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June 22, 2025: Pride Sunday Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, June 22, 2025

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June 22nd, 2025

2^nd Sunday after Pentecost

Pride Sunday

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: Jim Oliver

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
A Medley of Favourite Hymns compiled by C. Burton

Stewardship Second
As good stewards, we share our abundance to help nurture God’s kin-dom on earth.

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
Light can be understood as more than just generic light:
Light can be opened up to display a full spectrum of colours.
Light can overcome fear and dispel shadows.
Light can guide us on our way.
Light opens our minds to understanding, to learning and growing,
to relationships, new and old.
This morning, as we light our Christ candle, let us consider how this light shines deep within each one of us,
and deep within each person throughout the earth
AMEN!

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
Today we are called to celebrate the diverse and beautiful gifts of our Creator!
There are a variety of gifts, and each one carries the full dimension of the Creator’s love.
There are many songs, yet all sing the same message, a song of love from the Lover.
There are many voices, yet all seek to praise the One who made us, just as we are!
As we seek to find the pathway in this crazy world of ours,
May we travel the path that brings love.
May we travel the path that leaves no one behind.
May we travel the path that offers future blessings for one and all.
May we travel the path on which strangers and friends become one with God!
There are many gifts gathered here, and many different colours.
And our souls are multi-hued reflections of God’s deep love for all.
In our worship, may we find truth that sets us free.
In our worship, may we find Love that holds us tight.
In our worship, may we find grace overflowing, a bucket of grace,
A fountain of grace, a mighty river of grace,
Enough to bless the whole world today, and on to forever.
May it be so! AMEN! May it be so!

*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.

OPENING PRAYER
Gracious God, we stand on the brink of a new day.
We stand on the brink of a new world order.
We stand on the brink of a new threshold of possibility.
So let us remember: this is the day you have made for us.
We are so grateful to be alive in this fruitful time,
To be full of creation’s energy, to be on fire with your life-giving Spirit.
Despite the world around us and at our doors,
We know we can begin again.
We know we can make it.
We know we can help make the world a better place.
We remember those who are hurting today:
The victims of war, and of persecution.
We remember those in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,
Their struggles, their pain, their desire to live in peace.
We remember those whose pain leads to desperation:
We hold in our hearts those who would harm themselves
Because of their identity.
God give us courage and strength to offer hope by our words and our actions.
Help us to be a church of loving kindness,
To be a light so bright that others will be drawn to it.
Help each of us to be an ally, a friend, a source of beauty.
Help us create a new and more beautiful rainbow each and every day,
A sign of hope, a sign of blessing, a sign of a brighter future.
Let our worship today be a teeny tiny step toward the kin-dom Jesus gave us,
A kin-dom where each of us is valued, loved, and celebrated,
For the small reflection of your divine Love, O God.

(a moment of quiet prayer)

As we gather our hearts together,
let us choose today
to be a source of love for those who need it,
a source of peace for those who are anxious,
a source of courage for those whose strength is weakening,
and most of all, a source of blessing
for those who feel discouraged.
We place our whole selves into your heart O God,
and ask for the strength to be your church, once again. AMEN

SUNG RESPONSE: VU #376 “Spirit of the Living God”
1. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

2. Spirit of the living God, move among us all;
make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
humble, caring, selfless, sharing.
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!

We Listen

Theme Conversation: Pronouns for Pride

SCRIPTURE READING
Matthew 25: 31 – 46 (The Message)
“When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:
I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
“Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—
I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’
“Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’
“He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’
“Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

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

ANTHEM: “In Every Land Begins the Song” - Williams/Martin

SERMON: “When Teeny Tiny Movements Matter”

*HYMN: “A Place at the Table”
1. For everyone born, a place at the table,
For everyone born, clean water and bread,
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
For everyone born, a star overhead…
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy --- compassion and peace:
Yes God will delight when we are creators of justice,
….. justice and joy!

2. For all who share life, a place at the table,
Revising the roles, deciding the share,
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
For all who share life, a system that’s fair.
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy --- compassion and peace:
Yes God will delight when we are creators of justice,
….. justice and joy!

3. For those we neglect, a place at the table,
A voice to be heard, a part in the song,
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
For those we neglect, a right to belong.
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy --- compassion and peace:
Yes God will delight when we are creators of justice,
….. justice and joy!

4. For all who have breath, a place at the table,
A covenant shared, a welcoming space,
A rainbow of race and gender and colour,
For all who have breath, the chalice of grace.
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy --- compassion and peace:
Yes God will delight when we are creators of justice,
….. justice and joy!

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
We, as Christians, can help comfort a hurting world by sharing our gifts so that others can flourish. No matter what we think of the gifts we give, God will help us share them far beyond anything we could do ourselves.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
God who loves us all, we thank you for the opportunity to care for others through our gifts. We pray that you will use all of them, whether given here or through PAR or online, to continue sharing Christ’s love. 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

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE: A Pride Litany
God of dazzling diversity and quiet belonging,
you knit each of us together with colour, texture, movement, and soul.
In your image, we are made—queer and questioning, cis and trans,
nonbinary, genderfluid, intersex, gay, asexual, pansexual—
each of us holy, whole, and home in you.
All:
Every “body” is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

For bodies that have been judged, shamed, or erased,
for those who’ve heard "you don’t belong,"
we ask your healing and justice to rise like dawn.
All:
Every body is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

For young people discovering who they are,
and for elders who have waited years to speak their truth—
bless their courage and joy.
All:
Every body is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

For the colours of the rainbow and the beauty beyond the spectrum,
for chosen families and the sacredness of love in all forms—
we give thanks.
All:
Every body is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

For churches still learning how to love well,
and for all who hold pain from religion’s rejection—
may we become spaces of sanctuary and celebration.
All:
Every body is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

O Christ, who broke bread with outcasts,
who lifted the heads of the shamed,
who rose again with wounds still visible—
breathe your Spirit through us.
All:
Every body is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

May we build a world where no one has to hide,
where delight is holy,
and where the sacred spark in each person is seen and sung.
All:
Every body is sacred. Everybody is sacred.

AMEN! May it be so! Amen!

What’s up at Grace?

GOING FORTH

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #586 “We Shall Go Out”
1. We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
within the vision of new life in Christ.

2. We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping,
raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
including all in circles of our love.

*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.