An Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Canada
Friends in Christ Prelude Erin Craig and Matthew McGuigan Embracing Our Spirit Call to Worship: Do not sit idle, thinking your worship has no point, no purpose, no power. Your prayers invite God closer. Your singing touches God. Your confessions launch a brighter future. God is active: attentively listening, eagerly forgiving, powerfully shaping you into your best self. Thanks be to God! We are here to worship and to be transformed in the image of God. Amen.1
Opening Hymn: Let My Spirit Always Sing More Voices 83 Let my spirit always sing, though my heart be wintering, though the season of despair give no sign that you are there, God to whom my days belong, let there always be a song.
Though my body be confined, let your word engage my mind, let the inner eye discern how much more there is to learn, see the world becoming whole through the window of the soul.
Let your wisdom grace my years, choose my words and chase my fears, give me wit to welcome change, to accept, and not estrange, let my joy be full and deep in the knowledge that I keep.
Let my spirit always sing, to your Spirit answering, through the silence, through the pain know my hope is not in vain, like a feather on your breath
1 Written by Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Gathering, Pentecost 2020, p. 35. Used with permission.
trust your love, through life and death. Coming into God’s Presence Rev. Karen Bridges Prayer of Confession: Great God of change and growth, we are wary of your Spirit’s power. We want to be changed, but changed only according to our terms. We don’t really want to take your good news seriously enough to affect everything in our lives, just some aspects! Help us to embrace your power so that any change is possible. Remake and refashion us as disciples and servants ready to proclaim the good news. Amen.2 Song of Assurance: Ka mana’o ‘I ‘O More Voices 103 v. 4 Ka ma-na’o ‘I ‘O o ko ka-kou A-ku-a. Faithful, faithful is our God. Ka ma-na’o ‘I ‘O o ko ka-kou A-ku-a. Faithful, faithful is our God.
When we share love, we share respect and care, the gifts and bonds of human kindness. And in our journey, may love lead the way. To be God’s living, sing this day.
Ka ma-na’o ‘I ‘O o ko ka-kou A-ku-a. Faithful, faithful is our God. Ka ma-na’o ‘I ‘O o ko ka-kou A-ku-a. Faithful, faithful is our God.
God’s Holy Word
Scripture: Vicky Mah Psalm 65 • Thanksgiving for Earth’s Beauty. Voices United p. 782 Refrain: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; to you shall vows be performed. You give heed to prayer; to you all mortals shall come. The burdens of our sins is too great for us, but you will purge them away.
Refrain: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion Blessed are the people you choose and bring to dwell in your courts.
2 Written by Beth W Johnston, Gathering Pentecost 1 2020, p. 28. Used with permission.
We shall be filled with the blessings of your house, your holy temple. With awesome deeds you answer our prayers for deliverance, O God our saviour- you that are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the far-off seas. By your strength you make fast the mountains, and gird yourself round with power. You still the raging of the seas, and the roaring of the waves, the tumult of the peoples. Those who dwell at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your wonders; the gateways of both morning and evening shout for joy.
Refrain: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion You visit the earth and water it, you make it very fruitful. The waters of heaven brim over their banks, providing us with grain, for so you have prepared the land, drenching its furrows, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty. The pastures of the wilderness abound with grass, And the hills are girded with joy. The fields are clothed with sheep; the valleys are decked with wheat, so that they shout and sing for joy.
Refrain: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 • Parable of the Sower. That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears
listen!” Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ Thanks be to God for Christ, the word made flesh. Anthem: The Spirit of God, G. F. Handel, Melisa Guilbeault Melisa Guilbeault, countertenor Sermon: Trust that God’s Spirit is at work. Rev. Karen Bridges Hymn: When Seed Falls on Good Soil Voices United 503 When seed falls on good soil, it’s born through quiet toil; where soil receives, the earth conceived the blade, the stem, the fruit, the leaves. Good soil, O mother earth, the womb, where seed takes birth.
God’s Word in Christ is seed; good soil its urgent need; for it must find in humankind the fertile soil in heart and mind. Good soil! A human field! A hundredfold to yield.
Plough up the trodden way, and clear the stone away; tear out the weed, and sow the seed. Prepare our hearts your Word to heed, that we good soil may be. Begin, O God, with me!
Pastoral Prayers Lord’s Prayer Voices United p. 921
Grateful Response Offering: We take time to offer to God our gratitude for the ways we have been served and are able to serve in this time. Your donations today support R-W Church programs and building operations, as well as outreach projects and programs in the city and around the world. You can donate by e-transfer to [email protected], cheque (by mail), pre-authorized remittance, or PayPal on the website. Tax receipts are issued at the end of the year for donations over $20 if your name and address are provided
Offertory Hymn: God of All Good Voices United 539 v. 1 God of all good, our gifts we bring to you, use them your holy purpose to fulfil; tokens of love and pledges brought a new that our whole life is offered to your will. Prayer of Gratitude: We dedicate these gifts and our lives to you, O God, in thanksgiving for your great gift of Jesus in whom we know an inner peace that is beyond our human understanding. Strengthen and empower us with the Holy Spirit to be bearers of this peace wherever we go. Amen!3 Closing Hymn: Sent Forth by God’s Blessing Voices United 481 Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The supper is ended, O now be extended the fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of Christ’s teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. God’s grace did invite us, God’s love shall unite us to work for the kingdom and answer its call.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.
3 Written by Donna Kelly, Gathering, Pentecost 2020, p.46. Used with permission.
With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us; unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honour to Christ and the name that we bear.
Sung Benediction: May the Love of the Lord More Voices 218 May the love of the Lord rest upon your soul. May God’s love dwell in you, throughout everyday. May God’s countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. May God’s Spirit be upon you as you leave this place.
Wei yuan Shen di ai fu-wei ni di ling, Mei shi-ke ta di ai zhu zai ni xin li, Ta di rong-guang zhao-yao ni ci-ai ban-sui ni. Wu-lun he-chu ta di ling dou yong-yuan ban-sui ni. Worship Notes The sung benediction from More Voices 218 comes to us from Singapore. The words were written by Maria Ling Poh Choo, and the music comes from Swee Hong Lim. The sung prayer of assurance found in More Voices 103 is a Hawaiian song which translated means Faithful is our God. The words and music were written by Joe Camacho. Cover Image Cover image was painted by Laura David-Foster. Minister of Spiritual and Pastoral Care Development: Rev. Leigh Sinclair Minister of Congregation and Community Development: Rev. Karen Bridges Interim Music Team: Erin Craig, Dr. Belinda Chiang, Isabela Ramos Office Administrator: Elyse Munro Facilities Manager: Brad Campbell Financial Manager: Garth van Herwaarden
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