Sunday, October 18, 2020 - World Food Sunday

October 17, 2020 Brian Stevens - Hope United Church

October 18, 2020 - 11:00am
World Food Sunday
The Congregation of Hope United Church
2550 Danforth Avenue, Toronto Ontario, Canada

Worship Leader - Brian Stevens BA. MDiv

HopeUnited.ca

PRELUDE

WELCOME
Welcome everyone to our Sunday worship. My name is Brian Stevens, I am the Pastoral Charge Supervisor at Hope United in Toronto, Canada. We are so pleased to have you with us today. Our musician today is Sandy. You can type greetings and comments at any time in the chat. A copy of the order of service was emailed out with your invitation. It is also available on our Facebook page and website HopeUnited.ca.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND
With respect, we acknowledge the world views, spirituality, history and stewardship of the Mississauga of Scugog, the Hiawatha and the Alderville First Nations, 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.

GREETING
I greet you in the name of our risen Lord and welcome you to our service of worship this World Food Sunday. We continue to celebrate the abundance of creation as we begin our fall harvest, yet do this knowing we have yet to achieve food for all. Let us gather hearts in song.

“I Have Called You By Your Name” …The words will also appear on your screen and it is found in More Voices # 161.

MV # 161 “I Have Called You By Your Name”
I have called you by your name, you are mine,
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.

I will help you learn my name, as you go;
Read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim,
Offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

I know you will need my touch as you go;
Feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith instead of doubt,
Hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.

I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
Go and tell my precious people they are mine.

CALL TO WORSHIP

We know that hunger exists…
Yet it is growing.
We also know that hunger need not exist
Yet it is still growing …
Christ calls us to do all that we can
To grow food, not hunger
To share food,
That all may be fed, and hunger no more.
Amen.

OPENING PRAYER
Let us take a few quiet moments to give thanks and to pray for our neighbors who will not eat enough this day… that they may be filled, and for our country and those who shape its policies: that the elimination of hunger may truly become a national priority, both here and in every land.

Let us pray for ourselves that we may be filled with such love for those who hunger that we commit ourselves to unaccustomed actions that will send a strong, determined signal to world leaders to work for an end to hunger on our bountiful planet earth.

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle as a symbol…
A symbol of Christ’s light in the world.
May it burn brightly within us all. Amen.

Sandy will now lead us in, “Touch Us With Your Light”.
The words will appear on your screen.
We will sing it through twice.

“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
(Jan Berry, England, in Bread of Tomorrow)
God, You heap your love upon us like a parent providing for a family’s needs, embracing a child with tenderness. Forgive us when, like spoiled children, we treat Your generosity as our right, or hug it possessively to ourselves. Give us enough trust to live secure in Your love and to share it freely with others in open-handed confidence that Your grace will never run out. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GRACE
(Nathan Nettleton)
Jesus, the Son of God, was tempted in every way that we are, and is now at the throne of grace presenting to God our case for mercy. Therefore, we can approach God in confidence. Sisters and Brothers, your sins are forgiven; be at peace.

Let us sing together, three times through, the “Gloria”. It is Voices United # 37. The words will also appear on your screen.

Voices United # 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.

Gavin will unmute our mics so that we may greet one another!

FIRST READING Exodus 33:12-33

Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

PSALM 99 Voices United # 819

Refrain: You rule with justice in delight, and faithfulness maintain.

You reign, O God, and the peoples tremble.
You sit enthroned upon the cherubim, and the earth is quaking.
You, O God, are great in Zion,
You are exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name:
Holy are you and mighty, a ruler who delights in justice.
You have determined what is fair,
You have done in Jacob what is just and right.

Refrain: You rule with justice in delight, and faithfulness maintain.

Moses and Aaron were among your priests,
Miriam amongst those who called on your name;
They called to you, God, and you answered.
In the pillar of cloud you spoke to them,
They kept your teachings and the law that you gave them.
O God, our God, you answered them;
To them you were a forgiving God
Though you punished their offences.
Proclaim the greatness of God
And worship on God’s holy hill;
For God, our God, is the Holy One.

Refrain: You rule with justice in delight, and faithfulness maintain.

GOSPEL READING Matthew 22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Hear the Good News of Christ!
Praise to you, O Christ.

Let us join our hearts and voices in the singing of “We Praise You O God”.
The words will be found on your screen and are found in Voices United # 218.

“We Praise You O God”
We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator;
in grateful devotion our tribute we bring.
We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;
we bless your holy name; glad praises we sing.

We worship you; God ever faithful, we bless you;
through life's storm and tempest our guide you have been.
When perils o'ertake us, you will not forsake us,
and with your help, O Lord, life's battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
and gladly our songs of true worship we raise.
Our sins now confessing, we pray for your blessing;
to you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.

REFLECTION: “A World Without Hunger! ” - Brian Stevens BA MDiv

MUSIC MINISTRY
“He Shall Feed His Flock” (from Messiah, by George Frederick Handel) sung by Sandy
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd,
And He shall gather the lambs with his arm
With his arm
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd
And He shall gather the lambs with his arm
With his arm
And carry them in his bosom.
And gently lead those
That are with young
And gently lead those
And gently lead those
That are with young.

Come unto Him
All ye that labour,
Come unto Him, ye
That are heavy laden.
And He will give you rest
Come unto Him
All ye that labour,
Come unto Him, ye
That are heavy laden
And He will give you rest.

Take his yoke upon you
And learn of Him;
For He is meek
And lowly of heart,
And ye shall find rest,
And ye shall find rest
Unto your souls.

MORNING OFFERING
At this time we acknowledge the importance of sharing our abundance with our congregation and community, with those in need, with those who simply seek a warm meal and words of comfort. Let us offer thanks for the blessings and bounty in our lives…

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
(World Food Day Resources)
God of Justice and Mercy…The gifts we bring are so small in comparison to the vast needs in our world…

Nowhere near enough to save the thousands who are dying of starvation or malnutrition, or even to meet the needs of the hungry and homeless in our city. Yet we come with open hands…bringing what we can.

As you once multiplied the five loaves and two fish, multiply these gifts as well, so that, once again, the hungry may receive all they need, and more. Amen.

Let us join our voices in thanks as we sing “For the Fruits of all Creation”. It is the first verse from Voices United # 227 and the words will also appear on the screen.

“For the Fruits of all Creation”
For the fruits of all creation,
Thanks be to God!
For the gifts to every nation,
Thanks be to God!
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping
Silent needs while we are sleeping
Future needs in earth’s safe keeping
Thanks be to God!

PRAYER INTERCESSIONS
Compassionate God,
You have compassion enough for all.