December 8th, 2024
2nd SUNDAY of ADVENT
Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live
Leading us today in Worship:
Minister: Rev. Dr. John G. Smith
Director of Music: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Reader: Mary Lou Gignac
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
We Gather
PRELUDE
“Des pas sur la neige” - C. Debussy
A Stewardship Moment:
Generosity does not ask, “What have you done for me lately?” Generosity is giving without counting the cost.
WELCOME
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.
LIGHTING the ADVENT CANDLES: 1&2
Let us turn now to the light of Christ and our Advent Candles.
Last week we lit the first candle, the candle of hope.
This Sunday we light the candle of peace.
As we light these candles, let us remember that Jesus was thought of as the Prince of Peace.
Let us remember that when he was born,
Angels greeted his birth with shouts of “Peace on Earth! Goodwill to All!”
Let us worship today in the spirit of peace.
May Christ’s peace fill our hearts and spirits, and lead us forward
To a time of Lasting Peace!
AMEN!
CANDLE LIGHTING SONG
“Advent’s Holy Light”
1. As we watch for the dawn of a brighter day,
A candle of hope lights the way.
As we look for the signs of the promised birth,
Of a Saviour who brings heaven to earth:
Lord we are waiting for peace to reign.
Lord, we are listening for love’s refrain.
For hope, peace, and joy and love to unite
In the beauty of wonder of Advent’s holy light.
2. As we watch for the dawn of a brighter day,
A candle of peace lights the way.
As we look for the signs of the promised birth
Of a Saviour who brings heaven to earth…
Lord we are waiting for peace to reign.
Lord, we are listening for love’s refrain.
For hope, peace, and joy and love to unite
In the beauty of wonder of Advent’s holy light.
OPENING PRAYER
Loving God, we gather today in hopeful expectation,
With open hearts and spirits,
And with joy and love about to bloom in our beings:
We are waiting for the birth of Christ in our hearts!
On this day, when it seems like the fire of our faith has died down,
when we consider how much energy it requires,
and how dim the light could become,
We pray for new fire.
We pray for a new fire to be lit in our church, in our country,
and especially in our own hearts and spirits.
We pray for new fire to give us courage to care beyond our boundaries,
Courage to be open to the rush of God’s new call to humanity,
Courage to be more courageous than we might ever imagine.
Here and now, in this moment,
Let us put ourselves inside the energy of God’s love,
Knowing that this energy will kindle the flame in our beings,
and activate the place in our lives we call the soul.
May God’s divine energy fill us and move us and cheer us and inspire us,
today, and all through the Advent and Christmas seasons.
May it be so! AMEN!!
*HYMN: VU #18
“There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Calling”
1. There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,
a call from the ways untrod:
prepare in the desert a highway,
a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
the lofty hills brought low;
make straight all the crooked places
where God, our God, may go!
2. O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people
the coming of their King.
Like the flowers of the field they perish,
like grass our works decay;
the power and pomp of nations
shall pass, like a dream, away.
3. But the word of our God endureth,
whose arm is ever strong;
God stands in the midst of nations,
and soon will right the wrong.
God shall feed the flock like a shepherd,
the lambs so gently hold;
to pastures of peace will lead them,
and bring them safe to fold.
4. There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,
a call from the ways untrod:
prepare in the desert a highway,
a highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
the lofty hills brought low;
make straight all the crooked places
where God, our God, may go!
We Listen
Theme Conversation
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Luke 10: 1- 6
New revised Standard Version Updated Edition
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you.
Luke 3: 1 - 6
Contemporary English Version
For 15 years Emperor Tiberius had ruled that part of the world. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was the ruler of Galilee. Herod's brother, Philip, was the ruler in the countries of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was the ruler of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the Jewish high priests.
At that time God spoke to Zechariah's son John, who was living in the desert. So John went along the Jordan Valley, telling the people, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.” Isaiah the prophet wrote about John when he said,
“In the desert
someone is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.
Fill up every valley
and level every mountain
and hill.
Straighten the crooked paths
and smooth out
the rough roads.
Then everyone will see
the saving power of God.’ ”
RESPONSE
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.
Thanks be to God!
Interpretive Dance: “Intermezzo, Opus 118 #2” - J. Brahms
Dianne Chapitis and Peter Skoggard
Accompanied by Chris Burton
SERMON: “Who Doesn’t Love a Bonfire?”
We Respond
*HYMN: VU #93
When Heaven’s Bright with Mystery vs. 1, 3 & 4
1. When heaven’s bright with mystery
and science searches nature’s art,
when all creation yearns for peace
and hope sinks deep in human hearts,
appear to us, O Holy Light;
lift from our eyes the shades of night.
3. When fragile faith, like desert wind,
blows dry and empty, hope erased,
when withered grass and fading flower
proclaim again our day’s brief space,
breathe on the clay of our despair
and work a new creation there.
4. When heaven’s bright with mystery
and stars still lead an unknown way,
when love still lights a gentle path
where courts of power can hold no sway,
there with the Magi, let us kneel,
our gifts to share, God’s world to heal.
Memories and Blessing Tree
INVITATION to the OFFERING
The world is crying out, "Where is the God of peace?” By offering our gifts, we give an answer. The impact of what we offer, through this church and through Mission and Service, loudly proclaim that the God of peace is active in this community of faith and around the world. Please be generous.
PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
God of peace, complete in us the good work you have started. As you refine us, melt our cold hearts, mould our lives, and nurture us into the good stewards you would have us be. May giving these gifts be a part of that process. 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, or 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: VU #59
“Joy to the World”
1. Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth! the Saviour reigns:
let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground:
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4. He rules the earth with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
*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.
*alternate words: watching from above
POSTLUDE
“Sleigh Ride” - Leroy Anderson, arr. D. McKenna
*****
SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Stewardship Second & Invitation to the Offering & Prayer of dedication of our Offerings from: © 2024 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.
Prayers written by Rev. Dr. John Greg. Smith
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
- “Advent’s Holy Light:” Words and music are by Joel Raney © 2024 Hope Publishing Company, all rights reserved. We have purchased the song for our use.)
- “There’s a Voice in the Wilderness Calling:” Words: James Lewis Milligan. Music: © 1938 Henry Hugh Bancroft. Used by permission of Eldred Bancroft, Estate of Henry Hugh Bancroft, c/o Mr. Brian Burrows, 11331-75 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6G 0H6. Words: Public Domain. Music: Henry Hugh Bancroft. Used by permission of Eldred Bancroft, Estate of Henry Hugh Bancroft, c/o Mr. Brian Burrows. One License #608577
- “When Heaven’s Bright with Mystery:” Words: Rob Johns © 1987 Carol Johns, c/o Elinor Johns, Apt. 305, 1 Evergreen Place, Winnipeg, MB R3L 0E9. Music: English traditional melody. Arrangement: Ralph Vaughan Williams © 1931 Oxford University Press. Words: Carol Johns, c/o Elinor Johns. Arrangement: Oxford University Press. One License #608577
- “Joy to the World:” Words: Isaac Watts 1719, alt. Music: attributed to George Frideric Handel 1742, arranged by Lowell Mason 1836. Public Domain.
- “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 # 608507
Scripture Readings:
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
Prelude: “des pas sur la neige" - C. Debussy
Special Music: Interpretive Dance: Intermezzo, Opus 118 #2 J. Brahms, Dianne Chapitis and Peter Skoggard
Postlude: “Sleigh Ride - Leroy Anderson, arr. D. McKenna
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