May 1st, 2022
Third Sunday after Easter
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Marg Tirpkoff
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
PRELUDE:
"Prelude in C Major" from "The Well-Tempered Klavier" Book 1 ~ J.S. Bach
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:
Now is the time to sing!
to sing the good news of God:
who awakens us with dawn’s embrace,
who surrounds us with joy and life.
Now is the time to offer praise to God,
in every place, with every voice:
to rejoice in the One who leads us through each moment
with a gentle hand and a word of hope.
Now is the time to join all creation in extolling God,
from the depths of the sea to the farthest galaxies:
We will sing the good news of Easter!
We will rejoice in the God who loves us.
OPENING HYMN: VU 352 Lord of the Dance
1. I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
2. I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came with me and the dance went on.
Refrain
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
3. I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
and left me there on a cross to die.
Refrain
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
4. I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it's hard to dance with the devil on your back;
they buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on.
Refrain
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
5. They cut me down and I leap on high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.
Refrain
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.
PRAYER OF APPROACH:
Now that Easter is done and gone, Holy One, we no longer hear the special music, but listen to temptation’s familiar refrains. We no longer walk those straight paths of joy and wonder but wander the crooked streets to our old haunts. Rather than living in the newness you bring, we do things the way they have always been done.
Fortunately, God of seaside breakfasts, you know the way out of our messy lives, and so take us by the hand to lead us. You wipe our busy schedules off our calendars so we may spend more time with those who need our love and attention. You challenge us to fish from the other side of our worries, so we may pull in all the grace, wonder, and mercy offered to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Why should we weep? Joy comes to us this morning, and every moment of our lives. The Lamb of God has come, to share mercy and hope with us, so we can praise our God with joyous hearts.
We will lift glad songs of joy, for all the blessings God has given to us. We will offer our hearts and hands in love and service to others. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Almighty God, through your only Child you overcame death and opened to us the light of eternity. Enlighten our minds and kindle our hearts with the presence of your Spirit, that we may hear your words of comfort and challenge in the reading of the scriptures, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
READINGS:
John 21:1-19 Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples (NRSV)
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM: We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky (Abundant Life)
SERMON
HYMN: VU 563 Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore
1. Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
you only asked me to follow humbly.
Refrain
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.
2. You know so well my possessions;
my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
--you will find there my nets and labour.
Refrain
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.
3. You need my hands, full of caring
through my labours to give others rest,
and constant love that keeps on loving.
Refrain
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.
4. You, who have fished other oceans,
ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
my loving friend, as thus you call me.
Refrain
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.
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:
"Gnossienne #3" ~ E. Satie
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERING:
May the gifts we offer this week, Kind God, bring joy to those whose mornings are hopeless, feed those who noontimes are filled with hunger, and bring peace to those whose nights are surrounded by fears and worries. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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
HOLY COMMUNION
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of morning joy be with you!
May the God of gracious moments be with you!
Lift your hearts to God, children of love and hope!
We offer them to the One who fills us with life!
Let us sing glad praises to our God!
Our voices join all creation in glad songs!
You looked, and in the midst of chaos,
you heard the Spirit singing
creation into existence,
Wondrous God:
majestic eagles and tiny hummingbirds,
graceful giraffes and awkward aardvarks,
earthworms and moles,
hermit crabs and sea horses.
Dust could not praise you,
so you gathered it up,
using it to shape us in your image
that we might enjoy the gifts found
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
but we foolishly fell into the traps
dug by death to capture us.
You sent the prophets to us who,
through their words and actions,
reminded us that we had been shaped
to be as upright as mountains,
but we continue to allow sin
to form us into molehills.
Dismayed, you could have hidden your face,
but sent us your heart instead.
So with those whose nets are empty of hope,
with those whose lives overflow with grace,
we sing your praises with full voices:
Holy, holy, holy are you,
God who loves us more than these.
Creatures of heaven, earth, under the earth,
and in the sea join in extolling you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Lamb who is worthy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God who leads us
by the hands out of our shadowed lives,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, who feeds us life.
When we cried,
he came to wipe away our tears;
when we were speechless,
he taught us songs of praise;
when we dressed in ashes,
he gave us grace’s garments;
though we loved sin and death
more than we loved him,
he went to the cross,
filling death’s nets with his spirit,
so its power over us might be emptied forever.
As we remember the Lamb who is worthy,
as we come to the Lamb’s Feast this day,
we sing of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, as God’s heart broke;
Christ was raised, as all creation sang in joy;
Christ will come, as we are gathered
in the fullness of time.
Lead us by the hand, gracious God,
to the Table where the bread, the cup,
and the guests all receive the Spirit
which is poured out upon them.
As we come to eat of the bread,
may its brokenness give us strength
to stand up to persecutors
of the most vulnerable;
to challenge those who love themselves
more than the frightened and lonely.
May the cup of lifefill us with the courage
to feed those who hunger
for grace and hope;
to tenderly care for those
discarded by the world.
Then, when the Lamb gathers
those of every time and place
for the Supper of Joy in eternity,
we will fall down and worship you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Communion is Shared
Prayer after Communion
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join us by Zoom following this service for:
Coffee Hour
The link was sent out by e-blast.
HYMN: VU 567 Will You Come and Follow Me
1. Will you come and follow me
if I but call you’re name?
will you go where you don’t know
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you Let my life be grown
in you and you in me?
2. Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
in you and you in me?
3. Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you and you in me?
4. Will you love the “you” you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?
5.Christ, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
in you and you in me.
COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION:
Now it is time to get up and go.
We will leave in order to follow God into the world.
Now it is time to enter the brokenness all around us.
We will go to bring the healing and peace of Jesus to all.
Now it is time to bring words of hope and grace to all.
The Spirit will give us the words we need in every moment.
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: Hail, Glad Festival Day ~ R Vaughn Williams (arr. C. Burton)
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES:
The following are used with permission:
All prayers: (c) Thom M. Shuman, Liturgy for Easter 3C 2019
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
- “Lord of the Dance:” Words: Sydney Carter 1963Music: Shaker melody, adapt and harm. Sydney Carter 1963. Words and harmony copyright©t 1963 Stainer & Bell Used by permission of Hope Publishing Company.One License #608577
- “Jesus You Have Come to the Lakeshore:” Words: Cesáreo Gabaráin 1979, trans. Gertrude C. Suppe, George Lockwood, Raquel Gutiérrez-Achón 1987. Music: Cesáreo Gabaráin 1979; harm. Skinner Chávez-Melo 1987. Words and music copyright ©1979 Cesáreo Gabaráin, administered by Oregon Catholic Press.Translation copyright ©1989 The United Methodist Publishing House. Harmony copyright ©1987 Skinner Chávez-Melo. Used by permission of Juan Francisco Chávez.
- “Will You Cme and Follow Me:” Words: The Iona Community 1987Music: Scottish traditional, arr. The Iona Community 1987. Words and arrangement Copyright © 1987 WGRG, The Iona Community (Glasgow, Scotland). G.I.A. Publications, Inc.,. One License #608577
- “Go Now in Peace:” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price.Copyright © 1988 Harold Flammere. Music: Inc. Alternate words used with permission. 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: "Prelude in C Major" from "The Well-Tempered Klavier" Book 1 J.S. Bach
Anthem: “We Cannot Own the Sunlit Sky: Words: Ruth Duck. Music: Marty Haugen. Words and music copyright © GIA Publications, Inc.. One License #608577
Music for Passing the Peace: "Gnossienne #3" E. Satie
Postlude: " Hail, Glad Festival Day R Vaughn Williams arr. C. Burton
All in the Public Domain
