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March 17, 2024: Sunday Service - PIE Day

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, March 17, 2024

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March 17th, 2024

Fifth Sunday of Lent

St. Patrick’s Day, P.I.E. Day!

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. John G. Smith
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Rev. Paul Parkin

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” 2nd mov’t - W.A. Mozart

WELCOME
Welcome to this time of worship on this 5th Sunday of Lent.
It is also St. Paddy’s day!
And today, for us as well, it is our annual celebration of PIE day.
PIE means Public, Intentional, and Explicit, a reference to our goals as we seek to become an Affirming congregation.

Today let’s be public about our intention to “be there” for all people, our intention to welcome everyone regardless of who they are.

So often, in the past, the “welcome” of “everyone”, often left some people feeling invisible. We have been welcoming others “regardless” of our diversity, regardless of gender, of gender identity, of our straightness or our queerness, or our abilities or our disabilities. But not “because” of them, in spite of them.

So let us truly mean it when we offer safe space and warm welcome to all 2SLGBTQIA+ persons. Let us celebrate our differences and our diversity, claiming these to be strengths, gifts that enhance our whole community in wondrous ways!

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.

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 safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community. We offer full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, all races, ages and abilities in the life and work of the ministry.

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.

*HYMN: MV #1
“Let Us Build a House”, vs. 1, 2 & 5

1) Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

2) Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

5) Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace;
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

SHARING the PEACE
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.

MUSIC for SHARING the PEACE
Improvisation on a Hymn - C. Burton

OPENING READING: (From Psalm 81)
Sing for joy to God our strength!
Shout for joy and join the celebration!
Begin the music! Sound the tambourine!
A great parade is about to begin!
Let us sing in gratitude to the One whose Love leads the parade.
Let us sing songs of thanksgiving for the Love of God.
Let us give thanks in all the congregations
That this Good News may be heard throughout the land.
Sing for joy to God our strength!
Shout for joy and join the celebration!
Begin the music! Sound the tambourine!
A great parade is about to begin!
I hear a voice I have come to know, words I will treasure all my life:
“Your burdens are released.
You are free to be who God created you to be!
Your heart and spirit are free to answer the loving call of the Beloved!”
For in the middle of my distress, in my isolation, in my pain,
You have spoken, O God of Love.
You have spread your wings of Holy Love around me, and breathed me back to life!
Sing for joy to God our strength!
Shout for joy and join the celebration!
Begin the music! Sound the tambourine!
A great parade is about to begin!
Oh, that my people would listen for my love!
Oh that all my people might join hands as friends inside this love!
Fears would flea; hearts would overflow.
Hunger will be satisfied, and new joy will be found!
So let the parade of Love begin anew today!
Sing for joy to God our strength!
Shout for joy and join the celebration!
Begin the music! Sound the tambourine!
A great parade is about to begin!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN: MV #145
“Draw the Circle Wide”

Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

1) God the still-point of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

2) Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

3) Let the dreams we dream be larger,
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

We Listen

A Theme Conversation: The Rainbow Fish

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

2 Corinthians 3: 1- 6 (Common English Version)
Are we starting to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of introduction to you or from you like other people, do we? You are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us. You weren’t written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. You weren’t written on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
This is the confidence that we have through Christ in the presence of God. It isn’t that we ourselves are qualified to claim that anything came from us. No, our qualification is from God. He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not based on what is written but on the Spirit, because what is written kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Mark 3: 1- 6 (The Message)
Then he went back in the meeting place where he found a man with a crippled hand. The Pharisees had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath violation. He said to the man with the crippled hand, “Stand here where we can see you.” Then he spoke to the people: “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” No one said a word. He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new! The Pharisees got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod’s followers and ruin him.

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

ANTHEM: “Let All the People Praise Thee” - N. Sleeth

SERMON: “Going Public”

We Respond

*HYMN: MV #161
“I Have Called You by Your Name”

1) I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you;
all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.

2) I will help you learn my name as you go;
read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name,
speak the word your soul can claim,
offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

3) I know you will need my touch as you go;
feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out,
choosing faith in spite of doubt,
hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.

4) I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul,
make my wounded children whole;
go and tell my precious people they are mine.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION for the OFFERING
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)

We light a candle for love, in all its colours
We light a candle for hope, in all its manifestations
We light a candle for courage and strength!
May we shine brightly in the darkness.

What’s Up at Grace

We Go Out

*HYMN: MV # 154
“Deep in Our Hearts”

1) Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.

2) Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;
deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
justice and peace in harmony.

3) Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
deep in our hearts there is a common current,
flowing to freedom like a stream.

4) Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.

*COMMISSIONING

*SUNG BENEDICTION
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.