Grace United Church | United Church in Thornbury, ON

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February 23, 2025: Sunday Morning Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, February 23, 2025

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February 23rd, 2025

7^th Sunday after Epiphany

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: Shirley Woolner

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
Improvisation on “Be Thou My Vision” - C. Burton

A Stewardship Second
Too often we get stuck in the muck of human things—doom scrolling, worrying about possessions, fretting over appearances. Jesus tells those who listen 'spend our time and resources making the world better for all —generosity and prayer, loving service and worship'

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle, a sacred symbol of divine light.
May the divine light dance in our worship today.
May the divine light ignite our hearts and souls.
May the divine light lift us up and give us peace.
Thanks be to God for this divine light!

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 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 territory of the Saugeen and Ojibway First Nations. We acknowledge that they are the first stewards of this land and we respect their histories and past and present cultures. We will work to recognize and remove barriers to full reconciliation.

CALL to WORSHIP: (from Psalm 121)
I look to the mountains -- does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven and earth and mountains!
I look to the sun as it warms the earth more and more each day ---
Does my strength come from the sun?
No, my strength comes from God, who made the cosmos and spun life into being!
I look to the stars, to the constellations, to the moon ---

Does my strength come from outer space?
No, my strength comes from God, who filled my heart with the light of the cosmos!
O people of God, let us continue our light-filled Epiphany with renewed faith and purpose.
Let us take each new step together with courage and faith.
Let us make pilgrimage with the stories of Jesus.
Let us hold one another in friendship and companionship
and learn new lessons along the way.
The strength of God to hold us,
The courage of Christ to sustain us,
The love of the Holy Spirit to lead us always!
May it be so! Amen!

*HYMN: VU #232 “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
1. Joyful, joyful we adore you,
God of glory, life and love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.

2. All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
sound their praise eternally.

3. You are giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
wellspring of the joy of living,
ocean depth of happy rest!
Source of grace and fount of blessing,
let your light upon us shine;
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine.

4. Mortals join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
victors in the midst of strife;
joyful music leads us sunward
in the triumph song of life.

OPENING PRAYER
Thank you God for this day.
Thank you for bringing us together as your church on this February Sunday.
Thank for growing our faith, for restoring our hope,
And for filling us with enough grace for today.
As we come together in prayer, lift our hearts and our spirits.
Hear our concerns for our world, for the conflicts still raging in our world,
For the mini-conflicts we experience each day,
For everything that saps our spirits and clouds our vision.
As we seek to learn new ways of following Christ
And as we seek to become a refreshed church community,
Send your Spirit to walk with us on this journey.
May your Spirit energize and awaken us.
May your Spirit lead us to follow the way of Jesus.
May your Spirit nurture the seeds of grace and love within us.
May your Spirit help us to model a new way of being in the world.
All these things, we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus, AMEN

A Prayer of Intention
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.

*HYMN: MV #157 “ I Am A Child of God”
1. I am a child of God,
I am a glimpse of God’s new creation.
I am a child of God,
I am a child of God.

2. I am an endless prayer,
I am a yearning for contemplation,
I am an endless prayer,
I am an endless prayer.

3. I am an angry voice,
I am compassion and consternation,
I am an angry voice,
I am an angry voice.

4. I am a cry for peace,
I am commitment and dedication,
I am a cry for peace,
I am a cry for peace.

5. I am a song of joy,
I am the moment of jubilation,
I am a song of joy,
I am a song of joy.

Theme Conversation: “Preaching the Gospel, sometimes with words…”

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 37: 1- 11, (from Nan Merrill, Psalms for Praying.)
Give no heed to those who are greedy,
Attend not to those who do no wrong:
For, like the green grass of spring,
They soon fade and wither away.
Trust in the Most High, and seek goodness;
Live harmoniously upon the earth
In peace, and with assurance.
Take delight in the Beloved,
And enjoy God’s beautiful gifts of love.
Commit yourself to the Beloved,
and be confident that Love will act on your behalf.
Love will light your path, bright as the sun at midday.
Be still before God, and wait quietly in silence;
Pray for those who prosper by deceitful means,
And for those who dishonour others.
Recognize your own anger,
And lift your thoughts to higher planes;
For those who act out of anger separate themselves from Love,
While those who live in harmony,
Shall know peace, assurance, gratitude, and love.
In a little while, those who live with greed will prosper no more;
The darkness of ignorance will pass,
And a new dawn will enlighten the world.
The lovers of darkness will vanish,
The humble will inherit the earth
And share its beauty and abundance with all.
May it be so!

Luke 6: 27 – 38
(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)
“But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you;bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again.Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

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

ANTHEM
“Sing a New Song” - Stan Pethel

SERMON: “How to Make a Difference”

*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.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
At this time we share our gifts of money for the work of this community of faith so that together we can love our enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, in order to be a blessing in this world. Our giving is a beacon of love so that as followers of the Way of Jesus we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Our gifts flow into the world through the work of our church.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
Gracious God, we offer these gifts and those already given through PAR and online for your work in the world. May our practice of generosity be also a practice of love—turning the other cheek, giving our shirt, praying for those we disagree with. God, bless these gifts, and bless our hearts so that they may be open and generous to all. 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, or Donate to Grace United Church Thornbury 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 & the LORD’S PRAYER

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: MV #209 “Go Make a Diff’rence”
Refrain:
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

1. We are the salt of the earth,
called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Refrain:
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

2. We are the hands of Christ
reaching out to those in need,
the face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope;
we are the voice of peace.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Refrain:
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

3. So let your love shine on,
let it shine for all to see.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
And the spirit of Christ
will be with us as we go.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Refrain:
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.

*COMMISSIONING: (Teresa of Avila)
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Ours are the hands, ours are the feet,
ours are the eyes, we are his body.
Christ has no body now but ours.
So rejoice and be the light of Christ for our world!
AMEN

*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.