October 17th, 2021 Creation Sunday
Watch this Service at: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Mike Weller
Soloist: Shirley Woolner
Speaker: Diana Dolmer
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung Words: bold italic font
You are welcome to respond in prayers throughout the service.
At this time in compliance with Public Health guidelines there is no singing.
Prelude:
Prelude in E Major ~ J.S. Bach
Greeting:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Welcome & Territorial Acknowledgment
Call to Worship:
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet our heavenly Parent feeds them.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night declares knowledge.
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
But strive first for the kingdom of God, and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Opening Prayer:
Let us gather to call ourselves into mindfulness of the sacred gift of time: worship time and Sabbath time.
O Spirit, you swept through the ages:
be among us now
to fill us with radical amazement at the wonder of creation and creativity.
Call to us that we may hear your voice in beauty,
in witness, in song, and in prayer,
and respond with all that we have to offer:
body, mind, soul, and spirit.
Whisper to us when we doubt your goodness
and despair of hope in a world fraught with signs of destruction,
that we may yet hear your still small voice. Amen.
Opening Hymn: VU 291 All Things Bright and Beautiful
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
in love, God made them all.
1. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours, God made their tiny wings.
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
in love, God made them all.
2. The purple headed mountains, the river running by,
the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky;
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
in love, God made them all.
3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden: God made them everyone.
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
in love, God made them all.
4. The rocky mountain splendour, the lone wolf’s haunting call,
the great lakes and the prairies, the forest in the fall;
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
in love, God made them all.
5. God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell,
how great is God our maker, who has made all things well.
Refrain
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:
in love, God made them all.
Prayer of Approach:
Magnificent God,
when we think of awe,
our mind stumbles.
We are too busy for awe.
We know too much to be in awe.
We are too jaded for awe.
We ignore the spiritual gift of awe.
We feel awe, yes, before a mountain,
a sparkling lake,
a hummingbird.
We do not feel awe before the blessings of every day.
(a moment for silent confession)
Forgive us, Magnificent One.
Help us to experience awe this week
in washing dishes,
in the pesky backyard squirrel,
in our everyday challenges,
in an evening stroll.
For we want to be deeply faithful to you. Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Know that the ground of all being, from which all beauty, creation, and wisdom arise, is the ground of your being.
Let your fears and anxious worries cease; turn and see the beauty and goodness from which you are formed, knowing that just to be, is a gift. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination:
Holy One, we know that you constantly breathe new life into every word of scripture. Help us hear the Living Word you desire to share with us today.
Introduction to Eco-Theology and the Biblical Imperative to Care for Creation Christine
Musical Interlude:
Fantasy on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
A Message from the Green Team
Hymn: VU 380 She Comes Sailing on the Wind
Refrain:
She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight
her song rings out through the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
1. Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth,
like an empty cradle waiting to be filled.
And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth,
like a mother breathing life into her child.
Refrain:
She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight
her song rings out through the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
2. Many were the dreamers whose eyes were given sight
when the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form.
Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight,
and then down the ages still she flew on.
Refrain:
She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight
her song rings out through the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
3. To a gentle girl in Galilee, a gentle breeze she came,
a whisper softly calling in the dark,
the promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end,
Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.
Refrain:
She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight
her song rings out through the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
4. Flying to the river, she waited circling high
above the child now grown so full of grace.
As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky,
and she carried him away in her embrace.
Refrain:
She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight
her song rings out through the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
5. Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world,
after dawn returned in flame of rising sun,
the Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled,
bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on.
Refrain:
She comes sailing on the wind,
her wings flashing in the sun;
on a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight
her song rings out through the night,
full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Creator and Lord of all that is.
In your hand is the life of every thing --
of trees and plants, animals and insects --
and the breath of every human being.
I believe in Jesus the Christ, the Redeemer of all that we have damaged,
our broken souls and our broken world,
who offers new life when we love our neighbors,
neighbors sun and soil, water and air.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Sustainer of this community and future generations,
and the source of hope and courage to care about creation,
especially when sustainability seems hopeless.
We promise to work together and with God, to be stewards of this gift, our home. Amen
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer:
As a child turns to a loving caregiver who watches over them, we turn in prayer to you O god, who are our heavenly parent, our mother,
Our Father who art in heaven…
Passing the Peace:
The Peace of Christ be with you all.
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:
Prelude in E Minor ~ J.S. Bach
Invitation to the Offering & Prayer of Dedication:
A single stone placed in the offering plate honours all our gifts.
Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Give”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or 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 296 This is God’s Wondrous World
1. This is God’s wondrous world, and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is God’s wondrous world, I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
God’s hand in wonders wrought.
2. This is God’s wondrous world: the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is God’s wondrous world: God shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass or mountain pass,
God’s voice speaks everywhere.
3. This is God’s wondrous world: O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is God’s wondrous world: why should my heart be sad?
Let voices sing, let the heavens ring: God reigns, let earth be glad!
Commissioning and Benediction
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:
“Courante” from the English Suite No. 4 ~ J.S. Bach
*****
RESOURCES USED (all with permission):
Prayers and Liturgies:
- Call to Worship, Opening Prayer, Prayer of Approach/Words of Assurance: © 2011 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence.
- Affirmation of Faith: Affirmation of Faith, written by 2009 Eco Stewards For the Faith and Environment Conference Montreat, NC
Hymns and Sung Responses:
- “All Things Bright and Beautiful:”Words: Cecil Frances Alexander 1848, alt. Music: 17th century English melody; adapt. and arr. Martin Shaw 1915. Arrangement copyright © 1921 (renewed) J. Curwen & Sons Ltd. (London) All rights for U.S. and Canada controlled by G. Shirrmer Inc Reprinted and streamed with permission under One License #608577
- “She Comes Sailing on the Wind:” Words: Gordon Light1985. Music: Gordon Light 1985; arr. Andrew Donaldson 1994. Words and music copyright © 1987 Common Cup Company. Arrangement © 1994 Andrew Donaldson. Public Domain
- “This Is God’s Wondrous World:” Words: Maltbie Davenport Babcock 1901, alt. Music: English traditional melody; adapt. Franklin L. Sheppard 1915; adapt. Stanley Oliver 1929. Public Domain
- “Go Now in Peace.” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Reproduced with permission, One License, #608577.
Prelude: Prelude in E Major ~ J.S. Bach
Interlude: Fantasy on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
Passing of the Peace: Prelude in E Minor ~ J.S. Bach
Postlude: “Courante” from English Suite No. 4 ~ J.S. Bach
All Public Domain
