Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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May 18, 2025: Easter 5 - Sunday Morning Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, May 18, 2025

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May 18th, 2025

5^th 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: Sandy Eagles

Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.

We Gather

PRELUDE
“Allemande” from English Suite No.4 - J.S. Bach

Stewardship Second
We should care less about who “deserves” what we share and more about where God is calling us to share it.

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
Christ within us, the hope of glory to come!
Christ around us, Christ to guide us.
Christ behind us, Christ to prod us.
Christ beneath us, Christ to hold us.
Christ beyond us, Christ to lure us.
Let us worship together in the light of Christ.

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.

*HYMN: MV#30 ”It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker”
1. It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
the thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
The gray whale sings in the sea,
Refrain
And by the Spirit
you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

2. It’s a call of life to the Giver
when waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver
when high tides break on the shore,
Refrain
And by the Spirit
you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

3. It’s a hymn of love to the Lover;
the bumblebees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover,
the summer breeze joins the song,
Refrain
And by the Spirit
you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

4. It’s the chorus of all creation;
it’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation;
a song the universe sings,
Refrain
And by the Spirit
you and I can join our voice to the holy cry
and sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.

A Reading
The Rose, by Amanda McBroom
Some say love, it is a river
That drowns the tender reed
Some say love it is a razor
That leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love it is a hunger
An endless aching need
I say love it is a flower
And you it's only seed

It's the heart afraid of breaking
That never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking
That never takes the chance
It's the one who won't be taken
Who cannot seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying
That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.

Dance Presentation
Peter Scoggard and Dianne Chapitis

Prayers for the Love of God!
O God, creator of Light and Original Blessing,
as once you poured out your love to birth the cosmos,
so now pour out your love upon us.
Re-create us anew this day.
Re-make our spirits with fresh new aliveness.
Re-fashion our hearts, and mend our torn inner spirits.
Your ancient Love, Love Eternal, still holds us now even as we pray,
and embraces us in our sorrow and our joy.
You Creator God, are Blessing in us.
You Creator God, help us to transform sorrow and joy into blessing.
As we gather together,
we call upon our gathered wisdom and our gathered capacity
to exercise a healing art upon this world.
We are alchemists of blessing.
We have within us your eternal power to bless;
Wherever we go we can offer our healing gaze which comes from You,
which comes from your spirit in the center of all creation.
Who might we bless today?
Who needs to know they are blessed?
Our volunteers, who serve in many capacities, wearing many different hats;
Our seniors, some active, some managing with health concerns;
The homeless in our area, or those living close to the edge of what they can manage;
The ones who feel they don’t belong in church….

(water is poured)

Healing water, source of life.
Bless us that we might bless one another.
Baptize us once again, each day if necessary,
that we might know who we are,
that we might claim the wisdom of our healing circle.

Song: MV #85 “ Take O Take Me” (3x)
Bless O Bless Me as I am
Summon out what I shall be
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me…..

The Lord’s Prayer: (Casa del Sol version)
Ground of all being, Mother of life, Father of the universe,
your name is sacred, beyond speaking.
May we know your presence today and always.
May your longings be our longings
and may they become words and acts of kindness.
May there be food for the human family today and for the whole earth community.
Forgive us our faults, and the false things we have done,
and help us forgive those who have been untrue to us.
May your love accompany us in times of conflict
but also lead us into new beginnings.
We pray in the light of life, in the vitality of life
and in the glory of life which you have given us, both now, and forever. Amen.

We Listen

Theme Conversation:
“The Apology to Indigenous People”

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Acts10: 34-39 and 44-48
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Peter then said:
Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. God is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no matter what nation they come from.This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them.
You surely know what happened everywhere in Judea. It all began in Galilee after John had told everyone to be baptized.God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and healing everyone who was under the power of the devil.We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem.
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit took control of everyone who was listening.Some Jewish followers of the Lord had come with Peter, and they were surprised that the Holy Spirit had been given to Gentiles.Now they were hearing Gentiles speaking unknown languages and praising God.
Peter said,“These Gentiles have been given the Holy Spirit, just as we have! I am certain that no one would dare stop us from baptizing them.”Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days.

John 13: 31-35 CEV
After Judas had gone, Jesus said:
Now the Son of Man will be given glory, and he will bring glory to God.
Then, after God is given glory because of him, God will bring glory to him, and God will do it very soon.
My children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, “You cannot go where I am going.” But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

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

*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.

SERMON: “Wait a Minute, isn’t Peter the Rock?”

Dance Presentation

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
If we knew that our actions were the only experience a person had of God’s love, would this change how we treat others? We are called to love one another as God loves us—all of us. Those who are nothing like us, those who live somewhere else, those who are undeserving in our eyes. Let us give freely as God gives to us.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Generous God, you know what the world needs, and our faith in your guidance inspires us to give. Please accept our freely given gifts, and use them through this congregation and Mission and Service for ministry where they are needed most. 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?

GOING FORTH

*HYMN: VU # 625 “I Feel the Winds of God Today”
1. I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.

2. It is the wind of God that dries
my vain regretful tears,
until with braver thoughts shall rise
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease
or pleasure I should be,
O let me feel your freshening breeze,
and I’ll put back to sea.

3. If ever I forget your love
and how that love was shown,
lift high the blood-red flag above;
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way,
you will not let me drift.
I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift.

*COMMISSIONING
(Celtic traditional)
May the road rise to meet you;
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand. AMEN

*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.