March 1, 2026

Second Sunday in Lent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
     Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
     Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
     Lay Reader: Norine Baron

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

Scripture for meditation: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night...
(John 3: 1, 2a)

We Gather 

PRELUDE:  a Selection of Hymns

A Stewardship Second
Acts of generosity pull us towards dreams of a new relationship to God, to the earth, and to all others.

WELCOME

Extinguishing Second Candle of Lent: VU #144
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it makes me tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

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.

*Opening Hymn: VU #145 “Draw the Circle Wide”
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

1. God the still-point of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

2. Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

3. Let the dreams we dream be large
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door.
Refrain:
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

A New Creed for a New Millennium
The time has come to depose the haters and the fake identity pushers, the false merchants of self-serving lies.
The time has come to tell them: "Jig’s up; show’s over."
The time has come to cultivate a caring and inclusive community.
We are fragile, splintered of spirit, laden with prejudices, but graced with the invitation to faith.
We choose to be disciples of a loving God.
We propose the practice of tenderness;
sagacity, perseverance, transparency.
We propose to celebrate the complexity of life, without apology.
We propose to extend hands and hearts to others, without fear.
We propose to laugh together at our foibles and short sightedness.
We propose humility, honesty, clarity of new thoughts- even those that expose the golden calves we have created as failing idols.
We propose to defend the dignity of all life.
We propose to follow The Way of the One from Nazareth as our path to wholeness.
We propose to stay together on this perilous journey to freedom.

Theme Conversation:   Exodus

We Listen 

SCRIPTURE READINGS: John 3: 1-17 (Story of Nicodemus)   
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”  Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.

RESPONSE:   VU #652 Be Still, My Soul (v.1)
Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Trust in your God, your saviour and your guide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend
through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.

PIANO SOLO: “Bist Du bei Mir” (Be Thou with Me) - J.S. Bach

SERMON: “Un-organizing Religion” - Rev Brian Goodings

PASTORAL & LORD’S PRAYER

We Respond 

INVITATION to the OFFERING
As one year ends and another begins, it is a time for setting goals and plans; it is a time of hope for what could be. The offerings that you are about to make are more than just money to pay bills. This is an offering of hope; an offering of new beginnings. Please be generous.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
O God, we pray that the ministries and programs that this offering makes possible will give hope to many, including us. We pray your blessing on them, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dedication Hymn:   VU# 538
For the gift of creation the gift of your love
And the gift of the spirit by which we live
We thank you and give you the fruit our hands
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.

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

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN:  MV #138 “My Love Colours Outside the Lines”
1. My love colours outside the lines,
exploring paths that few could ever find;
and takes me into places
where I’ve never been before,
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

2. My Lord colours outside the lines,
turns wounds to blessings, water into wine;
and takes me into places
where I’ve never been before
and opens doors to worlds outside the lines.

3, 4. We’ll never walk on water
if we’re not prepared to drown,
body and soul need a soaking
from time to time.
And we’ll never move the grave-stones
if we’re not prepared to die,
and realize there are worlds outside the lines.

*COMMISSIONING

*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: Improvisation -  G.Fauré

***

SOURCES: The following are used with permission:

Prayers: written by Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings.
A New Creed for a New Millennium: adapted by Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings.

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
- “Were You There:” Words: African-American spiritual. Music: African-American spiritual. Arrangement: © 1990 Melva Wilson Costen, P.O. Box 42479, Atlanta, GA 30311, USA. Words: Public Domain. Arrangement: Melva Wilson Costen. One License #608577
- “Draw the Circle Wide:” Words and music: Gordon Light, 1994; arrangement: Michael Bloss, 1998; French translation: Denise Soulodre, 2006. Words and music copyright © 1994 Common Cup. Company, www.commoncup.com. Arrangement copyright © 1998 Wood Lake Books. One License #608577
- “Be Still My Soul:” Words: Katharina von Schlegel. English translation: Jane Laurie Borthwick. Music: Jean Sibelius. Harmony: © 1933 renewed 1961 Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, administered by Westminster John Knox Press. Words, Music, English Translation: Public Domain. Harmony: Westminster John Knox Press. One License #608577
- “For the Gift of Creation:” Words, Music: Steve Garnaas-Homes © 1991 Abingdon Press. Words, Music: Abingdon Press. One License #608577.
- “My Love Colours Outside the Lines:” Words and music: Gordon Light, 1995; arr. Andrew Donaldson. Words and music copyright © 1995 Common Cup Company, www.commoncup.com. Arrangement copyright © Andrew Donaldson. One License #608577
- “Go Now in Peace:” - Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Reproduced with permission.

Scripture Readings: New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.