, here in the region of the St. Lawrence river valley. We also acknowledge the colonial impact
which has hurt creation,
and the indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.
We commit to and to seeking a reconciling relationship
with the first Nations of this land,
and with all who have come here
seeking refuge, sanctuary, dignity and hope and “home.”

OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE (LIGHT A CANDLE)

The candle we light today reminds us of Christ’s light that shines within us all.
Martin Luther Kind Jr. shared with us words of wisdom in his famous speech, “I have a dream” A dream of beloved community. May this light we share empower ad inspire us to live into this light of love.

GATHERING SONG Deep River

Traditional Spiritual, Arrangement Michael Woytiuk

SPIRITUAL FOCUS
Why are we called to this place?
To be God’s people. To be people of love! What is required of us?
To seek justice,
to love kindness,
to live humbly with God.
And how shall we do this?
With our prayers,
with our thoughts,
with our actions,
and with our love.
Then, as people who are both blessed and blessing:

Let us worship God!

Gathering ACE 2026-Richard Bott, Grace U.C., Burlington, Ont.

GATHERING PRAYER

Holy One,
we come with expectant hearts and minds,
ready to be engulfed in the presence of your Holy Spirit. As we gather on this first Sunday of Black History Month, continue to embolden us,
to unpack our biases,
to decolonize our community,
and to teach us to live boldly in your love.
Grant us that peace which passes all understanding
to ready ourselves to hear your call and your word. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN: VU # 701 What Does the Lord Require of You?

FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD

THE WORD

“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!

4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery,

and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Micah 6:3-8 NRSVUE

5 O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him,

and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”

What God Requires
6 “With what shall I come before the Lord

and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

FOOD FOR THOUGHT HYMN MV # 213 OFFERING INVITATION OFFERING SONG

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Holy Creator, we give you ourselves
and the gifts of our hands.
Use us to spread your kin-dom of love and compassion.
Use us to further your kin-dom of justice. Use us to bless and nurture your creation.
In Jesus’ name, and humbly we pray. Amen.

Take Up His Song

This Little Light of Mine Traditional Spiritual

Adapted from the Gathering ACE 2026- Susan Girard, Riverview U.C., Atikokan, Ont. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

As children of Love, we are called and claimed by the creator
of the universe.
Hear our prayers at this moment for ourselves, our neighbours, and the world. (silence)

HYMN VU #400 Lord Listen to Your Children Praying

Holy One,
grant us the strength to overcome our fears and our weakness that we may be your hands and feet in the world.
Help us turn this world upside down,
that the norms of society may be broken down, and the grace and mercy of your Kin-dom may flourish.

HYMN VU #400 Lord Listen to Your Children Praying

Abide in us that we may be granted your wisdom and vision for how the world ought to be.
Give us eyes to see a hurting world,
ears to hear the cries of grief and desperation,

and hearts to be moved to action that step by step we may live into the reality of your Kin-dom on Earth.

HYMN VU #400 Lord Listen To Your Children Praying

Thank you for our community of faith whom we draw strength from each and every day.
As we are blessed by you, O God,
may we work toward being a blessing to your Creation and all within. Amen.

JESUS’ PRAYER/THE LORD’S PRAYER

SENDING HYMN VU #646 BLESSING & SENDING

Go forth into the world
with compassion and justice in your heart Give strength to the weak
Give voice to the silent
See one another
Hear one another
Care for one another
And love one another
It’s all that easy
And it’s all that hard
Now may the grace of God
The love of Christ
And the power of the Holy Spirit
Be with us all, now and forever more Amen.

We Are Marching in the Light of God

SENDING SONG

Thank you for joining in worship today ❤

February 8:Intercultural #13
Soup sale after church

Feb 15: Transfiguration Sunday Communion