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May 4, 2025: Easter 3 - Sunday Morning Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, May 4, 2025

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May 4th, 2025

3^rd Sunday of Easter

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. John G. Smith
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay 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
Selections from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book

A Stewardship Second
Sometimes it takes a short, sharp shock to help us see the needs that are right in front of us and respond to them.

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
In the springtime, the greening of the world around us brings us joy.
Our hearts are lighter, our hopes more fervent;
Our courage and strength have returned for another season.
The Christ light does the same:
It lightens our spirits, guides our way home,
And gives us the gifts we need to find our path.
Thanks be to God for the light of Christ! AMEN!

Opening Song: 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.

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER 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 territory of the Saugeen Ojibway First Nation. We acknowledge that they are the first stewards of this land and we respect their histories and past and present cultures. We will work to recognize and remove barriers to reconciliation.

CALL to WORSHIP
Friends, we have been called to this place today
To be renewed, refreshed, recharged, and reshaped.
We’ve been sourced by the Source of Life,
we’ve been scouted by Love’s Talent Team,
we’ve been called up, ready or not:
We’ve been chosen for the team…
Today, it’s a whole new ball game!
We’ve been called to give all that we have,
To give everything of ourselves, joyfully, extravagantly,
Unreservedly, outrageously, whole-heartedly,
In the service of God’s realm.
It’s our training camp here at church.
It’s our spring training in hopefulness and worthiness.
It’s the beginning of another season:
Each day places 9 fresh innings in front of us.
On this day, as on every day, let us remember:
God’s love opens our hearts to a field of dreams.
God’s love rises in our spirits, calling us home.
God’s love emerges in the world as we play the Game of Love;
And God’s love changes the world as we play:
May it be so! Today and everyday! AMEN!!

*HYMN: VU #415 “God We Praise You for the Morning”
1. God, we praise you for the morning;
hope springs forth with each new day,
new beginning, prayer, and promise,
joy in work and in play.

2. God, we praise you for creation,
mountains, seas, and prairie land.
Waking souls find joy and healing
in your bountiful hand.

3. God, we praise you for compassion,
all the loving that you show;
human touching, tears, and laughter,
help your children to grow.

4. God, we praise you for your Spirit,
Comforter and daily friend,
restless searcher, gentle teacher,
strength and courage you send.

5. God, we praise you for the Saviour,
come that we may know your ways.
In his loving, dying, rising,
Christ is Lord of our days.

6. Hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Christ is Lord of our days!

OPENING PRAYER
Thank you God for this day.
Thank you for the newness of it.
Thank for the opportunity within it.
Thank you for showing us the way, when we are struggling.
Thank you for filling us with strength, when we think we are finished.
Thank you for second chances, when we think we should be sent to the minors.
Thank you for inspiring us with your risen Christ,
Always and ever alive within our hearts,
cheering us on in the work of re-creating the world!
As we contemplate all that is confounding in our world,
The worries we have for our kids and our grandkids,
The concerns we have for the environment, our safety and our security,
Help us to see that we are still very much a part of your creation.
We are not just part of Life’s Flow; we are not just spectators,
We ARE Life. We are a source of Life ourselves.
So we place ourselves in your heart O God.
We place our worries, our work, our hopes, our dreams, in your loving heart.
We ask you to bless our world,
To bless our children,
To bless the lonely,
To bless the marginalized,
To bless the hungry,
With a measure of peace and gratitude, enough for today.
Whatever mistakes we make today,
Empower us and heal us, with strength and courage
To play the full nine innings before us…..

(A time for your own prayer)

THE LORD’S PRAYER

ANTHEM
“For Where Love Is, There Is God” - D.E. Wagner

We Listen

Theme Conversation: How our UCC Theology was Shaped

SCRIPTURE LESSON

Psalm 30 VU #757 - Responsive
I will extol you, O God, for you have lifted me up;
you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
O God, my God, I cried to you for help,
and you restored my health.
You brought me back from the dead;
you saved my life as I was going down to the Grave.
Let all your servants sing praises to you,
and give thanks to your holy name.
Your anger is but for a moment,
but your kindness is life eternal.
Refrain:
Though tears flow for a night, the morning brings new joy.

In my prosperity I said,
‘I shall never be shaken; your favour, O God,
has made me as firm as any strong mountain.’
You turned your face away from me, and I was greatly dismayed.
I called to you; I made my appeal:
‘What profit is there in my death,
in my going down to the Grave?
Will the dust give you praise?
Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, O God, and be gracious to me;
O God, be my helper.’
Refrain:
Though tears flow for a night, the morning brings new joy.

You turned my mourning into dancing;
you stripped off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
so that my heart will sing your praise without ceasing.
O God, my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Refrain:
Though tears flow for a night, the morning brings new joy.

John 21: 1-19 Contemporary English Version
Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. Simon Peter said, “I'm going fishing!”
The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.
Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”
“No!” they answered.
So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.”
They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.
Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, “It's the Lord!” When Simon heard it was the Lord, he put on the clothes he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. The boat was only about 100 meters from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.
When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it.Jesus told his disciples, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were 153 large fish, but still the net did not rip.
Jesus said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord.Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish.This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.
When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?”
Simon Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I do!”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus said.
Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus told him.
Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.”
Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go.”
Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, “Follow me!”

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

*HYMN: VU # 567 “Will You Come and Follow Me”
1. Will you come and follow me
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you and you in me?

4 Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?

5. Christ, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
in you and you in me.

SERMON: “Eventually, we will all Reach Home”

*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.

We Respond

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Christ has risen! And in the midst of our routine lives, we are asked to tend his sheep. But it just seems to be getting harder these days. Some days, it may seem all we can do to tend to those close to us. Yet Christ is there. He asks us to keep going, to renew our awareness of God’s presence in our lives, and to give generously and freely. We may never know how much our gifts are multiplied or how far they reach, and for that reason we should never be surprised at what God can do with them.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Jesus, you ask us to tend your sheep, wherever we may encounter them, so we offer our gifts Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Donate”
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
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, or Donate to Grace United Church Thornbury through CanadaHelps.org. Our account is set up with them now and it is easy to register. Tax receipts are given automatically at the time of giving. Care, Prayer, Share

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*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 way 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
(Celtic)
This day and every day
Grant us light.
This day and every day
Grant us joy.
This day and every day
Grant us strength.
This day and every day
Grant us grace.
This day and every day
Grant us peace. AMEN.