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April 12, 2026: Second Sunday of Easter

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, April 12, 2026

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April 12, 2026

Second Sunday of Easter

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: Mary Lou Gignac

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

Scripture for meditation
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet come to believe.” John 20: 28,29

We Gather

PRELUDE: “Bist du bei mir”- J.S. Bach

A Stewardship Second
Generous people live expectantly, freeing their gifts for resurrection miracles that bring hope into the world

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE

“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
Grace United Church is inclusive and intentionally embraces people of all gender identities and sexual preferences. Everyone belongs here and is valued.
In gratitude and respect,
The United Church of Canada gathers, worships, and works on Indigenous lands across Canada.

Centering Poem (by Thomas Troeger)
These things did Thomas count as real:
The warmth of blood, the chill of steel,
The grain of wood, the heft of stone,
The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.

The vision of his sceptic mind
Was keen enough to make him blind
To any unexpected act
Too large for his small world of fact.

His reasoned certainties denied
That one could live when one had died,
Until his fingers read like Braille
The markings of the spear and nail.

*OPENING HYMN: Vu #183 “We Meet You, O Christ”
1. We meet you, O Christ, in many a guise;
your image we see in simple and wise.
You live in a palace, exist in a shack.
We see you, the gardener, a tree on your back.

2. In millions alive, away and abroad;
involved in our life you live down the road.
Imprisoned in systems you long to be free.
We see you, O Jesus, still bearing your tree.

3. *We hear you, O Christ, in agony cry.
For freedom you march, in riots you die.
Your face in the papers we read and we see.
The tree must be planted by human decree.

4. You choose to be made at one with the earth;
the dark of the grave prepares for your birth.
Your death is your rising, creative your word:
the tree springs to life and our hope is restored.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: Thomas

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Psalm: 16 VU #738 (Responsive)
Refrain:
Protect me God: I trust in you.

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I have said to God, ‘You are my God;
from you alone comes all my prosperity.’
All my delight is in the faithful who dwell in the land,
and in those who excel in virtue.
But as for those who run after other gods,
their troubles shall be multiplied.
Libations of blood I will not offer to those gods,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
Refrain:
Protect me God: I trust in you.

You, God, are my allotted portion and my cup;
you yourself have cast my lot.
My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;
indeed I have a noble heritage.
I will thank you, God, for giving me counsel;
at night also you teach my heart.
I keep you always before me;
you are on my right hand,
therefore I shall not fall.
Refrain:
Protect me God: I trust in you.

So my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
for my body shall also rest in safety.
For you will not surrender me to the Grave,
nor suffer your beloved to see the Abyss.
You will show me the path of life.
In your presence is fullness of joy;
and from your right hand flow delights
for evermore.
Refrain:
Protect me God: I trust in you.

Gospel John 20: 19-31 (Jesus and Thomas)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

RESPONSE: VU #374 “Come and Find the Quiet Centre” (v.1)
Come and find the quiet center
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.

ANTHEM: “All in the April Evening”- H.S. Robertson

SERMON: “Lens Replacement” Rev Brian Goodings

PASTORAL and LORD’S PRAYER

*HYMN: MV #12 “Come Touch Our Heart
1. Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion,
from failing embers build a blazing fire;
love strong enough to overturn injustice,
to seek a world more gracious,
come touch and bless our hearts.

2. Come touch our souls that we may know and love you,
your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
create a space for spirit to grow in us,
let life and beauty fill us,
come touch and bless our souls.

3. Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason,
set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
help us to open doors of understanding,
to welcome truth and wisdom,
come touch and bless our minds.

4. Come touch us in the moments we are fragile,
and in our weakness your great strength reveal;
that we may rise to follow and to serve,
steady now our nerve,
come touch and bless our wills.

5. Come touch us now, this people who are gathered,
to break the bread and share the cup of peace;
that we may love you with our heart, our soul,
our mind, our strength, our all,
come touch us with your grace.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Let us dance with the Resurrected Lord of Easter—a much more radical invitation because he invites our discipleship. Let us live as Easter people and offer the lives, the time, the talents, the energy, and the money God has given us.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Living God, these offerings show how we have accepted your invitation to dance with joy and thanksgiving. Take the gifts that we offer for the work of this congregation and for God’s work across Canada and around the world through Mission and Service. 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

DEDICATION: VU #579 v.2
The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
The words of the Bible in gift and in deed.

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU # 185 “You Tell Me That the Lord Is Risen”
1. You tell me that the Lord is risen,
that you have seen his face.
Then tell me why you crouch in fear
and hide within this place.
You say that he spoke words of peace
and stood just as before.
But ‘til I touch his very flesh
I will not trust your joy.

2. You claim a resurrection here,
that God has broken death.
No easy words like these will soothe
the pain that tears my breath.
How well do I recall his face,
compassion, strength in fear.
How deep my grief that he should die.
Spare me your words of cheer!

3. ‘Now peace be with you. Come, my friend,
my wounded body see.
Let the rich courage of your doubt
bring you to fresh belief.
Fear not to wonder at the Word,
to search the depths of grace.
Reach out and touch, here is my hand.
Receive the gift of faith.’

4. ‘How blest are they, how fortunate
who know without the sight.
But Thomas, you are favoured too,
for searching yields its light.’
So may each pilgrim in the Way,
each road to Christ be blest,
‘til lips declare, ‘My Lord and God!’,
Christ’s body one at last.

*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