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Sept. 5, 2021 Sunday Worship
Rev. Christine Smaller
Rev. Christine Smaller
Sunday, September 5, 2021
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September 5th, 2021 ~ 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live  

Leading us today in Worship
Minister:                 Rev. Christine Smaller
Guest Musician:     Saundra Lake
Scripture Reader:  John Corrigan  

~ Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics  

PRELUDE:  
Moonlight Sonata – L.V. Beethoven         

GREETING: (2 Cor 13:13)                                                   
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:
Our God—we, your people, stand ready and open to receive the flame of your Spirit. Give us the ability to speak your truth so that others may hear.
Come, Spirit of Truth, fill our hearts.                   
May that which was of stone be now transformed into life.
Come, Spirit of Life, change our hearts.
May we who receive your light dwell together in Your love.
Come, Spirit of Love, soften our hearts.
Bestow your compassion on those who suffer in mind, spirit, and body.
Come, Spirit of Hope, heal our hearts.
Make us bold to bring light to the dark places, warmth to the cold places, and love to the empty places.
Come, Spirit of Faith, strengthen our hearts.
Spirit of the Living God, fill our hearts, minds, and souls to overflowing.
Come, Spirit of God, move in our hearts. 
Our God—we, your people, celebrate the mystery of your never-ending love.
Amen.    

OPENING PRAYER: 
We gather this morning in the name of the creator,
who creates time and space,
galaxies stars and planets;
in the name of Jesus Christ, born on planet Earth;
and in the name of the Spirit, who fills Earth with his presence.   

Creator God,
in this time we call “now”
and in this space we call “here”
we worship you.
Make your presence felt amongst us.  

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 FOR ILLUMINATION:    (Scripture Reader)        
Holy One, we know that you constantly breathe new life into every word of scripture.  Help us hear the Living Word you desire to share with us today.

SCRIPTURE:
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23  
Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,     
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.  

I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with.  I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me —and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.  So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun,  because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.  What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun?  For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

Luke 12:13-21  
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”  But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?”  And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”  Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly.  And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’  Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’  But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’  So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”

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

MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
Soliloquy – Healy Willan  

SERMON:                                                               

HYMN: VU 582  There’s a Spirit in the Air
1. There’s a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
“Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.”  

2. Lose your shyness, find your tongue,
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!  

3. When believers break the bread,
when a hungry child is fed,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.  

4. Still the Spirit gives us light,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!  

5. When a stranger’s not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working, in our world.                       

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:   

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:
The Peace of Christ be with you.        
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:     
On Eagle’s Wings – Michael Joncas  

INVITATION to the OFFERING:  

PRAYER of DEDICATION:
Generous God, in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical. Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom, so that what we are and do and say may be our gifts to you through Christ, who beckons all to seek the things above, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

A single stone placed in the offering plate honours all our gifts.
   Donate online:   www.graceunitedthornbury.ca,  select “Give”
   Ways to give: Phone: 519-599-2438 or
   Email: accounting@graceunitedthornbury.ca to arrange a cheque pick-up, or an e-transfer
   Mail: Grace UC, 140 Bruce St. S. PO Box 219, Thornbury, ON N0H 2P0
   Credit Card:   www.graceunitedthornbury.ca,  select “Give”

More ways to give: Care, Prayer, Share  

ANNOUNCEMENTS :
Join us by Zoom following this service for: Coffee Hour (link sent out by e-blast)
Phone me now if you need the contact information.
 

CLOSING 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.  

COMMISSIONING and BENEDICTION:  

SUNG BLESSINGGo 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:
Peace be with You – Dr. Cuthbert Harris       

*****

RESOURCES USED:

LITURGY SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Prayers and Liturgies:
-  Call to Worship:   © 2011 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year A.
-  Opening Prayer:   seasonofcreation.com, posted on Third Space 
-  Prayer of Dedication: Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002  

HYMNS and SUNG VERSES
- 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 Co. Harmony copyright © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission, One License #608577  
- There’s a Spirit in the Air. Words: Brian Wren 1969 Music: John Wilson 1969; desc. John Wilson 1969. Words, music, and descant copyright © 1979 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission, One License #608577
- Praise with Joy the World’s Creator. Words: The Iona Community1985, alt. Music: John Goss 1868. Words copyright © 1987 WGRG Iona Community (Glasgow Scotland) G.I.A. Publications Inc. Chicago Exclusive agent. Used by permission, One License #608577  
- “Go Now in Peace.” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. © 1988 Harold Flammer        Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Reproduced with 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:                                      Moonlight Sonata, L.V. Beethoven
MUSICAL INTERLUDE:               Soliloquy – Healey Willan
PASSING the PEACE:                   On Eagle’s Wings – Michael Joncas
POSTLUDE:                                   Peace be With You, Dr. Cuthbert Harris
All in public domain