Sunday, October 12, 2025

“Unmediated Thanksgiving”

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
     Worship Leader: (Rev.) John Lougheed
     Director of Music: 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:  Some Favourite Thanksgiving Hymns

WELCOME

A Stewardship Second
Gratitude and thanksgiving are fundamental to our life as Christians. Remember to give, and to give thanks.

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
With grateful hearts we light this candle,
so that, with our hearts full of love and light
we might enter into the spirit of thanksgiving with joy.
May it be so!

SONG:     MV #79 “Spirit, Open my Heart” 
(Refrain, Verse 2, Refrain)
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart
to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love,
in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

2. Write your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory.
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart
to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love,
in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

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 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
We gather this Thanksgiving Sunday,
with much for which to be thankful; mindful of the needs   of others, and needful of the minds of others.
To sing and pray, ponder and look ahead, together.
Let us worship God!

*HYMN: VU#227 “For the Fruit of All Creation”
1. For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safekeeping, thanks be to God.

2. In the just reward of labour, God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbour, God’s will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done.

3. For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us, thanks be to God

OPENING PRAYER
Generous God, in this Season of Harvest, we can see your bounty all around us.   From the first colours in the trees, to the last corn stocks of the Fall.  For some of us it a time of gathering together, for others a time of remembering.  And for others of us, it is both.  Be present to us, in the knowledge of your love.
Our Gracious and Loving God, we come to worship with open hearts, knowing that sometimes we fall short of your best intentions for us.  As we reflect on some of those times, and your grace – freely given – hear us now in these silent prayers …

(Silent Prayer)

WORDS of ASSURANCE
Jesus is remembered for saying: “Come to me, all you that are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.”
(Matthew 11: 28-30)

*HYMN:  VU #516 “Come, You Thankful People, Come”
1. Come, you thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in,
safe before the storms begin;
God, our maker, does provide
for our needs to be supplied:
come to God’s own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home!

2. All the world is God’s own field,
harvests for God’s praise to yield;
wheat and weeds together sown,
here for joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade, and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear:
Harvest-giver, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

3. For our God, one day, shall come,
and shall take this harvest home;
from the field shall in that day
all offences purge away;
giving angels charge at last
in the fire the weeds to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.

4. Even so, God, quickly come
to your final harvest home!
Gather all your people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin;
there for ever purified,
in your presence to abide:
come, with all your angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.

Theme Conversation: “Singing the money to the front”   

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READING:   Deuteronomy 26:1-11
Contemporary English Version
Moses said to Israel:
The Lord is giving you the land, and soon you will conquer it, settle down, and plant crops. And when you begin harvesting each of your crops, the very first things you pick must be put in a basket. Take them to the place where the Lord your God chooses to be worshiped, and tell the priest, “Long ago the Lord our God promised our ancestors that he would give us this land. And today, I thank him for keeping his promise and giving me a share of the land.”
The priest will take the basket and set it in front of the Lord's altar. Then, standing there in front of the place of worship, you must pray:
My ancestor was homeless,
an Aramean who went to live
    in Egypt.
There were only a few
    in his family then,
but they became great
and powerful,
    a nation of many people.
The Egyptians were cruel
    and had no pity on us.
They mistreated our people
    and forced us into slavery.
 We called out for help
to you, the Lord God
    of our ancestors.
You heard our cries;
you knew we were in trouble
    and abused.
 Then you terrified the Egyptians
with your mighty miracles
    and rescued us from Egypt.
 You brought us here
and gave us this land
    rich with milk and honey.
 Now, Lord, I bring to you
the best of the crops
    that you have given me.
After you say these things, place the basket in front of the Lord's altar and bow down to worship him.
Then you and your family must celebrate by eating a meal at the place of worship to thank the Lord your God for giving you such a good harvest. And remember to invite the Levites and the foreigners who live in your town.

RESPONSE
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.

Thanks be to God!

ANTHEM:  “I Will Give Jubilant Thanks”
by J. Paul Williams & Music by Michael Barrett

SERMON: “Unmediated thanks” 

*HYMN: VU#520 “We Plough the Fields and Scatter”
1. We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by your almighty hand:
you send the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.

2. You only are the Maker
of all things near and far;
you paint the wayside flower,
you light the evening star;
the winds and waves obey you;
by you the birds are fed;
much more to us, your children,
you give our daily bread.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.

3. We thank you then, O Maker,
for all things bright and good,
the seedtime and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
accept the gifts we to offer
for all your love imparts,
and, what from us you long for,:
our humble, thankful hearts.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.

We Respond 

INVITATION to the OFFERING
In cultures all over the world, there are festivals when the harvest comes in. Times of plenty are celebrated and shared. Today is our turn. Together, we have so much. Let us share and give thanks for what God has given and rejoice in God’s abundance.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Abundant God, in this season of celebrating and sharing, when we learn how little it takes to be content, we will learn to share more. Receive these offerings along with our thanks. 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

THE LORD’S PRAYER (VU 910)

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN:  MV #185 “Ev’ry Day Is a Day of Thanksgiving”
Ev’ry day is a day of thanksgiving,
God, you’ve been so good to me.
Ev’ry day you’re blessing me.
Ev’ry day is a day of thanksgiving.
I will glorify you, O my Lord, today!
Repeat
You keep blessing me, blessing me, blessing me.
You opened the door that I might see,
you’re blessing me.
And you keep blessing me, blessing me, blessing me.
I will glorify you, O my Lord, today!

*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: For the Beauty of The Earth - J. Rutter, adapted by C. Burton

*****

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 Prayer: written by Rev. John G. Smith
- Call to Worship, Opening Prayer and other prayers: written by Rev John Lougheed
- Words of Assurance: from Matthew 11: 28-30

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
- “Spirit Open My Heart:” Words: Ruth Duck, 1994. Music: traditional melody, Ireland; arr. Arthur G. Clyde, 1997. Words copyright © 1996 and arrangement copyright© 1997 The Pilgrim Press. One License #608577
- “For the Fruits of All Creation:” Words: Fred Pratt Green © 1970 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Music: Welsh folk melody. Words: Hope Publishing Company. Music: Public Domain. One License #608566
- “Come, You Thankful People, Come.” Words: Henry Alford 1844, Music: George Job Elvey 1858.
- “We Plough the Fields and Scatter:” Words: Matthias Claudius 1782, translated by Jane Montgomery Campbell 1861. Music: Johann Abraham Peter Schulz 1800. Public Domain
- “Ev'ry Day Is a Day of Thanksgiving.” Words and music: Leonard Burks. Words and music copyright © Leonard Burks. Used by permission.
- “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: Some Favourite Thanksgiving Hymns
Anthem:  “I Will Give Jubilant Thanks” Words by J. Paul Williams. Music by Michael Barrett. ©Glory Sound, a Division of Shawnee Press. One License #608577 
Postlude:  “For the Beauty of The Earth.”- J. Rutter, adapted by C. Burton