Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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February 16, 2025: Sunday Service

Rev John Lougheed

Sunday, February 16, 2025

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February 16^th, 2025

Sixth Sunday After Epiphany

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:
Guest Minister: (Rev.) John Lougheed
Music Director: Dr. Christopher Burton
Scripture Reader: Carol Clarke

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
“Little Preludes” (selected) - J.S. Bach

A Stewardship Second
Jesus promises God’s blessing for those who are hungry, weeping, and excluded, promising better days to come. Will you be the answer to someone else’s prayers? Can your generosity be God’s blessing for those who hurt?

WELCOME & INTRODUCTION

LIGHTING of the CHRIST CANDLE PRAYER
In these times that could be illuminated by Christ’s light of mercy and peace, we kindle that holy presence anew.

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: (adapted from Psalm 25)
Lead us in your truth, O God, and teach us,
for through you will we know wholeness; we shall reflect your light both day and night.
With your steadfast love, once again, companion us along your way, as we worship together, singing:

*OPENING HYMN: VU #242 "Let All Things Now Living"
1. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
to God our Creator triumphantly raise;
who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
by guiding us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us, pure light goes before us,
a pillar of fire shining forth in the night;
till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
as forward we travel from light into Light.

2. By law God enforces, the stars in their courses
and sun in its orbit obediently shine;
the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
the depths of the ocean proclaim God divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
with glad adoration a song let us raise:
till all things now living unite in thanksgiving,
to God in the highest, hosanna and praise.

PRAYER OF APPROACH
Loving God, we gather to worship with open hearts, knowing that we sometimes fall short of your best intentions for us. As we ponder your invitation to right relationship with you, and each other, hear us now in the silence of our hearts … (silence is kept)

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Jesus is remembered for saying:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.”
(Matthew 11:28-30)

ANTHEM
“Glory to God” - Grayson Warren Brown, arr. Val Parker

We Listen

THEME CONVERSATION: Mindful of “God’s Top Ten”

SCRIPTURE READING
Exodus 20:1-17 (selected verses)
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
The Ten Commandments
Then God spoke all these words,
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of
anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is
in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve
them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for
the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who
reject me but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of
those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God,
for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor
and do all your work. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to
the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your
daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident
in your towns. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore
the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

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

SERMON: “When …”

We Respond

*HYMN: VU #288 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
1. Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

2. Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow -
wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

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

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Jesus promises blessings for those who are hungry, weeping, hated, excluded. I invite you to be part of that blessing by sharing your gifts with the church and Mission and Service today, remembering that intention matters, that we can all be answers to someone else’s prayer, and that our prayers can be answered through the generosity of others. So please share, trusting in the Lord and giving and receiving with this community

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Gracious God of blessings, we offer our gifts and we offer ourselves to receive and share. May what we offer this community of faith and Mission and Service be like a fresh stream of water—nourishing the roots of your work and wishes for our world. 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: VU #420 “Go to the World”
1. Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews life’s worth,
baptising as the sign of our rebirth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2. Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the Word of God’s redeeming grace.
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

3. Go to the world! Go struggle, bless and pray;
the nights of tears give way to joyous day.
As servant Church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

4. Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
for I am with you ‘til the age shall end,
when all the hosts of glory cry ‘Amen!’
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

*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.