Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

Grace United Church is live

January 5, 2025 Sunday Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Chat

Service and Hymns

Playlist

Loading chat...

January 5^th, 2025

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

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: Heather Dickson

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
“Ave Maria” - F. Schubert

A Stewardship Second
As a new year unfolds, what fullness have we experienced from God? Can we see, name, and know the grace God offers to our lives?

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
As the days begin to lengthen,
And the sun’s rays begin to warm us up,
We turn to the light of Christ.
This light is the generator of our love and our hope.
This light is the generator of our courage and our strength.
This light is the generator of our mission and our work.
Thank you God for the powerful gift of the light of Christ! AMEN

OUR COMMITMENT to SAFER 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
When the way before us is long and somewhat hard to discern,
God send your love to lure us forward
Even if it is into the unknown.
When the way before us calls us to learn new ways
and perhaps go down a different path,
God send your love to nurture our spirits
And build us up from the heart outward.
When the way before us requires us to trust one another
and to open ourselves to new possibilities,
God send your love to help us discover the gifts we need
right here within this place.
When the way before us fills us with fear and trepidation;
When we believe we have come to the end of the road,
God send your love to be the light that will lead us
And carry us into a future of shining glory!

Song Verse
Christ be our light! Shine in our hearts,
Shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light!
Shine in your church, gathered today. (2X)

OPENING PRAYER
God of love and light
Today we remember the journey of some very wise people.
We remember the wise ones who came to see the Christ:
They went home changed, transformed!
So may we, in our worship,
See the Christ and find his spirit in this place.
May we see the Christ in one another.
May we see the Christ in the very young and the very old.
May we see the Christ in the people near us.
May we see the Christ in the leadership of our service today.
We remember that worship is like choir practice.
Here we learn the songs that will carry us through our days.
Here we learn about the Christ and practice seeing his spirit
So that we may do so in our daily lives.
Here we search for answers and gifts of hope and meaning
And here we find them when we see the Christ again.
May all that we do and say,
May all that we dream and pray, in this time of worship
Help us to find the Christ light.
And then, send us home God, in a completely different light!
AMEN

*HYMN: VU #79
“Arise Your Light Is Come”

1. Arise, your light is come!
The Spirit’s call obey;
show forth the glory of your God,
which shines on you today.

2. Arise, your light is come!
Fling wide the prison door;
proclaim the captive’s liberty,
good tidings to the poor.

3. Arise, your light is come!
All you in sorrow born,
bind up the broken-hearted ones
and comfort those who mourn.

4. Arise, your light is come!
The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing;
God’s power will make us strong.

A New Year’s Prayer
May God make this year a happy one
Not by shielding me from all sorrows
and pain,
But by strengthening me to bear it,
as it comes;
Not by making the path easy,
But by making me sturdy enough to travel
any path;
Not by taking hardship from me,
But by taking fear from my heart;
Not by granting me unbroken
sunshine,
But by keeping my face bright,
even in the shadows;
Not by making life always
pleasant,
But by showing me when people and
their causes need me most,
and by making me anxious to be
there to help.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy be with me
in the year ahead.

*HYMN: VU #82
“A light is Gleaming”
Chorus:
A light is gleaming, spreading its arms
throughout the night, living in the light.
Come share its gladness, God’s radiant love
is burning bright, living in the light.

1. When light comes pouring into the darkest place,
it hurts our eyes to see the glow.
Sometimes a word of hope reminds us of our fears,
our memories and tears.

2. When night is round us and every shadow grows,
a star is there to light our way.
It tells a story of Jesus who came near to say:
‘God’s light will ever stay.’

Chorus:
A light is gleaming, spreading its arms
throughout the night, living in the light.
Come share its gladness, God’s radiant love
is burning bright, living in the light.

3. And Jesus showed us a brighter path to walk.
He showed us things we hadn’t seen.
Now we, like Jesus, can help creation shine,
and this will be a sign:

4. So let us live in the brightness God has giv’n,
and let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here asparkle and ablaze,
warming all our days.

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 60: 1 – 7       (The Message Translation)
“Get out of bed, Jerusalem!
    Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
    God’s bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
    all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
    his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
    kings to your sunburst brightness.
Look up! Look around!
    Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you:
Your sons coming from great distances,
    your daughters carried by their nannies.
When you see them coming you’ll smile—big smiles!
    Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!
All those people returning by sea for the reunion,
    a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!
And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see,
    young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah,
Pouring in from the south from Sheba,
    loaded with gold and frankincense,
    preaching the praises of God.
And yes, a great roundup
    of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth,
Welcome gifts for worship at my altar
    as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor.

Matthew 2: 1- 12      (New International Version)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalemand asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

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

ANTHEM
“Love Is the Touch” - Alison M. Robinson & John L. Bell

SERMON: “Which Way Now?”

We Respond

*HYMN: VU #91
“The First Nowell”

1. The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay akeeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

2. They looked up and saw a star,
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel

3. And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel

4. This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel

5. Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel

6. Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought.
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel

A Time for Communion
Please come forward for communion today. If you wish, we can serve it to you in the pew; just alert a server.

The Lord’s Prayer

Serving of the Bread and Juice

Prayer after Communion
For the bread we have eaten, and the wine we have tasted,
And for the community spirit we have found together in this place,
We thank you God.
Grant that these gifts and the energy of love you have placed within us,
Will help us to serve one another, and the surrounding world,
And fill empty hearts with love, strength, and hope.
We pray in Christ’s name, AMEN

INVITATION to the OFFERING
We are called to be the embodiment of God’s Word. We are called to use our whole selves to care for creation, community, and the church. You are invited to share your financial gifts for the ministry and work of both this community of faith and Mission and Service. Together we speak God’s kin-dom into being.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
We pray that the gifts we give today will go further in God’s world than we can imagine. Bless these gifts, and those given through PAR and online. 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 # 87
“I Am the Light of the World”
Chorus:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

1. When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds have found
their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun:
Chorus:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

2. To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children with warmth
and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above!
Chorus:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

3. To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God’s children everywhere!
Chorus:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

4. To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby’s new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth!
Chorus:
‘I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!’
If you follow and love you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

*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.