Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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June 21, 2026 Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Guest Speaker - Jeremy Wentworth-Stanley

Sunday, June 21, 2026

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June 21^st, 2026

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Jeremy Wentworth-Stanley
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Debbie Potts

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

We Gather

PRELUDE: A Medley of Favourite Hymns – C. Burton

A Stewardship Second
Our gifts are part of God’s answer to those who cry out in distress.

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

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 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.

CALL to WORSHIP
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful helprescue me
    from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
    and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me
    or the deep swallow me up
    or the Pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant,
    for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me; redeem me;
    set me free because of my enemies.

*HYMN: VU #260 “God Who Gives to Life Its Goodness”
1. God who gives to life its goodness,
God creator of all joy,
God who gives to us our freedom,
God who blesses tool and toy:
teach us now to laugh and praise you,
deep within your praises sing,
till the whole creation dances
for the goodness of its King.

2. God who fills the earth with beauty,
God who binds each friend to friend,
God who names us co-creators
God who wills that chaos end:
grant us now creative spirits,
minds responsive to your mind,
hearts and wills your rule extending
all our acts by Love refined.

PRAYER of CONFESSION

PRAYER of ASSURANCE

*HYMN: VU #315 “Holy, Holy, Holy,”
1. 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!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Lighting the Children’s Lantern: “GPS”

ANTHEM: “Lord Jesus, of You I Will Sing”

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS: (New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

Jeremiah 20: 7-1 3
Jeremiah Denounces His Persecutors
O Lord, you have enticed me,
    and I was enticed;
you have overpowered me,
    and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all day long;
    everyone mocks me.
For whenever I speak, I must cry out;
    I must shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For the word of the Lord has become for me
    a reproach and derision all day long.
If I say, “I will not mention him
    or speak any more in his name,”
then within me there is something like a burning fire
    shut up in my bones;
I am weary with holding it in,
    and I cannot.
For I hear many whispering:
    “Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”
    All my close friends
    are watching for me to stumble.
“Perhaps he can be enticed,
    and we can prevail against him
    and take our revenge on him.”
But the Lord is with me like a terrifying warrior;
    therefore my persecutors will stumble,
    and they will not prevail.
They will be greatly shamed,
    for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonor
    will never be forgotten.
O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous;
    you see the heart and the mind;
let me see your retribution upon them,
    for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord;
praise the Lord!
For he has delivered the life of the needy
from the hands of evildoers.

Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17 (Responsive)
R: In the day of my trouble I call unto you
for you will answer me.

Turn your ear to me, O God, and answer me,
for I am poor and in misery.
Preserve my life for I am faithful;
save your servant for I trust in you.
Be merciful to me, my lord, for I call to you all day long.
Gladden the heart of your servant,
for to you I lift up my soul.
For you, my lord, are good and forgiving,
and great in mercy to all who call on you.
Give heed, O God, to my prayer,
and listen to my cry of supplication.

R: In the day of my trouble I call unto you
for you will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, my lord,
nor can the deeds of any be compared to yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and bow before you.
They shall glorify your name, my lord,
for you are great and do marvellous things;
you alone are God.

R: In the day of my trouble I call unto you
for you will answer me.

Turn to me then, and have mercy;
give your strength to your servant.
Save your handmaiden’s child;
give me a sign of your favour!
Then those who hate me will see and be ashamed,
for you, God, have helped and comforted me.

R: In the day of my trouble I call unto you
for you will answer me.

RESPONSE: VU #371 “Open My Eyes” v.1
Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Romans 6: 1b-11
Dying and Rising with Christ
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, so we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed^[^a^] from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

SERMON: Boat-Building

*HYMN: MV #144 “Like a Healing Stream”
1. Like a healing stream in a barren desert,
Spirit water bringing life to dusty earth,
God is trickling through our lives
as in a dream unfolding,
promising revival and rebirth
like a healing stream

2. Like a gentle rain on a thirsty garden,
Spirit water come to nourish tiny seed,
God is bubbling through the soil
to coax a new creation
yearning for an end to want and need
like a gentle rain.

3. Like a river strong with a restless current,
Spirit water rushing on to distant shore,
God is carving out a channel
in a new direction,
calling for an end to hate and war
like a river strong.

4. Like a mighty sea reaching far horizons,
Spirit water with a love both deep and wide,
God is working in our hearts
to shape a new tomorrow:
God will always challenge and provide!
Like a mighty sea, like a river strong,
like a gentle rain, like a healing stream.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Money is a tricky thing. When we allow it to control us and become the focus of our lives, whether it’s hoarded or scarce, it is a problem. On the other hand, we can’t live in today’s capitalist world without it. Generosity is the solution. When you give, you reflect God’s abundant love and caring through your gifts. As followers of Jesus, we are called to use our money to help atone and bring justice and mercy and hope to the world we live in.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Generous God, thank you for this opportunity to give and be generous. We heard your whisper.

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.

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

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER: (VU 910)

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: MV #154 “Deep in our Hearts”
1. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.

2. Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;
deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
justice and peace in harmony.

3. Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
deep in our hearts there is a common current,
flowing to freedom like a stream.

4. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.

*COMMISSIONING

*SUNG BENEDICTION: “May the Blessing of God be Upon You” VU #429
May the blessing of God be upon you.
May God’s love light all your way.
May the grace of Christ enfold you
and peace around you stay.
May the Spirit of God dwell within you.
May you live in joy each day

POSTLUDE: “Preludes for Piano” - G. Gershwin

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