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April 26, 2026: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, April 26, 2026

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April 26, 2026

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Membership Sunday

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: Sandy Eagles

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

Scripture for meditation:
Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts (Acts 2: 46)

We Gather

PRELUDE: “Sonata in E Flat 2nd Mov’t”- J. Haydn

A Stewardship Second
Stewards live God’s dream of a community of people who truly look after one another.

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE

HYMN VU #400“Lord Listen to Your Children Praying”
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
send us love, send us power, send us grace!

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
Grace United Church celebrates diversity and inclusivity. Inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, we work towards justice and affirm our welcome for people of all gender identities and sexual preferences.
In gratitude and respect,
The United Church of Canada gathers, worships, and works on Indigenous lands across Canada.

*OPENING HYMN: VU #395 “Come In, Come In and Sit Down”
Refrain:
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

1. You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain;
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family.
Refrain:
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

2. God is with us in this place,
like a mother’s warm embrace.
We’re all forgiven by God’s grace,
for we are a part of the family.
Refrain:
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

3. There’s life to be shared in the bread and the wine;
we are the branches, Christ is the vine.
This is God’s temple, it’s not yours or mine,
but we are a part of the family.
Refrain:
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

4. There’s rest for the weary and health for us all;
there’s a yoke that is easy, and a burden that’s small.
So come in and worship and answer the call,
for we are a part of the family.
Refrain:
Come in, come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Meaning of Membership

SOLO: Mel Reekie “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”

Introduction of New, Transferring and Renewing Members of Grace United Church, Thornbury
Cathy Aiken (transfer from Trinity United Lively)
Andrea Tang (transfer from Trinity United Collingwood)
Wendy Maloney (transfer from Kingsway-Lambton United Etobicoke)
Lynn Vail (transfer from Meaford United)
Louise Armstrong (new member)
Mel Reekie (new member)
Brent Rolufs (new member)
Brenda Gow (new member)
Joan McKinlay (new member)
Sandy Eagles (renewing member)
Barb Swanson (renewing member)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Through the ages, God has moved the people of Christ to join in worship and service. Today we are gathered here to grow in numbers and faith as a congregation of Christ's church.
By the grace of God we covenant together to be a people of God in this place: to celebrate God's presence in Word and Sacrament, to care for one another in love, to nurture one another in the faith, and to share in the life and mission of The United Church of Canada and of the whole church of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God.

Profession of Baptismal Faith
Do you believe in God, source of love; in Jesus Christ, love incarnate; and in the Holy Spirit, love’s power?
(I do, by the grace of God.)
Will you follow in the way of Jesus Christ, resisting oppression and evil, seeking justice and witnessing to God’s love for all creation?
(I will, God being my helper)
Will you join with your brothers and sisters in this community of faith to celebrate God’s presence, live with respect in creation, and love and serve others?
(I will, God being my helper.)

Act of Asperges (sprinkling water from Baptismal Font)

Let us stand and join in a statement of our communal faith; our New Creed
We are not alone, we live in God's world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the church;
to celebrate God's presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Welcome from Grace United Church Board

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 2: 41-47 (the early church grows)
So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.All who believed were together and had all things in common;they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

SERMON: “Enough” Rev Brian Goodings

*HYMN: VU #460 “All Who Hunger”
1. All who hunger, gather gladly;
holy manna is our bread.
Come from wilderness and wandering.
Here, in truth, we will be fed.
You that yearn for days of fullness,
all around us is our food.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.

2. All who hunger, never strangers;
seeker, be a welcome guest.
Come from restlessness and roaming.
Here, in joy, we keep the feast.
We that once were lost and scattered
in communion’s love have stood.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.

3. All who hunger, sing together;
Jesus Christ is living bread.
Come from loneliness and longing.
Here, in peace, we have been led.
Blest are those who from this table
live their lives in gratitude.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.

Communion Liturgy (adapted from T. Shuman)

May the God of wonder be with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hearts to the One who invites you to this Table,
Thirsty for life and hope, we bring our hearts to this feast.
Rejoice in the Lord, all you people!
We sing glad songs of thanks to God's holy name!
Holy, holy, holy, Joy of the heart!
All creation beholds your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are within and beyond all Creation, Holy One,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Joy, our Hope.
The Bright Morning Star, he came
   to illumine the shadows of our lives.
Bringing the testimony of your salvation,
   he proclaimed the good news to all who listened.
As we celebrate his life and love,
as we testify to his peace and hope,
we witness to that mystery called faith:
Christ died, that we may enter the holy city by the gates;
Christ arose, that we may receive the water of life as a gift;
Christ will come soon, your grace calling us home.
Come, Holy God and pour out your Spirit upon this feast, with the simple gifts of the bread and cup.
As we eat of the bread, we find you within us,
   uniting us, wherever we are divided,
   healing us, where we are broken,
   sending us, when we are reluctant,
      to throw open wide all that imprisons
      our sisters and brothers throughout the world.
As we drink from the cup,
we realize how deeply we know you,
   and witness to all around us,
      that the love with which you have loved us
      may be in them, and we in them.

Breaking the Bread and Raising the Cup

Sharing Communion

THE LORD’S PRAYER: VU #959 Sung after Communion

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
We bring our story of faith and we walk with the world, giving and receiving again and again. Like Jesus’ first followers, we are called to spend time together sharing what we have with glad and generous hearts. You are invited to join your gifts with the gifts of others as we receive the offering.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Divine Light, with grateful hearts we ask you to bless the offerings we bring to this church community. Our gifts flow from gratitude for your presence in our lives. In our times of green pastures and still water, in our times of grief and exhaustion, you are our shepherd and with you we shall not want. 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: 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.

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU #580 “Faith of Our Fathers” (and mothers and sisters and brothers)
1. Faith of our fathers, living still
in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy,
whene’er we hear that glorious word:
faith of our fathers, holy faith,
we will be true to you till death.

2. Faith of our mothers, daring faith,
your work for Christ is love revealed,
spreading God’s word from pole to pole,
making love known and freedom real:
faith of our mothers, holy faith,
we will be true to you till death.

3. Faith of our sisters, brothers too,
who still must bear oppression’s might,
raising on high, in prisons dark,
the cross of Christ still burning bright:
faith for today, O living faith,
we will be true to you till death.

4. Faith born of God, O call us yet;
bind us with all who follow you,
sharing the struggle of your cross
until the world is made anew.
Faith born of God, O living faith,
we will be true to you till death.

*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