Grace United Church Grace United Church
Grace United Church is live
Sept. 26, 2021 Sunday Worship
Sally Jean Anderson
Sally Jean Anderson
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Chat
Service and Hymns
Playlist
Loading chat...

 September 26th, 2021 ~ 10:30 AM ~ Truth & Reconciliation Sunday
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship
Minister:                             Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director:                  Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader:                       Orleen Anderson
Guest Speaker:                  Sally Jean Anderson
Voices:                                Heather & George Dickson  

~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics     We Gather to Worship God  

PRELUDE:  Moment Musical   F. Schubert         

GREETING: (2 Cor 13:13) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.  

WELCOME      

CALL TO WORSHIP:
Leader: O God, our Creator, you bring us into being and you guide us throughout life.  We are thankful that you have called us into this circle of worship today.
People: We thank you for the teaching: that we are to respect one another. We thank you for the teaching: that all are equal in the circle We thank you for the teaching: that we have been called to create 'right relations' with each other. Be with us as we share together and grow spiritually. 
Leader: We are thankful for this day.  We are thankful to be in this circle of life with each other.  Through your sacredness, O God, we are made sacred.  May we experience your presence through our sharing on this day.   

OPENING PRAYER: I'd like to read a meditation from Richard Wagamese's book EMBERS, One Ojibways' Meditations.  My ceremonies do not include sacred smoke, only indigenous elders have the authority to use sacred smoke - so I will light candles.   

For you today, my friends, I raise sacred smoke.  For you who are troubled, confused, doubtful, lonely, afraid, addicted, unwell, bothered or alone, I raise sacred smoke.  For those of you in sorrow, grief or pain, I raise sacred smoke.  For those who work for people, for change, for spiritual evolution, for upward and outward growth of our common humanity and the well being of our planet, I raise sacred smoke.  For those of you in joy, in the glow of small or great triumphs, who live in love, faith, courage and respect, I raise sacred smoke.  And, in the act of all this, I raise it also for myself.   

OPENING HYMN:   VU 229   God of the Sparrow
1. God of the sparrow
God of the whale
God of the swirling stars
How does the creature say Awe
How does the creature say Praise
2. God of the earthquake
God of the storm
God of the trumpet blast
How does the creature cry Woe
How does the creature cry Save
3. God of the rainbow
God of the cross
God of the empty grave
How does the creature say Grace
How does the creature say Thanks
4. God of the hungry
God of the sick
God of the prodigal
How does the creature say Care
How does the creature say Life
5. God of the neighbor
God of the foe
God of the pruning hook
How does the creature say Love
How does the creature say Peace
6. God of the ages
God near at hand
God of the loving heart
How do your children say Joy
How do your children say Home          

ORANGE SHIRT:    

A PRAYER FOR ORANGE SHIRT DAY:
Today we wear orange to remember and honour all the Indigenous children who went to residential schools. Today we wear orange and we pray for the residential school and intergenerational survivors who are still struggling.
Today we wear orange and we are thankful for those who speak the truth, and who work to shine a light on injustice.
Today we wear orange in the name of compassion and the spirit of truth and reconciliation.
Help us, God, to remember and act on this this every day.
Amen.  

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Fantasy on a Hymn   C. Burton  

INTRODUCTION OF GUEST SPEAKER:    

CONVERSATION:    by Sally Jean Anderson  

HYMN: VU 375   Spirit of Gentleness
Refrain Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow thro’ the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness,
stir me from placidness, Wind, Wind on the sea.
 
1. You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
wake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.
 
Refrain Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow thro’ the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
 
2. You swept thro’ the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with their idols and lies,
then you spoke thro’ your prophets to open their eyes.
 
Refrain Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow thro’ the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
 
3. You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew thro’ your people on the rush of the wind.
 
Refrain Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow thro’ the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
 
4. You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.
from the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams,
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.
with bold new decisions your people arise.
 
Refrain Spirit, spirit of gentleness,
blow thro’ the wilderness, calling and free,
Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness,
Wind, Wind on the sea.
   

PROFESSION OF FAITH A New Creed
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.  
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,

who works in us and others by the Spirit.  
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus,   
crucified and risen,   
our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.

We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.  

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:  O God, we come together as a human family, blessed to be alive, blessed to be on this land, blessed to have neighbours as diverse as your creation. You surround us with air we breathe, water we drink, all manner of living plants and animals that delight us and sustain us. Thank you, Creator, for all you provide. We take a moment in silence to ponder the blessings you give us―of family, friends, places to call home, the food we eat, the web of life in which we with all creatures live, move, and have our being. Hear us as we give thanks…  
O God, we thank you for Indigenous neighbours and friends this day. And yet we lament, too. We lament that historic and contemporary racism continues to mar our relations. We lament the church’s role as beneficiaries of an economic and governance system that privileges settler peoples at the expense of the First Peoples of this land. We lament apathy in the face of the need for change, change that recognizes the sovereignty of the First Peoples and recognizes at long last, in ways that make a difference, the sacredness of the land and the need for all of us to walk humbly upon it.
O God, for the witness of strength, caring, and love of Indigenous peoples, and for the struggle for what is just and right, open our hearts this day. Encourage us to listen more, speak less, participate in the movements for change that will bring us together in good and respectful ways. Encourage us to make friends, get to know someone’s story, and share our stories too, without fear, for in Christ we know we are all kin, relatives, with you and with each other and with all living and non-living things.    Amen  

UNITED CHURCH of CANADA CREST:  

MEDITATION:  

PASSING THE PEACE: During the Last Supper Jesus said ”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”  In this spirit of sharing we take time each week to pass the peace of Christ  with each other, with the one next to you, in the chat box, by text, or phone call later today.
The Peace of Christ be with you.        
And also with you.
Everyone is invited to share the peace of Christ by offering a message in the chat box. You may also wish to think of someone you would like to pass the peace to this week.  

MUSIC while we share the Peace of Christ:  Sonatensatz C.P.E. Bach  

Invitation to the Offering:

Donate online:   www.graceunitedthornbury.ca,  select “Give” or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca phone: 519-599-2438 to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
Care, Prayer, Share

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

CLOSING HYMN:   VU 684  Make Me a Channel of Your Peace 
1. Make me a channel of your peace
where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your healing power,
and where there's doubt, true faith in you  
Refrain Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.  
2. Make me a channel of your peace
where there's despair in life, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, only light;
and where there's sadness, ever joy  
Refrain Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.    
3. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we're born to eternal life.  
Refrain Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.  

COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION:
Go now, as the Spirit of life has called you:
- to be a people of grace
- to be a people of truth
- to be a people who pursue peace
- to be a people who remember
- to be a people who love
And may God go with you.
Amen  

SUNG BLESSING:   Go Now in Peace
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true,
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there, * within, around, above.
Go now in peace, in faith and in love.
Amen, amen, amen.   * alternate words: watching from above  

POSTLUDE: Impromptu Opus 90 #2   F. Schubert      

RESOURCES USED: LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission: - Affirmation of Faith: “A New Creed.” The United Church of Canada. General Council 1968. Alt. 1998. - Call to Worship.  Alf Dumont used by permission from Mandate, May 2005, Special Edition - A Prayer for Orange Shirt Day. This prayer was inspired by Honarine Scott’s Orange Shirt Day. - Prayers of the People. .  Read Sherman, being Good Neighbours, Indigenous day of Prayer 2021 © 2021 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice. Commissioning and Benediction. Alf Dumont.               
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “God of the Sparrow.” Words: Jaroslav J. Vajda 1983. Music: Carl F Schalk 1983. Words copyright © 1983 Jaroslav J. Vajda. Music copyright © 1983 G.I.A. Publications Inc. Used by permission. One License #608577 - “Spirit of Gentleness.” Words: James K. Manley 1975. Music: James K. Manley 1975. Words and Music copyright © 1975 James K. Manley. Used by permission. One License # 608577 - “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace.” Words: attr. To St. Francis 1220. Music: Sebastian Temple 1967; arr. Betty Pulkingham 1976. Music copyright © 1968 Franciscan Communications Centre.   Used by permission. One License #608577 – “Go Now in Peace.” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. One License #608577.                                                                   
Prelude:  Moment Musical     F. Schubert Interlude: Fantasy on a Hymn    C. Burton Passing of the Peace: Sonatensatz    C.P.E. Bach Postlude: Impromptu Opus 90 #2   F. Schubert All in Public Domain