Music Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday

Black History Month

February 11, 2024

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
     Worship Leader and Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
     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
“Come Sunday” - Duke Ellington, arr. C. Burton

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 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.

WELCOME

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFE SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect. At Grace United Church we try to offer a safe, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community – people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, races, ages and abilities. We are committed to continuing to learn and grow as we prepare to become an Affirming congregation.

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.

CALL to WORSHIP
Let us go up the mountain to meet with our God. Let us worship and praise God’s name.

OPENING PRAYER
Creator God, whose love is higher than the heavens! Righteous God, whose love extends from the mountains and seas to every living thing!
You take us under your wing, loving God, where we find refuge.
You give us hope and possibility for the journey.
You transform our lives with your compassion. May your love flow in us and through us,
For now and for eternity, Amen.

*OPENING HYMN: VU #232  
Joyful, Joyful We Adore You

1. Joyful, joyful we adore you,
God of glory, life and love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.

2. All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
sound their praise eternally.

3. You are giving and forgiving,
every blessing, ever blest,
wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing,
let your light upon us shine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.

4. Mortals join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward,
in the triumph song of life.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We come now, Loving God, ready to be transformed and transfigured. We are ready to experience how your love can change us: our beings, our lives, and our world. Open each one of us this day to the power of your love; may we be infused with its fullness and filled with its potential.
As we come to fully know you and your love, we also come with a sense of guilt, for we have not always loved as you love us. We have ignored moments of potential and searched for failure.
Sometimes we have moved away from love and been drawn in by hate. We have forgotten how much you love us and have been swallowed by self-loathing. Forgive our foolish ways. Once again, draw us deeper into your love and bring us to wholeness and life in your love. Amen

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
The Good News is for us all. The wonder of God’s love is forgiveness for all, over and over again. The wonder of God’s forgiveness is the opportunity for all of us to have a fresh start, ready to share the wonderful love and forgiveness of God. Thanks be to God, Amen

We Listen 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Draw us close, Holy Spirit, as the Scriptures are read and the Word is proclaimed. Let the word of faith be on our lips and in our hearts, and let all other words slip away. May there be one voice we hear today – the voice of truth and grace. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS
2 Corinthians 4: 3-6    (NRSVUE)
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing clearly the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’s sake.  For it is the God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Mark 9: 2-9    (NRSVUE)
The Transfiguration                   
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he
was transfigured before them,  and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one on earth could brighten them.  And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.  Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”  Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

RESPONSE
May these words of scripture inspire us in heart, mind and soul. Amen

A WORD ON SPIRITUALS

SPECIAL MUSIC

SHINE, JESUS, SHINE  - Graham Kendrick

THE LORD IS MY LIGHT
adapted from Psalm 27 by Lillian Bouknight

*HYMN:    VU #612    
There is a Balm in Gilead
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

1. Sometimes I feel discouraged,
and think my work’s in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul.

2. If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say “He died for all.”
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
to make the wounded whole.
There is a balm in Gilead
to heal the sin-sick soul. 

GLORY TO GOD  
Grayson Warren Brown - arr. Val Parker

*HYMN: VU #606   
In Christ There is no East or West

1. In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
but one great family of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

2. In him shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
his service is the golden cord
close binding humankind.

3. Join hands, then, people of the faith,
whate’er your race may be;
all children of the living God
are surely kin to me.

4. In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
all Christ-like souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.

We Respond 

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: (Spoken, traditional words, VU 921)
We lift this prayer in the words that Jesus gave his disciples to pray together, and so, together, we say: heavenly parent, our mother, Our Father, who art in heaven …

PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Improvisation on a Hymn - C. Burton

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERING
Generous God, transform what we offer this morning for your work in this world. Transfigure us in our giving that we might know your joyful Spirit through the spiritual practice of committed offerings. Inspire us to live into your abundance in Jesus’ strong name. 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

What’s Up at Grace?

We Go Forth 

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #420   
Go to the World

1. Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews life’s worth,
baptising as the sign of our rebirth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2. Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the Word of God’s redeeming grace,
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

3. Go to the World! Go struggle, bless and pray;
the nights of tears give away to joyous day.
As servant Church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

4. Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
for I am with you ‘til the age shall end,
when all the hosts of glory cry “Amen!”
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

*COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION
Depart from here renewed in your worship, restored in your mercy, and revitalized in your faith.  May you meet the days ahead with transformed vigour and determination and the confidence of God’s love planted deep in your heart where it might grow. Amen

*CHORAL SENDING
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  
“Hymn to Freedom” Oscar Peterson - arr. C. Burton

*****

LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
- Lighting the Christ Candle: Written by Peter Chynoweth, Yellowknife, N.W.T. Gathering, Advent, Christmas, Epipheny, 2019-2020, page 47. Used by permission.
- Call to Worship: Written by Kate Gregory, Trenton U.C., Trenton, ON. Gathering, Epiphany 2023/2024, page 51. Used with permission.
- Opening Prayer: Written by Glad Faith Klassen, Stamford Lane U.C., Niagttara Falls ON Gathering, Epiphany 2023/2024, page 51. Used with permission.
- Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance: Written by Heather McClure, Wesley U.C., Montreal, P.Q. Gathering, Epiphany 2023/2024, page 51. Used with permission.
- Prayer of Illumination: Copyright © Caldwellpresby.org
- Prayers of the People: Written by Elizabeth, Countess of Craven 1750-1828 Celebrate God’s Presence, pp. 54-55. Used by permission.
- Prayer of Dedication for Our Offering: Written by Gord Dunbar, Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, ON.  Gathering, Epiphany 2023/2024, page 51. Used with permission.
- Commissioning and Benediction: Written by Gill Le Fevre, Walton MemorialU.C.Oakville, ON. Gathering, Epiphany 2023/2024, Page 51. Used with permission.

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES

Prelude: “Come Sunday” - Duke Ellington, arr. C. Burton
Special Music:
- “SHINE, JESUS, SHINE”  Text: Graham Kendrick. Music: Graham Kendrick. Copyright © 1987 Make Way Music, admin. Integrity’s Hosanna! Music in N., S., & C. America.
-“ THE LORD IS MY LIGHT” Text: Psalm 27; adapt. Lillian Bouknight. Music: Lillian Bouknight; arr. Paul Gainer. Copyright © Savgos Music, admin. Malaco Music.
-“ GLORY TO God” Text: International Consultation on English Texts Music: Grayson Warren Brown; arr. Val Parker. Music copyright © 1985  North American Liturgy Resources, admin OCP Publications.
Music for Passing the Peace: Improvisation by C. Burton
Postlude: “Hymn to Freedom”  Oscar Peterson arr. C. Burton