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November 30, 2025: Advent 1 Sunday Service

Phyllis Fleming

Sunday, November 30, 2025

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November 30, 2025

First Sunday in Advent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Phyllis Fleming
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Sandy Eagles

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

We Gather

PRELUDE: Organ Improvisation on Hymns for Advent - C. Burton

A Stewardship Second
As you consider your Christmas giving this year, how can you give in order to bring hope?

GREETING (2 Cor. 13:13)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!
And also with you!

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

A SONG TO BEGIN: VU #2, v.1 “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
1. Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free:
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFE 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 (WS)
Today we begin a new journey in a new Christian year - a journey of waiting, hoping, and anticipating.
With God, we embark on a journey of hope.
Today we seek new insights and new understandings.
We give thanks for the ways in which God has brought us to this moment.
Today we are clear that we are not alone.
God is among us, drawing us into a time of renewal and opening us to a moment of grace.
Come, let us worship.

*OPENING HYMN: VU #2, v.2-4 “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
2. Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art,
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

3. Born thy people to deliver;
born a child and yet a king;
born to reign in us for ever;
now thy gracious kingdom bring.

4. By thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all-sufficient merit
raise us to thy glorious throne.

OPENING PRAYER (RW)
The earth has turned once more, Creator God. The season of hope, peace, joy, and love returns as a reminder of how we should live the whole year through.
You have called us to be your people, asking us to take your light out into the world.
Help us in our times of worship throughout this season of Advent to find the words to share the message of hope, peace, joy, and love.
Show us how to be fully aware of your presence, so that we might share your presence with others.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

We Listen

ANTHEM: “Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth” – by M. Praetorius, arr. by D. Willcocks

Theme Conversation: Advent Candle Lighting (DS)
Today we kindle the Advent candle of hope.
(The first blue candle is lit.)
We welcome the light that pierces the shadows, the light that affirms God’s presence, the light that enables us to move forward in faith.
Come, Holy Stranger, beacon of hope on this Advent journey: welcome us as we welcome you.
We receive the light of hope.

HYMN: VU# 7 – “Hope is a Star” v.1
1. Hope is a star that shines in the night,
leading us on till the morning is bright.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

ADVENT PRAYER (WM)
God of Wonder, Light and Breath of Star and Soil, Child of Life:
We are waiting, as the days grow short and the nights get longer, we are waiting for you to set us free.
Fear keeps us huddled in the dim light, which makes it hard to perceive ourselves as you perceive us. We forget the goodness and love with which we are made. We forget that we do not earn your love by work or virtue or success. You give it without conditions and without measure. In Jesus, you give us your life, and you give and give and give, each day, gift after gift, blessing after blessing.
Holy One, we praise you and give you thanks.

Fear keeps us huddled in dim light, but your love pierces the shadows with a call: Come, come! Like a mother calling her children home, you reach out for us and draw us to you.
When we open our spirits, we discover we are not alone.
We are surrounded by your children: from Ukraine and Russia, from Afghanistan and Iran, from Uganda and Egypt, from Meaford and the Town of the Blue Mountains. We experience the cries of your children, for shelter, for healing, for freedom.
Holy One, where our siblings have been silenced by brutal regimes or poverty or fear, help us to raise our voices for justice. May our prayers find their path to settle and soothe in ways that are your ways of compassion and care. Amen.

PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
God of new beginnings, may we find hope in the words from scripture that we hear today. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 2:1-5 – reading from the Common English Bible (CEB)
This is what Isaiah, Amoz’s son, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
will be the highest of the mountains.
It will be lifted above the hills;
peoples will stream to it.
Many nations will go and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the Lord’s mountain,
to the house of Jacob’s God
so that he may teach us his ways
and we may walk in God’s paths.”
Instruction will come from Zion;
the Lord’s word from Jerusalem.
God will judge between the nations,
and settle disputes of mighty nations.
Then they will beat their swords into iron plows
and their spears into pruning tools.
Nation will not take up sword against nation;
they will no longer learn how to make war.
Come, house of Jacob,
let’s walk by the Lord’s light.

Psalm 122 - VU# 845
Refrain
With joy we go to God’s own house and enter with a song.

I was glad when they said to me:
Let us go to the house of God.
And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city bound firmly together.
There the tribes go up, the tribes of God,
to give thanks to the name of God, as was decreed for Israel.
There the thrones of justice stand,
the thrones of David’s house.
Refrain
With joy we go to God’s own house and enter with a song.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
May those who love you prosper!
May there be peace within your walls,
prosperity within your palaces!
For the sake of my kin and friends I say: Peace be with you!
For the sake of the house of our God,
I will seek your good.
Refrain
With joy we go to God’s own house and enter with a song.

Matthew 24:36-44 - reading from the Common English Bible (CEB)
But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows. As it was in the time of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. They didn’t know what was happening until the flood came and swept them all away. The coming of the Son of Man will be like that. At that time there will be two men in the field. One will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill. One will be taken and the other left. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know what day the Lord is coming. But you understand that if the head of the house knew at what time the thief would come, he would keep alert and wouldn’t allow the thief to break into his house. Therefore, you also should be prepared, because the Son of Man will come at a time you don’t know.

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

MESSAGE

We Respond

*HYMN: VU# 17 - “O Ancient Love”
1. O ancient love, processing through the ages;
O hidden love, revealed in human form;
O promised love, the dream of seers and sages:
Refrain
O living Love, within our hearts be born,
O living Love, within our hearts be borne.

2. O homeless love, that dwells among the stranger;
O lowly love, that knows the mighty’s scorn;
O hungry love, that lay within a manger:
Refrain
O living Love, within our hearts be born,
O living Love, within our hearts be borne.

3. O gentle love, caressing those in sorrow;
O tender love, that comforts those forlorn;
O hopeful love, that promises tomorrow:
Refrain
O living Love, within our hearts be born,
O living Love, within our hearts be borne.

4. O suffering love, that bears our human weakness;
O boundless love, that rises with the morn;
O mighty love, concealed in infant meekness:
Refrain
O living Love, within our hearts be born,
O living Love, within our hearts be borne.

INVITATION to the OFFERING
In God’s Kin(g)dom there is enough. We have been blessed with so much! Let’s share our abundance so that all have enough and all may have hope. That happens through the work of this church and through Mission and Service, which is The United Church of Canada working across our country and around the world.

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
O God, may gifts given here today, and those we have given by PAR [or on-line, or by e-transfer] help to give hope: hope across the world, hope within our homes, and hope within ourselves. 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, and 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

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE & the LORD’S PRAYER (VU 910)

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU# 29 “Hark the Glad Sound”
1. Hark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long:
let every heart prepare a throne,
and every voice a song.

2. He comes, the prisoners to release
in Satan’s bondage held;
the gates of brass before him burst,
the iron fetters yield.

3. He comes, the broken heart to bind,
the bleeding soul to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to bless the humble poor.

4. Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
your welcome shall proclaim;
and heaven’s eternal arches ring
with your beloved name.

*COMMISSIONING (RW)
Pay attention!
Put your senses on alert!
Your redemption is near.
Look after yourselves.
Have light hearts, for love is everywhere.
Look out for each other and anyone who will need your help in coming days.
We will go from here to love and serve the Lord.

*BENEDICTION

*SUNG BLESSING: VU# 424 “May the God of Hope Go with Us” v.1
1. May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace,
singing, share our joy with all,
working for a world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.