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July 27, 2025: 7th Sunday After Pentecost

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, July 27, 2025

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July 27th, 2025

7^th Sunday after Pentecost

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: Shirley Woolner

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

We Gather

PRELUDE: Hymn Medley - Compiled by C. Burton

WELCOME

Stewardship Second
Giving and sharing as a first priority is what keeps us in good relations with our neighbours and our neighbourhood.

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
As we come to worship in this Pentecost season
We turn to light the candle which reminds us:
Christ’s Spirit is always with us!
Christ's spirit fills us, heals us, and completes us.
Christ’s light enlivens us, and gives us strength,
for the living of these days.
May it be so! 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
Come, beloved of God,
gather in the shelter of the Spirit,
under the wings of mercy,
to this place where the soil of faith runs deep.
We come to worship the One who planted in us a holy calling—
who rooted us in love,
who built us up with hope.
We come with gratitude for the journey,
for the light that has guided our way,
and for the Spirit that has opened new doors to us.
The Apostle Paul writes:
“We continue to proclaim Christ,
teaching with wisdom,
so that all may be mature in faith.
This is our labor and our joy.”
So today, we gather with joy and with a tender ache—
to give thanks for what has been,
to bless what is,
and to trust the mystery of what is yet to come.
For Christ is within us—
the hope of glory, the light no shadow can extinguish.
We come to worship the God who sends and stays,
who calls and keeps,
who meets us in every rising sun and setting prayer.
We have learned to trust what Jesus taught us:
Ask—and it will be given.
Seek—and you shall find.
Knock—and the door will be opened.
We still come as seekers, as knockers,
and as grateful recipients of divine grace.
Now let us worship the One who has opened doors,
kindled hope,
and walked with us every step of the way.
Amen! May it be so! Amen!

*Two Hymns to Begin:
VU #402 “We Are One”vss. 1, 2 &4
1. We are one as we come,
as we come, joyful to be here,
in the praise on our lips
there’s a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing,
as we seek, we are found;
and we come needful of God’s grace
as we meet, together in this place.

2. We are one as we share,
as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand
there’s a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care,
as we heal, we are healed;
and we share warmth in God’s embrace
as we pray together in this place.

4. We are one as we hear,
as we hear, heart and hand unite;
in the word we receive
there’s a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave,
as we love, we are loved;
and we seek justice in God’s ways
as we move together from this place.

MV #156 “Dance With the Spirit”
Note: vs.1: Dance, vs.2: Move, vs.3: Sing, vs.4: Love
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin’,
walk with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life a-bornin’,
listen to the Spirit to show you the way.

OPENING PRAYERS
O Christ, Holy One,
You have walked beside us as teacher, friend, and guide.
You have planted your hope deep in our souls,
and no shadow, no sorrow, no ending has EVER overcome your light.
We give thanks this day for the journey—
for the road behind and the road ahead,
for the faith that roots us,
the love that sustains us,
and the Spirit that carries us forward.
Bless this gathering,
that it may be a place of holy remembrance and holy release.
May all who have shared this path feel your joy,
and may we each go on to ask, seek, knock—
opening new doors to grace,
always trusting that your glory still unfolds.
In your eternal name we pray,
Amen.

The Casa Del Sol Prayer (together)
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.

(The Casa del Sol is a retreat house in Abiquiui New Mexico, and this prayer, written for that house by John Philip Newell, is used here with permission.)

A Poem “At Dawn” - written for this Sunday by Rev. John G Smith
There is a light that does not flare—
not candle, nor sunrise,
but the glow of a soul in balance.

You have walked with it for years,
hardly naming it—
this compass quiet in your chest.

Not loud,
not urgent,
but steady.

It hummed in hospital rooms,
whispered through sermons,
held your gaze when the way was unclear.

And when all else seemed to turn—
the world, the church, even the story—
still it remained:
the still point,
the center,
the indwelling Christ.

What you have followed
was never far from you.

What you have become
is what you already were,

carried in silence
by the Light that never leaves.

HYMN: VU #356” Seek Ye First the Kingdom”
1. Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and God’s righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, hallelujah.

2. Ask and it shall be given unto you;
seek and you shall find;
knock and the door shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, hallelujah.

3. We do not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, hallelujah.

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS
Colossians 1: 15 – 18 & 21 – 29
(Contemporary English Version)
Christ is exactly like God,
    who cannot be seen.
He is the first-born Son,
    superior to all creation.
Everything was created by him,
everything in heaven
    and on earth,
everything seen and unseen,
including all forces
    and powers,
and all rulers
    and authorities.
All things were created
    by God's Son,
and everything was made
    for him.

God's Son was before all else,
and by him everything
    is held together.
He is the head of his body,
    which is the church.
He is the very beginning,
the first to be raised
    from death,
so that he would be
    above all others.
You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things.But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
I am glad I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue the suffering of Christ for his body, the church.God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you.For ages and ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people.God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's glory.
We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so all of Christ's followers will grow and become mature.This is why I work so hard and use the mighty power he gives me.

Luke 11: 1- 13 (New International Version)
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

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

MINISTRY of MUSIC:
“River in Judea” Feldman/Leavitt
Featuring the combined choirs of St. George's Anglican Church and Grace United Church

SERMON: “Rooted in the Deepest Freshness Deep Down”

*HYMN: VU #703 “In the Bulb There is a Flower”
1. In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

2. There’s a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

3. In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
We pray for our daily bread, we pray to be forgiven; we pray to be free from temptation. Today I invite you to share your gifts as if you are an answer to another’s prayer. Because you are. When we share ourselves—time, money, skill, and more—we are creating a more generous world. Our gifts help lay a foundation to kin(g)dom where all have enough, where all prayers are answered.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Spirit of Life, giver of every perfect gift, we offer our thanks for this life and its gifts. Bless these offerings and those given outside this time of worship. May our contributions both here and in every part of our lives—our time, our skills and our money—work towards a world of justice and peace. We pray that it be so. 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

*CLOSING HYMN: VU#626
“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.’
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary and worn and sad;
I found in him a resting place,
and he has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down, and drink, and live.’
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright.’
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till travelling days are done.

*COMMISSIONING: (Celtic traditional)
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the shining stars to you,
Deep peace of the gentle night to you,
Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world, to you,
Deep peace to you. 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.