June 14, 2020 - 11:00am

Second Sunday after Pentecost

The Congregation of Hope United Church

Pastoral Charge Supervisor - Brian Stevens  BA. MDiv

WELCOME

Welcome everyone. My name is Brian Stevens, I am the Pastoral Charge Supervisor and Worship Leader at Hope United Church in Toronto. We are so pleased to have you with us today.  Our musicians today are Marion, Sandy and Suzanne. Gavin is our Zoom host assisting with our sound. You can type hellos and greetings at any time in the chat. A copy of the order of service was mailed out with your invitation. It is also available on our website HopeUnited.ca

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND (Sheldon)

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 (Brian)

I greet you in the name of our risen Lord and welcome you to our on-line service of worship. Let us join together in the singing of our opening hymn “How Great Thou Art”  

The words will also appear on your screen and it is # 238 in Voices United.

VU 238   “How Great Thou Art” (Sandy)

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hand hath made.
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

But when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow with humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

CALL TO WORSHIP (Marion and Suzanne)

Come and give thanks to our God. 

Sing praises to the holy name.

With the melody of the lute and the harp

With joyful songs in our hearts.

Let us declare God’s steadfast love in the morning

And faithfulness at night.

God’s works make us glad.

Your works are great, O God. 

We sing our praises of joy to you. 

OPENING PRAYER (Jimmy)

We gather in your name O Lord, at this time, not in one place. Yet we are of one heart, joined together in joyful worship and praise. Joined together as one by Christ, our light and beacon of hope in a world of darkness.

Let us not lose hope or faith, let us not be betrayed by those who seek dominance and power, rather than peace and co-operation. Guide us Lord to walk in your light, this day and always. Amen

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE (Brian)

We light this candle as a symbol of Christ’s light in the world. May it burn brightly within us all. Amen.

Let us sing together, twice through, “Touch us With Your Light”. The words will appear on your screen.

“Touch us with Your Light” (Sandy)

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 (Suzanne)

Let us take a moment of silence and reflect on our own lives, on our limitations, on the moments when we have not been our best selves

Moment of silence….

Gracious God, you are indeed generous. 

You gave us the gifts of the spirit which enabled us

to have so much. 

We forget, however, that we have been recipients

of other people’s generosity.                                    

Believing that what we have is ours,

we forget that all we have is yours. 

Forgive us….

Help us to remember that being made in your image,

we should be as generous as you.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GRACE (Bruce)

Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’
After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;
If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ 

Christ assures us of grace and forgiveness as we journey

And of His peace rested upon our hearts. Amen

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

VU # 37    “Gloria” (Sandy)  (sung three times through)

Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis deo,

Gloria, Gloria, alleluia, alleluia!

THE PEACE OF CHRIST    (Brian)

     May the Peace of Christ be with you always.

     And also with you.

Let us take a moment to greet one another! Mics will be unmuted.

FIRST READING   Romans 5:1-8        (Sandra Cox)

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

VU 732         PSALM 116

(Text- Tess and Bruce   Sandy - Refrain)

Refrain: How can I repay you God,

  for all the goodness you show to me?

I love you, God, because you heard my voice when I made supplication,

Because you turned your ear to me, when I called upon your name.

The cords of death entangled me, and the pangs of the grace laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish.

Then I called upon the name of God;

       “O God, I pray, save my life.”

Refrain: How can I repay you God,

  for all the goodness you show to me?

How can I repay you God, for all the good things you have done for me?

I will take up the cup of salvation,

And call upon the name of God.

I will pay my vows in the presence of all God’s people.

Refrain: How can I repay you God,

  for all the goodness you show to me?

Precious in the sight of God is the death of the saints.

       O God, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the child of your maidservant.

       You have freed me from my bonds

I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

       And will call upon the name of God.

I will pay my vows in the presence of all God’s people.

In the courts of the house of God, in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Refrain: How can I repay you God,

  for all the goodness you show to me?

GOSPEL READING        Matthew 9:35-10:8 (Brian)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.  As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Hear the Good News of Christ!

Praise to you, O Christ.

VU 508   “Just As I Am”     (Sandy)

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind.
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about,
With many a conflict, many a doubt.
Fighting and fears within without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thy love unknown,
Has broken every barrier down.
Now to be thine, yea thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

REFLECTION:  “Sheep Without a Shepherd”     (Brian)

MUSIC MINISTRY 

“Ordinary Miracle” by Glen Ballard and David Allan Stewart

   Sung by Marion Burt and Suzanne Oryschak

ORDINARY MIRACLE

It's not that unusual 

when everything is beautiful 

it's just another ordinary miracle today.

The sky knows when it's time to snow, 

don't need to teach a seed to grow;

it's just another ordinary miracle today.

Life is like a gift they say,

wrapped up for you every day,

Open up and find a way to give some of your own.

Isn't it remarkable

that every time a raindrop falls,

it's just another ordinary miracle today.

Birds in winter have their fling,

but always make it home by spring;

it's just another ordinary miracle today.

When you wake up every day,

please don't throw your dreams away,

Hold them close to your heart

'cause we are all a part of the ordinary miracle.

Ordinary miracle

Do you always see a miracle?

It seems so exceptional

that things just work out after all,

it's just another ordinary miracle today.

The sun comes up and shines so bright,

and disappears again at night,

it's just another ordinary miracle today.

Ooh, ooh, it's just another ordinary miracle today.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Gavin)

You have been exceedingly generous to us, O God. 

We return a portion of what we have to you

in grateful thanksgiving. 

Bless our offerings that they will nurture the seeds

of hope and healing in this community and beyond.  Amen.

Let us join our voices in thank as we sing “Grant Us God the Grace of Giving”. It is the first verse from Voices United # 540 and the words will also appear on the screen

VU # 540  DOXOLOGY  “Grant Us God the Grace of Giving” (Sandy)

Grant us god the grace of giving

With a spirit large and free

That ourselves and all our living

We may offer faithfully.

PRAYERS OF THE DAY (Brian/Gavin/Marion/Suzanne)

(Brian)

Let us centre ourselves prayer…

Our response to each prayer and intention: Lord, Hear our Prayer

God ever creating, God ever loving, God ever leading:

We turn to you in uncertain times, trusting in your steadfast love.

Wherever people are anxious about the future,

overwhelmed by their responsibilities,

or worried because of the upheavals the pandemic has caused,

Bring peace and hope, we pray,

We pray to the lord

Lord, Hear our Prayer

(Gavin)

God of all compassion: Where people are lonely or isolated, longing for love, where people are trapped in unhealthy relationships or facing violence each day, where people are grieving the loss of routines or purpose in their lives, or the loss of someone beloved: Bring courage and hope, we pray,

We pray to the lord

Lord, Hear our Prayer

(Marion)

God of tender strength:

Where people feel pain in their bodies, in their minds or spirits,

where people seek healing or help,

where illness has eroded hope and desperation fills each day:

Bring healing and hope,

We pray to the lord

Lord, Hear our Prayer

(Suzanne)

God of trustworthy truth:

Where leaders work to guide the world and their communities to renewed life,

where professionals discern scientific, medical and economic insights to protect and restore the quality of life after the pandemic,

where individuals still strive to care for the earth and its vulnerable inhabitants:

Bring wisdom and hope,

We pray to the lord

Lord, Hear our Prayer

(Brian)

And for all that are in need of your healing love…those we name aloud or hold silently in our hearts

(Mics will be unmuted so that you may name a person or offer your prayer intention)

Lord for all those named or held quietly in our hearts…

We pray to the lord

Lord, Hear our Prayer

God in whom we live and move and have our being:

By your Spirit, tend your promise of new life

amid the current struggles in the world you love.

Where hope flickers, reignite its power;

Shine the light of Christ’s love into each life and renew our trust in you

as we pray together in the words that Jesus taught  as we sing together…

LORD’S PRAYER (Sung) (Sandy)

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. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS (Brian)

•     Online Worship next Sunday June, 21 at 11:00am. Our meeting link and ID will now remain the same for each Sunday. By telephone 647-374- 4685   or  647-558-0588  and Meeting ID is  : 831 7846 1579  Or click/enter this link on your computer:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83178461579

•     Many people have been asking…”When will we open?” We need a few people to create a re-opening committee to develop and implement a plan for us to reopen our sanctuary and social spaces safely.

•     For Pastoral emergencies contact Brian Stevens at 647-825-5136 or by email: HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com

CLOSING PRAYER (Brian)

You, O God, are overflowing with love, infinite in kindness, and incomparable in glory. You are the source of all good things. There is none like you in all our imagining. You bring new life forth from death and offer us hope. In you, all things work together for good. Your presence breaks into our lives in many ways and you touch us with wonder. In this time of worship, we drew closer to you, supported by our congregation and community prayers, keep us safe as we praise you with our hearts and may we always seek to move with respect for all this day and every day, now and always. Amen

Let us sing together “Come, O Fount of Every Blessing”

The words will also appear on your screen and it is also in Voices United # 559

“Come, O Fount of every blessing” (Sandy)

Come, O Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing your grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it
Mount of God's unfailing love.

Here I pause in my sojourning;
Giving thanks for having come;
Come to trust at every turning,
God will guide me safely home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
Came to rescue me from danger,
Precious presence, precious blood.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I am drawn anew!
Let that grave now, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to you:
Prone to wander, I can feel it,
Wander from the love I’ve known
Here's my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for thy your very own.

BENEDICTION AND BLESSING (Suzanne and Marion)

As you go forth, may you invite the Holy Spirit to be your light, Jesus to be your guide and God our creator to shower you with blessings as you journey. And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you and before you, today and ever more. 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

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 our musicians, Marion, Sandy and Suzanne

Thank you to everyone who assisted with our Service of Worship.

Blessings to all and keep safe!

Hope United.ca