Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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September 10, 2023 - Sunday Service

Rev John Lougheed

Sunday, September 10, 2023

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September 10, 2023

15^th Sunday after Pentecost

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Guest Minister: (Rev.) John Lougheed
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Jim Oliver

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics

____________________________________________________________

We Gather

PRELUDE:
“Prelude in E Major” ~ 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.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgement of the Traditional Territory & Declaration of Safe Space
A Prayer adapted from Padraig O’Tuama, offered in a recent dialogue on Indigenous and Settler Reconciliation:
Where there is separation, there is pain.
And where there is pain, there is story.
And where there is story, there is understanding,
And misunderstanding.
Listening, and not listening…
And so, may we … turn toward each other,
And turn towards our stories.
With understanding, and listening.
With argument and acceptance,
With challenge, change, and consolation.
Because God is to be found, and God will be found,
In the space between.
May it be so.

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.

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

CALL TO WORSHIP:
In the shadow of your wings, O Lord,
We will sing your praises.
The Lord is our light and our salvation,
The Lord is the refuge of our lives,
Of whom shall we be afraid?
Wait for the Lord.
Let us worship God!

OPENING PRAYER:
Loving God, we thank you for all that is good,
for our creation and our humanity,
for the stewardship you have given us on this planet earth,
for the gifts of life and of one another,
for your love which is unbounded and eternal.
As we sing your praise:

*OPENING HYMN: VU #585
Jesus Bids Us Shine

1. Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
like a little candle burning in the night.
In this world is darkness, so let us shine,
you in your small corner, and I in mine.

2. Jesus bids us shine first of all for him;
well he sees and knows it if our light grows dim:
Jesus walks beside us to help us shine,
you in your small corner, and I in mine.

3. Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around;
many kinds of darkness in the world are found:
sin, and want and sorrow; so we must shine,
you in your small corner, and I in mine.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Merciful God, we have not loved you with our whole heart, nor our neighbours as ourselves.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, forgive what we have been, accept us as we are, and guide what we shall be.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
O God of mercy, you forgive our past sin, you strengthen us in your gift of eternal life, you shape us for glory. Gracious God, we thank you. Amen

We Listen

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
May the words of our mouths and the thoughts of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

A STORY FOR ALL AGES: “Lighthouses”

PSALM: Psalm 27 VU #754
Refrain:
God is my light and saving health,
I shall not be afraid.

God is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear?
God is the stronghold of my life,
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked close in to devour me,
it is they, my enemies and my foes, who stumble and fall.
If an army should encamp against me,
my heart shall not be afraid;
if war should arise against me,
even then I will not be dismayed.
Refrain:
God is my light and saving health,
I shall not be afraid.

One thing I have asked of God, for which I long:
that I may dwell in God’s house all the days of my life,
to gaze on your beauty, O God,
and to seek you in your temple.
For the time of trouble you will give me shelter;
you will hide me under the cover of your tent,
you will set me high upon a rock.
And now you have raised my head
above my enemies round about me.
Therefore I will offer in your dwelling
a sacrifice with great gladness.
Refrain:
God is my light and saving health,
I shall not be afraid.

Hear my voice, O God, when I call; have mercy and answer me.
Your face, O God, I seek.
Do not hide your face from me;
do not reject your servant in anger,
you who have been my helper.
Do not cast me off, or forsake me, O God my saviour.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
my God will take me up.
Refrain:
God is my light and saving health,
I shall not be afraid.

Teach me your way, O God,
lead me on a level path,
safe from those who lie in wait for me.
Do not give me up to the will of my enemies,
for liars and false witnesses arise against me.
I believe that I shall see God’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Wait for God; be strong, and take courage;
yes, wait for God!
Refrain:
God is my light and saving health,
I shall not be afraid.

GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 5:13-16 (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

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

ANTHEM:
“Supplication” ~ Linda Steen Spevacek

SERMON: “Beacons of Light”

*HYMN: VU #210
You Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd

1. You, Lord, are both lamb and shepherd.
You, Lord, are both prince and slave.
You, peacemaker and sword-bringer
of the way you took and gave.
You, the everlasting instant;
you, whom we both scorn and crave.

2. Clothed in light upon the mountain,
stripped of might upon the cross,
shining in eternal glory,
beggared by a soldier’s toss.
You, the everlasting instant;
you who are both gift and cost.

3. You, who walk each day beside us,
sit in power at God’s side.
You, who preach a way that’s narrow,
have a love that reaches wide.
You, the everlasting instant;
you, who are our pilgrim guide.

4. Worthy is our earthly Jesus!
Worthy is our cosmic Christ!
Worthy your defeat and victory.
Worthy still your peace and strife.
You, the everlasting instant;
you, who are our death and life.

We Respond

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world and for all God’s people in their daily life and work, with the response: hear our prayer

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch unceasingly over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord.
Lord of all life: hear our prayer.

We pray for all through whom we receive sustenance and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered our life that we depend upon each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord of all creation: hear our prayer

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labours may be for the welfare of all.
Lord of all wisdom: hear our prayer.

We pray for governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is war, disaster, drought and starvation.
By the grace of your Spirit, touch our hearts
and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make us wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord of all justice: hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes and all who are known to us. We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding to all who work for their well-being.
Lord of all compassion: hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died, whom we entrust to your eternal love in the hope of resurrection to new life.Lord of all peace: hear our prayer.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace. Hear us now in the silence of our own hearts … (silence is briefly kept)
Lord of all faithfulness: hear our prayer.

God of grace,
as you are ever at work in your creation,
so fulfil your wise and loving purpose in us and in all for whom we pray,
that with them and in all that you have made,
your glory may be revealed and the whole earth give praise to you,

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....

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:
By whatever means, we’re all invited to contribute our time and talent and treasure, to help build up the Kingdom of Peace with Justice that Jesus came to proclaim. The offering will now be received.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF:
Generous God,
we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season,
and for the labours of those who harvest them.
Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty,
for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need,
to the glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. 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?

*HYMN: VU #315
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee;
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which were, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

*COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION:
We go now from this Service of Worship, to the worship of service …And may the Love of God, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Power of the Holy Spirit, rest and abide with us, and those we love, and serve, and remember. Evermore, 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. (2x)

POSTLUDE:
“Courante: from English Suite No. 4 ~ J.S. Bach

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