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February 9, 2025: Sunday Service

Phyllis Fleming

Sunday, February 9, 2025

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February 9th, 2025

5th Sunday after the Epiphany

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Worship Leader: Phyllis Fleming
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Lay Leader: Debbie Potts

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
Prelude - M. Ravel

A Stewardship Second
Caring for people should be our greatest work. Honouring the time and energy invested by church members is an essential part of stewardship.

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 & INTRODUCTION

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
When we turn on a lamp as evening falls, the light chases away the shadows.
When we turn to God in sad times or happy times, the light of love brightens us up, inside and out!
We light the Christ candle as a symbol of that love.
(the candle is lit)
Thanks be to God for this everlasting love.

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

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 of1818. 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
Welcome, people of God! Welcome to this time of prayer, reflection, and song.
We might not be ready. Do we need to set aside our day-to-day lives in order to enter fully into worship?
No, because God welcomes all of who we are, each one of us.
Then let us offer our whole selves – body, mind, and spirit – to this time of worship.
Come, let us worship God!

*OPENING HYMN: VU 315 – “Holy, Holy, Holy”
1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee;
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which were, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

OPENING PRAYER (GLF)
In the pews or at home, remind us, O God, that worship is more than showing up.
Inspire us, O Comforter, that our hearts may recognize your presence in worship.
Through prayers and readings, remind us,
O God, that worship is more than sharing words.
Awaken us, O Teacher, that our hearts may receive your word for us.
In this worship time, remind us, O God, that worship is not something just to be observed.
Engage us, O Saviour, that our hearts and lives may proclaim and enact our relationship with you. Amen.

A Prayer of Intention (JGS)
May I be a source of love today.
May my words and actions bring love to others.
May my heart be always in the right place.

May I be a source of peace today.
May my thoughts and prayers lead to calm waters.
May my own peace bring peace to others.

May I be a source of joy today.
May my attitude of joy lift the spirits of others.
May my own heart bubble up with joy.

May I be a source of joy, peace and love,
This day and every day. Amen.

We Listen

ANTHEM: Deep River
Spiritual - arr. J. Jefferson Cleveland

Theme Conversation

*HYMN: MV 92 – “Like a Rock”
Like a rock, like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like the starry night sky God is over our head.
Like the sun on the horizon God is ever before.
Like the river runs to ocean,
our home is in God evermore. (2X)

PRAYER for ILLUMINATION
O God, send the light of your presence
to illuminate these words from scripture. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 6:1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’

Psalm 138 VU 860
We worship in your holy place and praise you for your truth and grace.

I praise you, O God, with all my heart;
before the gods I will sing your praises.
I bow down toward your holy temple
and praise your name for your love and faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word
above everything.
On the day that I called, you answered me,
and put new strength in my soul.

We worship in your holy place and praise you for your truth and grace.

All earth’s rulers shall praise you,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of your ways, O God,
sing that your glory is great.
For though you are high, you care for the lowly.
As for the proud, you humble them from afar.

We worship in your holy place and praise you for your truth and grace.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me;
you stretch out your hand against my enemies’ rage;
your powerful hand delivers me.
You will fulfil your purpose for me.
Your love, O God, is eternal.
Do not leave unfinished the work of your hands.

We worship in your holy place and praise you for your truth and grace.

Luke 5:1-11
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

RESPONSE
May these words from the past help us grow into our role in the Body of Christ today.
AMEN.

MESSAGE

We Respond

*HYMN: VU 608 – “Dear God, Who Loves All Humankind”
1. Dear God, who loves all humankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
reclothe us in our rightful mind;
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise.

2. In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word
rise up, and follow thee.

3. O sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!

4. Drop thy still dews of quietness
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.

5. Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire:
speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!

*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, in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Now is the time in our worship where we are all invited to share part of what God has given us, whether brought here today, given online, or shared monthly through PAR. Your gifts provide a spiritual home where community groups can meet, friends can gather in a welcoming space. Let us be a blessing to others and to ourselves.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Thank you, God, for this church community and the opportunity to give. Take the gifts shared , bless them, and help us use our collective generosity to make this world a better place. We ask for your love, guidance, and strength as we follow in Jesus’ Way. Amen.

Donate online: www.graceunitedthornbury.ca, select “DONATE”
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

PRAYERS of the PEOPLE & the LORD’S PRAYER (VU 910)

WHAT’S UP AT GRACE?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU 507 – “Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples”
1. Today we all are called to be disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captive free,
make ploughshare out of sword,
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst,
make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first,
our ease and comfort last.

2. God made the world and at its birth
ordained our human race
to live as stewards of the earth,
responding to God’s grace.
But we are vain and sadly proud,
we sow not peace but strife,
our discord spreads a deadly cloud
that threatens all of life.

3. Pray justice may come rolling down
as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town
to cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore
an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for a harmony of peace.

4. May we in service to our God act out the living Word,
and walk the road the saints have trod
till all have seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth may we
give thanks in one accord
to God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.

*COMMISSIONING (LJT)
Go back into your daily activities - renewed, refreshed, and enlivened.
Go, knowing that you are called by God to be part of the unfolding drama of life.
Go, assured that God calls you to a ministry that is important.

*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.