Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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Creation Time 3, Proper 21

Rev Thérèse Samuel

Sunday, September 27, 2026

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September 27th, 2026

Creation Time 3, Proper 21

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Rev. Thérèse Samuel
Music Leader: 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.

We Gather

A Stewardship Second
The power of God’s generosity is stronger than you know. You have the opportunity to wield this power when you give to help others.

PRELUDE: A Selection of Favourite Hymns – C. Burton

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

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle as a symbol of our commitment to follow in the way of Jesus.
(the candle is lit)

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
As a designated Affirming Ministry of the United Church of Canada, 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
We gather in the presence of God.
Let us draw near to the one
whose love works wonders beyond imagining.
We gather as the body of Christ.
Let us seek to be like Christ Jesus,
humble and obedient to the law of love.
We gather by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us offer ourselves to be moved
by Spirit’s power of love.
Come, let us worship God!

*OPENING HYMN: VU #806 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
1. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

2. under the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure,
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defence is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

4. A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

5. Time like an ever-rolling stream
soon bears us all away;
we fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

6. O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.

OPENING PRAYER
It is in knowing that we can find ourselves
in loving community
that we come to this sanctuary, O God.

It is in the sharing of prayer
and in upholding one another through difficult times
that we feel called to be here.

It is in singing together that our spirits are uplifted.

It is in reflecting together
that we discern how best to serve you
and one another.

It is in summoning your name that we are healed
from our wounds and our weariness.

Gather us close to you so that we may feel
the warmth and the comfort we seek
and the deep love you have for us. Amen.

We Listen

Theme Conversation &Lighting of Children’s Lantern

EXAMEN PRAYER
Notice that you are in the presence of God who loves you.
Look back over the past day (or week, etc.), and recall with gratitude where God’s presence was known- moments of love, peace, inner joy, etc.
Remember moments when your thoughts, words or actions were contrary to God’s call to love our neighbour, to love ourselves, to love creation.
Invite God’s forgiveness, which is Divine love that comes to us, even though we have strayed.
Set your mind on the coming day (or week, etc.), and with the Spirit’s help, consider how in the coming day/week, you will live even more fully into God’s call to love your neighbour, yourself and creation.
Give thanks for God’s never-ending love.

THE LORD’S PRAYER: (Spoken, traditional words, VU 910)
And now, as a child turns to a loving caregiver who watches over them, we turn in prayer to you O God,
Loving Caregiver, Our Mother,
Our Father, who art in heaven…

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
Exodus 17:1-7 (New Revised Standard Version)
Water from the rock
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lordcommanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.The people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”But the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do for this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile and go.I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Responsive Psalm 78 Vu #792, Parts 1# 2

Recounting God’s Power
Refrain:
We will tell new generations of the wonders God has done.

Give heed to my teaching, O my people,
turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will reveal the hidden meaning of things in the past.
What we have heard and known,
what our parents have told us,
we will not hide from their grandchildren,
but declare to the next generation
the testimony that you gave to Jacob
and the law you appointed in Israel,
which you commanded them to teach their children,
that the next generation might know them,
children yet unborn,
and these in turn should arise, and tell their children,
that they should put their trust in you,
and not forget your great deeds,
but keep all your commandments.
Refrain:
We will tell new generations of the wonders God has done.
Marvellous things you did in the sight of our ancestors,
in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Zoan.
You divided the sea and let them go through,
and made the waters stand up like a wall.
By day you led with a cloud,
and all the night long with a beacon of fire.
You split rocks in the wilderness,
and gave drink in plenty as from the great deep.
You brought streams out of the rock,
and made water run down like rivers.
Refrain:
We will tell new generations of the wonders God has done.

Philippians 2:1-13 (NRSV)
Christ humbled to the point of death
If, then, there is any comfort in Christ, any consolation from love, any partnership in the Spirit, any tender affection and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he existed in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
    he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

Therefore God exalted him even more highly
    and gave him the name
    that is above every other name,
so that at the name given to Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Lights in the World
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling,for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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

CHOIR ANTHEM: “God in the Darkness” Elizabeth J. Smith/Colin Gibson

MESSAGE

We Respond

*HYMN: VU #651 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
1. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.

2. Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.

3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side:
songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Who is listening to God’s call? The answer may surprise you. Those who have nothing to lose often show more grace than those who are afraid to take the leap of generosity. Give from that deep place inside you that wants to respond and let your heart sing!

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
Understanding God, you know that we can be afraid to give too much. Support us as we take our first steps toward a generosity that truly reflects your love for us. Bless these gifts, and those given online and through PAR, so that joy is known by both those who give and receive.

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, and Donate to Grace United Church 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

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE?
During What’s Up at Grace, the choir will make their way down from the chancel, to sit in the pew and watch two brief videos.

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU #330 “Jesus Shall Reign”
1. Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

2. People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

3. Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
and prisoners leap to lose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

4. Let every creature rise and bring
peculiar honours to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud Amen!

*COMMISSIONING

*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