Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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May 25, 2025: Easter 6 - Sunday Morning Service -

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, May 25, 2025

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May 25th, 2025

6^th Sunday of Easter

Theme: “How to Tell you are Alive”

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: Candy Yeandle

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

We Gather

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

Stewardship Second
When you give your time and yourself to someone by recognizing them and honouring them as equal, no matter how unimportant they may seem, a miracle takes place.

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 # 28
“God of the Bible” vs 1, 2, 3 & 4 only
1. God of the Bible, God in the Gospel,
hope seen in Jesus, hope yet to come,
your are our center, daylight or darkness,
freedom or prison, you are our home.
Refrain: (2X)
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

2. God in our struggles, God in our hunger,
suffering with us, taking our part,
still you empow’r us, mothering Spirit,
feeding, sustaining, from your own heart.
Refrain: (2X)
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

3. Those without status, those who are nothing,
you have made royal, gifted with rights,
chosen as partners, midwives of justice,
birthing new systems, lighting new lights.
Refrain: (2X)
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

4. Not by your finger, not by your anger
will our world order change in a day,
but by your people, fearless and faithful,
small paper lanterns, lighting the way.
Refrain: (2X)
Fresh as the morning, sure as the sunrise,
God always faithful, you do not change.

A Poem:
A fragile clay pot—
Broken becomes worthless. But
Gather up the scattered fragments.
Mend the cracks with care and love that
Trace healed wounds with golden scars.
Imperfection revealed as beauty—
The ordinary becomes holy.

Kintsugi: Healing a Cracked Pot with Golden Light

OPENING PRAYER
O God, we are certainly aware that we are fragile creatures.
Age and experience have taught us this.
Life’s mishaps, life’s interruptions, life’s challenges, have taught us this.
We know that each breath is precious;
we know the precious sacredness of life through our breath.
We know that we will all break, or break down, in one way or another,
at some point in our life.
We know that things fall apart, and the centre cannot always hold.
Yet here we are, battered and torn, scars in full view, warts and all,
cracked and worn, our hearts in pieces.
And we are still breathing in the breath you give us.
Your love fills our being with each and every breath.
Your love is present in every single moment.
Here we are, still going on, if not going strong.
Here we are, knowing that even in this fragile state,
You hold us in the highest of esteem. Your vision is true and deep.
We see scars and trouble;
You see golden veins of strength.

As we cultivate this awareness, help us to see the gold in others.
Help us to reframe the way we see our families,
and those in our close circles of friends and relations.
Help us to be less critical and more warm- hearted.
Help us to be less judgmental of others, and more empathetic.
Help us to offer our own fragile strength
to the re-stitching of other’s lives:
those who are grieving or who are sick,
those who are troubled in body, mind, or spirit,
those we can’t help worrying over.
Help us to hold these beloved of yours as if they were our own.
Help us to hold your whole world, as if it IS our own.

We pray these things with the spirit of Christ,
whose presence in us is like shafts of golden light. AMEN

THE LORD’S PRAYER (VU 910)

We Listen

ANTHEM
“Put Peace into Each Other’s Hands” - Kaan/Klusmeier

Theme Conversation: “The Difficult Conversation”

*HYMN: VU #371 “Open My Eyes That I May See”
1. Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

2. Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

3. Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Luke 24:13 – 16, 28 – 35 Contemporary English version
That same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about eleven kilometers from Jerusalem.As they were talking and thinking about what had happened,Jesus came near and started walking along beside them.But they did not know who he was.
When the two of them came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going farther.They begged him, “Stay with us! It's already late, and the sun is going down.” So Jesus went into the house to stay with them.
After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them.At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared.They said to each other, “When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn't it warm our hearts?”So they got up and returned to Jerusalem.

The two disciples found the eleven apostles and the others gathered together.And they learned from the group that the Lord was really alive and had appeared to Peter.Then the disciples from Emmaus told what happened on the road and how they knew he was the Lord when he broke the bread.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – 12, 16 – 18 Contemporary English version
The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.

We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up.In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so his life can also be seen in us.This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.

We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day.These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

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

SERMON: “How to Tell You are Alive”

*HYMN: VU #229 “God of the Sparrow”
1. God of the sparrow God of the whale
God of the swirling stars
How does the creature say Awe
How does the creature say Praise

2. God of the earthquake God of the storm
God of the trumpet blast
How does the creature cry Woe
How does the creature cry Save

3. God of the rainbow God of the cross
God of the empty grave
How does the creature say Grace
How does the creature say Thanks

4. God of the hungry God of the sick
God of the prodigal
How does the creature say Care
How does the creature say Life

5. God of the neighbour God of the foe
God of the pruning hook
How does the creature say Love
How does the creature say Peace

6. God of the ages God near at hand
God of the loving heart
How do your children say Joy
How do your children say Home

Prayers with Kintsugi
God of the broken and beautiful,
You do not discard what is cracked—
You fill it with gold.

You make beauty out of scars,
and stories out of shattered pieces.

In a world obsessed with perfection,
teach us the strength of tenderness,
the courage to show our seams.

Let Your love be the gold that seals us,
and let our lives tell the truth:
that what is mended with grace
is stronger than what was never broken.

(A time for sharing)

PRAYER

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus taught us: to view the world and its inhabitants in the light of God’s love. Trusting that we can reflect God’s love in our own world through our offerings and actions, let us now present our gifts.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
God of love, take our gifts and send them to places we never dreamed they would go. Let us follow your lead and give from our hearts. Please accept these gifts, as a symbol of your love for us and the world. 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 # 427 “To Show by Touch and Word”
1. To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
to hold in full regard all life that comes to birth,
we need, O God, the will to find
the good you had of old in mind.

2. Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
our hearts to long for truth till pride of self is lost.
For every challenge that we face
we need your guidance and your grace.

3. Let love from day to day be yardstick, rule, and norm,
and let our lives portray your word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have
your wits about us where we live.

*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.