November 29th, 2023
Music Sunday
4th Sunday After Epiphany
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Dr. Christopher Burton
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Ricardo Aroujo
Guest Musician: Karen James
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
PRELUDE:
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” ~ arr. Mark Hayes
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:
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE:
The light of understanding, the light of compassion, the light of community are all represented by the light that shines out from this candle. Let that light illumine our lives, our worship, and our way forward, as we gather as God’s people.
Acknowledgement of the Traditional Territory:
“In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge, with respect, that we – wherever we worship in this country – do so on the traditional territory of the First Nations, the Metis and the Inuit Peoples, who were the stewards of this land long before colonization.” We commit ourselves to the ongoing work of building right relations with indigenous peoples of this land. (Rev. Leslie Searles)
CALL TO WORSHIP:
What a joy to be gathered together as one people in all our diversity,
in all our strengths and weaknesses,
with all our different perspectives,
with all our different voices.
We use that diversity to help see the world as God intended it,
by empathizing with our neighbours,
by acknowledging the light that burns brightly within the stranger.
We come to this place with our humanity,
seeking to encounter other human beings,
human beings that share our fears and our hopes,
our insecurities and our desires,
our passions and our pain.
Thanks be to God for giving us the ability to see the world more fully through the divine spark that connects us all.
Let us worship as one people.
OPENING PRAYER:
Gracious God, we seek your Spirit,
so that we may understand the gifts you give us.
We receive your call upon our hearts,
a call to love and serve others
as Jesus loved and served among us.
We ask for your wisdom,
that we might have the mind of Christ within us.
Amen.
“Lead Me, Lord” (original words) (Choir only)
OPENING HYMN:
VU 217 All Creatures of our God and King
1. All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing:
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Bright burning sun with golden beam,
soft shining moon with silver gleam,
Refrain
sing praises, sing praises,
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
2. O rushing winds and breezes soft,
O clouds that ride the wind aloft,
sing praises, hallelujah!
O rising morn, in praise rejoice;
O lights of evening, find a voice:
Refrain
sing praises, sing praises,
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
3. Earth, ever fertile, day by day
brings forth rich blessings on our way:
sing praises, hallelujah!
The flowers and fruits that verdant grow,
let them God’s glory also show:
Refrain
sing praises, sing praises,
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
4. And everyone of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part:
sing praises, hallelujah!
All who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and yield up all your care:
Refrain
sing praises, sing praises,
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
5. Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship God in humbleness:
sing praises, hallelujah!
Praise God eternal, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, three in one:
Refrain
sing praises, sing praises,
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
We know you, O God
in rhythm and beat.
We praise you with music,
with drums, and with feet.
We like the pattern of day and night,
of weekends and holidays, waves in sunlight.
And when we forget you,
and fall out of step,
when our lives no longer rhyme with yours
and we stop loving others, especially our enemies…
(a moment of silence)
then hold us, and tell us that you still forgive,
and we’ll share your love with all creatures that live.
Amen
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Even though we may stray,
God is holding us ever steady.
God sticks to a designated course of forgiveness
and acceptance.
Let us accept God’s gifts and be glad.
Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
This is the time of reflection.
This is the time of inspiration.
This is the time of determination.
This is the time to set out in a new direction,
May you, our most just and loving God,
bless our receiving of the word.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING:
PSALM 15 VU p. 736
Refrain:
Within your holy place, O God, who shall a dweller be.
God, who may be a guest in your house,
or who may dwell on your holy mountain?
Refrain:
Within your holy place, O God, who shall a dweller be.
One who leads a blameless life,
who does what is right,
who speaks truthfully from the heart,
one whose tongue is free from malice,
who never wrongs a friend,
who utters no reproach against a neighbour,
one who cannot respect the unworthy,
but honours those who fear God,
who stands by a promise given,
though it be to personal disadvantage,
one who will not take interest on a loan,
nor accept a bribe to testify against the innocent.
Whoever does this shall never be overthrown.
Refrain:
Within your holy place, O God, who shall a dweller be.
2nd Reading Matthew 5:1-12. (NSRVUE)
The Beatitudes
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he began to speak and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
RESPONSE:
Together, the Beatitudes present a new set of ideals that focus on love and humility rather than force and exaction.
They echo the highest ideals of Jesus' teachings on spirituality and compassion.
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God. Amen
SPECIAL MUSIC:
God speaks to us through music.
The music in silence, silence in music’s simplicity.
ANTHEM: “When in our Music God is Glorified”
PIANO SOLO: Variations sérieuses ~ F. Mendelssohn
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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
We thank you, God, that we have lived in this great world and known its many joys.
For all of life,
we give you thanks.
Remembering the song of birds,
the strong, sweet scent of hay,
and cooling breezes in the secret dusk,
the flaming sunset at the close of day.
For all of life,
we give you thanks.
Remembering the lonely hills,
music at night and moonlight on the sea,
the beat of waves on the rocky shore,
and wild, white spray flung high.
For all of life,
we give you thanks.
Remembering the love of kin and the support of friends,
and all that makes life dear and beautiful;
remembering that there has come
a little sorrow, and sometime defeat,
a little heartache, and the loneliness
that comes with parting, and the word “Goodbye.”
For all of life,
we give you thanks.
Remembering the breaking dawn after dreary hours of pain,
the discovery that night’s gloom yields,
and morning light breaks through again.
For all of life,
we give you thanks.
Because of these and other blessings
poured unasked upon our heads;
because there waits an even richer
and more glorious life;
and most of all, because your only Son
once sacrificed life’s loveliness for us,
we thank you, God, that we have lived
in this great world and known its many joys.
For all of life,
we give you thanks. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
And now, as a child turns to a parent or caregiver who loves them, we turn to God, saying the words that Jesus taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
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
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING:
Almighty God, who made us who we are, we offer all of ourselves to you. Take our talents, our energy, and our joy, and use us to share your love. Takeour mistakes, our regrets, and our pain, and use usto bring your healing. Magnify the gifts we offerbefore you today to spread your peace in the world.
Amen
PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF OUR GIFTS
Our gifts are given freely.
Thank you, God.
Our gifts connect us to suffering and need,our own and that of others.
Thank you, God.
Our gifts are for healing.
Thank you, God.
Our gifts help those known to us.
Thank you, God.
Our gifts help those whose names we will never know.
Thank you, God.
Our gifts are given in love.
Bless all through these gifts, O God.
Amen.
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Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
Care, Prayer, Share
LIGHTING A GOOD NEWS CANDLE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLOSING HYMN:
VU 654 All My Hope Is Firmly Grounded
1. All my hope is firmly grounded
in our great and living Lord;
who, whenever I most need him,
never fails to keep his word.
God I must wholly trust,
God the ever good and just.
2. Tell me, who can trust our nature,
human, weak, and insecure?
Which of all the airy castles
can the hurricane endure?
Built on sand, naught can stand
by our earthly wisdom planned.
3. But in every time and season,
out of love’s abundant store,
God sustains the whole creation,
fount of life forevermore.
We who share earth and air
count on God’s unfailing care.
4. Thank, O thank, our great Creator,
through God’s only Son this day;
God alone, the heavenly potter,
made us out of earth and clay.
Quick to heed, strong in deed,
God shall all the people feed.
COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION:
May you leave our time together
nourished, strengthened, and loved,
for Christ is with you
and within you.
May you leave our time together
knowing that you are blessed with God’s love,
blessed with Christ’s friendship,
blessed with Spirit’s energy,
blessed to be a part of a worldwide faith community,
to live the life to which you have been called
this day, this night, and always.
Amen.
SUNG BLESSING:
MV 95 How Deep the Peace
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose wrongs are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence, of those whose hearts are healed.
POSTLUDE:
“Amazing Grace” ~ arr. E. Monroe, C. Burton
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Resource:
- PRAYERS: Lighting of the Christ Candle. Written by Peter Chynoweth, Yellowknife, N.W.T.Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2019-2020, page 47. Used by permission.
- Acknowledgement of the Traditional Territory. Written by Rev. Leslie Searles. Used by permission.
- Call to Worship: Written by Éric Hébert-Daly, while at Quyon P.C., Quyon, Que. Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2019-20, page 47. Used by permission.
- Opening Prayer: Written by Wanda Winfield, Blenheim U.C., Blenheim, Ont. Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2019-20, page 49. Used by permission.
- Prayer for Illumination: Written by David Sparks, Summerland, B.C. Gathering, Advent, Christmas Epiphany, 2019-20, page 51. Used by permission.
- Prayer of Confession: Written by Robin Wardlaw, Glen Rhodes United Church, Toronto, Ont. Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2016-17, page 44. Used by permission.
- Words of Assurance: Written by Catherine Tovell, Delaware-Kilworth P.C., Komoka, Ont.Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2016-17, page 46. Used by permission.
- Prayers of the People: Written by Elizabeth, Countess of Craven 1750-1828 Celebrate God’s Presence, pp. 54-55. Used by permission.
- Invitation to the Offering: Written by Gill Le Fevre, Walton Memorial U.C., Oakville, Ont. Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2019-20, page 52. Used by permission.
- Prayer of Dedication of Our Gifts: Written by David Sparks, Summerland, B.C. Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, 2019-20, page 52. Used by permission.
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “Lead Me, Lord:” (original words) Words: based on Psalm 5:8, 4:8 Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley 1861.
- “All Creatures of Our God and King:”. Words: St. Francis of Assisi 1225; English trans. William Heny Draper ca. 1919, alt. Music: Geistliche Kirchengesange, Cologne 1623; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams 1908. English translation copyright © G. Schirmer, Inc. Harmony by permission of Oxford University Press. One License #608577
- “Psalm 15:” Music: Thomas Tallis ca. 1587. Public Domain
- “ 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
- “All My Hope is Firmly Grounded:” Words: Joachim Neander 1680, trans Fred Pratt Green 1986. Music: Herbert Howells 1930, 1977. Translation copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Company. Music copyright © 1968 Novello and Company Ltd. Reprinted by permission of Music Sales Corporation. One License #608577
- “How Deep the Peace:” Words: Lynn Bauman, 2000. Music: Linnea Good, 2004. Words copyright © 2000, from Ancient Songs Sung Anew: the Psalms as Poetry.Used by permission. Music copyright © 2004 Borealis Music, Used by permission.One License #608577
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE) 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: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” ~ arr. by Mark Hayes. Exaltation, The Lorenz Corporation. One License #608577
Anthem: “When in Our Music God Is Glorified” ~ Words: Fred Pratt Green 1971. Music: Charles Villiers Stanford 1901. Words copyright © 1972 Hope Publishing Company. One License #608577
Piano Solo:”Variation sérieuses” ~ F. Mendelssohn
Music for Passing the Peace: Fantasy on a Hymn ~ C. Burton
Postlude: Amazing Grace ~ E. Monroe/C. Burton © Little Piper, Detroit, MI
