August 20th, 2023
Proper 15 – 12th Sunday After Pentecost
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Rev. Hugh MacDonald
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Sandy Eagles
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
We Gather to Worship God
PRELUDE: “Allemande” from English Suite #3 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 & 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.
CALL TO WORSHIP:
People of God, how good and pleasant it is that we have come as kindred together! Here may we remember our Creator,
the lover and maker of us all, who called Earth and all its creatures into being.
Here we are embraced in the loving hospitality of God.
Who knows us as beloved, and holds us in kindness and care all the days of our lives.
Here we meet the Risen Christ.
We remember we are baptized into the way of compassion, and open our hearts and minds to the Spirit of God’s grace.
Here we build the church.
We remember the matriarchs and patriarchs of the Hebrew Scriptures, the apostles and the leaders of the early church, and the whole host of witnesses whose mission and ministry has brought us to this point in the great journey of God’s people.
Here, we remember that we are family.
We remember that we are sisters and brothers called to a ministry of hope and new life in a world that is all too familiar with death.
OPENING PRAYER:
*OPENING HYMN: VU # 856 – Behold, How Pleasant
Refrain:
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
1. How pleasant and harmonious when God’s people are together:
fragrant as precious oil when running fresh on Aaron’s beard.
Refrain:
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
2. How pleasant and harmonious when God’s people are together:
fresh like the morning dew that falls on Zion’s holy hill.
Refrain:
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
3. How pleasant and harmonious when God’s people are together:
there is where God bestows the blessing, life for evermore.
Refrain:
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
Behold, how pleasant, how good it is!
PRAYER of CONFESSION:
WORDS of ASSURANCE:
God in Christ and the Spirit is reconciling all things to one another. We are no longer bound by the things that destroy, old things have passed away and we are a new creation. Let us live into this wondrous promise.
We Listen
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
O God, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that as the scriptures are read
and your Word is proclaimed,
we may hear what you are saying to us today. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Old Testament: Genesis 45: 1-15
- New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
GOSPEL: Matthew 15: 10-28 (NRSVUE)
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
“Sarabande” from English Suite #3 J.S. Bach
SERMON: Reconciliation for a family; Hope for all people…
*HYMN: MV #98 – Like a River of Tears
1. Like a river of tears your love pours upon us;
like a sunshine of blessing your grace will sustain us;
like a star-studded sky your spirit shines o’er us,
renewing our spirits with courage and faith.
2. Like a bird in free flight by windows around us;
like a wind in the forest that breathes life among us;
like a phoenix that’s rising from ashes around us,
renewing our spirits with vision and grace.
3. Like a pillar of cloud you promise to guide us;
like a bright fiery bush you come to speak to us;
like a calm cooling breeze your spirit breathes in us,
renewing our spirits with loving embrace.
4. Like a lover’s caress your spirit revives us;
like a song of the soul you come to be with us;
like a prayer of the heart you heal and restore us,
renewing our spirits, the future to face.
We Respond to God’s Word
PRAYER CANDLES:
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
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:
Improvisation on a Hymn C. Burton
INVITATION to the OFFERING :
PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF:
We bring our gifts to you, God.
Here is the work of our hands,
and here is the love of our hearts.
Accept them and use them,
through Christ our Lord. 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 to Share the Good News
WHAT’S UP AT GRACE ?
*CLOSING HYMN: VU #218 – We Praise You, O God
1. We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.
2. We worship you, God of our mothers and fathers,
through trial and tempest, companion and guide.
When perils o'ertake us, you will not forsake us,
but faithful to your promise, you walk by our side.
3. With voices united our praises we offer
and gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.
Our sins now confessing, we pray for your blessing,
to you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise!
*COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION:
We are ambassadors for Christ. God’s appeal is made through our daily witness.
Go from this time and place of worship trusting in the Love of God, the Peace of the Risen Christ and the steadfast fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*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: Based on Psalm 133: written by Rev. Hugh MacDonald.
Words of Assurance: from Celebrate God’s Presence
Opening Prayer, Prayer of Confession, Prayer of Illumination, Prayers of the People
Prayer of Dedication, Commissioning and Benediction: written by Rev. Hugh
MacDonald
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
-“Behold, How Pleasant:” Words: Pablo Sosa 1974: English 1986, alt. Music: Pablo Sosa 1974: arr. Darryl Nixon 1987. Words and music copyright © 1974 Pablo Sosa. Arrangement copyright © Songs for a Gospel People. One License#608577
-“Like a River of Tears:” Words: John Oldham. 1996. Music: Ron Klusmeier. 1997
Words copyright © 1996 by John Wesley Oldham, Used by permission. Music copyright © 1997 by Ron Klusmeier, Used by permission. One License #608577
-“We Praise You, O God:” Words: Julia Cory 1902,alt. Music: Netherlands melody 1626, harm. Edward Kremser 1877, desc. Scott Withrow 1980. Descant copyright 1980 G.I.A. Publications, Inc. One License #608577
-Sung Blessing:”Go Now in Peace” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Reproduced with 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: “Allemande” from English Suite #3 J.S. Bach
Musical Interlude: “Sarabande” from English Suite #3 J.S. Bach
Music for Passing the Peace: Improvisation on a Hymn C. Burton
Postlude: “Prelude” from English Suite #4 J.S. Bach
emande” from English Suite #3 J.S. Bach
Musical Interlude: “Sarabande” from English Suite #3 J.S. Bach
Music for Passing the Peace: Improvisation on a Hymn C. Burton
Postlude: “Prelude” from English Suite #4 J.S. Bach
