February 18, 2024

First Sunday of Lent

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: Ricardo Araujo

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

We Gather 

PRELUDE 
"Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" - Arr. C. Burton

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
Even though it is Lent, we light the Christ candle.
For the world needs this light; the world needs OUR light.
During our observance of Lent this year,
May the Christ candle remind us of the fragility of light.
May the purple colour remind us that Christ’s light is eternal.
And may these Lenten days bring us closer to the beauty of his light.
May the light of Christ be with you all;
And also with you.

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.

INTROIT: VU #381
“Spirit of Life”

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

OPENING READING  (adopted from Psalm25)
Lead us in your truth, O God, and teach us, for through You will we know wholeness; we shall reflect your light both day and night...With your steadfast love, once again, companion us along your way.
As we worship together, singing:

*HYMN: VU #288
Great is Thy Faithfulness   

1. Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow -
wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

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.
In Jesus name we gather and lean into lent.
Amen

We Listen

THEMES OF LENT:    Silence

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 42:5-9          (NRSVUE)
Thus says God, the Lord,
    who created the heavens and stretched them out,
    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
    and spirit to those who walk in it:
 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;
    I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,^[a]
    a light to the nations,
    to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
    from the prison those who sit in darkness.
 I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to idols.
 See, the former things have come to pass,
    and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
    I tell you of them.

PSALM 25, VU #752  (Responsive)
Refrain #2:
To you, O God, I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul.

To you, O God, I lift my soul; my God, in you I trust.
Let me not be put to shame, nor let my foes gloat over me.
            Let none who wait for you be shamed;
            let them be shamed who wantonly break faith.
Show me your ways; teach me your paths.
            Lead me in your truth and teach me;
            for you are God my saviour.
            For you I wait all the day long.
Refrain:
To you, O God, I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul.

Remember your mercy, O God, and your steadfast love,
for they are as old as time.
            Do not remember the sins and offences of my youth.
            According to your steadfast love remember me,
            for your goodness’ sake, O God!
Refrain:
To you, O God, I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul.

You are upright and good, O God,
therefore you show the path to those who go astray.
            You guide the humble to do what is right,
            and teach the lowly your way.
All your ways are loving and sure
            for those who keep your covenant
                        and commandments.
Refrain:
To you, O God, I lift my soul, to you I lift my soul.

Amos 5: 21-27          (NRSVUE)
 I hate, I despise your festivals,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them,
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
    I will not look upon.
 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
 But let justice roll down like water
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?  You shall take up Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, your images, which you made for yourselves;  therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus, says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts.

RESPONSE
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.
Thanks be to God!

ANTHEM
“Let Us Love One Another” - Arnold B. Sherman

HOMILY:  “True Piety”

We Respond 

*HYMN:  VU #108
Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights 

1. Throughout these Lenten days and nights
we turn to walk the inward way,
where, meeting Christ, our guide and light,
we live in hope till Easter Day.

2. The pilgrim Christ, the Lamb of God,
who found in weakness greater power,
embraces us, though lost and flawed,
and leads us to his Rising Hour.

3. We bear the silence, cross and pain
of human burdens, human strife,
while sisters, brothers help sustain
our courage till the Feast of Life.

4. And though the road is hard and steep,
the Spirit ever calls us on through
Calvary’s dying, dark and deep,
until we see the coming Dawn.

5. So let us choose the path of One
who wore, for us, the crown of thorn,
and slept in death that we might wake
to life on Resurrection Morn!

6. Rejoice, O sons and daughters! Sing
and shout hosannas! Raise the strain!
For Christ, whose death Good Friday brings
on Easter Day will rise again!

PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF
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 AND THE LORD’S PRAYER: (VU #910)

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE?

We Go Out 

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #509  
I, the Lord of Sea and Sky

1. I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

2. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain,
I have wept for love of them; they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

3. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

*COMMISSIONING & BENEDICTION

*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
"This Little Light of Mine" - Arr. C. Burton 

*****

LITURGY SOURCES:
Psalms for Praying by Nan Merrill

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
- “Spirit of Life” Words, Music: Carolyn McDade © 1981 Carolyn McDade, 76 Everett Skinner Rd., Plainville, MA 02762, USA. Harmony: © 1992 Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108-2892 USA. Words, Music: Carolyn McDade. Harmony: Unitarian Universalist Association.  One License #608577

- "Great is Thy Faithfulness” Words, Music: Thomas O. Chisholm © 1923, renewal 1951 Hope Publishing Company. Descant: © 1995 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Words, Music, Descant: Hope Publishing Company .One License #608577

- “Throughout These Lenten Days and Nights”  Words: James Gertmenian © 1993 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Music: Musikalisches Handbuch . Words: Hope Publishing Company. Music: Public Domain.  One License #608577

- “I The Lord of Sea and Sky” Words, Music, Harmony: © 1981 Daniel L. Schutte and New Dawn Music, administered by Oregon Catholic Press. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Words, Music, Harmony: Oregon Catholic Press. One License #608577

- “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 

- “Psalm Refrain” Marty Haugen

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

Prelude: "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" - Arr. C. Burton
Anthem:  “Let Us Love One Another” - Arnold B. Sherman
Postlude: "This Little Light of Mine" - Arr. C. Burton