January 7th, 2024
Epiphany Sunday
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. John Greg. Smith
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Heather Dickson
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
We Gather
PRELUDE
Ave Maria - F. Schubert
GREETING: (2 Cor. 13:13)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!
And also with you!
LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
The light of Christ is with us always!
The light of Christ is in this place!
The light of Christ fills us with hope and courage
and gives us strength for the journey ahead!
Thanks be to God for the light of Christ!
WELCOME
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND and of OUR COMMITMENT to 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 Treaty 18 region 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 United Church we strive to offer a safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community – people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, races, ages, abilities and their families. We honour the holy truth that all people are made in the image of God and are innately entitled to dignity and respect. We are committed to learning what it means to be an affirming congregation and how we can be welcoming and inclusive in all ways and at all times.
CALL to WORSHIP
As at the first Epiphany, we arrive at this place bearing every kind of gift!
We come with hope, we come with love,
We come with blessings, we come with our whole hearts.
We open ourselves to the movement of God’s spirit;
We open ourselves to the fullness of God’s love.
We come with delight, we come with courage,
We come with faith, we come with confidence.
We open ourselves to the movement of God’s spirit;
We open ourselves to the fullness of God’s love.
We come with openness, we come with anticipation,
We come with our dreams, we come with our whole lives.
We open ourselves to the movement of God’s spirit;
We open ourselves to the fullness of God’s love.
May our worship today give us the faith we need
to bear all these very same gifts to the world around us.
And may we be surrounded always by God’s gracious love throughout our journey this coming year!
*OPENING HYMN: VU 81
“As With Gladness Men of Old”
1. As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold,
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore your splendour see.
2. As with joyful steps they sped,
to that lowly manger bed,
there to bend the knee before
Christ, whom heaven and earth adore;
so may we with eager pace
ever seek your throne of grace
3. As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger crude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to you, our heavenly King.
4. Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and, when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds your glory hide.
5. In the heavenly country bright
none shall need created light;
you its light, its joy, its crown,
you its sun which goes not down;
there for ever may we sing
hallelujah to our King.
OPENING PRAYER:
Gracious God, on this Epiphany Sunday
We remember that we are here on this earth
To carry your light,to witness to your light
and to bear the beams of light to the world around us.
Fill us once again with your divine light, we pray,
That we might be a source of love and peace,
Joy and hope, on this daily journey we begin again today.
We remember O God, that we are here on this earth
to hold your light for others, to shine a light in dark places,
and to carry the light for those who are lost.
Fill us once again with your divine light, we pray,
That we might be a source of love and peace,
Joy and hope, on this daily journey we begin again today.
We remember O God, that we are here on this earth
To learn to live more fully with your love and your light.
We are here to comfort the lonely, heal broken souls with love,
To bring peace among brothers,
And to make music in the heart.
Give us the wisdom and strength we need
To keep Christmas in our hearts every day.
Fill us once again with your divine light, we pray,
That we might be a source of love and peace,
joy and hope, on this daily journey we begin again today.
“Christ Be Our Light”
Chorus:
“Christ be our Light!
Shine in our hearts!
Shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light;
Shine in your church, gathered today!”
OUR COMMUNITY PRAYER:
As I live every day,
I want to be a channel for peace.
May I bring love where there is hatred
And healing where there is hurt;
Joy where this sadness
And hope where there is fear.
I pray that I may always try
To understand and comfort other people
As well as seeking comfort
and understanding from them.
Wherever possible, may I choose to be
A light in the darkness,
A help in times of need,
And a caring honest friend.
And may justice, kindness, and peace
Flow from my heart forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:
The Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
We Listen
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Isaiah 60:1-6 (Common English Bible)
Arise! Shine! Your light has come;
the Lord’s glory has shone upon you.
Though darkness covers the earth
and gloom the nations,
the Lord will shine upon you;
God’s glory will appear over you.
Nations will come to your light
and kings to your dawning radiance.
Lift up your eyes and look all around:
they are all gathered; they have come to you.
Your sons will come from far away,
and your daughters on caregivers’ hips.
Then you will see and be radiant;
your heart will tremble and open wide,
because the sea’s abundance will be turned over to you;
the nations’ wealth will come to you.
Countless camels will cover your land,
young camels from Midian and Ephah.
They will all come from Sheba,
carrying gold and incense,
proclaiming the Lord’s praises.
Matthew 2:1-12 (Common English Bible)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the territory of Judea during the rule of King Herod, magi came from the east to Jerusalem. They asked, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We’ve seen his star in the east, and we’ve come to honor him.”
When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and everyone in Jerusalem was troubled with him. He gathered all the chief priests and the legal experts and asked them where the Christ was to be born. They said, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what the prophet wrote:
You, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
by no means are you least among the rulers of Judah, because from you will come one who governs,
who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and found out from them the time when the star had first appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you’ve found him, report to me so that I too may go and honor him.” When they heard the king, they went; and look, the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. They entered the house and saw the child with Mary his mother. Falling to their knees, they honored him. Then they opened their treasure chests and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Because they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route.
RESPONSE
May these words of scripture inspire us in heart, mind and soul. AMEN
ANTHEM: “Love is the Touch”
Alison M. Robinson & John L. Bell
SERMON: “Going Home a Different Way”
We Respond
*HYMN: VU 74
“What Child is This”
1. What child is this, who laid to rest,
on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch are keeping?
Refrain:
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the Babe, the Son of Mary!
2. Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading.
Refrain:
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the Babe, the Son of Mary!
3. So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh;
come, one and all, to own him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
let loving hearts enthrone him.
Refrain:
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the Babe, the Son of Mary!
PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
The work of creating a world that works for all,
Requires many gifts, many talents, many resources.
We bring all that we have, our courage, our strength,
Our prayers and our dreams,
Our gifts of time and treasure,
And all the love and acceptance we embody,
To create God’s world of justice and joy.
Thanks be to God. 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
PRAYERS of the PEOPLE & the LORD”S PRAYER (VU 910)
What’s Up at Grace?
We Go Forth to Serve
*HYMN: VU 87
“I Am the Light of the World”
Refrain:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
1. When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds have found
their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun:
Refrain:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
2. To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above!
Refrain:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
3. To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God’s children everywhere!
Refrain:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
4. To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby’s new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth!
Refrain:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.
*COMMISSIONING
*SUNG BLESSING: MV 220
”Hope Shines as the Solitary Star”
Hope shines as the solitary star.
Faith is the inner light.
You and I together mirror the Light of Lights,
And illumine the pathway home.
POSTLUDE
“Moonlight Sonata” - L. van Beethoven
*****
RESOURCES USED
LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Prayers are written by Rev. John G Smith
Our Community Prayer: This prayer is © West Hill United Church, and is used with permission
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “As With Gladness Men of Old:”Words: William Chatterton Dix, alt. Music: Conrad Kocher. Adapted by William H. Monk. Descant: Alan Gray. Public Domain
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Prelude: “Ave Maria” - F. Schubert
Anthem: “Love is the Touch” - Words: Alison M. Robinson. Music: John L. Bell
Postlude: “Moonlight Sonata” - L. van Beethoven
