Congregation of Hope United Church
2550 Danforth Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
July 2, 2023 – 11:00am
WHAT COLOUR IS THE SKY IN YOUR WORLD?
Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around.
Ezekiel 1:28
Worship Leadership
Cheryl Stenson
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Guest Musician
Mikey Zahorak
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PRELUDE
Frank Polson
Land Acknowledgement and Declaration of Safe Space
No longer in denial, we acknowledge the great injustices perpetrated against those who lived on and cared for this land long before the settler ancestors arrived. We pray that, with compassion and determination, we will continue to make ourselves aware of the impact of Residential Schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the suppression of Indigenous culture and tradition. Acknowledgment is a beginning, but amends must follow: amends made in action – real, practical action – that equalizes the lived experience in this country of all God’s children. …And, as we offer respect to those people native to this land, we offer welcome and a safe space to everyone and anyone.
Ramana Maharshi was an Indian Hindu sage who lived from 1879 to 1950. When asked the question, “How should we treat others?” His response was, “There are no others.”
We strive to manifest our belief that there are no others. There is just “us.” Neither race nor gender nor sexual orientation, nor any human-conceived barrier, stands in the way of our welcome to all God’s children. We celebrate the diversity of God’s creation with open arms and hearts.
One:Dear God, we return to sanctuary this day,
All: sanctuary of space and spirit,
One:to be nourished by your word
All: and gentled by your love.
One:May each of us grow toward a deeper faith
All: of our own understanding,
One:connected to each other as siblings in Christ
All: and to God as seekers of Truth. Amen.
Gathering Hymn - VU # 291 – “All Things Bright And Beautiful”
Refrain: All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
in love, God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours,
God made their tiny wings. Refrain
The purple-headed mountains,
the river running by,
the sunset and the morning
that brightens up the sky. Refrain
The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden:
God made them every one. Refrain
The rocky mountain splendour,
The lone wolf’s haunting call,
The ripe fruits in the garden:
God made them every one. Refrain
He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God our maker,
who has made all things well. Refrain
One: Dear God, source of our being
All: and home of our hearts,
One: You guide us through our days, our weeks, All: our months, our years.
One: Eternally available to us
All: in love and power.
One: You are author to joy
All: and relief to sorrow.
One: We see renewal in nature
All: and know that we are part of that design. One: We find goodness in humanity
All: and know that its origin is You.
One: You are the light of our souls,
All: our highest calling.
One: Here and now, we bring you our true selves, All: gratefully answering Your call. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST
CANDLE
We light this candle as a symbol of the eternal
light of Christ, the light that exposes injustice
and cruelty; the light that illuminates our way
to fulfilling God’s will on earth.
This candle is our beacon and our hope.
“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
One:God of All Understanding, our vision
is often distorted by glaring distractions.
All: Help us to see clearly.
One:In a universe of deep colour,
we often exist in beige.
All: Embolden us to live in bright hues.
One:When gentle humility would be welcomed above brashness, All: soften us to find pastels.
One:When we would argue that black is white,
All: help us see another viewpoint.
One:Abundant God, we are over-cautious when sheer abandon is needed. All: Bathe us in the vibrancy of this earth
One:and the expansive life you offer.
All: Colour us ready.
One:Colour us willing.
All: Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
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
VU # 296 – “This Is God’s Wondrous World”
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.
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.
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?
The voices sing, let the heavens ring:
God reigns; let earth be glad!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 9: 12-17
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said toNoah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Revelation 21: 10-12; 18-21
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
REFLECTION: “What Colour Is the Sky in Your World?” - Cheryl Stenson, LLWL
MUSIC MINISTRY
OFFERING PRAYER
Dear God, we pray that these gifts
will brighten the lives and hearts of
those who receive them.
May they make a difference where
it is most needed. Amen.
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
Prayer Prelude: VU # 400 - “Lord, Listen To Your Children Praying”
Lord, listen to your children
praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children
praying.
Send us love, send us power, send
us grace.
One:We thank you, God, for the vital and exuberant life you offer us. All: Colour us grateful.
One:Our souls are fed by revelations you bring us
All: and we are reborn in those moments.
One:As deep as our gratitude is the depth of our love
All: for family and friends who suffer.
One:We ask for their comfort and healing.
All: As vast as your love is our concern for our world.
One:May humankind be relieved of the evils that plague us.
All: Bathe us in your grace.
One:We take a moment now for personal, silent prayers, perhaps too delicate to utter…..
God, may our prayers be answered with the gentle force of your will and the vastness of your unfathomable friendship and love.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thanks to Cheryl Stenson for leading our Worship Service today!
On June 24-25 Zolatan Ola and Rev Brian led our first Youth Adventure Ministry excursion to Kawartha Highlands Park. It was a two-day canoe trip with 6 youth. We had a great experience.
The youth were from Canada, Korea and Japan. A highlight of the trip was fresh fish for lunch which were caught by Zoltan and Oliver!
On Monday, June 19th, commenced on the Danforth Window. This has been a project we have been preparing for; as the window has been due for restoration for some time. The approximate cost will be $80,000 or $200 per square foot. We will need to launch a Stewardship campaign to assemble the resources to cover the cost of restoration.
We welcome your creative ideas and input. Our first project will be counting the rectangle panes of glass. With a donation of $50.00 for each rectangle, we can cover a significant portion of the cost. You will find more information on the table by the entrance.
Donations to The Danforth Window Project can be made through the following ways…
- E-transfers can be sent to: hopeunitedchurch@gmail.com
- Cheques made payable to: “Hope United Church”
- Cash In Offering Envelopes
*Please indicate in the Memo field: “Danforth Window” for us to allocate these important donations into the proper fund*
Many Thanks for your support!
MV # 143 - “We Cannot Own The Sunlit Sky”
We cannot own the sunlit sky, the moon, the wild-flowers growing, for we are part of all that is within life’s river flowing.
With open hands receive and share the gifts of God’s creation,
that all may have abundant life in every earthly nation.
When bodies shiver in the night and weary wait for morning,
when children have no bread but tears, and war horns sound their warning. God calls humanity to awake, to join in common labour,
that all may have abundant life, in oneness with their neighbour.
God calls humanity to join as partners in creating
a future free from want or fear, life’s goodness celebrating.
That new world beckons from afar, invites our shared endeavour, that all might have abundant life and peace endure forever.
COMMISSIONING
One:Let us leave this sanctuary today
All: to bring sanctuary of spirit to others.
One:Let us find moments of glorious colour in our lives
All: that spills over to those around us.
One:Let us walk with a lighter step
All: guided by our God who loves us
One:and offers us EVERYTHING:
All: everything that really counts.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
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
Please join us downstairs for fellowship following the service!
Thank you to everyone who assisted with our Service of Worship. Blessings to all!
Church Administrator – Megan Stone
hopeunitedchurch@gmail.com
416-691-9682
Office Hours
Wednesdays &Thursdays
9:30am – 4:30pm
Hope United.ca