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October 11, 2026: Thanksgiving Sunday

Rev Brian Goodings

Sunday, October 11, 2026

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October 11, 2026

Thanksgiving 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: Shirley Woolner

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

Scripture for meditation
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus have pity on us!” Luke 17: 12-13

We Gather

PRELUDE: Some Favourite Hymns – C. Burton

A Stewardship Second
God has invited everyone to the great feast of life. Accept the invitation and bring something to share!

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE

RESPONSE: MV#145 “Draw the Circle Wide” (Chorus)
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
Standing side by side. Draw the circle wide.

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
Grace United Church is inclusive and intentionally embraces people of all gender identities and sexual preferences. Everyone belongs here and is valued.
In gratitude and respect, The United Church of Canada gathers, worships, and works on Indigenous lands across Canada.

CALL to WORSHIP (By Ernest Campbell)
O God, there are blessings that come to us so clearly marked that even in our most disgruntled moods we are compelled to give thanks.
But gathered now, we reflect on mercies and challenges that have come to us disguised or reached us in roundabout ways…
We think of an illness that shifted the center of our lives to you…
Of new people who entered our life without our willing or wanting and in time expanded our horizons and made us better for their friendship.
We think of some prize that toppled from our grasp as we finally reached it, causing us to change course and in the changing discovered the prize of real life.
We remember long nights of heavy hanging doubt that dawned a wiser faith in the morning.
We wince to recall explosive arguments that aired differences, routed sham, located issues but in the end, made authentic meeting possible.
We remember challenges to our power that deflated our ego and left us with a much humbler and kinder estimate of “self”.
For these and all other “back-door-mercies” we give you thanks God.

*OPENING HYMN: VU #520 “We Plough the Fields
1. We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by your almighty hand:
you send the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.

2. You only are the Maker
of all things near and far;
you paint the wayside flower,
you light the evening star;
the winds and waves obey you;
by you the birds are fed;
much more to us, your children,
you give our daily bread.
Refrain
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.

3. We thank you then, O Maker,
for all things bright and good,
the seedtime and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we to offer
for all your love imparts,
and, what from us you long for,
our humble, thankful hearts.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
we thank you, God, O holy God,
for all your love.

Lighting the Children’s Lantern

Theme Conversation: Canadian Thanksgiving

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS
Philippians 4: 1-9 (Do these things in memory)
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.

Luke 17: 11-19 (Parable of 10 lepers)
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.As he entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him. Keeping their distance,they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean.Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.He prostrated himself at Jesus’sfeet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? So where are the other nine?Did none of them return to give glory to God except this foreigner?”Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

RESPONSE: VU #374 “Come and Find the Quiet Centre (V.1)
Come and find the quiet center
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.

CHOIR ANTHEM: Grateful Words and Music by T. Tomaszek

SERMON: “Standoffish Faith” Rev Brian Goodings

PASTORAL & LORD’S PRAYER (VU #914)

*HYMN: VU #296 “This Is God’s Wondrous World”
1. This is God’s wondrous world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is God’s wondrous world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
God’s hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is God’s wondrous world:
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is God’s wondrous world:
God shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass or mountain pass,
God’s voice speaks everywhere.

3. This is God’s wondrous world:
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is God’s wondrous world:
why should my heart be sad?
Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:
God reigns, let earth be glad!

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Long before settlers came, many Indigenous people gave thanks for the bounty of the land. The Haudenosaunee, for example, give thanks daily in their “Thanksgiving Address,” which reminds them to appreciate the interconnectedness of all areas of life. Other Indigenous communities regard the holiday as a National Day of Mourning for the destruction of their nations and their cultures. Today, you’re invited to give thanks for what you have received and acknowledge what has been taken away from others in order for you to receive it. You are invited to do both of these through the gifts you give today.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
God of wisdom, help us to understand where we have come from and where you call us to go. Let us not lose sight of the past as we give for the future. And bless these gifts, and those given online and through PAR, so they may bring healing and reconciliation to the world.

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 Go Out

*HYMN: VU #236 “Now Thank We All Our God”
1. Now thank we all our God, with heart,
and hands, and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

2. O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us strong in grace, and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ill in this world and the next.

3. All praise and thanks to God
for all that has been given,
the Son, and Spirit blest
who dwell in highest heaven,
the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore

*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