May 17, 2026
SevenEasterth Sunday of
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. Brian Goodings
Guest Musician: Camryn Ruthven
Lay Reader: Carol Clarke
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
Scripture for meditation:
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. Acts 1: 9
We Gather Together in Community
PRELUDE:
“Oceans Where My Feet May Fail”
(by Hillsong UNITED, 2013)
“A Stewardship Second:” Stewards care passionately, humbly, and graciously about God’s vision for the world.
WELCOME:
LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE:
“Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” VU #400 v.1
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 is committed to a living faith of love and justice. We celebrate
diversity in all forms. We welcome everyone and affirm our welcome to 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.
INVITATION to GRACE UNITED CHURCH:
(adapted from a self-described “wee” congregation in Clydebank Scotland. A place of eternity in a throw-away society.)
In this place faith means:
Stepping into the questions of life
and holding on to the unfolding journey together.
This church is for the doubter; as much as the believer
for the wanderer; as much as the found
for the questioner; as much as the certain
It is not a place of authoritative doctrine or ironclad literal “creedists”; but a place where love and justice are allowed to tangle, a place where we become friends with very different theologies and grow in God’s opening revelation and grace;
We believe that God is a very beautiful and hopeful possibility- born in lives open to the Spirit.
*Hymn: MV#1 “Let Us Build a House”
1 Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
2 Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
3 Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat;
a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
4 Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
5 Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace;
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.
Lighting the Children’s Lantern
Theme Conversation: Ascension
We Listen Together
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
Gospel John 17: 1-11
After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Acts 1: 6-14
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
RESPONSE: VU #376 “Spirit of the Living God”
1 Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
2 Spirit of the living God, move among us all;
make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
humble, caring, selfless, sharing.
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love!
MINISTRY of MUSIC:
“All Glory be to Christ” Sung by Camryn Ruthven
(by Kings Kaleidoscope, 2012).
SERMON: “Burden of Proof” Rev Brian Goodings
PASTORAL & LORD’S PRAYER: VU #960 - sung
*HYMN: VU #356 “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”
1 Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and God’s righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, hallelujah.
2 Ask and it shall be given unto you;
seek and you shall find;
knock and the door shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, hallelujah.
3 We do not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, hallelujah.
We Respond to God’s Word
INVITATION to the OFFERING:
Who we are, what we do, and what we have is never separated from God. We are also in God’s presence as we give. Hallelujah! Let us share our gifts as God’s gifts have been shared with us.
PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS:
You, O God, are the One in whom we live and move and have our being. What a blessing! Use these gifts to bless others through this community of faith, and in the wider 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 HYMN: 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 Begin our Service in the Name of Christ!
*HYMN: VU #625 “I Feel the Winds of God”
1 I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift,
though heavy oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest,
and Christ my bark will use,
I’ll seek the seas at his behest,
and brave another cruise.
2 It is the wind of God that dries
my vain regretful tears,
until with braver thoughts shall rise
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease
or pleasure I should be,
O let me feel your freshening breeze,
and I’ll put back to sea.
3 If ever I forget your love
and how that love was shown,
lift high the blood-red flag above;
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way,
you will not let me drift.
I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift.
*COMMISSIONING,
*BENEDICTION: VU #481 “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing”
1 Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The supper is ended, O now be extended
the fruits of this service in all who believe.
The seed of Christ’s teaching, receptive souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, God’s love shall unite us
to work for the kingdom and answer its call.
2 With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living,
the tasks of our everyday life we will face.
Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.
With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;
unite us as one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
give honour to Christ and the name that we bear.
POSTLUDE:
“Land O’ the Leal” (by Helen Hopekirk, 1919)
SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Stewardship Second & Invitation to the Offering & Prayer of Dedication of our Offerings from: © 2024 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.
Invitation to the United Church: adapted from a self-described “wee” congregation in Clydebank Scotland. A place of eternity in a throw-away society.
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
-“Lord Listen to Your Children Praying:” Words, Music: Ken Medema 1970 © 1971 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Words, Music: Hope Publishing Company. One License #608577.
-“Spirit of the Living God:” Words (v 1), Daniel Iverson 1926 Music: Daniel Iverson © 1935, 1963 Birdwing Music c/o EMI Christian Music, 101 Winner’s Circle, Brentwood, TN 37024 USA. Words (v 2): Michael Baughen © 1982 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Arranged by Darryl Nixon. Words (v 1), Music: Birdwing Music, c/o EMI Christian Music. Words (v 2): Hope Publishing Company. One License #608577.
-“The Lord’s Prayer:” Adpt. from a chant by R. Langdon. Public Domain.
-“Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God:” Words, Music, Descant: Karen Lafferty © 1972 Maranatha! Music (Administered by The Copyright Company - obo, P.O. Box 128139, Nashville, TN 37212-8139, tel.: 615-321-1096, fax: 615-321-1099). All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission. Words, Music, Descant: Maranatha! Music (Administered by The Copyright Company)
-“What Can I Do?” Words and music: Paul Rumbolt and Michele McCarthy; arr. Alan
- Whitmore, 2005. Words and music: Paul Rumbolt and Michele McCarthy; arr. Alan C. Whitmore, 2005. Words and music copyright © by Paul Rumbolt and Michele McCarthy. www.paulrumbolt.com Arrangement copyright © 2005 Alan C. Whitmore. One License #608577.
-“I Feel the Winds of God:” Words: Jessie Adams 1907 © 1933 National Adult School Organisation, MASU Centre, Gaywood Croft, Cregoe St., Birmingham B15 2ED, England. Music: English and Irish traditional melody. Arrangement: Ralph Vaughan Williams 1906. Used by permission of Oxford University Press. Words: National Adult School Organisation. Music: Public Domain. Arrangement: Oxford University Press.
-“Sent Forth by God’s Blessing:” Words: Omer Westendorf 1964 © 1964 World Library Publications, Inc. Arrangement: © 1972 Contemporary Worship 4: Hymns for Baptism and Holy Communion. Reprinted by permission of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Music: Welsh folk tune. Harmonized by Leland Bernhard Sateren. Words: World Library Publications, Inc. Arrangement: Augsburg Fortress Publishers. One License #608577.
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.
Prelude: “Oceans Where My Feet May Fail” (by Hillsong UNITED, 2013)
Anthem: “All Glory be to Christ” (by Kings Kaleidoscope, 2012).
Postlude: “Land O’ the Leal” (by Helen Hopekirk, 1919)
