It Has Been 99 Years: A Call to Worship

It has been 99 years of mission,* of witness, of worship, of study, of service.
A blessed anniversary to all of us in this United Church family of faith.
It has been 99 years of being welcomed in baptism, sharing at table, laughing, singing, praying, and weeping together.

We come to worship so that we can go—
go to make a difference, go to comfort strangers, go to tell of the good news,
go to heal hurts, go to be with the wounded, go to live the Way of Jesus.

So, you’re saying we come just to turn
around and leave again, that our purpose is
to gather, that we may strengthen our going forth, that our mission is not within a
building but rather going into the world?

Yes! I think that is more than enough reason to celebrate on this Union Sunday. We come and
we gather to be strengthened and to be encouraged, to know that we are not alone so that we can let others know they are not alone.

We come, then, to breathe deeply of the Spirit’s breath,
to find our identity as disciples because we are sent out into the world.

Gord Dunbar, Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, Ont.

*or purpose