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November 2, 2025: 21st Sunday After Pentecost

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, November 2, 2025

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November 2^nd, 2025

21^st Sunday After Pentecost

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Guest Minister: Rev Dr. Brian Goodings
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Carol Clarke

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

We Gather

Scripture for meditation: All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Luke 19:7

PRELUDE: A few Hymns, compiled by C.Burton
“Canon in D” - J. Pachelbel

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

A Stewardship Second
Stewardship isn’t just about keeping our congregation afloat. Stewardship is how we use ALL our resources to help change the world to be closer to God’s vision.

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

*SONG: VU #315 “Holy, Holy, Holy” v.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!

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
Let us turn from our “marketplace idols” that have fallen so hard and fast, to recognize the One True God.
We are weary of the daily forecasts filled with doom and gloom and return once again to find a faith in God who is beyond us.
God meets our aching needs in this place, first with a gentle hand and then with a hopeful servant-heart.
Let us abandon our frenetic search for something to buy called “happiness” and turn instead to find God’s promise for a way that brings “meaningfulness”.
Together we lift our hearts and renew our commitment to find this path; let our worship begin.

*HYMN: VU #642 “Be Thou My Vision”
1. Be thou my vision, O joy of my heart;
naught be all else to me save that thou art,
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping thy presence my light.

2. Be thou my wisdom, my calm in all strife;
I ever with thee, and thou in my life;
thou loving parent, thy child may I be,
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.

3. Be thou my battle shield, sword for the fight
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower;
raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power.

4. Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

5. Great God of heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O ruler of all.

PRAYER of APPROACH: (inspired by Ted Loder)
O God you wink us into being with quarks and quasars…you braid Saturn’s rings and intrigue us with your holy possibilities. Remind us again that what joins us to you is our willingness to try, with daring creativity and imagination, to rework the expected and knead the ritual of church until it rises with faith and love and laughter. Encourage us to find courage in these troubling times and promise in your Word- that the garden work of the kingdom is best done on our knees. AMEN

*HYMN: MV #127 “I Saw the Rich Ones
1. I saw the rich ones I saw what they gave
the widow who offered two pennies she’d saved
and I saw she was smiling I knew she was glad
and I wondered because she gave all that she had
Refrain:
But with God the world is turned upside down
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God
loving you and me.

2. I saw Zacheus, a sinner they said
but to his house I saw Jesus go to break bread
and I knew something special had happened that day
when Zacheus gave half of his riches away
Refrain:
But with God the world is turned upside down
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God
loving you and me.

3. The men in the vineyards were grumbling one day
I knew they weren’t happy with what they’d been paid
for the ones who came later were paid just the same
as the workers who greeted the dawn when they came.
Refrain:
But with God the world is turned upside down
the poor are embraced and the lost they are found
Let’s work for a world where all people are free
where it’s good to feel good about God
loving you and me.

Theme Conversation

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READING
In Scripture God calls us by name…

Older Testament Psalm 118: VU #837
Refrain: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Let Israel now say:
‘God’s love endures for ever.’
Let the house of Aaron say:
‘God’s love endures for ever.’
Let those who fear God say:
‘God’s love endures for ever.’
Refrain: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

God is my strength and my song; God has become my salvation.
There are shouts of joy and deliverance
in the tents of the righteous.
The right hand of God does mighty things;
the right hand of God raises up.
The right hand of God does mighty things.
I shall not die, but live; and I shall proclaim what God has done.
God indeed punished me,
but did not give me over to death.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Open to me the gates of the temple,
that I may enter and give thanks to God.
This is the gate of God;
through it the righteous shall enter.
I thank you for you have answered me;
you have become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is God’s doing, marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that God has made,
let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Refrain: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Save us, O God, we pray;
God, we pray, give us success.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God.
We bless you from the house of God.
God, our God, has given us light;
with palm branches in hand let us march to the altar.
You are my God, and I will thank you;
you are my God, and I will extol you.
Refrain: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Gospel Reading Luke 19: 1-10 (Zacchaeus and Jesus)
Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?”
Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”
Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”

RESPONSE
HYMN: VU #371 “Open My Eyes That I May See” v.1
Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

ANTHEM: “For Where Love Is, There Is God” - D.E. Wagner

SERMON: “God’s Probability Table” Rev. Brian Goodings

*HYMN: VU #232 “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
1. Joyful, joyful we adore you, God of glory, life and love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

2. All your works with joy surround you, earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you, centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest vale and mountain, flowery meadow flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain, sound their praise eternally.

3. You are giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing, let your light upon us shine;
teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

4. Mortals join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us, joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Giving money to this Community of Faith, to Mission and Service and To World Development Relief as an offering is important. Not only does it help you do good and practice generosity, but it enables us, together, to work for justice.
As you make your offering, consider how we can stand with the poor, the hungry, the oppressed.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
God who seeks justice and mercy, may these offerings of money, time, and ability combine, as we too seek justice and mercy for our community and our world. Thank you that we are able and willing to do this. Amen.

DEDICATION HYMN: VU #540
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.

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 Begin our Service in the Name of Christ

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #559” Come O Fount of Every Blessing”
1. Come, O Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing your grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing
call for songs of endless praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount; I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unfailing love.

2. Here I pause in my sojourning,
giving thanks for having come,
come to trust, at every turning,
God will guide me safely home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God,
came to rescue me from danger,
precious presence, precious blood.

3. O, to grace how great a debt
or daily I am drawn anew!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to you.
Prone to wander, I can feel it,
wander from the love I’ve known:
here’s my heart, O, take and seal it,
seal it for your very own.

*COMMISSIONING
Our service now continues as we go forth into the world which God loves.
Let us do so remembering that life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us.
So be swift to love and make haste to be kind and just.
Now may the blessing of God: Creator, Christ, and ever-present Spirit be with us all this day and forevermore. 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.

*alternate words: watching from above

POSTLUDE: “Gigue from English Suite No.3” - J.S. Bach

“Zacchaeus’ offer of half of his possessions and generous restitution to anyone he may have cheated can be seen as itself evidence of radicality of grace and the power of Jesus’ Good News. Luke’s gospel of grace is joined to repentance and repentance is not solely a transaction of the heart. Repentance bears fruit.” (Fred Craddock)

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