JULY 31, 2022 8th Sunday After Pentecost
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Mike Weller
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
PRELUDE:
Consolation ~ F. Liszt
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:
God of all time and space,
you initiated the relationship of love and generosity with creation at a time before and beyond all knowing.
Through the Word and the Spirit,
you continue in eternal love for all beings.
Fill us this morning with a deep and abiding awareness of your presence, your call, and your grace in our lives and in our world.
Shape us to into the people you have made us to be –
poured out in creative mercy
for the sake of Jesus Christ in all creation.
Amen.
*OPENING HYMN: VU 395 Come In, Come In and Sit Down
Refrain
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family,
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.
1. You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain;
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family.
Refrain
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family,
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.
2. God is with us in this place,
like a mother's warm embrace.
We're all forgiven by God's grace,
for we are a part of the family.
Refrain
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family,
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.
3. There's life to be shared in the bread and the wine;
we are the branches, Christ is the vine.
This is God's temple, it's not yours or mine,
but we are a part of the family.
Refrain
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family,
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.
4. There's rest for the weary and health for us all;
there's a yoke that is easy, and a burden that's small.
So come in and worship and answer the call,
for we are a part of the family.
Refrain
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family,
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
God of love,
your word is light and truth in a world that can seem heavy and hard.
Help us listen to your Word as though we have never heard the words before.
Help us hear your Word of unconditional love and may that Word fill our hunger for love and acceptance.
Amen.
READINGS:
Psalm 107 VU # 831 Part 1 & 2
Refrain:
O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
O give thanks, for God is gracious; Part 1: 1-9
God’s steadfast love endures for ever.
Let the redeemed of God say so,
those redeemed from trouble,
whom God gathered in from the lands,
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.
Refrain:
O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
Some lost their way in desert wastes,
finding no place to settle;
hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to you, God, in their trouble;
you rescued them from their distress.
You led them by a straight path,
till they reached a place to settle.
Let them thank you, O God, for your steadfast love,
for the wonders you do for us.
For you satisfy the thirsty,
and fill the hungry with good things.
Refrain:
O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
Some suffered because of their sinful ways, Part 2: 17-22
afflicted on account of their wrongdoing.
They loathed every kind of food;
they came close to the gates of death.
Then they cried to you, God, in their trouble.
You rescued them from their distress.
You gave the word and healed them;
you saved them from the grave.
Let them thank you, God, for your steadfast love,
for the wonders you do for us.
Let them offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and tell of your deeds with shouts of joy.
Refrain:
O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
John 14:1-6
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
Improvisation on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
SERMON *Hymn:
MV #145 Draw the Circle Wide
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
1. God the stillpoint of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
2. Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
3. Let the dreams we dream be larger,
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
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:
Variations sérieuses (selected) ~ F. Mendelssohn
PRAYER OVER THE 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:
Coffee Hour after the Service
*HYMN: VU # 333 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
2. Come, almighty to deliver;
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
3. Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
*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.
POSTLUDE:
Impromptu, Opus 90 #4 ~ F. Schubert
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES:
The following are used with permission:
Call to Worship: written by Lutheran Julia, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.
Prayer of Illumination: C. Smaller
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- Psalm Refrain: Music copyright © 1994 Eleanor Daley
- “Come In, Come In and Sit Down:” Words: James K Manley 1984, alt. Music: James K. Manley, 1984, arr. Darryl Nixon 1987. Words and music copyright ©1984 James K. Manley Arrangement copyright ©1987 Songs for a Gospel People . One License #608577
- ”Draw the Circle Wide:” Words and music: Gordon Light, 1994; arrangement: Michael Bloss, 1998. Words and music copyright © 1994 Common Cup Company, Used by permission.. Arrangement copyright © 1998 Wood Lake Books. One License #608577
- “Love Divine, All Love Excelling:” Words: Charles Wesley 1747. Music Rowland Huw Prichard ca. 1831. Public Domain
- “May God’s Sheltering Wings:” Words and music: Judith Snowdon, 2004Words and music copyright © 2004 by Judith Snowdon. Used by 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: Consolation ~ F. Liszt
Interlude: Improvisation on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
Passing the Peace: Variations sérieuses (selected) ~ F. Mendelssohn
Postlude: Impromptu, Opus 90 #4 ~ F. Schubert
