May 30, 2021 ~ 10:30 AM ~ Trinity Sunday
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader & Scripture Reader: Jim Oliver
~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics
PRELUDE:
Fantasy on Hymn tune "Thornbury" C. Burton
GREETING: (2 Cor 13:13) (Lay Leader)
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: (Lay Leader)
Welcome to worship…
CALL TO WORSHIP:
God our Creator,
we call You Father, Mother, Author of Life:
Draw us closer to You, O God.
Christ our Savior,
we call You the Son, the Messiah, the One who Saves:
Draw us closer to You, O God.
Holy Spirit,
we call You the Advocate, the Inspirer, Breath and Wind of God:
Draw us closer to You, O God.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty;
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory:
Draw us closer to You, O God.
Draw us in, Spirit, Christ and Creator,
that we might journey with You more fully and deeply,
in this life and beyond. Amen.
OPENING PRAYER:
The words God speaks
are the life and sustenance
of all that exists.
The life Jesus gives
is the re-creation and renewed birth
of all that is broken and worn.
The Spirit’s stirring in our souls
is the inspiration
for creativity, compassion, joy, and community.
Life-giving, life-restoring, life-fulfilling God;
may our whole lives be worship.
In all things, may we seek to connect with
and to reflect your love and your hope
HYMN: VU 315 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
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, blessèd 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!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
If we say we are fine as we are, then we will not feel God’s gracious forgiveness
But if we confess our distractions, our errors, and our anxieties, God will meet us and renew us.
Before God and God’s people, let us confess together:
We are sometimes slow to name injustice and declare God’s vision.
Before God and one another, let us confess
our reluctance to receive our calling as God’s people,
made by God and chosen as witnesses to God’s dream of justice and joy.
Remind us, O God,
that you have made us for your service and recharge us with your Word.
Renew us, God.
Grant us courage to live out your Way of peace and grace.
We ask it in Jesus’ name; Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
God has promised that whenever we repent
and seek a new union with God, forgiveness is ours.
That promise comes true now.
Siblings, know that in Christ Jesus, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: (Lay Reader)
As we prepare to listen for what the Bible is saying to us, let us pray:
O God, the Three in One,
you draw us into your community of love
with people across the ages and around the world.
By the same Spirit that binds us together
speak to us that what we read and ponder
may enliven us and stretch us to trust and follow you;
through Christ our Saviour. Amen.
SCRIPTURE:
Isaiah: 6: 1-8 A Vision of God in the Temple (Lay Reader)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
Psalm 29 (VU # 756) God's Voice is Over the Waters.
(The psalm is responsive)
Refrain:
Glory, glory, glory to our God!
Ascribe to God, you powers of the heaven,
ascribe to God all glory and strength!
Ascribe due honour to God's holy name,
and worship in the beauty of holiness.
Refrain:
Glory, glory, glory to our God!
God's voice is over the waters--
God's glory thundering across the great waters.
God's voice is power
God's voice is full of majesty.
God's voice shatters the cedars,
splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
God's voice makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Mount Hermon stampede like a wild young bull.
God's voice forks into tongues of fire,
God's voice shakes the wilderness,
sets trembling the wilderness of Kadesh.
God's voice causes the oaks to whirl,
stripping the forest bare;
and in the temple all cry: Glory!
Refrain:
Glory, glory, glory to our God!
God sits enthroned above the waters,
God is enthroned as sovereign forever.
You give strength to your people, O God.
Now give to your people
the blessing of peace.
Refrain:
Glory, glory, glory to our God!
John 3: !-17 Nicodemus Visits Jesus (Lay Reader)
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”
Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
RESPONSE:
The word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
Albumblatt T. Kirchner
PRAYER OF PREPARATION:
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable to you Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON:
HYMN: 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!
PROFESSION OF FAITH A New Creed
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created
and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus,
crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
PASTORAL PRAYER:
Gracious and loving God, remind us that we need You.
Remind us that you are all powerful, all loving, all giving.
When powers struggle for dominance,
and war, oppression and abuse result;
When groups of people oppose one another
because of ideology, religion or culture;
We need a God who is bigger than ourselves,
and our personal interests.
When people are disregarded and devalued
because of poverty, geography or disease;
When compassion and justice is withheld to some
because of sexuality, race or gender;
We need a Saviour who is more compassionate than we
are who includes even those we would exclude.
When resources are mismanaged and abused,
and the world and its creatures are destroyed;
When motivation is scarce and creativity is in short supply
to address the challenges that we face;
We need a Spirit who is more powerful and more creative
than we could ever be.
We don’t need to tell you, God, that we have felt loss these past months
But we stand before you as people of hope,
trusting in your care and protection.
Bring healing to all who are sick and be with their families.
May those who have died rest in your eternal embrace.
Comfort their family and friends.
Strengthen and protect those caring for the sick
and all who work in our medical facilities.
And remind us to be thankful too, for all the good gifts we receive.
For new hope and strength in our communities,
especially in your Church and among all you call to serve you.
We bring our thanks for this congregation.
For all in whose lives we see
goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience and humility,
and all the fruit of the Spirit,
For the life we have been given,
and for all those whom you have given us to share it,
we bring our thanks, good Lord:
your mercy endures forever.
Lord God, Loving Saviour, Empowering Spirit,
we offer you these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Spoken, traditional words, VU 921)
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…
PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The Peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Think of one person with whom you would like to share the peace of Christ.
You can also share the peace by typing in the chat box.
MUSIC for PASSING the PEACE
Kinderstück F. Mendelssohn
OFFERING: We honour all the ways we give as we dedicate our offering.
INVITATION TO OFFERING
With an offering stone to honour all the ways we give as we dedicate our offering let us pray:
PRAYER OF DEDICATION OF GIFTS AND SELF
We bring our gifts to you, God.
Here is the work of our hands,
and here is the love of our hearts.
Accept them and use them,
through Christ our Lord. Amen
A single stone placed in the offering plate honours all our gifts.
Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “Give”
or contact the office by email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join us by Zoom following this service for:
Coffee Hour link sent out by e-blast.
HYMN: VU 312 Praise with Joy the World's Creator
1. Praise with joy the world's Creator,
God of justice, love, and peace,
source and end of human knowledge,
God whose grace shall never cease.
Celebrate the Maker's glory,
power to rescue and release.
2. Praise to Christ who feeds the hungry,
frees the captive, finds the lost,
heals the sick, upsets religion,
fearless both of fate and cost.
Celebrate Christ's constant presence:
friend and stranger, guest and host.
3. Praise the Spirit sent among us,
liberating truth from pride,
forging bonds where race or gender,
age or nation dare divide.
Celebrate the Spirit's treasure:
foolishness none dare deride.
4. Praise the Maker, Christ, and Spirit,
one God in community,
calling Christians to embody
oneness and diversity.
This the world shall see reflected:
God is One and One in Three.
SENDING:
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
In response to congregation feedback, the Worship Committee has decided that, a sending or blessing other than Go Now in Peace will be sung one Sunday a Month.
POSTLUDE:
Courante G.F. Handel
*****
RESOURCES USED:
LITURGY SOURCES:
The following are used with permission:
- Affirmation of Faith: “A New Creed,” The United Church of Canada, General Council 1968, alt. 1998
- Opening Prayer: “re: Worship: Scripturally-based resources for worship planners and leaders”
- Call to Worship: Rev-o-lution Resources by Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell http://rev-o-lution.org, (c) 2020. Used by permission.
- Confession and Assurance: Adapted with permission from prayers posted on United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways Archive
- Prayer for Illumination: from a collection of prayers posted on the Worship@North website. https://northchurchindy.wordpress.com/
- Offertory Prayer: Celebrate God’s presence p.50
- Pastoral prayer: Written by Rev. Christine Smaller
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- “Glory, glory, glory to our God” Psalm 29 response. Music copyright © 1994 Winnagene Hatch.
- “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Words: Reginald Heber ca. 1820, alt. Music: John Bacchus Dykes 1861, desc. Godfrey Hewitt ca. 1971. Public Domain. Descant copyright © 1971 Godfrey Hewitt, used with the kind permission of Angela Hewitt.
- “Spirit of the Living God.” Words: (v.2) copyright © 1982 Hope Publishing Company. One License #608577.
- “Praise with Joy the World’s Creator.” Words: The Iona Community 1985 alt. Music: John Goss 18868. Words copyright © 1987 WGRG, Iona Community (Glasgow, Scotland) G.I.A. Publications. Inc. One License # 608577
- “Go Now in Peace.” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. © 1988 Harold Flammer Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Used by permission, One License, #608577.
Scripture Passage from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
Prelude: Fantasy on Hymn tune “Thornbury” C. Burton
Interlude: Albumblatt T. Kirchner
Passing of the Peace: Kinderstuck F. Mendelssohn
Postlude: Courante G.F. Handel
All in Public Domain
