FEBRUARY 20th, 2022
7th Sunday after Epiphany
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Guest Minister: Rev. Leslie Searles
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Carol Clarke
Choir Members: Marilyn Parkin, Debby Weale, Mary Poulin
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Gathering
Welcome to worship this morning. In both the Old Testament and Gospel readings we hear again the teachings that set apart the children of God from the mainstream culture. We all struggle to follow these teachings in our time and place in history. If it’s any help to you as you wrestle with your own low nature and the high expectations of a faithful life, ponder this: a wise theologian once said, “The Bible tells us to love our neighbours and to love our enemies; probably because they are the same people.” We are all works in progress; don’t give up. Shalom.
PRELUDE:
My Lord, What a Morning! ~ arr. C. Burton
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:
Acknowledgement of the Traditional Territory:
“In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge, with respect, that we – wherever we worship in this country – do so on the traditional territory of the First Nations, the Metis and the Inuit Peoples, who were the stewards of this land long before colonization.” We commit ourselves to the ongoing work of building right relations with indigenous peoples of this land. (Rev. Leslie Searles)
CALL TO WORSHIP:
One Come to worship and bring your memories,
All for there is nothing God cannot redeem.
One Come to worship and bring your dreams
All for there is nothing God cannot hallow.
One Come to worship and bring your regrets,
All for there is nothing God cannot forgive.
One Come to worship and begin again
All for there is nothing that God cannot renew.
Hymn #221 VU Sing Praise to God Who Has Shaped
1. Sing praise to God, who has shaped
and sustains all creation!
Sing praise, my soul, in profound and
complete adoration!
Gladsome rejoice – organ and trumpet
and voice –
joining God’s great congregation.
2. Praise God, our guardian, who lovingly
offers correction,
who, as on eagle’s wings, saves us from
sinful dejection.
Have you observed, how we are always
preserved
by God’s parental affection?
3. Sing praise to God, with sincere thanks
for all your successes.
Merciful God ever loves to encourage
and bless us.
Only conceive what godly strength can
achieve:
strength that would touch and caress us.
4. Sing praise, my soul, the great name of
your high God commending.
All that have life and breath join you,
their notes sweetly blending.
God is your light! Soul, ever keep this in
sight:
amen, amen never ending.
Prayer of Confession:
O God, we come to you as individuals and as a community admitting that sometimes we are tempted to retreat from the life to which you call us. Forgive us if ever we doubt the power of the gospel to speak words of hope in the tumultuous times in which we live. In all the world – secular and sacred – and in all cultures and societies, your Spirit tirelessly inspires works of healing, justice, and reconciliation. May the mercy we receive be the mercy we offer to others.
Assurance of God’s Love:
We cannot ever retreat beyond the reach of God’s great love. God is always near us and the Spirit within us. We can trust in God’s abiding love and limitless mercy for we have seen them in Christ. Be at peace. Amen.
Hymn #384 VU The Lone Wild Bird
1. The lone, wild bird in lofty flight
is still with you, nor leaves your sight.
And I am yours! I rest in you,
Great Spirit, come rest in me, too.
2. The ends of earth are in your hand,
the sea’s deep dark and far-off land.
And I am yours! I rest in you,
Great Spirit, come rest in me, too.
3. Each secret thought is known to you,
the path I walk my whole life through;
my days, my deeds, my hopes, my fears,
my deepest joys, my silent tears.
4. In secret depths you knit my frame,
before my birth, you spoke my name;
within my soul, as close as breath,
so near to me, in life, in death.
5. O search me, God, my heart reveal,
renew my life, my spirit heal;
for I am yours, I rest in you,
Great Spirit come, rest in me, too.
Introduction to the readings
First Reading: Genesis 45:3-11, 15 (NRSV)
Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.” And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Second Reading: Luke 6:27-38
‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
Improvisation ~ C. Burton
Meditation
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER:
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
We share the peace of Christ by typing in the chat box.
You may also think of one person with whom you would like to share the peace of Christ.
MUSIC for PASSING the PEACE:
Would You Be Free ~ arr. C. Burton
INVITATION to the OFFERING:
PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF:
We give thanks, O God, for the range of choices in our lives. Bless this offering as a sign of our intention to choose abundant life for ourselves by responding to the needs of others. Amen.
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Care, Prayer, Share
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Join us by Zoom following this service for:
Coffee Hour
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HYMN #130 Give Me Oil in My Lamp (SFGP)
1. Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
Give oil in my lamp I pray;
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
Keep me burning til the break of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the servant king.
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna, let us sing!
2. Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising
Give me joy in my heart I pray;
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Keep me praising till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the servant king.
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna, let us sing!
3. Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Give me peace in my heart, I pray,
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
keep me loving till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the Servant King.
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna let us sing!
4. Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Give me love in my heart, I pray,
Give me love in my heart keep me serving,
keep me serving till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the Servant King.
Sing hosanna! sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna let us sing!
BENEDICTION:
Choral Response #974
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
POSTLUDE:
This Far by Faith ~ arr. C. Burton
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
All the liturgy is original and written by Rev. Leslie Searles.
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
-“Sing Praise to God, Who Has Shaped:” Words: Joachim Neander 1680; trans. Madeleine Forell Marshall 1993. Translation copyright © 1993 Madeleine Forell Marshall. One License #608577
- “The Lone, Wild Bird:”Words: vv1, 2, Henry Richard McFadyen 1925, alt.; vv 3-5 Marty Haugen 1991. Music: Walker’s Southern Harmony 1835, harm David N. Johnson 1968. Words vv1,2 copyright © 1927 The Homiletic and Pastoral review, published by Catholic Polls, Inc. Used by permission. Words vv 3-5 ©1991 G.I.A. Publications, Inc. Harmony © 1978 Book of Worship. Reprinted by permission of Augsburg Fortress. One License #608577
- ”Give Me Oil in My Lamp:” Words: Anon. Music: trad.; arr. Darryl Nixon. One License #608577
- "Amen! Amen! Hallelujah amen!”Jim Strathdee 1985. Copyright © 1995 Desert Flower Music. One License $608577
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
Prelude: My Lord, What a Morning! ~ arr. C. Burton
Interlude: Improvisation ~ C. Burton
Music for Passing the Peace: Would You Be Free ~ arr. C. Burton
Postlude: This Far by Faith ~ arr. C. Burton
