September 18, 2022
15th 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: Jim Oliver
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
PRELUDE:
“Allemande” from English Suite #4 ~ 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.
*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.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Come and worship!
We will praise the One between, within, and over.
Trust in the One who co-creates the was, the now, and the will-be.
Our hope is in the One who creates expansive love
calling us to do the same.
Follow the One who never breaks covenant.
We follow the One whose extravagant love calls us
to co-create justice for the oppressed,
feed the hungry, unlock prisons,
and welcome strangers, orphans, and widows.
Praise the One whose justice is grace-full and inclusive.
We praise the Spirit that spans the ages.
Amen!
OPENING PRAYER:
God of life
God of hope
God of all
Lift us
on your love
like eagle's wings
Sustain us
Guide us
Heal us
Amen.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
God of extravagant grace,
may your Spirit refresh our hearts and minds
through the reading of these scriptures.
Amen.
READINGS:
Jeremiah 32:1-15
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, “Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it; King Zedekiah of Judah shall not escape out of the hands of the Chaldeans but shall surely be given into the hands of the king of Babylon and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye, and he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I attend to him, says the Lord; though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed?”
Psalm 91 VU 807
Refrain:
“And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of my hand.”
You who dwell in the shelter of your God,
who abide in God’s shadow for life,
say to your God: “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear:
under God’s wings your refuge,
God’s faithfulness your shield.
Refrain:
“And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of my hand.
” You need not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day;
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come,
For to the angels is given a command to guard you in all your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Refrain: “And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of my hand.”
“Because they have set their love upon me I will deliver them,
I will uphold them because they know my name.
When they call to me I will answer,
I will be with them in trouble;
I will rescue and bring them to honour.
With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my saving power.”
Refrain:
“And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of my hand.”
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM:
“Lord, Lead Me, Lord” ~ Gilbert M. Martin
SERMON
*HYMN: VU 636 Give to the Winds Your Fears
1. Give to the winds your fears.
Hope and be undismayed.
God hears your sighs and counts your tears.
God shall lift up your head,
God shall lift up your head.
2. Through waves and clouds and storms,
God gently clears your way.
Wait for the time, so shall this night
soon end in joyous day,
soon end in joyous day.
3. Even though you do not rule,
yet heaven and earth and hell
proclaim God sits upon the throne,
and rules o’er all things well,
and rules o’er all things well.
4. Your everlasting truth,
O God, your ceaseless love,
sees all your children’s wants, and knows
what best for each will prove,
what best for each will prove.
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:
Improvisation on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERING:
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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:
*HYMN: VU 215 Hope of the World
1. Hope of the world, O Christ of great compassion,
speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent;
save us, your people, from consuming passion,
who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.
2. Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven,
bringing to hungry souls the bread of life,
still let your Spirit unto us be given
to heal earth’s wounds and end its bitter strife.
3. Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways,
showing to wandering souls the path of light;
walk now beside us lest the tempting byways
lure us away from you to endless night.
4. Hope of the world, who by your cross has saved us
from death and dark despair, from sin and guilt;
we render back the love your mercy gave us;
take now our lives, with them your kingdom build.
5. Hope of the world, O Christ, o’er death victorious,
who by this sign has conquered grief and pain,
we would be faithful to your gospel glorious.
You are our Lord! You shall forever reign.
*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:
“Prelude” from English Suite #4 ~ J.S. Bach
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Call to Worship: Written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits. https://liturgybits.wordpress.com.
Opening Prayer written by Terri, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/
Prayer of Illumination: from a collection of prayers posted on the Worship@North website.
Prayers: by Rev. Christine Smaller
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “Psalm Refrain:” Michael Joncas 1979. Words and music copyright © 1979, 1991 New Dawn Music. OneLicense #608577
- “In the Bulb There is a Flower:” Words: Natalie Sleeth 1986. Music: Natalie Sleeth 1986Words and music copyright © 1986 Hope Publishing Company. OneLicense #608577
- “Give to the Winds Your Fears:” Words: Paul Gerhardt 1656; trans. John Wesley 1739, alt. Music: Harmonica Sacra 5th ed. 1851; harm Alice Parker 1978. Harmony copyright © 1991 Alice Parker.
- “Hope of the World:” Words: Georgia Elma Harkness 1952, Music: melody in Genevan Psalter 1551, harm. adapt. from Claude Goudimel 1565. Words copyright © 1954, renewal 1982 The Hymn Society. Used by permission of Hope Publishing CompanyOneLicense #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: “Allemande” from English Suite #4 ~ J.S. Bach
Anthem: “Lord, Lead Me, Lord:” ~ Gilbert M. Martin. Quoting LEAD ME LORD by Samuel S. Wesley © 1995 Loring Publishing Co.
Music for Passing the Peace: Improvisation on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
Postlude: “Prelude” from English Suite #4 ~ J.S. Bach
