January 1st, 2023
Epiphany Sunday
1st Sunday After Christmas
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Sue Carleton
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Jim Dolmer
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
PRELUDE:
”Monsieurs Alman” ~ William Byrd
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:
INTRODUCTION:
Acknowledgement of the Traditional Territory:
As we begin this new year on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee and Wendat-Wyandot-Wyandotte peoples, let us honour and remember their heritage. Let us continue to learn from each other and recognize the history and knowledge that the First Nations, Metis and Inuit have of this land. Let us do our part as treaty people to create peace, bring hope, celebrate joy, and share love with the people who have inhabited this land since time immemorial.
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Happy New Year to everyone!
May we each feel the Spirit filling us up with hope for this coming year.
May each of us feel the welcome and wonder of God’s love!
May we each be blessed with and share the peace and joy that is ours with God our Father, Mother and Creator.
Thanks be to God! Amen
Lighting the Christ Candle
We light the Christ candle remembering the star that led the wise men to the Christ child. May your light shine through us as a beacon of hope in our world.
OPENING PRAYER:
May your worship today reconnect you to the truth of who you are, and who God is. May we be led into a new year full of hope and promise and know that your grace and love will guide us each and every day. We pray in the name of the broken and blessing one, Jesus. Amen
*HYMN:
VU #112 - O God, How We Have Wandered
1. O God, how we have wandered
and hidden from your face;
in foolishness have squandered
your legacy of grace.
But how, in exile dwelling,
we turn with fear and shame,
as distant but compelling,
you call us each by name.
2. And now at length discerning
the evil that we do,
by faith we are returning
with hope and trust in you.
In haste you come to meet us,
and home rejoicing bring,
in gladness there to greet us
with calf and robe and ring.
3. O God of all the living,
both banished and restored,
compassionate, forgiving,
our peace and hope assured.
Grant now that our transgressing,
our faithlessness may cease.
Stretch out your hand in blessing,
in pardon, and in peace.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
O God, our guide, who once used a star to lead people to Christ, we confess our poor sense of direction.
We dwell on the past or dream of the future.
We become confused, we are easily distracted, and we lose our way.
We fail to follow the signs that you have provided.
Forgive our waywardness.
Lead us to Christ, teach us to live with him in the present, teach us to enjoy each moment we have with him.
(Let us enjoy a moment of silence for our own silent personal prayers of confession.)
WORDS of ASSURANCE:
Jesus is the true light that gives light to everyone, he is our guiding beacon, he leads us back to God. We only need to believe and ask forgiveness to be one with God. Thanks be to God. Amen
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Lord God of the nations,
we have seen the star of your glory rising in splendor.
The radiance of your incarnate Word
pierces the night that covers the earth
and signals the dawn of justice and peace.
May his brightness illumine our lives
and invite all nations to walk as one in your light
even now as your Word is read and proclaimed.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
your Word made flesh,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
in the splendor of eternal light,
God forever and ever.
Amen
SCRIPTURE:
Readings:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Everything Has Its Time (NRSV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for everymatter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
The God-Given Task
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
Revelation 21:1-6 The New Heaven and the New Earth
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’
And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE :
“Prelude in e minor” ~ F. Chopin
SERMON:
*HYMN:
VU #227- For the Fruit of Creation
1. For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping, thanks be to God.
2. In the just reward of labour, God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
In the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done.
3. For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
God of light, we praise you as the one who shows your glory to the nations in the coming of Jesus Christ!
We thank you for reflections of your glory in our world and in our community:
for your work in creation,
for your work in the world
for your work in the church and local community . . .
Help us to see these signs of glory as signs of your coming kingdom.
We long for the fullness of that kingdom. Come, Lord Jesus.
In light of your love, we offer our petitions to you now, coming to you in the name and power of Jesus Christ.
Today, we pray for the creation and its care,
For the nations of the world,
for our nation and its leaders,
for our community and those who govern
for the church universal, its mission, and those who minister,
for our local congregation and its ministry
for people with particular needs that only you know,
We offer these prayers in the strong name of Jesus Christ, our light and our salvation.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Spoken, traditional words, VU 921)
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:
“Fantasy on a Hymn” ~ C. Burton
INVITATION to the OFFERING :
We have been given the gift of another year, a gift of renewal and hope, a gift of fresh starts and possibilities and the opportunity to share that gift with others. As we contemplate all that lies ahead, may our service in this community bring about renewal and hope for any in need. Let our giving provide fresh starts and possibilities for all those whom these gifts touch.
Prayer:
Abundant and renewing God, guide us in the endeavours of this new year ahead, that we might serve you to bring about the redemption of your world and healing for all your children. May these resources enrich the outreach and ministry of this community of faith, as we praise you with our lives, so that all may know that we are your disciples. Amen
PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF:
Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Give”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
or 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 #506 – Take My Life and Let It Be
1. Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, all for thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and purposeful for thee.
3. Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
4. Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
5. Take my love: and I will pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
*COMMISSIONING & 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:
“English Suite #3 Govottes 1, 2” ~ J.S. Bach
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Lighting the Christ Candle: Written by Mary Parsons, Munn’s U.C. Oakville, Ont
Prayer for Illumination: “Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition, 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources.”
Invitation to the Offering: Written by Gill Le Fevre, Walton Memorial U.C., Oakville, Ontario as published in Gathering Worship – used with permission
All other prayers written by Sue Carleton.
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “O God, How We Have Wandered:” Words: Kevin Nichols 1980, alt. Music: Henry T. Smart. Words copyright © 1981 International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc.
- “For the Fruit of Creation:” Words: Fred Pratt Green 1970. Music: Welsh folk melody ca. 1784. Words copyright © 1970 Hope Publishing Company. One License 608577
- “Take My Life and Let bit be:” Words: Frances Ridley Havergal 1874, alt. Music: unknown. Public Domain
- “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: “Monsieurs Alman”~ William Byrd
Interlude: “Prelude in e minor” ~ F. Chopin
Music for Passing the Peace: “Fantasy on a Hymn”~ C. Burton
Postlude: “English Suite #3 Govottes 1, 2” ~ J.S. Bach
