August 1st, 2021 - 10th Sunday after Pentecost
Watch this Service at: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in worship:
Minister: Rev. Christine Smaller
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Jim Oliver
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font
Prelude:
Consolation F. Liszt
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
Call to Worship:
Love incarnate has come that we might have life, and have it, not stingily or wearily, but spaciously and full of delight.
The Bread of Life has come that we might be filled;
She does not divide our needs into physical and spiritual,
She calls every part of us worthy of sacred fulfillment.
Where there is soulful living and holistic care,
The Spirit of Christ is among us.
Opening Prayer:
Holy Spirit, Jesus says he is the bread of life, that if we come to him, we will not be hungry. Yet, we weep and rage because some people have stockpiles while others don’t have enough. Weep and rage with us when we feel overwhelmed by the injustice of the world. Move with us that we might co-create a table where all know what enough feels like. Amen.
Opening Hymn: VU 371 Open My Eyes
1. Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth though hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
2. Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wave-notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Refrain
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
3. Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with the children thus to share.
Refrain
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, they will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Prayer of Confession:
It is easy for us to go through the motions of spirituality. We want to say the "right" prayers and think that we have found the magical key to make holiness appear in our lives. But we are empty, Lord. We hunger and thirst for something that will sustain us through all the times of our lives. We chase after things that will disappoint and hurt and look past the very thing that will heal and cleanse our lives. Christ is your Bread of Life, the Manna from Heaven, which was and is sent to feed and sustain us in all the wildernesses through which we travel. Help us to stop running after the glitz and glitter, the easy wealth; help us to look truly for the one who will quench our thirst and nourish our souls.
Words of Assurance:
Despite knowing our sin, God chooses to forgive us; seeing our emptiness, God chooses to feed us; holding our shattered hearts, God chooses to heal us.
This is the good news: God loves us.
God has graced us with mercy and created new life from our brokenness.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination:
Nurturing God, speak to us through your Word today, that we may hear you calling us out of the empty places in our lives and into new places you have promised to show us. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
Scripture:
Exodus 16:2-4
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.
Psalm 51 (VU 776 – Refrain 2)
Refrain:
In the abundance of your compassion, wash my sins away.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your great kindness,
in the fullness of your mercy blot out my offences.
Wash away all my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is always before me.
Refrain:
In the abundance of your compassion, wash my sins away.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence,
and blameless in your judgment.
Guilty I have been from my birth,
a sinner from the time of my conception.
But you desire truth in our inward being,
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean,
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness,
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Turn away your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Refrain:
In the abundance of your compassion, wash my sins away.
Put a new heart in me, O God,
and give me again a constant spirit.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and strengthen me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
O God, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Refrain:
In the abundance of your compassion, wash my sins away.
You desire no sacrifice, or I would give it;
you take no delight in burnt offerings.
The sacrifice you accept, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Refrain:
In the abundance of your compassion, wash my sins away.
John 6:24-35
o when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Response:
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Musical Interlude:
Improvisation on a Hymn C. Burton
Sermon “Sleeping with Bread”
Hymn: VU 274 Your Hand, O God, has Guided
1. Your hand, oh God, has guided
your flock from age to age;
the wondrous tale is written,
full clear, on every page.
Our forebears owned your goodness,
and we their deeds record;
and both to this bear witness:
one church, one faith, one Lord.
2. Your heralds brought glad tidings
to greatest as to least;
they bad them rise, and hasten
to share their heavenly feast.
And this was all their teaching,
in every deed and word,
to all alike proclaiming
one church, one faith, one Lord.
3. Through many days of darkness,
through many scenes of strife,
the faithful few fight bravely
to guard your peoples life.
Their gospel of redemption,
sin pardoned, earth restored,
was all in this and folded:
one church, one faith, one Lord.
4. And we, shall we be faithless?
Shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
Shall we evade the conflict
and cast away our crown?
Not so: in God’s deep counsels
some better thing is stored;
we will maintain, unflinching,
one church, one faith, one Lord.
5. Your mercy will not fail us,
nor leave your work undone;
with your right hand to help us,
the victory shall be won;
and then, by earth and heaven,
your name shall be adored,
and this shall be our anthem:
one church, one faith, one Lord.
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:
Variations sérieuses F. Mendelssohn
Invitation to the Offering:
Our lives are meant to be more than endless striving. So in our compassion for each other, we share what we have, that none may feel the need to earn survival. In the spirit of abundance and rest, we bring our offerings to the Beloved.
Prayer of Dedication:
God you offer a holy example of living in an abundance of compassion at all times. We dedicate the giving and the receiving of these gifts to your compassionate work around the globe. Amen.
A single stone placed in the offering plate honours all our gifts.
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Care, Prayer, Share
Announcements:
Please join us after this service for Communion. The zoom link can be found in this week’s eblast.
Closing Hymn: MV 154 Deep in Our Hearts
1. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.
2. Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;
deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
justice and peace in harmony.
3. Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
deep in our hearts there is a common current,
flowing to freedom like a stream.
4. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision,
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.
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:
Für Elise L. Van Beethoven
*****
RESOURCES USED (all with permission):
Prayers and Liturgies:
- Call to Worship: Enfleshed August 1, 2021
- Opening Prayer: Enfleshed August 1, 2021
- Prayer of Approach/Words of Assurance: Adapted from prayers by Nancy C. Townley & Thom Shuman
- Invitation/Dedication: Enfleshed August 1, 2021
- Affirmation of Faith: “A New Creed,” The United Church of Canada, General Council 1968, alt. 1998
Hymns and Sung Responses:
- Open My Eyes: Words: Clara H. Scott 1895, Music: Clara H. Scott 1895, Public Domain
- Psalm 51 VU 776: Words: Psalter, Music: Mount Angel Abbey 1976, Music copyright © Benedictine Fathers, Mount Angel Abbey. Public Domain
- Your Hand O God has Guided: Words: Edward H. Plumptre 1804, Music: Basil Harwood 1898, Music published by permission of Executors of the late Dr. Basil Howard, One License #608577
- Deep in Our Hearts: Words: John Oldham, 1995, Music: Ron Klusmeier, 1996 - Words copyright 1995 by John Wesley Oldham. Music copyright 1996 by Ron Klusmeier. Hope Publishing Co. One License #608577.
Scripture Passages 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: Consolation F. Liszt
Interlude: Improvisation on a Hymn C. Burton
Passing of the Peace: Variations sérieuses F. Mendelssohn
Postlude: Für Elise L. Van Beethoven
All Public Domain
