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January 18, 2026: Second Sunday After Epiphany

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, January 18, 2026

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January 18^th, 2026

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Guest Musician: Camryn Ruthven
Lay Reader: Shirley Woolner

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

Scripture for meditation: The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1: 29)

We Gather

PRELUDE: Improvisation on Piano – Camryn Ruthven

A Stewardship Second
In Jesus you are loved and made holy, enriched in many ways: not lacking in any spiritual gift; ready and willing to share generously; called by God, as disciples of Jesus.

WELCOME

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 #82 “A Light is Gleaming” (Chorus only)
A light is gleaming, spreading its arms
throughout the night, living in the light.
Come share its gladness, God’s radiant love
is burning bright, living in the light.

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
If you have come in certainty or in confusion; we pray this community will welcome you.
If you have come in silent suffering or with hidden joy; we fully accept your tears of happiness or heartbreak.
If you have come for your own or another’s need; we trust this community will accept your gifts and your poverty.
If you have come and do not know why; we hope this community will honour your questing.
We have all come bearing God’s image and to discover the breadth of God’s “other” images.
And we pray and hope and trust that God has come too.

PRAYER of APPROACH
Give to each of us a candle of the Spirit, O God, as we go to the deeps of our being. Show us the hidden things, the creatures of our dreams, the storehouse of forgotten memories and hurts. Take us down to the spring of life, and whisper again, our true name. Give us freedom and light to grow into ourselves from the seed you planted in us at our making. Out of the deeps we cry to you, O God. Call us to your side. AMEN

*HYMN: VU #342 “You Servants of God “
1. You servants of God, your Saviour proclaim,
and publish abroad that wonderful name;
the name all victorious of Jesus extol,
whose kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

2. God rules from on high, almighty to save,
whose Word still is nigh, a presence we have.
The great congregation God’s triumph shall sing,
ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.

3. Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!
Let all cry aloud, and honour the Son!
The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
bow down in deep reverence and worship the Lamb.

4. Then let us adore and give as is right,
all glory and power, all wisdom and might,
all honour and blessing with angels above,
and thanks never ceasing and infinite love.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: Epistle Reading 1^st Corinthians 1: 1-9
Who is Paul? Do you know this book very well? Why is Paul so important a figure in the story of Christianity? What was his original name? How did he become an apostle?
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS
In Scripture God calls us by name…

Psalm 40 VU #764 (Responsive)
Refrain:
You put a new song in my mouth, your name to glorify.

I waited patiently for you, O God;
you bent down and heard my cry.
You lifted me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
You put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many shall see and wonder,
and will put their trust in you.
Refrain:
You put a new song in my mouth, your name to glorify.

Blessed are those whose trust is in God,
who have not turned to the proud,
nor to those who follow a lie.
O God, my God, you have multiplied your wondrous deeds
and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I would proclaim and tell of them,
but they are more than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
burnt offering and sacrifice for sin you have not required.
But you have opened my ears to hear, and I said: ‘Here I am,
ready to do what is written in the scroll of the book.’
I delight to do your will, O my God,
your law is in my heart.
Refrain:
You put a new song in my mouth, your name to glorify.

I have told the glad news of deliverance in
the great congregation;
I did not restrain my lips, as you well know.
I have not kept your goodness hidden in my heart,
but have spoken of your faithfulness
and your saving help.
I have not concealed your steadfast love,
nor your truth from the great congregation.
Do not withhold from me your tender care, O God;
may your love and truth ever preserve me.
Refrain:
You put a new song in my mouth, your name to glorify.

Gospel Reading: John 1: 29-42 Call of Disciples
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed.He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

RESPONSE: VU # 266 “Amazing Grace” v.1
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
that saved and strengthened me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

MINISTRY of MUSIC: TBA - Camryn Ruthven

SERMON: “Wait Lifting” Rev. Brian Goodings

*HYMN: VU #507 “Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples”
1. Today we all are called to be
disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captive free,
make ploughshare out of sword,
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst,
make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first,
our ease and comfort last.

2. God made the world and at its birth
ordained our human race
to live as stewards of the earth,
responding to God’s grace.
But we are vain and sadly proud,
we sow not peace but strife,
our discord spreads a deadly cloud
that threatens all of life.

3. Pray justice may come rolling down
as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town
to cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore
an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for
a harmony of peace.

4. May we in service to our God
act out the living Word,
and walk the road the saints have trod
till all have seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth may we
give thanks in one accord
to God who calls us all to be
disciples of the Lord.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Friends, you are now invited to participate directly in the ministry of the church. Your gifts to the church and Mission and Service are one way we make Christ manifest in the world. Let us be generous.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Gracious God, you call us to deep spirituality, bold discipleship, and daring justice. May these gifts help us be the people and the church you long for us to be. Bless these gifts and those offered through PAR and online, and multiply them for the sake of ourselves and the world. Amen.

Dedication: MV #191 “What Can I” Do (2x)
What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer,
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

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

PASTORAL PRAYER & The LORD’S PRAYER: (VU #960 sung)

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #563 “Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”
1. Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
you only asked me to follow humbly.
Refrain:
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.

2. You know so well my possessions;
my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
you will find there my nets and labour.
Refrain:
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.

3. You need my hands, full of caring
through my labours to give others rest,
and constant love that keeps on loving.
Refrain:
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.

4. You, who have fished other oceans,
ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
my loving friend, as thus you call me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,
and while smiling, have spoken my name;
now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me;
by your side I will seek other seas.

*COMMISSIONING

*BENEDICTION: VU #586 “We Shall Go Out”
1. We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
we shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
within the vision of new life in Christ.

2. We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
expressive love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping,
raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
including all in circles of our love.