August 18, 2024 – 11:00am
Congregation of Hope United Church 2550 Danforth Ave.
Worship Leadership – Glen Greenwood Music Director – Marc Michalak
Guest Musician – Miguel Brito
PRELUDE - Miguel Brito
“Healing Together”
By Simone Mcleod
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 # 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.
CALL TO WORSHIP
In a world of unbelief, we set aside this time to connect with faith. We come carrying worries and fears, losses and dreams.
We are ready to open our hearts to God’s grace.
We come bearing the stresses of our week and deep-felt concerns.
We are ready to open our minds to God’s word.
We come feeling overwhelmed and unsure, with too little hope.
We are ready to open our lives to God’s Spirit.
We come as we are, to be fed and embraced by God’s eternal love.
OPENING HYMN
VU # 232 - “Joyful, Joyful We Adore You”
Joyful, joyful, we adore you,
God of glory, life and love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive our fear and doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
sound their praise eternally.
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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 lifts us sunward
in the triumph song of life.
OPENING PRAYER
(Gathering, Pentecost 1 2024 Year B)
There is a moment in our lives when, if we stop to listen, the whole world begins to vibrate with hints of wonder. God speaks in that moment.
To such a time, we have come. Let us celebrate new life in our family, reflect on who we are, and where we have been. Let us worship our living God.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
For centuries we have used candles to light our
way. The lighting of the Christ candle reminds us
of the guiding light of Jesus, an ever-present light, that illuminates our path as people of faith, and
guides us on our way through the darkest of
nights and the most joyous of days.
“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
In peace, we can let your light touch our deepest place, Rock of Ages, Rainbow of Love.
We slip, we err, we lose our way.
In quiet moments, we can confess the sin that has harmed us and the sin by which others have been harmed.
We often behave as if we are not loved,
as if you do not love every other creature,
as if we are not lovable at all.
(a time of silent prayer)
Touch us with your light, we pray.
Let us glow with the rainbow light of love.
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
(Robin Wardlaw, Toronto, Ont.)
Love persists.
Love knocks on the door and doesn’t stop.
Love waits for us to open and welcome it in.
Be assured that you are lovable and loved.
Be assured that you have endless love within you because you are God’s beloved child.
Thanks be to God!
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VU # 37 (3X)
Gloria, Gloria, in
excelsis deo!
Gloria, Gloria, Alleluia,
Alleluia!
THE PEACE OF CHRIST
The Peace of Christ be with you
always.
And also with you.
FIRST READING
1 Kings 2:1-12,1 Kings 3:3-14
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.
Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this
very day.
“Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”
The Word of the LORD.
Thanks be to God.
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Psalm 111 - VU # 833
Refrain: Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
I thank the God with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in their assembly. Great are your works, O God,
studied by all who delight in them.
Honour and majesty are your work;
Your righteousness endures forever.
You have won renown for your wonders; You are gracious and full of compassion. Refrain
You give food to those who fear you;
You keep your covenant always in mind.
You have shown your power in action,
Giving your people the heritage of nations. Th works of your hands are faithful and just; All your precepts trustworthy.
They stand fast and forever and ever;
Grounded in justice and truth.
You sent redemption to your people;
You decreed your covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is your name. Refrain
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; Those who practice it have good understanding. May your praise endure forever. Refrain.
SECOND READING Ephesians 5:15-20
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the LORD.
Thanks be to God.
VU # 356 - “Seek Ye First The Kingdom”
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And God’s righteousness
And all these things
Shall be added unto you
Hallelu Hallelujah
Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and you shall find
Knock and the door
Shall be opened unto you
Hallelu Hallelujah
We do not live by bread alone
But by ev'ry word
That proceeds
From the mouth of God
Hallelu Hallelujah
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SERMON - Glen Greenwood
OUR MORNING OFFERING
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
DOXOLOGY - MV # 191 - “What Can I Do?”
What can I do? … What can I bring?...What can I say? What can I sing? …I’ll sing with joy !...I’ll say a prayer I’ll bring my love! …I’ll do my share!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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
Thank you to Glen Greenwood for leading service today & Miguel Brito for musical accompaniment!
Marc Michalak, our music director, is on holiday for the month of August. Rev Brian will be away August 9 – 24.
Summer Worship Schedule
August 25 ~ Worship Leadership - Rev. Brian Stevens Musician – Mikey Zahorak
September 1 ~ Worship Leadership – Cheryl Stenson Musician – Marc Michalak
Church Office Hours – Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am- 2pm
CLOSING PRAYER
As we go forth, let us give thanks and glory to God. Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the church, and in Christ Jesus,
forever and ever. Amen.
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VU # 884 - “You Shall Go Out With Joy” You shall go out with joy
and be led forth with peace,
the mountains and the hills
will break forth before you,
there’ll be shouts of joy,
and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands!
And all of the trees in the field
will clap their hands,
the trees of the field
will clap their hands,
the trees of the field
will clap their hands
while you go out with joy.
BENEDICTION AND BLESSING
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 - Miguel Brito
Please join us downstairs for hospitality following the service.
Hope United.ca
Church Office
416-691-9682
Summer Office Hours
Wednesdays and Thursdays
10:00am – 2:00pm
HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com
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