June 20th – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Father’s Day and Indigenous Day of Prayer
Watch this Service at: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Bonnie Hammond
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung Words: bold italic font
Prelude:
Sonata in E flat Major, 2nd Mov't.
Greeting:
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
Memorial Candle:
Today we light a candle in memory of Harold Cornfield, who passed away on June 10, 2021.
Call to Worship:
On an ordinary Sunday, we come to worship God.
We come, trusting God will speak to us;
we come, hoping God will surprise us.
On this day, like every other day,
we seek to follow Jesus:
We follow, believing Jesus will be with us;
we follow, hoping Jesus will work through us.
On this day, we lift our souls to God's Spirit:
We open our hearts, that the Spirit may fill us;
we open our hands, that we might be a gift to others.
Opening Prayer:
Mighty God, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled sea;
Caring God, who nudges us away from fear and toward faith;
Ever-present God, who fills us with awe
but also raises many questions
without easy answers;
Open our eyes to see you in our boat—today,
Strengthen our hearts for the challenges that lie ahead,
Open our ears this hour to hear the word you speak.
This we pray, In Jesus’ name. Amen
Opening Hymn: VU 374 Come and Find the Quiet Centre
1. Come and find the quiet centre
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.
2. Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, face to face,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we're shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.
3. In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other's pain,
let our loves and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain;
there's a place for deepest dreaming,
there's a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit's lively scheming
there is always room to spare!
Prayer of Approach:
Merciful God,
when lashed by life’s windstorms
we often lash out in return.
Forgive us
when we blame you or others
for our troubles.
Teach us to find you
in the eye of the storm.
Show us the calm centre
that comes from a word of peace.
Words of Assurance:
Hear the witness of scripture:
God listens; God helps. Now is the day of salvation.
Open wide your hearts and receive God’s forgiveness.
Amen.
Prayer for Illumination:
God of scripture,
Help us prepare to really hear your living Word in the words spoken here today.
Help us to allow ourselves to be surprised, refreshed, and even inspired,
by your holy words. Amen
Scripture:
Genesis 32:24-31 (The Message)
Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn’t get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob’s hip out of joint. The man said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak.” Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go ’til you bless me.”
The man said, “What’s your name?” He answered, “Jacob.”
The man said, “But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through.” Jacob asked, “And what’s your name?” The man said, “Why do you want to know my name?” And then, right then and there, he blessed him. Jacob named the place Peniel (God’s Face) because, he said, “I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story!”
The sun came up as he left Peniel, limping because of his hip.
Psalm 9:9-20 (VU 732)
Refrain
Among the peoples everywhere
God's deeds we will declare.
I will give thanks to you, God, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your marvellous deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Refrain
Among the peoples everywhere
God's deeds we will declare.
For my enemies are driven back,
they stumble and perish before you.
You have upheld the justice of my cause;
seated on your throne,
you have given righteous judgement.
You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever.
Enemies have perished;
you have made their cities a desolation;
the very memory of them has vanished.
You have ruled from eternity;
you have established your throne for judgement.
You will judge the world with righteousness,
and deliver true justice to the peoples.
You are a stronghold for the oppressed,
a tower of strength in a time of trouble.
Those who cherish your name will put their trust in you;
for you, O God, have never failed those who seek you.
Sing praises to the One who dwells in Zion;
proclaim to the peoples the deeds God has done.
For the One who avenges blood has remembered,
and has not forgotten the cry of the poor.
Refrain
Among the peoples everywhere
God's deeds we will declare.
Mark 4:35-41
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Response:
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Musical Interlude:
Sarabande
Sermon
Hymn: VU 652 Be Still, My Soul
1. Be still, my soul, for God is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Trust in your God, your saviour and your guide,
who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend
through stormy ways leads to a peaceful end.
2. Be still, my soul, your God will undertake
to guide the future surely as the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul, life's tempests still obey
the voice that once the saves' wild fury stayed.
3. Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
when we shall be forever in God's peace;
when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
love's joys restored, our strivings all shall cease.
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
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
and in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer:
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:
The Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Everyone is invited to share the peace of Christ by offering a message in the chat box. You may also wish to think of someone you would like to pass the peace to this week.
Music while we share the Peace of Christ: Mazurka
Invitation to the Offering:
Prayer of Dedication:
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 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
Care, Prayer, Share
Announcements:
Closing Hymn: VU 120 O Jesus, I have Promised
1. O Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;
remain for ever near me, my Saviour and my friend:
I shall not fear the journey if you are by my side,
nor wander from the pathway if you will be my guide.
2. O let me feel you near me: the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me, around me and within;
but, Jesus, then draw nearer and shield my soul from sin.
3. O let me hear you speaking in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
now speak, and make me listen, O guardian of my soul.
4. O Jesus you have promised to all who follow you,
that where you are in glory your servant shall be too.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Saviour and my friend.
Commissioning and 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: Sonatensatz
******
RESOURCES USED (all with permission):
Prayers and Liturgies:
- Call to Worship: Thom M. Shuman, Lectionary Liturgies, June 13th 2021
- Opening Prayer: Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
- Prayer of Approach/Words of Assurance: Adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2012, © 2011 Abingdon Press.
Hymns and Sung Responses:
- Come and Find the Quiet Centre: Words: Shirley Erena Murray, alt. 1989 Music: attrib. Benjamin Franklin White 1844; harm. Ronald A. Nelson 1978 words copyright 1992 Hope Publishing company Harmony copyright 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress. One License
- Psalm 9:9-20 (VU 732): W. Anchors' Psalmody ca. 1721, Music: Public Domain
- Be Still My Soul: Words: Katharina von Schlegel 1752, English trans. Jane Laurie Borthwick 1855 alt., Music: Jean Sibelius 1899, arr. The Hymnal 1933, Arrangement copyright 1933, renewed 1961 Presbyterian Board of Christian Education, Westminster John Knox Press. Used by permission, One License #608577
- O Jesus, I have Promised: Words: John Ernest Bode ca. 1866, alt., Music James William Elliott 1874., Public Domain
Prelude: Sonata in E flat Major, 2nd Mov't. J. Haydn
Interlude: Sarabande G.F. Händel
Passing of the Peace: Mazurka F. Chopin
Postlude: Sonatensatz J. Haydn
All Public Domain
