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March 23, 2025: 3rd Sunday of Lent

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, March 23, 2025

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March 23rd, 2025

3^rd Sunday of Lent

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: Debby Weale

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

We Gather

PRELUDE
“Allemande from English Suite #3” - J.S. Bach

A Stewardship Second:
How we use our money and resources is an indication of the depth of our relationship with God.

WELCOME

LIGHTING the CHRIST CANDLE
In the season of Lent,
Our hearts and souls rise up to take in the warmth of spring.
Our spirits begin to breathe more freely again;
Everything is fresh and new each day.
As we light the Christ candle this morning,
We express our hope in the never-ending Spirit of God,
Which holds us and guides us through the darkness and pain of the world around us.
Thanks be to God for the light of Christ! AMEN

SONG: MV # 79 “Spirit, Open my Heart”
(Refrain, Verse 2, Refrain)

Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

2. Write your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory.

Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.

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 Ojibway First Nation. 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 Isaiah 55)
O let all who thirst, come to the water;
And you who have no money, come, buy, and eat.
Come to the table of love and blessing.
Come to the table where peace and justice are the main dishes.
Come to the place where love has seasoned the whole menu before us.
We come, with everything (for we are rich) and with nothing (for we are poor).
We come weary from this world,
Sick with worry.
We come with empty spirits needing love and light and hope.
Here we remember that the gifts we need have already been given.
Here we remember that the gifts we need for today
are found deep within our heats.
Here we remember that we have a covenant of unconditional love
Imposing itself on our beings, reminding us “whose we are”.
So we come today to be fed, to find the daily bread again.
We come to share our life in community,
For we are stronger together,
And our voice makes a difference.
Then let us worship God!! AMEN!!

*HYMN: MV #154 “Deep in Our Hearts”
1. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.

2. Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;
deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
justice and peace in harmony.

3. Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
deep in our hearts there is a common current,
flowing to freedom like a stream.

4. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
deep in our hearts there is a common song;
deep in our hearts there is a common story,
telling Creation that we are one.

OPENING PRAYER
This is the day you have made for us O God.
Help us to find ourselves in it, made for it, and grateful to be a part of it.
This is a day unlike any other day; there has never before been a day like today.
Help us to own it, celebrate its glory, and revel in the newness it brings to our lives.
This is the day that we might place ourselves totally in your care.
Help us to wrap our hearts and tender spirits with your unconditional love.
Help us to surrender to your grace, to your unfailing mercy, to your gift of belonging.
This is the day that we will be bread for one another.
Help us to feed one another from the well of deep blessing that we share in our souls.
This is the day we will be free: free from shame, free from fear, free from doubt, free from anger, free from guilt.
Help us to let go of all the heavy stones in our hearts, which weigh us down.
This is the day that we will throw caution to the winds,
The day we will absolutely do our best,
The day we will look at everyone we meet with love and blessing.
And so, for this very great, astoundingly full, refreshingly new day,
Let us be grateful. AMEN!

THE LORD’S PRAYER: Casa Del Sol Version
Ground of all being,
Mother of life, Father of the universe,
Your name is sacred, beyond speaking.
May we know your presence;
may your longings be our longings in heart and in action.
May there be food for the human family today
and for the whole earth community.
Forgive us the falseness of what we have done
as we forgive those who are untrue to us.
Do not forsake us in our time of conflict
but lead us into new beginnings.
For the light of life, the vitality of life, and the glory of life
are yours now and for ever.
Amen

ANTHEM: “Come Touch our Hearts” - G. Light

Theme Conversation: The garden of rocks and weeds

We Listen

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Luke 13: 1- 9 (New International Version)
Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Matthew 6: 7 - 13      (The Message translation)
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
    as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
    Yes. Yes. Yes.

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

*HYMN: VU # 960 “The Lord’s Prayer”
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them
that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory,
forever and forever. Amen

SERMON: “Bread as the Communal Imperative”

*HYMN: VU #603 “In Loving Partnership We Come”
1. In loving partnership we come,
seeking, O God, your will to do.
Our prayers and actions now receive;
we freely offer them to you.

2. We are the hands and feet of Christ,
serving by grace each other’s need.
We dare to risk and sacrifice
with truthful word and faithful deed.

3. Loving community we seek;
your hope and strength within us move.
The poor and rich, the strong and weak
are brought together in your love.

4. In loving partnership, O God,
help us your future to proclaim.
Justice and peace be our desire,
we humbly pray in Jesus’ name.

We Respond

INVITATION to the OFFERING
Wouldn’t it be great? Imagine everyone having enough—enough to eat, clean water, housing, purpose. What we are about to do, our giving to this community of faith, our giving to Mission and Service, and our giving to World Development Relief can help make that happen.

PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS
O God, you are my God. I give with praise and thanks for all you are doing in me and through me as I give this money now or through PAR or online. Help my gift be a blessing to others that all may have enough. 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

PRAYER CANDLES

What’s up at Grace?

We Go Out

*HYMN: VU #679 “Let There Be Light”
1. Let there be light,
let there be understanding,
let all the nations gather,
let them be face to face;

2. open our lips,
open our minds to ponder,
open the door of concord
opening into grace;

3. perish the sword,
perish the angry judgement,
perish the bombs and hunger,
perish the fight for gain;

4. hallow our love,
hallow the deaths of martyrs,
hallow their holy freedom,
hallowed be your name;

5. your kingdom come,
your spirit turn to language,
your people speak together,
your spirit never fade;

6. let there be light;
open our hearts to wonder,
perish the way of terror,
hallow the world God made.

*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.