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April 6, 2025: Sunday Morning Service

Rev Dr John Smith

Sunday, April 6, 2025

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Service and Hymns

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April 6th, 2025

5^th Sunday of lent

Find this service at www.graceunitedthornbury.ca/live

Leading us today in Worship:

Minister: Rev. Dr. John G. Smith

Guest Musicians: Camryn Ruthven & Sisters

Lay Reader: Orleen Anderson

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:

Improvisations

“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 122 – Rev. J.G. Smith)

I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord!

I was glad because my heart was sore from worry

And my worry had crossed over to despair.

I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord.

I was glad because I was carrying too many burdens.

My arms hurt.

And my shoulders were bent from the heavy weight.

I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord.

I was glad because I was losing my faith.

My hope has been sorely tried by the world these days.

I cannot take any more bad news!

I’m so glad you are here!

For here in God’s house, we practice compassion. We set down our burdens.

We let grace wash over us and refresh us.

We find friendship and hope for the journey yet to come.

And we remember: we are not alone. God is with us.

Thanks be to God! Amen!

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:

Thank you God for this day.

Thank you for bringing us together as your church on this Lenten Sunday.

Thank for growing our faith, for restoring our hope,

And for filling us with enough grace for today.

You know O God, how short we are on grace!

As we come together in prayer, lift our hearts and our spirits.

Hear our concerns for our world, for the conflicts raging still,

For the inability for nations to come to the table of peace,

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.

Send your Spirit to breathe new life into our dried out hearts and spirits.

Send your Spirit to “sage” us rather than “age” us,

For we are like dry land seeking refreshing rain.

May your Spirit energize and awaken us.

May your Spirit be like water in a dry desert garden.

May your Spirit nurture the seeds of grace and love within us.

May your Spirit begin to resurrect our hopefulness

And give us courage and strength for the living of these days.

All these things, we ask in the name of Jesus, AMEN!

May it be so! 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:

“Long Before My Journey’s Start”

Theme Conversation: Making a Resurrection Garden

We Listen Together

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Isaiah 43: 16 – 21 (New International version)

This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
    the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
    the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise.

John 12: 1- 8 ( The Message Translation)

Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.

Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.

Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”

RESPONSE:

These words from scripture are meant to guide us, nurture us, and teach us.

Thanks be to God!

SPECIAL MUSIC: Camryn Ruthven

"Doxology: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

SERMON: “A Royal Waste of Time”

*HYMN: VU #296 “This is God’s Wondrous World”

1 This is God’s wondrous world,

and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is God’s wondrous world;

I rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,

God’s hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is God’s wondrous world:

the birds their carols raise;

the morning light, the lily white,

declare their Maker’s praise.

This is God’s wondrous world:

God shines in all that’s fair;

in the rustling grass or mountain pass,

God’s voice speaks everywhere.

3 This is God’s wondrous world:

O let me ne’er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is God’s wondrous world:

why should my heart be sad?

Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:

God reigns, let earth be glad!

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 # 506 “Take My life and let it be”

1 Take my life, and let it be

consecrated, all for thee;

take my moments and my days;

let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move

at the impulse of thy love;

take my feet, and let them be

swift and purposeful for thee.

3 Take my lips, and let them be

filled with messages from thee;

take my intellect, and use

every power as thou shalt choose.

4 Take my will, and make it thine;

it shall be no longer mine;

take my heart, it is thine own;

it shall be thy royal throne.

5 Take my love: and I will pour

at thy feet its treasure store;

take myself, and I will be

ever, only, all for thee.

*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:

“Navajo Vocable No. 2” by Connor Chee (2014)

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 Psalm122, written by Rev J.G. Smith.

Opening Prayer & Commissioning: 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.

-“Love Divine All Loves Excelling:” Words: Charles Wesley. Music: Rowland Huw Prichard. Public Domain.

-“This is God’s Wondrous World:” Words: Malthie Davenport Babcock 1901. Music: English traditional melody, adapted by Franklin L. Sheppard, adapted by Stanley Oliver

Public Domain.

-“Take My Life and Let it Be:” Words: Frances Ridley Havergal 1874. Music: Unknown. Descant: © 1980 enThusia Enterprises, 146 Fincham Ave., Markham, ON L3P 4A9. Words, Music: Public Domain. Descant: enThusia Enterprises

Music, Inc. Alternate words used with permission. Reproduced with permission.

One License # 608577

Scripture Readings:

Prelude: Improvisations – Camryn Ruthven

Anthem: “Long Before My Journey’s Start:”Words: Steven C. Warner, based on Ecclesiasticus 51:13-22. Music: Leslie Palmer Barnhart. Words and music copyright © 1993, World Library. Publications, 3708 River Rd., Suite 400, Franklin. Park, IL 60131-2158. 800-566-6150.www.wlpmusic.com

Special Music: "Doxology: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” (based on

Hillsong Worship’s 2019 version).

Postlude: “Navajo Vocable No. 2” by Connor Chee (2014), a Diné composer.