Today’s Worship Service

Welcome and Announcements

Greeting One Another in Jesus’ Name

(Elora) Shout to the North

Invitation to Worship

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Gathering Prayer

All Creatures of Our God and King (VU 217)

Scripture: Mark 2.1-12

Especially for Children

Jesus, United by Your Grace (VU 591)

Children can leave for Children’s Worship.

Reflection

Blest Be the Tie that Binds (VU 602)

Prayers of the Community ~ Lord’s Prayer

We Share our Offerings

(Elora) As Bread that is Broken

We Are Pilgrims on a Journey (VU 595)

* Sending Out and Blessing

(Bethany) Amen, Amen, Alleluia Amen

(Elora) Go Now in Peace

Worship Notes

Our church is much more than a building.

We are a community of faith

joined in our love for God and for God’s world.

We believe God has come to us in Jesus.

In him we find our meaning, our direction in life,

and our greatest joy.

Worship is how we celebrate this,

and we are glad to celebrate with you today.

For Kids — Part-way through our worship time, kids from JK to Gr.8 can go for a special time of fun and learning. We’ll announce where and when this will happen. Of course, if they’d prefer to stay with their parents, or if parents would like to go with them, that is fine.

A Special Thanks to Phil Irish for leading us in worship this morning. Phil is a local artist and a member of the Elora congregation’s worship planning team. He was our youth minister from 2002-2007. Thanks Phil.

Elora Scripture Reader: Jenna Lindhorst

Immediately after worship

Refreshments and Conversation downstairs.

Our hosts today are Gary & Sherry Hall (Bethany) and the Elora Preschool (Elora).

Visitors and Newcomers are invited

to check out the Information Display

in Elora’s Welcome Centre.

Laptop Computer needed: The Grade 6-8 Children’s Worship group needs a laptop to edit their videos and photos. Needed every Sunday for about a 2 month span. Contact Marilyn Abraham (787-0096) if you can help with this need.

You Too can be Like Judy! Experience the fast-paced and exciting world of operating Elora’s new video projection system and sound board. Tech Training Seminar – today after worship. Please speak with Greg Smith-Young or Ron Campbell if you are interested.

Annual Congregational Meetings are coming up. Bethany’s meeting will be at 12:30 pm on Sunday, Feb 10. Please have your written reports into the office as soon as they are ready. Final deadline: today. Elora’s meeting will be 12:30 pm on Sunday, Feb 24. Final deadline for written reports: February 10. Thanks to those who have already submitted their reports.

Presbytery Reps Needed. Waterloo Presbytery is our district of the United Church. We need 2 reps from Elora and 1 from Bethany. Regular Presbytery meetings happen 6 times/year, usually from 5-9 pm. Reps also attend the Hamilton Conference annual meeting for a weekend in May (it’s in Fergus this year). Also, there is a chance to serve on Presbytery committees. This is a chance for you to be involved in the work of the church beyond our congregation.

The Book Study Group will meet tonight at 7 pm, at Arlene Callaghan’s, (787-2085, 15 Pattison Pl. Fergus south on Tower, left onto Belsyde, right onto St. David St., right onto Elkin, left onto Pattison ). In February, we will begin studying Bill Phipps' book, "Cause for Hope". Everyone is welcome. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Phipps' book for $22.85, which is a discounted price, contact John Markvart. (846-8678)

Happening This Week

Today: 7 pm Junior Youth at Elora UC

7 pm High School Youth at Elora UC

Monday 1 pm Elora Quilters

7 pm Song of Faith

Thurs 6:30 pm Elora Junior choir rehearsal

7 pm Elora Senior choir rehearsal

Friday 4:30 pm Carpool meets at Elora UC for Youth Winter Retreat

Looking Ahead at Elora-Bethany

Tues, Feb 5 7:30 pm Elora Worship Planning Team

Sun, Feb 10 12:30 pm Bethany Annual Congregational meeting

Events in Our Community

DESIGNING OUR FUTURE COMMUNITY Presented by Greenlands Centre Wellington. Please mark your calendars our third Community Workshop Saturday, March 1, 2008 Sportsplex, Belsyde Ave. Fergus. Registration at 8:30am - Workshop 9:00 to 3:00pm $20 (Morning coffee and Lunch included)

Keynote Speaker: Sean Kelly Assistant Professor, Landscape Architecture School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, Ontario Agricultural College Guelph, Ontario. Sean Kelly (a resident of this Township) will lead participants through a series of exciting design exercises specific to the Township of Centre Wellington. A biophysical study, funded by the Township of Centre Wellington, and map work created by the community at last year’s workshop will be showcased. Participants will be using this material to help in Designing Our Future Community. Please come join us and continue to have a say in the way our future looks. All Welcome! Register at www.greenlandscw.org Questions? greenlandscw@gmail.com

You are invited to the Ash Wednesday service at St. John’s Anglican church in Elora on Feb. 6th at 7 pm.

Hamilton Burlington KAIROS committee and IDEA BURLINGTON present this year’s KAIROS campaign: RE-ENERGIZE: TIME FOR A CARBON SABBATH

Guest Speaker: Professor Blake Poland, Director of the Collaborative Program in Community Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto AND Health Promotion critic in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada “50+ THINGS I/WE’VE DONE TO REDUCE MY/OUR OWN CARBON/ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT” Plus Short Video on the Alberta Tar Sands. Saturday, February 9 2008, Ryerson United Church, 842 Main St. E Hamilton (Parking at school next door on Springer Ave.) 9:00–9:30 am Registration (free) 9:30–1:00 pm Program and Light refreshments. For more information, contact: Mary Joan 905-528-5631, Gail 905-634-7654

Elora and Bethany United Churches

Box 737, Elora, N0B 1S0 www.elorabethanyuc.org

519.846.0122 elorabethanyuc@bellnet.ca

MINISTERS: All Of Us, Together in Christ

Staff: Greg Smith-Young (pastor)

Barb Smith-Young (youth)

Suzanne Flewelling (music-Bethany)

Louise Elder (music-Elora)

Judy McMullan (administrator)

Greg is usually in the office on weekday mornings. Judy is in the office Thursdays/Fridays, 9:30 - 4:00.

Bethany and Elora

United Churches

Sunday Worship

January 27, 2008