June 1st, 2025
7th Sunday of Easter
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Guest Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Carol Clarke
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
We Gather
PRELUDE
“Moment: Musical” - F. Schubert
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
A Stewardship Second
Believe it or not, sometimes when you give, the unlikeliest action can bear the most fruit.
LIGHTING of the CHRIST CANDLE (JGS)
We gather each week in the growing light and warmth of the springtime!
We feel our spirits rising to fullness;
We feel our hearts being filled and refilled with the beauty of each new day.
The Christ light burns in the deep reaches of our souls,
a source of life and joy:
It is the Source of our growth and the deep rich soil of our lives,
Into which we plant our days.
Thanks be to God for the light of Christ! AMEN!
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 the region of Treaty 18 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.
Centering Song: (VU#315, vs.1)
“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
Holy, Holy, Holy merciful and mighty
God in three persons, blessed Trinity”
CALL TO WORSHIP
Breathe into us the wind of unity that recognizes our diversity;
Breathe into us tolerance that welcomes and makes us community,
Breathe into us fire that unites what is torn apart and heals what is ill;
Breathe into us grace that overcomes hatred and frees us from violence,
Breathe into us life that faces and defeats death;
Blessed be the mercy of God.
The One that makes all things new. Amen!
*OPENING HYMN: VU #602 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
1. Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the unity of heart and mind
is like to that above.
2. Before our Maker’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
3. We share each other’s woes,
each other’s burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4. This glorious hope revives
our courage on the way;
that we shall live in perfect love
in God’s eternal day.
OPENING PRAYER
The Lord’s Prayer (by Bruce Sanguin)
Loving presence, luminous in all creation; hallowed be your name. Your kin-dom come. May we reflect on earth the yielding perfection of the heavens. Help us to receive what we need this day; forgive us when we trespass against others, human and other-kind. Give us the hearts to forgive others who wrong us. Keep us on in the pursuit of wisdom especially when are tempted to take the selfish and easier path. May it be your rule we follow, your power and grace we exercise. May this be the truth that guides us and the ground from which our future will grow in your glory. AMEN
MINISTRY of MUSIC
Prelude in D flat Major “Raindrop” - F. Chopin
Children’s Time
We Listen
THEME CONVERSATION: Ascension
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
Spring-life and Easter-change is all around us
From cool rich soil new plants are germinating…
From water cradled egg masses new tadpoles are emerging…
From gossamer-threaded cocoons new butterflies will form…
From communities of faith disciples of Christ come to worship and to serve in new ways.
Spring-life and Easter- change is all around us.
Thanks be to God who is with us throughout all time
Give us ears to hear and hearts to receive your blessings.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Acts 16:16-34 Contemporary English Version (CEV)
One day on our way to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl. She had a spirit in her that gave her the power to tell the future. By doing this she made a lot of money for her owners. The girl followed Paul and the rest of us, and she kept yelling, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They are telling you how to be saved.”
This went on for several days. Finally, Paul got so upset that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I order you to leave this girl alone!” At once the evil spirit left her.
When the girl's owners realized they had lost all chances for making more money, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into court. They told the officials, “These Jews are upsetting our city! They are telling us to do things we Romans are not allowed to do.”
The crowd joined in the attack on Paul and Silas. Then the officials tore the clothes off the two men and ordered them to be beaten with a whip. After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened.
Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.
When the jailer woke up and saw that the doors were open, he thought that the prisoners had escaped. He pulled out his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul shouted, “Don't harm yourself! No one has escaped.”
The jailer asked for a torch and went into the jail. He was shaking all over as he knelt down in front of Paul and Silas. After he had led them out of the jail, he asked, “What must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Have faith in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved! This is also true for everyone who lives in your home.”
Then Paul and Silas told him and everyone else in his house about the Lord. While it was still night, the jailer took them to a place where he could wash their cuts and bruises. Then he and everyone in his home were baptized. They were very glad they had put their faith in God. After this, the jailer took Paul and Silas to his home and gave them something to eat.
John 17:20-26 CEV
I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.
I have honored my followers in the same way you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. I am one with them, and you are one with me, so they may become completely one. Then this world's people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.
Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created. Good Father, the people of this world don't know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me. I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them.
RESPONSE
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.
Thanks be to God!
*HYMN: VU #382 “Breathe on Me Breath of God”
1. Breathe on me, breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.
2. Breathe on me, breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with thine,
to do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.
4. Breathe on me, breath of God:
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.
SERMON: Jailhouse Rock
*HYMN: VU #326 “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of God’s grace.
2. Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
‘tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘tis life and health and peace.
3. He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken-hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
4. Hear him, you deaf; you voiceless ones,
your tongues again employ;
you blind, behold your Saviour comes,
and leap, you lame, for joy!
5. My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honours of your name.
We Respond
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION to the OFFERING
What we do with God’s help can have consequences that we cannot foresee—and even something that initially seems to have failed can often end in success. We are called to plant seeds of grace, hope, and justice, that we might help God’s Mystery to work in the hearts and minds of others. We are called to give and to trust in God that the result will be a harvest beyond our imagining.
PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Bountiful God, accept these gifts and those given through PAR and online—our seeds of hope for the healing of the world. May the harvest be plentiful. Thank you, God, for this opportunity. 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
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.
Tap your debit card at the door of the church, and Donate to Grace United Church 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 #213 “Rejoice the Lord is King”
1. Rejoice the Lord is King!
Your risen Lord adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing
and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
rejoice; again I say, rejoice!
2. Jesus the Saviour reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our sins,
he took his seat above.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
rejoice; again I say, rejoice!
3. God’s kingdom cannot fail;
Christ rules o’er earth and heaven;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice:
rejoice; again I say, rejoice!
4. Rejoice in glorious hope,
for Christ, the judge, shall come
to glorify the saints
for their eternal home.
We soon shall hear the archangel’s voice;
the trump of God shall sound, rejoice
*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.
*alternate words: watching from above
POSTLUDE
Clair de Lune - C. Debussy
*****
SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Stewardship Second & Invitation to the Offering & Prayer of dedication of our Offerings from: © 2024 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike License. To view a copy of. Any copy must include this notice.
Christ Candle Prayer: written by Rev. Dr. John G Smith
Call to Worship: from Canadian Council of Churches.
Opening Prayer: by Bruce Sanguin.
Prayer of Illumination: written by Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Prayers of the People and Commissioning: written by Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings.
Hymns & Sung Verses:
- “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God All Mighty:” Words: Reginald Heber. Music: John Bacchus Dykes. Descant: © 1971 Godfrey Hewitt, c/o Marion Hewitt, 10-12 Clarence St., Ottawa, ON K1N 5P3. Words, Music: Public Domain. Descant: Godfrey Hewitt, c/o Marion Hewitt. 11203479
- “Blest Be the Tie That Binds:” Words: John Fawcett 1782. Music: Attributed to Johann G. Nageli, arranged by Lowell Mason. Public Domain.
- “Breathe on me Breath of God:” Words: Edwin Hatch 1878. French translation: Suzanne Bidgrain. Music: Robert Jackson. Public Domain.
- “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing:” Words: Charles Wesley. Music: Carl Gotthelf Glaser, adapted and harmonized by Lowell Mason. Public Domain
- “Rejoice the Lord is King:” Words: Charles Wesley. Music: John Darwall. Descant: © 1955 Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. Used by permission of Hope Publishing Company. Words, Music: Public Domain. Descant: Hope Publishing Company. CCLI: #11203479.
- “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
Scripture Readings: Contemporary English Version: Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
Prelude: “Moment: Musical “ - F. Schubert
Ministry of Music: Prelude in D flat Major “Raindrop” - F. Chopin
Postlude: “Clair de Lune” - C. Debussy
