November 1, 2020 - 11:00am
All Saints Day - Peace Sunday
The Congregation of Hope United Church
2550 Danforth Avenue, Toronto Ontario, Canada
Rev. Brian Stevens BA. MDiv
HopeUnited.ca
Kandinsky
PRELUDE
WELCOME
Welcome everyone to our Sunday on-line Service of Worship. It is the 1st Sunday in November; a day upon which we celebrate All Saints Day. My name is Rev. Brian Stevens, I am the Minister here at Hope United in Toronto, Canada. We are very pleased to have you with us today.
Our musicians today are Sandy and myself. You can type greetings and comments at any time in the chat. The order of service will appear on your screen and is also available on our Facebook page and at HopeUnited.ca. We will be celebrating communion today, so if you have not already done so, please gather together a small juice as well as a wafer, cracker or morsel of bread for the communal blessing.
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 . We begin our celebration with the singing of “Shall We Gather at the River”. It is found in Voices United # 710.
Shall we gather at the river?
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
Ere we reach the shining river,
Lay we every burden down.
Grace our spirits will deliver,
And provide a robe and crown
Yes, we'll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God.
Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease,
Soon our happy hearts will quiver, with the melody of peace.
Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river, that flows by the throne of God.
CALL TO WORSHIP
( Seasons of the Spirit)
In all our weakness and strength,
with our youth-filled spirits and aging bodies,
We come to be your people, O God.
Strong in faith and eager with questions,
singing our praise and whispering our prayers,
We come to be your people, O God
Filled with saintly determination
yet mindful of our human limitations,
We come to be your people, O God.
Made strong in your endless love for us,
we know ourselves to be yours and
We come to be your people, O God.
May we truly become your people today. Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
God, our Father, source of all holiness, the work of your hands is manifest in your saints , the beauty of your truth is reflected in their faith. May we who aspire to have part in their joy be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that having shared their faith on earth we may also know their peace in your kingdom. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
LITANY OF SAINTS
In honour of All Saints Day I composed music for a “ Litany of the Saints” which is a standard text for today. Sandy and I recorded it at Hope United on Thursday. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/NWUdOVNWTx8.
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy Lord have mercy
Pray for us! Pray for us!
Holy Mary Mother of God Pray for us!
Saint Michael, Holy angel Pray for us!
Abraham, Moses and Elijah Pray for us!
Saint Joachim and Saint Anne Pray for us!
Saint Joseph and Saint John the Baptist Pray for us!
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Saint Andrew and Saint John
Saint Mary Magdalene Pray for us!
Saint Stephen Saint Ignatius Pray for us!
Saint Lawrence Saint John de Brebeouf Pray for us!
Canadian Martyrs Saint Perpetua Saint Felicity and Saint Agnes
Pray for us! Pray for us!
Saint Gregory Saint Augustine Saint Athanasius Saint Basil
Saint Catherine of Sienna Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Martin Blessed Francois de Laval Pray for us!
Saint Benedict, Saint Francis Xavier Saint Dominic Saint John Vianny
Saint Francis and Saint Marguerite Pray for us!
Saint Marguerite D'Youville Pray for us!
Saint Monica Saint Louis Pray for us!
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Pray for us!
Holy men and Holy women Pray for us!
Keep us free from all temptation Bless your church and all the faithful
Pray for us! Eternal rest for all your servants
Pray for us! Pray for us!
Touch us with your grace and Spirit Pray for us!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Our lives are full of mistakes and errors – places where we follow self-generated ideas instead of the guidance of Spirit. We are not alone in these mistakes – all of those who have come before us also were plagued with temptation and sin.
Let us come before God, as generations of believers have done, and pray for God’s forgiveness and grace.
Beloved God, who was known to our mothers and fathers, and our spiritual forebears, have mercy on us.
We do not always love you with all our heart….In our stubbornness, we turn from you when we should turn toward you. Hold us…guide us… redirect us to your path…. that we may once more open our eyes to the light of Christ…our beacon of Hope. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Written by Rev. Lucus Keppel- Liturgy Link
We praise you for the grace you shower on us,
constantly forgiving our errors,
especially the ones that we don’t share with any but you.
Hear now the silent fears and
worries of our hearts. We rest our hearts upon
Your grace, knowing always your kind forgiveness. Amen.
In response, we sing the Gloria.
It is found in Voices United # 37.
“Gloria”
Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis deo
Gloria, Gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis deo
Gloria, Gloria, alleluia, alleluia!
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.
(Un-mute to greet one another!)
FIRST READING Joshua 3: 7-:17
And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.
It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Voices United # 831
(Parts one and four)
Refrain: O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
O give thanks, for God is gracious;
God’s steadfast love endures for ever.
Let the redeemed of God say so,
Those redeemed from trouble.
Whom God gathered in from the lands,
From the east and the west,
From the north and the south.
Refrain: O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
Some lost their way in desert wastes,
Finding no place to settle,
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to you, God in their trouble;
You rescued them from their distress.
You led them by a straight path,
Til they reached a place to settle.
Let them thanks you, O God, for your steadfast love,
For the wonders you do for us.
For you satisfy the thirsty,
And fill the hungry with good things.
Refrain: O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
You turn rivers into desert,
Springs of water into thirsty ground.
A fruitful land you make a salty waste,
Because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.
But you turn deserts into standing pools,
Dry lands into springs of water,
To give the hungry a home, a place where they can settle.
They sow fields and plant vineyards,
That yield a fruitful harvest.
You bless them and their numbers increase.
You do not let their herds diminish.
Whoever is wise, ponder these things.
Consider God’s unfailing love.
Refrain: O give thanks to God for steadfast love.
GOSPEL READING Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.
“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
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: “Saints Among Us! ” - Brian Stevens BA MDiv
MUSIC MINISTRY
Peace Like a River, Traditional, arr. Douglas E. Wagner - Piano & Vocals - Sandy
( https://youtu.be/amasdxxcg_g )
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in my soul.
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river in my soul.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, singin'
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.
I've got peace like a river , (Amen,)
I've got peace like a river, (Amen,)
I've got peace like a river, (Amen,)
in my soul. (Amen, Amen)
singing,
I've got peace like a river , (Amen,)
I've got peace like a river, (Amen,)
I've got peace like a river, (Amen,)
in my soul. (Amen, Amen)
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.
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
Lord, You have provided many blessings. We come to You today in thanksgiving and our hearts look heavenward. You have provided us a home to take shelter in, clothes to keep us warm, food to nourish our body and water to keep us from being thirsty.
You have given us eyes to see your beautiful creations, a nose to smell the scent of the flowers, ears to hear the birds humming so sweetly in the morning and hands to touch the lives of many. For all these gifts we offer thanks, and now offer our gifts, simple presents, for the good use of the community and all those in need of your blessing. Amen
Let us join our voices in thank 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
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit
may so move every human heart and especially
the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers
which divide us may crumble, suspicions
disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions
being healed, we may live in justice and peace
seeing Christ as our example.
We pray to the Lord….
Lord hear our prayer!
For the families and friends of the victims of the attack in Nice…
Our hearts are shaken…our hearts are broken
That people should be harmed…killed in a sacred space.
May the warmth of our prayers embrace and hold them in the days ahead
We pray to the Lord….
Lord hear our prayer!
For the saints and martyrs who have gone before us…
Many laid down their lives in faith for their love and devotion of Christ.
May we learn from their dedication, from their faith…
What it is to love God with all your heart, mind and soul
We pray to the Lord….
Lord hear our prayer!
For our sisters and brothers in the United States…
The next few days will be a tumultuous time.
Let us offer prayers that all voices may be heard
That truth may prevail…
And that all will be safe int eh days and months ahead
We pray to the Lord….
Lord hear our prayer!
Intentions may now be offered, and persons named,
aloud or in the quiet of our hearts…
(mics will be unmuted at this time)
For all those intentions now offered and persons named,
aloud or in the quiet of our hearts…
We pray to the Lord….
Lord hear our prayer!
And with the words our Saviour taught us….we sing
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.
LITURGY OF COMMUNION
God be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift our hearts in prayer
Let us give thanks to God
It is good to give God thanks and praise
Loving God, source of all, we thank you and praise you with our lips and with our lives, that, having created us and all things through your word, you welcome our prayer and praise. For the goodness of creation and the glory of redemption we praise you. For your risen presence on this day we thank you as we are grateful for the law and prophets who came before you.
Therefore, with all that is seen and unseen, and with all the faithful of every time and place, we join in this hymn of praise and thanksgiving…
MV # 203 Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus and Benedictus)
O holy, holy, holy God,
O God of time and space.
All earth and sea and sky above
bear witness to your grace.
Hosanna in the highest heav’n,
creation sings your praise,
And blessed is the One who comes
and bears your name always!
Loving God, Holy one, we offer our praise and thanksgiving over this bread and cup, because in Jesus Christ you have joined yourself forever with us, uniting heaven and earth. Now, therefore, we gratefully remember:
Jesus’ birth into our humanity,
Baptism for our sin,
Compassion for our suffering,
Intimacy with our fragility,
Rebuke of our pride,
Bearing the cross with its death,
And rising from the tomb by the power of God.
On the night before he died, Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave you thanks, broke it and said Take, eat, this is my body broken for you. Each time you do this, remember me.
Then Jesus took a cup, and having given thanks, he passed it to his friends saying: Drink. This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this in remembrance of me. Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
MV # 204 Memorial Acclamation
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come a-gain!
Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen,
Christ will come a-gain!
Loving God, come to us and bless these gifts of bread and wine that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ; the sign and seal of our forgiveness in him and our adoption as the children of God.. As we eat and drink together, on this happy day, make us one with Christ and one in Christ, a sign of his eternal reign in the world.
This sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving we offer you, loving God, though Jesus Christ our Saviour, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Life-giving God may we who share in Christ’s body
live his risen life;
We, who drink this cup, bring new life to others;
We, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
MV # 205 Great Amen
Amen, amen O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen!
Amen, amen O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Online Worship next Sunday, November 8 at 11:00am will be our Remembrance Day Sunday. We hope to have another great story from Sylvia as well as a reading of the roll.
For our Messy Church we plan to do a mini War Time Radio Show and hope to share an excerpt with you next Sunday.
We have wind again!... The blower motor for our pipe organ was re-installed Friday afternoon and is purring along very nicely.
Next Sunday, November 8 we will offer our veterans, seniors and families of our community a take-a-way lasagna supper. Meals may be picked up between 1:00-2:00pm.
If you need a meal(s) or know of someone who needs a meal delivered, please email or call/text 647-825-5136 to let us know. If you would like to volunteer, we will need people to help prepare the food Thursday and Friday, then pack into take-a-way containers on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday we will need assistance delivering as well as assisting with the meal pick up.
“Remembrance Day” “Messy Church” - November 11 at 6:00pm.
We will invite people to participate in some “ Remembrance Activities” and offer a mini War Time Radio Show. If you would like to read a part or commercial or sing, please let Brian know so he can book a time to record.
This will be a virtual event and zoom will be the same as our Sunday service.
You can also call in using: 647 374 4685 or 647 558 0588
Meeting ID is: 831 7846 1579
Or click on the following link on your computer: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83178461579
Yoga!
I met with Stacey Boreman this week to start planning the logistics for an “On-line/virtual yoga class”. It looks like we will be ready to launch our on-line Yoga Class by Mid November.
Orchestra Toronto has rescheduled their October concert to Sunday, December 6 at 1:00pm and 4:00pm.
Jazz Vespers and Music on A Sunday Afternoon will also re-launch in virtual formats this month. Dates to be announced.
CLOSING PRAYER
(Church of our Saviour)
May You know that God’s Spirt is beside you to befriend you,
above you to watch over you, and within you to give you courage.
May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always. Amen.
Let us clearly recognize what it means to be called the children
Sandy will lead us in our closing hymn “Praise to the Lord the Almighty”.
It is found in Voices United #220 and the words will appear on your screen.
“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 will befriend us
Praise to the Lord
O 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
BLESSING AND BENEDICTION
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Go in peace to love one another and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
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 stay with us following the service
for a few moments to chat.
Mics will be unmuted so all can say hello.
Thank you to everyone who assisted with
our Service of Worship.
Blessings to all and keep safe!
Hope United.ca
