August 9th 2026

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 14

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
     Worship Leader: Phyllis Fleming, Licensed Lay Worship Leader
     Music Leader: Dr. Christopher Burton
     Scripture Reader from St. Paul’s: Sandra Whittall
     Scripture Reader from Grace: Jim Oliver
     Scripture Reader from St. George’s: Donna Whiteside

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

We Gather 

A Stewardship Second to ponder while gathering
Caring for the financial health of your community of faith is not a sprint to be accomplished with one time of worship or one campaign. It is a marathon which is accomplished by developing relationships, expressing gratitude, and teaching generosity as a spiritual practice.

PRELUDE
A selection of Familiar Hymns - C Burton

GREETING (2 Cor. 13:13)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all!
And also with you!

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
The light of Christ lives within us when we choose to follow Jesus. Each week, we light the Christ candle as a visible symbol of that presence. Let us ponder this light within us as the candle is lit.
(the candle is lit)
Thanks be to God for the gift of Christ’s presence in us and among us.

SONG:  “Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies” - VU 336, v. 1 (tune VU 81)
Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true, the only light,
sun of Righteousness, arise, triumph o'er the shades of night.
Day-spring from on high, be near; day-star, in my heart appear.

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 (based on Psalm 105)
As we gather together, let us call on God’s name.
Let us sing songs of praise, and tell of God’s wonderful deeds.
Let us exult in God’s holy name,
and let us be joyful in heart as we seek God.
Let us seek God’s presence continually,
and remember the wonders and judgements God has given.
Come, let us worship our God!

*OPENING HYMN:  VU 339 – “When Morning Gilds the Skies”
1. When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

2. To God, the Word on high, the hosts of angels cry:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

3. Let all of humankind in this their concord find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

4. Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this th'eternal song, through all the ages long:
may Jesus Christ be praised!

OPENING PRAYER
O God, we come before you humbly this morning, in awe and wonder.
How magnificent is your creation! The land, the waters, the birds and animals all reveal the goodness of your works. But you did not stop there, God; you sent your son Jesus to save us, and you send your Holy Spirit to comfort us. As we enter this time of worship together, may we feel your love washing over us, and may we be open to what you reveal to us. Accept the praise we offer, we pray.
In Jesus’s name, Amen.

We Listen 

Theme Conversation and Lighting of the Children’s Lantern

INVITATION to CONFESSION

PRAYER of CONFESSION
O God, there are so many ways we can go wrong in our lives:
an unkind thought, a thoughtless word,
love not shown, praise to you not given,
an action taken which we regret.
We remember, and we are sorry.
(a time of silent prayer)
Forgive us, O God. Amen.

WORDS of ASSURANCE
Friends, as soon as we confess our sins, God forgives us and helps us to start over in a better way. Through Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
O God, as we break open your Word, break us open so that we can hear you speaking to us today. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 37:1-4,12-28 – read by Sandra Whittall,from the Contemporary English Version
Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father Isaac had lived, and this is the story of his family.
When Jacob's son Joseph was 17 years old, he took care of the sheep with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. But he was always telling his father all sorts of bad things about his brothers.
Jacob loved Joseph more than he did any of his other sons, because Joseph was born when Jacob was very old. Jacob had even given Joseph a fancy coat which showed that Joseph was his favorite son, and so Joseph's brothers hated him and would not be friendly to him.
One day when Joseph's brothers had taken the sheep to a pasture near Shechem, his father Jacob said to him, “I want you to go to your brothers. They are with the sheep near Shechem.” “Yes, sir,” Joseph answered.
His father said, “Go and find out how your brothers and the sheep are doing. Then come back and let me know.” So he sent him from Hebron Valley.
Joseph was near Shechem and wandering through the fields, when a man asked, “What are you looking for?”
Joseph answered, “I'm looking for my brothers who are watching the sheep. Can you tell me where they are?”
“They're not here anymore,” the man replied. “I overheard them say they were going to Dothan.” Joseph left and found his brothers in Dothan.
But before he got there, they saw him coming and made plans to kill him.
They said to one another, “Look, here comes the hero of those dreams!
Let's kill him and throw him into a pit and say that some wild animal ate him. Then we'll see what happens to those dreams.”
Reuben heard this and tried to protect Joseph from them. “Let's not kill him,” he said.
“Don't murder him or even harm him. Just throw him into a well out here in the desert.” Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father.
When Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his fancy coat and threw him into a dry well.
As Joseph's brothers sat down to eat, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with all kinds of spices that they were taking to Egypt.
So Judah said, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and hide his body?
Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not harm him. After all, he is our brother.” And the others agreed.
When the Midianite merchants came by, Joseph's brothers took him out of the well, and for 20 pieces of silver they sold him to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt.

Psalm 105 (VU 828-829, Parts1& 2) – led by Jim Oliver
Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

Give thanks and call on God's name.
Make known to the nations what God has done.
Sing, O sing the songs of praise; tell of all God's wonderful deeds.
Exult in God's holy name;
let those who seek God be joyful in heart.
Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

Turn for help to the one who is your strength; seek God's presence continually.
Remember the marvels the Most High has done,
the wonders and judgements God has given,
O children of Abraham and Sarah, God's servants,
O offspring of Israel, chosen of God.
Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

You are the eternal God,
your justice reaches every corner of the earth.
You are ever mindful of your covenant,
the promise you gave to a thousand generations,
the covenant you made with Sarah and Abraham, the oath you gave to Isaac.
You confirmed it for Jacob as binding.
To Israel your everlasting covenant you declared,
“To you I give the land of Canaan, as your appointed inheritance.”
Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

You called down famine on the land, and cut off the supply of bread.
But you sent one ahead of them, Joseph, whom they had sold as a slave.
His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck collared with iron;
until his predictions came true, your word tested him.
Then the king sent and released him, the ruler of nations set him free.
He made Joseph master of his house, ruler of all his possessions,
to correct his officials at will,
to teach his counselors wisdom.
Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

Matthew 14: 22-33 – read by Donna Whiteside, from the Common English Bible
Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds.
When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone.
Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land.
Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake.
When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed.
Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”
And Jesus said, “Come.” Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus.
But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?”
When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.
Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”

RESPONSE
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!

MUSICAL MEDITATION:   Improvisation - G. Fauré

MESSAGE

We Respond

*HYMN: VU 567 – “Will You Come and Follow Me”
1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

4. Will you love the 'you' you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

5. Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Spoken, traditional words, VU 910)
And as a child turns to a loving caregiver who watches over them, we turn in prayer to you O God, who are our heavenly parent, our mother,
Our Father, who art in heaven…

INVITATION to the OFFERING
There are many ways that we partner with God in advancing God’s kingdom, by sharing our time, our talents, and our treasure in God’s service. At church, we have an opportunity to donate money towards this work.  There are offering boxes at the back of the sanctuary for each of the three churches (Grace United, St. George’s Anglican, and St. Paul’s Presbyterian), which you can use to make your offering today after the service. If you did not bring an envelope and you would like a tax receipt, there are envelopes beside the boxes and you can select which church you would like to receive your offering. Let us honour all the gifts of time, talent and treasure given this week as we pray our prayer of dedication

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
O God, please accept the work of our hands, the prayers of our hearts, and the financial gifts given here today, as well as those we have given by other methods. May these all help to bring more of your love into this world which you love so much. This we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Care, Prayer, Share

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE and ST. PAUL’S and ST. GEORGE’S?

We Go Out 

*HYMN: VU 686 – “God of Grace and God of Glory” (tune VU 651)
1. God of grace and God of glory, on your people pour your power;
now fulfil your church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.

2. Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn your Christ, assail your ways;
fears and doubts too long have bound us; free our hearts to work and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.

3. Cure your children’s warring madness, bend our pride to your control;
shame our wanton selfish gladness, rich in goods and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss your kingdom's goal,
lest we miss your kingdom's goal.

4. Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be
armoured with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor thee,
that we fail not them nor thee.

*COMMISSIONING
Together this morning, we have praised God, and listened for God’s word to us.
May we have faith when the storms of life assail us.
May we seek God’s presence continually,
and remember the wonders and judgements God has given.
Let us go into this new week with a renewed knowledge of the love of Christ
and the desire to share that love with the world.
Together, let us go to be God’s people in the world!

*BENEDICTION

*SUNG BLESSING: “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: Prelude in D Flat - R Glière

*****

LITURGY SOURCES:           The following is used with permission:

Stewardship Second: © 2026 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.

COPYRIGHT HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- Psalm 105 response, VU 828 - music by John Medley, arr. Willis Noble 1995; arrangement © 1995 Willis Noble, used by permission of Dr. Willis Noble
- “Will You Come and Follow Me” VU 567- words by The Iona Community 1987; music Scottish traditional, arr. The Iona Community 1987; words and arrangement © 1987 WGRG, The Iona Community, G.I.A. Publications Inc. used by permission One License #608577
- “Go Now in Peace”-  Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. copyright © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, Inc., used by permission One License #608577

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES:
Scripture Passage from the Contemporary English Version (CEV), copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.
Scripture Passages from the from the Common English Bible (CEB), copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible.

Prelude:  A selection of Familiar Hymns - C Burton
Musical Meditation: Improvisation - G. Fauré
Postlude:  Prelude in D Flat - R Glière