Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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July 21, 2024 - Sunday Morning Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, July 21, 2024

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July 21st, 2024

9^th Sunday of Pentecost

“Campfire Sunday”

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. John Greg Smith
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Margaret Tirpkoff

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
"Menuet" from "Le tombeau de Couperin" - M. Ravel

WELCOME

The CHRIST CANDLE
There is a piece of light in all of us,
A sacred spark, a divine presence, the Christ light itself.
In our worship we light the Christ candle
To remind us of the light within us,
And to remind us to look for and receive,
The Christ light in all others.
There is a piece of divine light in all of us:
Thanks be to God!

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFE SPACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the LAND
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are entitled to dignity and respect. At Grace United Church we try to offer a safer, inclusive and generous space for all who are seeking a faith community. We offer full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, all races, ages and abilities in the life and work of the ministry.
Grace United Church is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Petun, Huron-Wendat, and Mississauga peoples, located within the boundary of the region of Treaty 18 of 1818. We humbly acknowledge the First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples of Canada as traditional stewards of the land on which we work and worship and are committed to working actively toward genuine restitution and reconciliation.

CALL to WORSHIP
Today we gather around a sacred flame:
The campfire, a place of friendship, a place for soul strengthening,
A place for the sharing of joys and sorrows.
For the Sioux nation of Turtle Island,
The fire at the centre represents the Creator of the world.
The fire, around which we gather, is the presence of the Creator:
We witness the power and life-giving strength of the flame of creation.
Here’s how they think of it:
The Creator’s light, the sun, shines on the trees of the world for days and weeks and years, and in all that time, the wood absorbs the sunlight.
Then the tree is taken down, and when we put a flame to it,
That same sunlight is now here with us in the form of fire.
So it is that we treat the fire at the centre of a campfire with the utmost respect.
In our worship too, we treat the fire at the centre of our beings,
With respect and love and dignity,
For in our worship, we light the flame inside, again,
And pour out the Creator’s grace and goodness
All over the world.
May it be so! AMEN!

*HYMN: VU #289
“It Only Takes a Spark”

1. It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing:
that’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it:
you spread God’s love to everyone,
you want to pass it on.

2. What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding,
the birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
that’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it:
you want to sing, it’s fresh like spring,
you want to pass it on.

3. I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found -
on God you can depend, it matters not where you’re bound;
I’ll shout it from the mountain top;
I want my world to know:
the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.

OPENING PRAYER
Oh Creator, come again and visit us this day.
Come as Guiding Fire,
Lighting the way though our wilderness,
Guiding our footsteps, showing the way.
Oh Creator, come again and visit us this day.
Come to us as Cleansing Fire,
Burning away all that is false and futile,
Removing the things that do not matter,
Preparing our hearts for the journey ahead.
Oh Creator, come again and visit us this day.
Come to our world as Refining Fire,
Light up the hearts that will impact the world.
Fill up the souls with courage and strength.
Clear out the cobwebs of indifference, and help us make everything new again.
Oh Creator, come again and visit us this day.
Come to our open minds and hearts as Prophetic Fire,
Releasing the Gospel shut up in our bones
Allowing the words of peace and possibility to be said together,
Filling the world around us with unconventional hope.
Oh Creator, come again and visit us this day.
Come once again as Empowering Fire,
Granting gifts to heal and transform the world
Opening treasures and healing wounds,
Lighting the world with a billion flames,
The flames of 8 billion hearts burning bright.

(a moment for quiet prayer)

As I live every day,
I want to be a channel for peace.
May I bring love where there is hatred
And healing where there is hurt;
Joy where there is sadness
And hope where there is fear.
I pray that I may always try
To understand and comfort other people
As well as seeking comfort
and understanding from them.
Wherever possible, may I choose to be
A light in the darkness,
A help in times of need,
And a caring honest friend.
And may justice, kindness, and peace
Flow from my heart forever. Amen.

CAMPFIRE SONGS

1) “Joy in My Heart”
I’ve got the Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my heart….
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus down in my heart…
I’ve got the peace that passes understanding down in my heart….
I’ve got the wonderful love of the blessed redeemer deep down in the depths of my heart….

2) “The Hokey Pokey”
You put your right hand in..
You put your left hand in
You put your right foot in
You put your left foot in
You put your head in
You put your whole self in…..

3) “I’ve Got Peace like a River: (VU #577)
I’ve Got Peace like a river….
I’ve got Joy like a fountain….
I’ve got love like an ocean….

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS
(New International version)

2^nd Corinthians 9: 6 – 11
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Mark 12: 28 - 34
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

RESPONSE
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.
Thanks be to God!

INTERLUDE
"Improvisation" - G. Fauré

SERMON: “What if Everything is Sacred?”

We Respond

*HYMN: VU # 372
“Though I May Speak with Bravest Fire”

1. Though I may speak with bravest fire,
and have the gift to all inspire,
and have not love, my words are vain,
as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

2. Though I may give all I possess,
and striving so my love profess,
but not be given by love within,
the profit soon turns strangely thin.

3. Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
by this we worship, and are freed.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER (VU 910)

PRAYER of DEDICATION for OUR OFFERINGS
The work of creating a world that works for all,
Requires many gifts, many talents, many resources.
We bring all that we have, our courage, our strength,
Our prayers and our dreams,
Our gifts of time and treasure,
And all the love and acceptance we embody,
To create God’s world of justice and joy.
Thanks be to God. AMEN

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
or Offering Plate at the back of the sanctuary.

Tap your debit card at the door of the church, and Donate to Grace United Church 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

What’s Up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: “Day is Done”
(Revised, tune is VU #433)

1. Day is done but LOVE unfailing
Dwells ever here.
Shadows fall, but hope, prevailing,
Calms all our fear.
All together, none forsaking,
May our hearts be Love’s own making,
In our sleeping, in our waking,
and always near.

2. Dark descends but LIGHT unending,
Shines through the night.
Love is with us, ever lending
New strength to sight.
As we raise our voices singing
May our hearts be joined in blessing;
May we see in love’s possessing:
Love’s endless light!

*COMMISSIONING

*SUNG 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.