Creation Time 5 in the Season of Pentecost
October 8, 2023 – 11:00am
Congregation of Hope United Church
2550 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Worship Leadership – John Michael Lee
Music Director – Marc Michalak
PRELUDE: “Gavotte” - By J.P. Rameau
The Berry Bird Harvest II
Donna Langhorne
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND
With respect, we acknowledge the world views, spirituality, history, and stewardship of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Wendat, Haudenshonee and Anishnaabe, on whose traditional lands our church resides.
We thank and honour the other indigenous peoples who share this land. As followers of the Jesus Way, we affirm our commitment as a people empowered to work in restoring broken relationships.
GATHERING HYMN - MV # 156 Dance With the Spirit
Dance with the spirit early in the morning,
Walk with the spirit throughout the long day.
Work and Hope for the new life a-born, listen to the spirit to show you the way. (3 times)
Our world is so divided, fragmented by anger and hate.
Lord, draw us together at the table of our Lord.
We open ourselves to the One who gave us nourishment and water for our survival. We bring ourselves before God our Creator.
Settlers, new immigrants and First Peoples: Pilgrims all.
Lord, we come to pray, to dance and to sing with God's Spirit .
Settlers, new immigrants and First Peoples: Pilgrims all
Let us worship the goodness of God, who is the centre of our Community and is the source of reconciling love.
Settlers, new immigrants and First Peoples: Pilgrims all.
OPENING HYMN
VU # 783 - “Bless the Earth”
To bless the earth sends us from heaven’s abundant store,
The waters of the springtime, enriching it once more.
The seed by God provided is sown o’er hill and plain,
And then come gentle showers to bless the springing grain.
God crowns the year with goodness, the earth God’s mercy fills,
The wilderness is singing a joyful song of praise.
With grain the fields are covered, the flocks in pastures graze;
All nature joins in singing a joyful song of praise.
God of all Creation, on this day of Thanksgiving, we come with open minds, loving hearts ready to hear the wisdom of Creation. May we evoke your humble heart within us. You have blessed us with a wonderful harvest for all to enjoy and embrace. May your words and song feed our souls and nourish us to continue our week of Thanksgiving. We ask this in your many names oh God of all. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession
God of mercy, we are all your children. Young and old alike, we come to you as broken vessels of your creation. Give us the courage to live and breathe the words you have gifted us with so that we may share the good news.
Forgive and help us, Oh Lord, to share your love and compassion in our community, our city and our world. AMEN.
Words of Assurance
Hear the good news, friends! The harvest is in. The fields are now prepared for next year's crops and We now can be blessed with the bounty of the land. This is the good news! God is always with us. AMEN.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle…a symbol of peace…
a symbol of Christ’s light in the world
…a symbol that love is more powerful than the darkest of nights.
May it burn brightly within us all. 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.
VU # 37 – “Gloria”
Gloria! Gloria!
In excelsis Deo!
Gloria! Gloria!
Alleluia, alleluia!
THE PEACE OF CHRIST
May the Peace of Christ
be with you always.
And also with you.
Deuteronomy 8: 7-18
God will bring you bountiful land
For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.
“Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes that I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them and when your herds and flocks have multiplied and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions.
He made water flow for you from flint rock. He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you and in the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
VU# 782
God provides; the valleys shout and sing.
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 burden 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.
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 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 song for joy.
Refrain: Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.
2 Corinthians 9 6-15
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,
“He scatters abroad; he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us, for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your partnership with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Hear the Good News of Christ!
Praise to you, O Christ.
MV #185 “Every day is a day of Thanksgiving “
Every day is a day of Thanksgiving.
God, you've been so good to me.
Every day you're blessing me.
Every day is a day of Thanksgiving.
I will glorify you O my Lord, today.
You keep blessing me, blessing me, blessing me.
You opened the door that I might see, you're blessing me.
And you keep blessing me, blessing me, blessing me
I will glorify you O my Lord, today!
SERMON John Michael Lee - “God bless the Farmers “
“For the Fruit of All Creation “
OFFERING PRAYER
Faithful God, we gratefully acknowledge that you are the giver of all things. You call us to share these gifts so that we may experience the joy and humility of giving to others. We pray that this very act of offering our gifts to you will enable us to be obedient disciples of your work. We are blessed to receive and to offer the message of salvation. Jesus Christ is Lord. Praise your holy name! Amen.
Doxology: MV #182 “Grateful”
Grateful for the life you give us,
Thankful for your Holy son,
Joyful for your spirit flowing over all, I God of love.
Grateful for the bread of Heaven,
Thankful for your Holy Word.
Joyful for your mercy flowing,
We will praise you.
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
We offer prayers to our Community of Faith and our Village at Main and Danforth. We ask for healing to those around us and within our circles of family and friends. We ask that you put your healing hands upon us all.
Creator the world is in turmoil and in this time of Thanksgiving, may peace and stability come to this fragile earth and all nations.
Let there be peace on earth.
We offer prayers to the farmers and cultivators and thank them and all who toil the soil so we may be fed. We give thanks for the water of life. And Creator as we give thanks for the shelter that we all take for granted, may we offer prayers to all who need homes to call their own. This Village called Canada is a beautiful place, let us all remember those that have come before us and give thanks that we live in a peaceful nation. We offer our prayers to you Great Spirit, our God. Amen.
VU # 959 – “The Lord’s Prayer”
Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us this today our daily bread, forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us, from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory, are yours
Now and forever.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you to everyone who helps out this week with our Thursday seniors lunch at 12:30pm. Suggested donation is $5.00
October 28th Jazz Vespers will be a fundraising concert for our Jazz Program. It will feature Ori Dagan, Bill MacLean and Shannon Butcher.
Rev. Brian Stevens is on medical leave and will return to lead Worship Service on November 12th. Glen Greenwood will be with us on October 15th.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Closing Prayer
We thank you O Lord for your presence in our lives. Encourage us, nudge us, guide us to live with you rested upon our hearts. As we journey, may compassion be our guiding light. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
VU # 220 " Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, who rules all creation!
O my soul, praise him, at all times your health and salvation!
Come all who hear: brothers and sisters draw near,
Joining in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord! Above all things so mightily reigning,
Keeping us safe at his side, and so gently sustaining.
Have you not seen how all you needed has been
Met by God’s gracious ordaining.
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper our work and defend us;.
Surely his goodness and mercy will daily attend us;
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who out of love doth befriend us.
.
Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the “amen” sound from God’s people again:
Gladly with praise we adore him.
BENEDICTION
(Dorothy McRae-McMahon)
May the love of God embrace us
May the grace of Jesus challenge us
The power of the Holy Spirit renew us. Amen
(WCC Assembly 2022)
May God the Great Creator,
go on creating within us,
Christ Jesus be our company
and the Holy Spirit surround us
with eternal grace. 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: “Spirit" by C. Norton
Please join us downstairs for Hospitality & Fellowship!
Hope United.ca
Church Administrator
Megan Stone - 416-691-9682
Office Hours
Wednesday &Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm
Email: HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com