September 7th, 2025

Season of Creation

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
     Worship Leader: Jim Oliver
     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: “Gnossienne” - E. Satie 
+ a selection of favourite hymns

WELCOME

Stewardship Second
Hospitality is how we show guests that we mean it when we say, You are welcome and a beloved part of the body of Christ. 

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
The season of creation is a time to pause and reflect
on our place in creation,
our love for creation,
and our care-taking of creation.
Let the Christ candle remind us of our sacred inner light
Which we share with all living beings.
May the Christ light ignite our hearts
With love for all creation!  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 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.

Opening Song:   VU #381   “Spirit of Life”
Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.

CALL to WORSHIP 
Come let us gather together and worship our Creator,
Who has gifted us with this precious life,
And given us the ability to sustain life.
We praise God for every aspect of Creation around us.
Come let us gather together in the love of Jesus Christ, whom we follow.
Let us remember he inspires us through his Spirit, to do acts of courage, justice, and hope.
Come let us move together with the harmony of the Holy Spirit,
As we strive in large and small ways, to establish justice and create hope.
We remember that all great things begin with a single act, a single step, a single beat of the heart towards the future.
Come, people of God, made in the image of the One True Creator,
who is still creating new life, even now, in this very moment.
We open ourselves to our Creating God,
And offer ourselves to the love-project that will remake our world!

*HYMN:  VU #409
“Morning Has Broken”

1. Morning has broken like the first morning,
blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

2. Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
like the first dewfall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.

3. Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning
born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!

PSALM READING: based on Psalm 42 (Responsive)
Just as the deer stops to pause for flowing streams of water;
My soul stoops to drink deeply at the flowing stream of life.
Oh my Beloved, my soul longs for you,
My soul suffers when creation suffers,
For I am one with the deer, the beaver, the songbird.
I am one with the forests, the changing climate, the new silence.
Tears have been my only nourishment for many days and nights.
My friends all ask:  Why are you so forlorn?
I grieve the future world, I say.
I grieve the lack of understanding in our world.
I grieve the easy judgment of those who care deeply.
I grieve the world will seek to change,
But will not change its heart.
Ahh, I am drawn to the music of the waterfalls.
The laughter of the water flowing down the rocks,
The children playing in the stream give me great delight.
Deep calls to deep like the thunder of the waterfall;
Your love O Creator God calls me to dive deep to the rocky core.
Your love is still there, dwelling in my innermost being,
Turning my heart toward prayer,
Calling my body to action.
Seeking to find the threads of hope that weave through the Spirit of Life inside my own Spirit.
Oh my soul, let not the quagmire of the world around me
Keep me from radiating your love for all living beings.
Help us to keep our souls grounded in love,
Our minds turned toward future blessings,
And our hearts turned toward care for creation.
This day, and always!

OPENING PRAYER
God we thank you for this vast and unlimited universe.
We thank you for creating our Earth home here in the backwoods of this galaxy.
We thank you for the beauty of it, for the bounty of it, and for the awesome blessings we see in front of us each day.
You have generously created us out of goodness and light.
You have shown us, through Jesus, how to live with goodness and light.
Help us now, your people, to live true to these gifts
In our Earth’s time of great need.
Help us to change our ways.
Help us to mend and heal.
Help us to hold one another with the hope that all will be well,
While giving us the courage to face up to the facts of climate justice.
O God, we hear you calling this generation.
We hear you calling us to care differently for the earth and all creation.
We hear the mourning cry of the species that have been lost to us now.
We hear the urgent cries to restore and to revive whatever we can.
Most of all, we hear you cry deep within us.
You call us to rise to the challenges around us, not to hide.
You call us to courage, to acts of justice and hope.
You call us to restore the future hopes and joys of the youngest generations
And to do whatever small thing we can do each day
To create a world that works for all.
We pray in Christ’s name, AMEN

We Listen

ANTHEM: “We Are Called” - Haas/Hayes

Theme Conversation:  God’s Wonderful World

PRAYER of ILLUMINATION
Loving God, help us to hear your Word, that we may truly understand…That in understanding we may follow. Amen

SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 1: 1-31 The Story of Creation
New revised Standard Version Updated Edition
When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”  So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.  God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
So God created humans in his image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.
God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Mark 4: 37-41  
New revised Standard Version Updated Edition
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

RESPONSE
May God’s Spirit shape the understanding of these words.
And may they awaken in our hearts,

*HYMN:  MV  #135  “Called By Earth and Sky”
Refrain:
Called by earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky.

1. Precious these waters, endless seas,
deep ocean’s dream,
waters of healing, rivers of rain,
the wash of love again.
Refrain:
Called by earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky.

2. Precious this gift, the air we breathe;
wind born and free.
Breath of the Spirit, blow through this place,
our gathering and our grace.
Refrain:
Called by earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky.

3. Precious these mountains, ancient sands;
vast fragile land.
Seeds of our wakening, rooted and strong,
Creation’s faithful song.
Refrain:
Called by earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky.

4. Precious the fire that lights our way,
bright dawning day.
Fire of passion, sorrows undone,
our faith and justice one.
Refrain:
Called by earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
called by earth and sky,
called by earth and sky.

SERMON:  “Caring for Creation May Not be Enough”

*HYMN:  VU #296 “This is God’s Wondrous World”
1. This is God’s wondrous world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is God’s wondrous world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
God’s hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is God’s wondrous world:
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is God’s wondrous world:
God shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass or mountain pass,
God’s voice speaks everywhere.

3. This is God’s wondrous world:
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is God’s wondrous world:
why should my heart be sad?
Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:
God reigns, let earth be glad!

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE
Creator and creating God,
you give life to life!
Knowing your power, knowing your love for us, we pray: 
We pray for our neighbours, those we know,  
and those who we don’t, 
those who are local and those who are global, 
those who are human and those who are flora and fauna. 

We pray for all those who are victims of cruel laws and petty laws, 
those who’re subjected to prejudice 
denied opportunities, excluded, pushed to margins. 

We pray for the landless and homeless, 
the refugee and evicted, those struggling against fascism  
and all the ways that tyranny and injustice are lived out in the world.  

We pray for the overworked and the underpaid, 
for those in dangerous work and those in compassionate work, 
for those who long to work but are denied the opportunity. 

We pray for God’s whole creation,  
The more-than-human world in all its mighty wonder, tender fragility, 
the broken and the beautiful, 
the damaged and the healing,  
for the crises that confront us in the climate and ecological crisis.  

We pray for those who lie close to our hearts 
those whom we worry about, those whom we miss, 
those who carry disproportionate burdens at this time, 
those named in the silence of our hearts… (moment of silence)  

Fill us, enliven us, Creator and creating God, 
to be ambassadors of life abundant, 
to be transformed and so transform the world, 
to be healed and bring about healing  
for all the Earth.  

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 Respond 

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Let us rejoice that God has given us the opportunity to be generous! So now let us worship God by our acts of generosity. As we offer our gifts, we choose life and compassion.

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
Generous God, we are blessed to be able to give. Bless the offerings that we share and bless those whose lives are transformed through them—both here in this community and in the wider community. 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, or 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#291 “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
In love God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours,
God made their tiny wings.
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
In love God made them all.

2. The purple-headed mountains,
The river running by,
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky.
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
In love God made them all.

3. The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden:
God made them every one.
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
In love God made them all.

4. The rocky mountain slendour,
The lone wolf’s haunting call,
The great lakes and the prairies,
The forest in the fall;
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
In love God made them all.

5. God gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God our maker,
Who has made all things well.
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
In love God made them all.

*COMMISSIONING
Go out into the world now,
           To transform and be transformed.
           To take climate action and work for Earth healing.
Remember that we are all part of God’s good creation,
and that we are not alone,
           but are imbedded in a world full of grandeur and mystery.

*SUNG BENEDICTION:  MV #209
“Go Make A Difference”   X2
Go make a dff′rence, we can make a diff'rence
Go make a diff′rence in the world
Go make a diff'rence we can make a diff'rence
Go make a diff′rence in the world

POSTLUDE: “A Gentle Waltz” - O. Peterson

***** 

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 this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.
Lighting the Christ Candle & Call to Worship: written by Rev. Dr John G. Smith
Prayers are written by Rev. Dr. John G. Smith
Psalm 42 adapted by Rev. D. John G. Smith.
Sermon adapted from a service written by Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington and written by Jim Oliver,
Prayers of the People &Commissioning: written by Rev. Dr. Jessica Hetherington.

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
- ”Spirit of Life:” Words, Music: Carolyn McDade © 1981 Carolyn McDade, 76 Everett Skinner Rd., Plainville, MA 02762, USA. Harmony: © 1992 Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108-2892 USA. Words, Music: Carolyn McDade. Harmony: Unitarian Universalist Association  One License #608577.
- Morning Has Broken:” Words: © Eleanor Farjeon, Children’s Bells, Oxford University Press. Reprinted by permission of David Higham Associates, 5-8 Lower John St., Golden Square, London W1R 4HA England. Music: Gaelic melody. Harmony: ©1982 Church Pension Fund. Used by permission. Words: David Higham Associates. Music: Public Domain. Harmony: Church Pension Fund. One License #608577
- Called by Earth and Sky:” Words and music: Pat Mayberry, 2005; French translation: David Fines, 2006. Arr. Margaret Stubington, 2005. Words and music copyright © 2005 Pat Mayberry. www.patmayberry.com. Arrangement copyright © 2005 by Margaret Stubington. One License #608577 and Holy Communion. Reprinted by permission of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Music: Welsh folk tune. Harmonized by Leland Bernhard Sateren. Words: World Library Publications, Inc. Arrangement: Augsburg Fortress Publishers. One License #608577
- “This is God’s Wondrous World”:’ Words: Malthie Davenport Babcock 1901. Music: English traditional melody, adapted by Franklin L. Sheppard, adapted by Stanley Oliver. Public Domain
- “All Things Bright and Beautiful:” Words: Cecil Frances Alexander. Music: 17th-century English melody. Music Adaptation and Arrangement: © 1921 (Renewed) J. Curwen & Sons Ltd. (London). All rights for the U.S. and Canada controlled by G. Schirmer, Inc. (ASCAP). International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission. Words: Public Domain. Music Adaptation and Arrangement: J. Curwen & Sons Ltd. (London), controlled by G. Schirmer, Inc. One license #608577
- Go Make a Diff’rence:” Words and Music: Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek, 1997. Copyright © 1997, Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek. Published by spiritandsong.com One License #608577