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December 28, 2025 : Sunday Morning Service: Carols with Carol and Chris

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Sunday, December 28, 2025

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December 28^th, 2025

1^st Sunday after Christmas

Carols with Chris & Carol

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Carol Clarke
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: More Favourite Christmas Melodies Compiled by C. Burton

WELCOME

A Stewardship Second
Your generosity to Mission and Service helps refugees to find safety and live in peace.

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE (Rev. JGS)
As we come together this morning,
Let us light the Christ candle to remind us we are not alone. Christ’s spirit is with us, and in us, all around us.
May the light of this candle stay with us while we worship
And be a beacon of hope in our hearts when we leave this place. AMEN

*CAROL: VU #59 “Joy to the World

STORY

1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

2. Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns:
let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground:
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.

4. He rules the earth with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

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
Praise the Lord from the highest heavens.
Praise God, sun and moon;
sing for joy, you shining stars.
Praise the Lord from the deepest seas.
Praise God, fire and hail;
Dance in ecstasy, snow and frost.
Praise the Lord from the hearts of the faithful.
Praise God, young and old;
laugh with mirth, wise and meek.
Worship the Lord our God.
Pay homage to the ruler of heaven and earth.

OPENING PRAYER
God of holy mystery,
it was no heavenly stranger
that came to save us;
it was no happy accident
that freed us from captivity;
it was no careless gesture
that showed us the ways
of life and death.
You are our light and our salvation.
You alone are worthy of our worship and praise.
In this season of Christmas
remind us once more of what you offer:
a love born of endless searching,
a connection born of deep longing,
a future born of selfless sacrifice.
Be with us now
for we are your people
and you are our God. Amen.

*CAROL: “ The Huron Carol” by D L Seaborn Tune VU #71

STORY

1. We gather at midwinter dark to share this hallowed night.
Within our longhouse, warm and dry, the fire glows with light.
Our Elders sing a teaching song;
it fills the night that seems so long:
This is our sacred home, ‘neath heaven’s dome,
shining stars proclaim the dawn.

2. Sky Woman came down from above, but found no place to stand,
till Toad put mud on Turtle’s back, and that became the land.
Sky Woman died in giving birth;
her holy body fed the earth.
This is our sacred home, ‘neath heaven’s dome,
shining stars proclaim the dawn.

3. A valiant Little Turtle rode a cloud up to the sky;
she used the lightning to make fire, and made our Sun to shine.
He journeys ‘neath the world we see,
returns to make the shadows flee.
This is our sacred home, ‘neath heaven’s dome,
shining stars proclaim the dawn.

4. The Black Robes came from lands afar, and told us of a day
Judea had been colonized, and Rome must be obeyed.
A mother bore a child of light;
rejoicing filled the starlit night:
This is our sacred home, ‘neath heaven’s dome,
shining stars proclaim the dawn.

5. Rejoice! Have courage one and all! The stars shine overhead,
the same stars that shone down upon a baby’s humble bed.
The infant grew to be a man;
his words, like stars, light many lands.
This is our sacred home, ‘neath heaven’s dome,
shining stars proclaim the dawn.

Lighting the Children’s lantern

We Listen

LESSONS &CAROLS

PRAYER of ILLUMINATION

1^st LESSON: John1: 1-9 (NRSVUE)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John.He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

CAROL: “O Holy Night!”

STORY

1. O holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Refrain
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine

2. Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.
Refrain
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine

3. Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Refrain
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine

2^nd LESSON: Psalm 148 VU# 871(Responsive)
Refrain: Let the whole creation cry.
“Glory be to God on high.”

Praise God from the heavens; give praise in the heights!
Give praise, all you angels; praise God, all you hosts!
Praise God, sun and moon; give praise, stars and lights!
Praise God, farthest heavens, and all waters beyond heaven!
Refrain: Let the whole creation cry.
“Glory be to God on high.”

Let all things praise the Holy One at whose command
they were created,
who established them for all time,
setting bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise God from the earth,
great sea creatures and ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and frost,
gales that obey God’s decree,
all mountains and hills, all fruit trees and cedars,
wild animals and cattle, creatures winged and earth-bound,
sovereigns who rule earth and its people,
all who govern and judge this world,
young men and women alike,
old people and children together!
Refrain: Let the whole creation cry.
“Glory be to God on high.”

Let all things praise the name of God,
the name above every other,
whose splendour covers heaven and earth.
You give strength to your people,
songs of praise to your faithful,
to Israel, the people dear to your heart.
Refrain: Let the whole creation cry.
“Glory be to God on high.”

CAROLS by REQUEST

3^rd LESSON: Isaiah 9: 2-7 (NRSVUE)
The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

CAROLS by REQUEST

We Respond

MEMORIES and BLESSINGS TREE

INVITATION to the OFFERING
I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done for us.” As we make our offering, let us be filled with gratitude and in return share generously with this congregation and Mission and Service.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Praiseworthy God, accept our generosity—our money, our time, and our love of neighbour. Take what we offer your Church that together our gifts may make a difference in this church and this community. 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

CAROLS by REQUEST

*COMMISSIONING

*BENEDICTION
Threefold Amen

*SUNG SENDING: VU #43 “Go Tell It on the Mountain”
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.

1. While shepherds kept their watching
o’er silent flocks by night,
behold, throughout the heavens
there shone a holy light.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.

2. The shepherds feared and trembled
when lo, above the earth
rang out the angel chorus
that hailed our Saviour’s birth!
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.

3. Down in a lonely manger
the humble Christ was born,
and God sent our salvation
that blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain
Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and everywhere.
Go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ is born.