Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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September 17, 2023 - Sunday Music Service

Dr. Christopher Burton

Sunday, September 17, 2023

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Service and Hymns

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September 17th, 2023

Proper 19/Creation Time 2

MUSIC SUNDAY

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Dr. Christopher Burton
Music Director: DR. Christopher Burton
Guest Musician: Kerri McGonigle, Cello
Scripture Reader: Carol Clarke

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

We Gather

PRELUDE: Kerri and Chris
“Sonata in A Major for Piano and Cello, Opus 69” ~ van Beethoven i. Allegro ma non tanto

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

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY & DECLARATION OF SAFE SPACE
Grace United Church is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Petun, Huron-Wendat, and Mississauga peoples, located within the boundary of the region of Treaty 18 of 1818. We humbly acknowledge the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada as traditional stewards of the land on which we work and worship and are committed to working actively toward genuine restitution and reconciliation.
At Grace, we strive to make all of our spaces - including our sanctuary during worship - as safe a place as possible. We celebrate and honour the holy truth that all people are made in the image of God and are innately entitled to dignity and respect. Any practice, religious or otherwise, which explicitly or implicitly indicates that some people are more beloved than others, goes against our core beliefs here at Grace. We join together in an ongoing commitment to learning how we can live out genuinely welcoming and inclusive behaviour in all ways and at all times.

HYMN: MV #145
Draw the Circle Wide (vv. 1, 2)
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.

CALL TO WORSHIP
Whether morning or afternoon or evening, anytime is the best time to worship. You, O Holy One, created us for worship and to give praises and thanksgiving. We rejoice at all opportunities that come our way to worship God, our Creator.

OPENING PRAYER
Loving Creator of our being, our world, our universe, our cosmos, we pray from deep in our hearts that your will be done.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*OPENING HYMN: VU # 291
All Things Bright and Beautiful (requested by Carol Clarke)
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: in love, God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours, God made their tiny wings.

2. The purple-headed mountains, the river running by,
the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky;

3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one.

4. The rocky mountain splendour, the lone wolf’s haunting call,
the great lakes and the prairies, the forest in the fall;

5. God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell
how great is God our maker, who has made all things well.

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: in love, God made them all.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
As music floods our souls,
quietens our busy minds,
and softens our hearts,
we pause to remember
that we are not all that we are called to be.
We falter. We fail. We fall.
We break faith with our best selves.
We let ourselves and others down.
(silent prayer)

WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
When we cry out to God from the hard places in our lives,
we find Christ’s hand outstretched to catch us where we are.
Accept the grace that meets us with mercy and understanding.
Be renewed in the new life of Christ in us and with us, today and always.

We Listen

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Follow me, Jesus said,
and then proceeded to teach and preach and heal.
That’s not an easy path for us to follow, O God,
but inspired by your word,
encouraged by your Spirit,
and supported by one another, we dare to try.
May your word inspire us today to follow your Way. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

Genesis 50:15-21 New International Version
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

RESPONSE:
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God. Amen

ANTHEM:
Let Us Love One Another ~ Arnold B. Sherman

SPECIAL MUSIC

*HYMN: Church in the Wildwood (requested by Susan Hoadley)
1. There's a church in the valley by the wildwood,
No lovelier spot in the dale;
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.
Refrain:
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the vale;
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

2. Oh, come to the church in the wildwood,
To the trees where the wild flowers bloom;
Where the parting hymn will be chanted,
We will weep by the side of the tomb.
Refrain:
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the vale;
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

3. How sweet on a clear Sunday morning,
To list to the clear ringing bell;
Its tones so sweetly are calling,
oh come to the church in the vale.
Refrain:
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the vale;
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

4. From the church in the valley by the wildwood,
When day fades away into might,
I would fain from this spot of my childhood
Wing my way to the mansions of light.
Refrain:
Oh, come, come, come, come,
Come to the church in the wildwood,
Oh, come to the church in the vale;
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale.

SPECIAL MUSIC: Kerri & Chris
“Sonata in A Major” ~ Beethoven ii. Scherzo: Allegro molto

*HYMN: VU # 226
For the Beauty of the Earth (requested by Carol Clarke)

1. For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Refrain:
God of all, to you we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light,
Refrain:
God of all, to you we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

3. For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Refrain:
God of all, to you we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

4. For each perfect gift sublime
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Refrain:
God of all, to you we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

*HYMN: MV #24
Breath of God, Breath of Peace (requested by Orleen Anderson)

1. Breath of God, Breath of peace,
Breath of love, Breath of life,
Breath of justice, Breath of passion,
Breath creating, Breath of healing,
Breath of singing, Breath of praying,
come upon us, come restore us,
come inspire us, Breath of God.

2. Word of God, Word of peace,
Word of love, Word of life,
Word of justice, Word of passion,
Word creating, Word of healing,
Word of singing, Word of praying,
come upon us, come restore us,
come inspire us, Word of God.

3. Voice of God, Voice of peace,
Voice of love, Voice of life,
Voice of justice, Voice of passion,
Voice creating, Voice of healing,
Voice of singing, Voice of praying,
come upon us, come restore us,
come inspire us, Voice of God.

We Respond

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Loving God,
we join our hearts together
as we offer this prayer.
We trust in your goodness
and in your promise to be with us.
We know that we are your children,
heirs to eternal life
through your son, Jesus Christ.
Like David,
lamenting his lost friends,
we sometimes know great sorrow and loss.
Some of us have lost parents,
others have lost children,
the hardest loss of all.
Hold each hurting soul gently, O God,
and bring your promised comfort now.
Like David,
singing his lament,
there are times when we need to recognize loss:
loss of love,
loss of home and community when we move,
loss of stability and security when jobs change,
loss of innocence.
Hold each hurting soul gently, O God,
and bring your promised comfort now.
Like David,
who knew now to mourn,
hear us as we mourn with others who are grieving
this day:
those in hospitals,
those in nursing homes,
those who are afflicted in body, mind, or spirit.
Hold each hurting soul gently, O God,
and bring your promised comfort now.
Like David,
who soothed his suffering with music,
touch our souls,
touch our world,
with the wonder of music
and the joy of song.
Bring healing as we sing, (and play our instruments)
and your promised comfort as we pray.

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: Kerri & Chris

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
People who have a lot of money and no time, we call rich. People who have a lot of time and no money, we call poor. Yet the most precious gifts of love, friendship, and compassion grow only in the sweet soil of “unproductive” or given time. We give our offering.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF
O God, we praise you today in song.
Please take our gifts and make them into action.
We want your song to be heard by everyone.
Make our gifts resonate with your love and ours.
Bless us, God, with your Spirit. Amen

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

We Go Out

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE?

*CLOSING HYMN: MV #144
Like a Healing Stream (requested by Carol Clarke)

1. Like a healing stream in a barren desert,
Spirit water bringing life to dusty earth,
God is trickling through our lives
as in a dream unfolding,
promising revival and rebirth
like a healing stream.

2. Like a gentle rain on a thirsty garden,
Spirit water come to nourish tiny seed,
God is bubbling through the soil
to coax a new creation,
yearning for an end to want and need
like a gentle rain.

3. Like a river strong with a restless current,
Spirit water rushing on to distant shore,
God is carving out a channel
in a new direction,
calling for an end to hate and war
like a river strong.

4. Like a mighty sea reaching far horizons,
Spirit water with a love both deep and wide,
God is working in our hearts
to shape a new tomorrow:
God will always challenge and provide!
Like a mighty sea, like a river strong,
like a gentle rain, like a healing stream.

*COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION
May you be astounded, as you are surrounded
with God’s gracious love for you.
May you be uplifted, your whole life be gifted
by God’s gracious love for you.
In joy and in sorrow, today and tomorrow
may God’s love be there for you.
In breakings and mendings, beginnings and endings,
may God’s love be there for you.

*CHORAL SENDING: Go Now in Peace
(Arrangement by Kerri and Chris)

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.