September 22, 2024 – 11:00am
Congregation of Hope United Church
2550 Danforth Ave.
Worship - Rev. Brian Stevens
Music Director – Marc Michalak
Prelude - “Lemon Sherbert Rag” - by Barbara Arens
“Mother and Daughter Sharing Stories
of Family and Friends”
By James Jacko
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND
It is with respect that we acknowledge the world views, spirituality and history of Canada’s First Peoples. Hope United is residing on the Ancestral lands of the Huron Weyandat Nation and the Treaty lands of the Seneca Nation and the Haudensaunee Confederacy.
We thank the Mississauga of the Credit and the Anishinabek Nations who are the current Protectors of this land. We also thank All Indigenous Canadians for sharing this land. We affirm our commitment to ensure that Hope United Church continues to live in Right Relations with all First Peoples. Let it be so.
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GATHERING HYMN:
MV # 85 - ““Take, O Take Me As I Am” (3x)
Take, O take me as I am
Summon out what I shall be;
Set your seal upon my heart
And live in me.
CALL TO WORSHIP
(United Church of Christ)
Let us humble ourselves as we seek the presence of the Sovereign God.
God is our helper, the upholder of life.
The Holy One saves and delivers, vindicates and redeems, listens and responds.
God is our helper, the upholder of life.
Give thanks to Holy Love and worship our Maker. God is our helper, the upholder of life.
OPENING HYMN MV #156 - “Dance With The Spirit”
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin',
walk with the Spirit throughout the long day. Work and hope for the new life abornin',
listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin',
move with the Spirit throughout the long day. Work and hope for the new life abornin',
listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
Dance with the Spirit early in the mornin',
sing with the Spirit throughout the long day.
Work and hope for the new life abornin',
listen to the Spirit to show you the way.
OPENING PRAYER
(Ministry Matters)
Lord, be with us this day, helping us to put our priorities in order; so that we may faithfully serve you by serving your people. Heal our spirits. Enable us to follow your ways all the days of our lives. AMEN.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle as a symbol of love, care,
peace and. May all who open themselves to this
light, walk always with an open heart, in the light
and love of the Lord. Amen.
“Touch Us With Your Light”
Light from this candle burning bright,
Light our way through dark of night.
Help us find our way to you,
Guide us, touch us with your Light, O Lord.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
(Ministry Matters)
God of patience and mercy, we come to you, offering “lip service” to serving you, but when things get difficult; when we are called to do something which is hard for us, we shy away from the duty and the opportunity. We turn our back on service out of fear of failure. Forgive us, gracious Lord. Heal our fears and our weaknesses. Strengthen us and give us courage to truly be your disciples, not counting the rewards, but rejoicing in the work. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
This day the Lord reaches out to you in healing love and compassion. Receive the blessings which God offers to you. Be healed and made whole. Be ready to serve. AMEN.
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GLORIA – VU # 37 (3X)
Gloria, gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
May the Peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
FIRST READING James 3:13-4:3
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
The Word of the LORD.
Thanks be to God.
VU # 724
Refrain: Blessed are those who
follow the law of God.
Blessed are those who do not follow the
counsel of the wicked,
or linger in the way of sinners,
But their delight is in the law of God,
And on that law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees planted beside a stream of water, Yielding their fruit in due season.
Their leaves od not whiter,
And whatever they produce shall prosper.
Refrain: Blessed are those who follow the law of God.
As for the wicked, it is not so with them,
But they are like the chaff,
Driven away by the wind.
Therefore the wicked shall not be able to stand,
When judgement comes,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For God watches over the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.
Refrain: Blessed are those who follow the law of God. GOSPEL READING Mark 9:30-37
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
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They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
The Word of the Lord!
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
VU # 578- “The Church is Wherever God’s People”
The church is wherever God’s people are praising Singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The church is wherever disciples of Jesus
Remember his story and walk in his way.
The church is wherever God’s people are helping, Caring for neighbours in sickness and health.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
The words of the bibles in gift and in deed.
SERMON: “When We Walk in His Way…”
- Rev Brian Stevens -
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
(United Church of Christ)
Wel give thanks to your name, Holy One, for it is good.” May our offering this day be one rested in generosity of love made real, available, and given with a free and open heart.We are ever grateful for all the gifts we receive from you and pray you receive our gifts for your kindom. May they resonate as a gift of your love, in our extended community and the world. Amen.
DOXOLOGY: VU # 540 - “Grant Us, God the Grace”
Grant us God the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free, That ourselves and all our living, we may offer faithfully.
PASTORAL PRAYER
(Ministry Matters)
God, how amazed we are at the solutions Jesus offers to his disciples when they question their importance to him and his kingdom. They want to know if they will receive the great rewards, if they will be recognized and praised for their accomplishments or at least their efforts. We are still so much like those early disciples.
We want you to know how hard we work. We want to be praised and recognized for our efforts and successes. And we want you to pass over our failures as though they were inconsequential. When Jesus was confronted with their fears and concerns, he responded that they should be ready for service rather than adulation, And then he placed a small child in their midst; a child with no guile, no pretense.
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me.” Help us to reach out to others, not with thought of importance or gain, but in love and compassion; truly caring for each one we meet. When we have done this, we will have truly given our hearts and our service to our Lord. AMEN.
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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 those who 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 ever. Amen. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thursday Seniors Lunch n’ Learn – September 26th at 12:30pm Following lunch, we will offer chair yoga with Sujena Suthaesun.
Choir Practice – Wednesday at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary
Danforth Village Children’s Choir - September 26 at 4:15pm. This is a community children’s choir for ages 7- 13. The tuition fee is $200 per semester. Register: danforthvillagechildrenschoir@gmail.com
Sunday, Oct. 6 – 1:30-3:30pm Embraced by the Story of Jesus! Join Gospel Storyteller the Rev. Dr. Gordon Postill, as he invokes the oral, storytelling tradition by reciting from memory the Gospel of Mark in its entirety.
Tickets are $10 for seniors & students, $15 for adults or $25 for a family. All proceeds to the “Let Your Light Shine” campaign to restore our windows. The event will be 2 hours in length with a 15-minute intermission. We will serve lunch after service that day, then come back upstairs for the show.
CLOSING PRAYER
(United Church of Christ)
May you go into the world renewed and refreshed
With humble and expectant peace
To witness to the love of God
The joy of the community of faith
And the hope of new life in Christ. Amen.
VU # 232 - “Joyful, Joyful”
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, life and love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before you, op’ning to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!
All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heav’n reflect your rays,
Stars and angels sing around you, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flow’ry meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird and flowing fountain, sound their praise eternally.
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.
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.
BENEDICTION
May you go into the world renewed and refreshed
With humble and expectant peace, to witness to the love of God The joy of the community of faith
And the hope of new life in Christ. Amen.
CHORAL BLESSING - “Walk In Love”
Walk in love as you go into the world,
Walk in peace with everyone you meet,
May God’s grace touch your heart, mind and soul… This day and evermore, Amen. Amen, Alleluia and Amen!
POSTLUDE – “Ragtime Cha Cha” by Melody Bober
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Please join us downstairs for hospitality following the service.
Hope United.ca
Church Office
416-691-9682
Office Hours
Wednesdays and Thursdays
10:00am – 2:00pm
HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com
Embraced by the Story of Jesus! The Gospel of Mark shared with you!
Sunday, October 6 at 1:30-3:30pm – Hope United
Join Gospel Troubadour, the Rev. Dr. Gordon Postill, as he invokes the oral, storytelling tradition by reciting from memory the Gospel of Mark in its entirety. This is an opportunity to be embraced by the Story of Jesus from beginning to end as told by the earliest of the four Gospel writers. The event itself, including a 15-minute intermission, will take less than 2 hours
Be there when Jesus is baptized, calls his disciples, and begins his ministry. Be there with Jesus when he heals the leper, restores hearing, speech and sight to those impaired, and casts out debilitating spirits from folks of all ages. Be there with Jesus when he feeds the five thousand, stills the storm, and walks on water. Be there with Jesus as he takes love, compassion, and forgiveness to levels far beyond the religious norms of his day even at the cost of losing his life. Be there with Jesus at Gethsemane and at Golgotha. Be there at Jesus’ empty tomb and hear that he has risen. Be there!
Gordon is a retired United Church of Canada
minister and lives in Montreal. Ordained in
1980, he served congregations in Nova
Scotia and Ontario before providing spiritual
care as a hospice chaplain to patients and
families in Florida and Massachusetts during
35 years of ministry. His memoir “Called! A
Longshot’s Story” was published in 2021.
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