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April 3, 2022 - Sunday Service
Rev. Christine Smaller
Rev. Christine Smaller
Sunday, April 3, 2022
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April 3rd, 2022

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Shirley Woolner 

~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics  

PRELUDE: 
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music) 2nd Mov’t , “Romanze”  ~ W. A. Mozart  

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. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY  

CALL TO WORSHIP:
May we find courage here —
courage to follow our call, courage to live out our faith.
May we find hope here —
hope for a better world, hope that refuses to let us go.
May we find truth here —
truth that lives in sacred community, truth that lives in ancient stories.
May we find all that we seek.
And in our seeking, may we know God. Amen. 

OPENING HYMN: VU 703 In the Bulb There is a Flower
1. In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see. 

2. There's a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see. 

3. In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see. 

INVITATION TO THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
There are very few things as powerful as a group of people who admit they are not perfect and ask for grace as they grow. Imagine what our world might be like if every institution had such a weekly rhythm?
Friends, we can light the way. Let us be brave in our truth-telling and honest in our confession. For we will always be met by grace. Let us pray. . .

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Jesus of Nazareth, we admit that often we tuck our faith into our pockets, hiding in a place of comfort rather than proudly declaring: yes we are Christian, yes we believe, yes this faith has changed me.
We are so afraid of offending others or embarrassing ourselves that we have established rules: no faith at the dinner table, no faith in politics, no faith with strangers.
Forgive us for whispering when we could be singing.
Forgive us for staying quiet when we could be part of rewriting the narrative.
We want to be brave.
We want to pour out perfume over your feet.
These things we pray, amen.
 

WORDS OF FORGIVENESS:
Family of faith, hear this good news:
Even in our silence,
     God loves us.
Even in our fear or shame,
     God chooses us.
Even when we sin,
     God wraps us in grace.
You are free—to be bold, to be brazen, to be exactly who God called you to be.
Thanks be to God, amen.           

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Gracious god, give us ears to hear your Word for us today. Your word which promises that even in the desert you are full to the brim. We are listening. We ache for your good news. Gratefully we pray, amen. 

READINGS:
Psalm 131 VU 854
Refrain
Be still, my soul, for God is on your side. 

O God, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not raised too high.     
     I do not occupy myself with matters too great for me,
     
     with marvels that are beyond me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul
like a weaned child nestling to its mother;
like a child is my soul within me.     
     O Israel, hope in God,
     
     from this time forth and forevermore.
Refrain
Be still, my soul, for God is on your side. 

John 12:1-8           (NRSV) 
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” 

RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God. 

MINISTRY OF MUSIC: 
Let My Spirit Always Sing ~ J. Marshall 

SERMON 

HYMN: VU 590 A Prophet-Woman Broke a Jar
1. A prophet- woman broke a jar,
by Love's divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar,
the sneers of scorn defying.
With rare perfume she filled the room,
preparing Christ for dying. 

2. A faithful woman left a tomb
by Love's divine commission.
She saw, she heard, she preached the Word,
arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb,
with resurrection gospel.
She saw, she heard, she preached the Word,
apostle to apostles. 

3. Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth,
for centuries were hidden,
unsung, unwritten, and unheard,
derided and forbidden,
the Spirit's breath, the Spirit's fire,
on free and slave descending,
can tumble our dividing walls,
our shame and sadness mending. 

4. The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls,
by Love's divine ordaining,
the friends we need to serve and lead,
their powers and gifts unchaining.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls,
from women, men and children,
the friends we need, to serve and lead.
Rejoice, and make them welcome!

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 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: 
Intermezzo in A Major Excerpt ~ J. Brahms 

PRAYERS FOR OUR OFFERING: 

Donate online:   www.graceunitedthornbury.ca,  select “Give”
     or contact the office by email: graceucworship@gmail.com 
     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:
Join us by Zoom following this service for:
Coffee Hour
The link was sent out by e-blast.

HYMN:  VU 642 Be Thou My Vision
1. Be thou my vision, O joy of my heart;
naught be all else to me save that thou art,
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping thy presence my light. 

2. Be thou my wisdom, my calm in all strife;
I ever with thee, and thou in my life;
thou loving parent, thy child may I be,
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee. 

3. Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower;
raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power. 

4. Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art. 

5. Great God of heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, 
still be my vision, O ruler of all. 

COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION: 

SUNG BLESSING: MV 214 May God’s Sheltering Wings
May God's sheltering wings, 
her* gathering wings protect you.
May God's nurturing arms,
her* cradling arms sustain you,
and hold you in her* love,
and hold you in her* love. 

* alternative: "his" 

POSTLUDE:
Andantino in D Flat for the Organ ~ E. H. Lemare   

*****

RESOURCES USED

LITURGY SOURCES:
The following are used with permission:
All prayers are from Sanctified Art, Lent 2022.

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
_”Psalm Refrain:’ Jean Sibelius 1899; arr. The Hymnal 1933. Arrangement copyright © 1933, renewed 1961 Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, Westminster John Knox Press
_”In the Bulb There is a Flower:” Words: Natalie Sleeth 1986 .Music: Natalie Sleeth 1986Words and music copyright © 1986 Hope Publishing Company. One License#608577
_”A Prophet- Woman Broke a Jar:’ Words: Brian Wren 1991. Music: Walter K. Stanton ca. 1951. Words copyright 1991 Hope Publishing Company. Music by permission of Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.. One License #608577
_“Be Thou My Vision:” Words: Irish ca. 8th century; trans. Mary Elizabeth Byrne 1905, vers. Eleanor H. Hull 1912, alt. Music: Irish traditional melody. Public Domain
_”May God's Sheltering Wings:” Words and music: Judith Snowdon, 2004. Words and music copyright  © 2004 by Judith Snowdon. .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: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Night Music) Second Movement  Excerpt, "Romanze"    W. A. Mozart  
Ministry of Music:
Let My Spirit Always Sing    J. Marshall
     Words: Shirley Erena Murray. Music: Jane Marshall
     Words copyright © 1996 Hope Publishing Company
     Music copyright 2005 Jane Marshall. Used by permission
Music for Passing the Peace: Intermezzo in A Major Excerpt    J. Brahms
Postlude: Andantino in D Flat for the Organ E. H. Lemare. Copyright © 1892 by Robert Cocks and Co.. Public Domain