March 30th, 2025
4th 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: Debbie Potts
Leader: regular font ~ All: bold font ~ Sung words: bold italics.
Asterisk * Indicates when the congregation may stand if able.
We Gather Together in Community
PRELUDE:
Selections from “Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.”
“A Stewardship Second:”
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV)
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.
- 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 reconciliation.
CALL to WORSHIP: (from Psalm 32, written by Rev J.G. Smith)
Come to worship everyone.
Come and remove the heavy stones from our hearts.
Come and hear the Love Refrain, like rain on the window,
Like wind on the water,
Caressing your spirit with blessings and grace.
We come but our spirits are tired.
We are exhausted from the living of these days.
We are spent, hungry, seeking something to really satisfy our thirst.
O my friends, this is the moment you have been waiting for,
The moment you open your heart and your spirit
To the presence of Unconditional Love, Undeserved Grace, Unfiltered acceptance.
This is the moment to let your hearts and spirits
Be filled with Eternal Light, to guide us, counsel us, show us the way.
We open ourselves to the Beloved, our hearts pray for peace,
And our spirits seek out wisdom.
We have let our heartaches separate us from God’s love for too long.
It is time to come home to the feast.
So let us build a community that feasts on Love,
That we might create a new story for the world to hear,
At just such a moment as this.
Let us worship God!
AMEN!!
*HYMN: VU #333 “Love Divine All Loves Excelling”
1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
2 Come, almighty to deliver;
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
3 Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
OPENING PRAYER:
Loving God, sometimes we are overwhelmed by the strength of your love for us.
We do not always feel worthy.
We do not always feel open to receiving it.
We do not always want it, for your love sometimes judges us.
Yet you are the consummate host:
You throw a party, and include everyone.
You throw a dinner of the finest gifts: compassion, generosity, acceptance, blessing;
The table is so full it groans.
In our worship, help us to know this fullness.
Sometimes we are so thirsty for it, we can’t get enough.
Other times, we are not so sure we need it; we resist the finest gifts.
Sometimes we are not quite sure why.
Yet we remember: Jesus invited everyone to the feast.
Young, old, gay, straight, queer, rich, poor, connected, disconnected.
Belonging, afraid of belonging.
Find us here today O God.
Spread your table of love and acceptance in our midst this morning,
And feed us till we want nothing more.
In Christ we pray, 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 Bless the Lord” - R. Lau
Theme Conversation: When things go sideways….
We Listen Together
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Luke 14: 7 - 14 (New International version)
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14: 15 - 24 The Message translation
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
“‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
RESPONSE:
These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.
Thanks be to God!
*HYMN: VU # 468 “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”
1 Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
2 Christ is able to make us one,
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express.
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
3 Jesus calls us in, sends us out,
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) everywhere!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
SERMON: In Between Certainty and Possibility
*HYMN: MV #12 “Come Touch our Hearts”
- Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion,
from failing embers build a blazing fire;
love strong enough to overturn injustice,
to seek a world more gracious, come touch and bless our hearts.
- Come touch our souls that we may know and love you,
your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
create a space for spirit to grow in us,
let life and beauty fill us, come touch and bless our souls.
- Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason,
set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
help us to open doors of understanding,
to welcome truth and wisdom, come touch and bless our minds.
- Come touch us in the moments we are fragile,
and in our weakness your great strength reveal;
that we may rise to follow and to serve,
steady now our nerve, come touch and bless our wills.
- Come touch us now, this people who are gathered,
to break the bread and share the cup of peace;
that we may love you with our heart, our soul,
our mind, our strength, our all, come touch us with your grace.
We Respond to God’s Word
INVITATION to the OFFERING:
Whether this is easy for us or difficult, let us pause for a moment of silence as we consider before God how we have been blessed.
(silence)
And now we offer ourselves and our gifts, trusting in God’s mercy and love to do a new thing in the world. Let us be generous.
PRAYER of DEDICATION of OUR OFFERINGS:
God, we offer these gifts, longing to be a part of your new Way. Thank you for your empowering love. 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 of the PEOPLE:
What’s up at Grace?
We Go Out to Serve
*HYMN: VU # 457 “As We Gather at Your Table”
1 As we gather at your table,
as we listen to your word,
help us know, O God, your presence;
let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story
till we claim it as our own;
teach us through this holy banquet
how to make Love’s victory known.
2 Turn our worship into witness
in the sacrament of life;
send us forth to love and serve you,
bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion
to forgive as you forgave;
may we still behold your image
in the world you died to save.
3 Gracious Spirit, help us summon
other guests to share that feast
where triumphant Love will welcome
those who had been last and least.
There no more will envy blind us
nor will pride our peace destroy,
as we join with saints and angels
to repeat the sounding joy.
*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.
*alternate words: watching from above
POSTLUDE:
“Ballade Opus 118 #3” - J.Brahms
SOURCES: The following are used with permission:
Stewardship Second & Invitation to the Offering & Prayer of Dedication of our Offerings from: © 2024 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca. Any copy must include this notice.
Call to Worship: from Psalm 32, written by Rev J.G. Smith.
Opening Prayer: written by Rev. J.G. Smith
The Lord’s Prayer: Casa Del Sol Version: this prayer is written by John Philip Newell, and used with permission. Casa Del Sol is a beautiful retreat house in the middle of the desert on New Mexico. It is run by the Presbyterian Church USA, and its other claim to fame is that it was the location for many of Georgia O’Keefe’s greatest paintings.
HYMNS and SUNG VERSES:
-“Spirit Open My Heart:” Words: Ruth Duck, 1994. Music: traditional melody, Ireland; arr.
Arthur G. Clyde, 1997. Words copyright © 1996 and arrangement copyright© 1997 The Pilgrim Press. One License #608577
-“Love Divine All Loves Excelling:” Words: Charles Wesley. Music: Rowland Huw Prichard. Public Domain.
-“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ:” Words: Fred Kaan 1975. Music (Adaptation Doreen Potter): © 1975 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Words, Music: Hope Publishing Company. One License #608577.
-“Come Touch Our Hearts:” Words and music: Gordon Light, 2002; arr. Andrew Donaldson, 2002. Words and music copyright © 2002 Common Cup Company, www.commoncup.com. Arrangement. copyright © 2002 by Andrew Donaldson. One License #608577
-“As We Gather at your Table:’ Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. 1989 © 1989 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Music: Attributed to Benjamin Franklin White. Arrangement: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, by permission of Augsburg Fortress . Words: Hope Publishing Company. Music: Public Domain. Arrangement: Augsburg Fortress . One License #608577.
-“Go Now in Peace” - Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price © 1988 Harold Flammer
Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Reproduced with permission.
One License # 608577
Scripture Readings:
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Message Version: Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Prelude: Selections from “Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.”
Anthem: “Come Bless the Lord” R. Lau
Postlude: “Ballade Opus 118 #3” J. Brahms
