HOPE UNITED CHURCH
12th Sunday After Pentecost
August 23th, 2020  11:00am

Pastoral Charge Supervisor
Brian Stevens BA MDiv
Summer Student – Christopher Slusar

OPEN DOORS.  OPEN MINDS.
OPEN HEARTS.

WELCOME

Welcome everyone.  My name is Christopher Slusar and I am a candidate for ministry in the United Church. This morning It is my pleasure to welcome you to our worship, whether you are phoning in this morning, sitting wearing pajamas in your living room, or watching the recording at a later date off our website we are so happy that you have taken the time to join us this morning and we pray that wherever you are in life and faith that you may encounter the love of God in Jesus Christ today and always. 

Our musicians today are Brian and Suzanne. Gavin is our Zoom host, assisting with our sound and welcoming everyone. If you are calling in, please introduce yourself when the service has ended. We only see your phone number on the screen and we would love to connect. You can type hellos and greetings at any time in the chat. The bulletin and recording of the service will also be  available on our website  at HopeUnited.ca.  

Because all Christians worship the same Lord, we have included elements from  our brothers and sisters from different Christian traditions and cultures in today's service. It is our hope that you find it  both inspiring and renewing as we walk with God together.

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.

HYMN VU # 575    “I’m Gonna Live so God Can Use Me” 

I’m gonna live so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna live so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna work so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna pray so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna sing so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me
Anywhere Lord, anytime!

CALL TO WORSHIP
You, who are many, are transformed to become one...
To be one in Christ
We, who are many, are called to worship God,
The three in One.
We are called into your Hope, 
Into your Love,
Into your Vision.
You are the One we long for,
The One we seek here today,
The One who empowers our lives.
Come, Let us worship!

Let us worship God.

OPENING PRAYER
Jesus you are the Way of Life
Who is at the side of every creature in creation
Renew our lives that we may seek out and follow your will 
What is good and acceptable and perfect
Trusting in your promise and character.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.

LIGHTING OF CHRIST CANDLE
We light this candle as a symbol of love, peace, care and comfort. May all who open themselves to this light, walk always in the ever present light of Christ. 

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

“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 Adapted from the Anglican Book of Alternative Services (Gavin)
Most merciful God,  we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your son Jesus Christ have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may Delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon, Adapted from Feasting on the Word
If it had not been the Lord who was at our side,

We would now be lost in sin but it is the Lord who is on our side. And so we are forgiven. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

“Gloria”  - Voices United # 37  

Gloria, Gloria, in excelsis deo
Gloria, Gloria, Alleluia, Alleluia!

THE PEACE OF CHRIST(Christopher)
The Peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

(mics will be unmuted so you may greet one another)

Prayer for understanding
God of revelation,flesh and blood cannot reveal divine truth, only your Spirit can give that gift.Be in my breath and voice, be in our ears and understanding, that through these words your Word may be known.

Our First Reading comes from the book of  Exodus chapter 1 at the 8th verse

Many years later a new king came to power. He did not know what Joseph had done for Egypt, and he told the Egyptians:

There are too many of those Israelites in our country, and they are becoming more powerful than we are.  If we don’t outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt.

The Egyptians put slave bosses in charge of the people of Israel and tried to wear them down with hard work. Those bosses forced them to build the cities of Pye-thom and Rameses, where the king could store his supplies. 

But even though the Israelites were mistreated, their families grew larger, and they took over more land. Because of this, the Egyptians hated them worse than before and made them work so hard  that their lives were miserable. The Egyptians were cruel to the people of Israel and forced them to make bricks and to mix mortar and to work in the fields. Finally, the king called in Shifra and Puah, the two women who helped the Hebrew mothers when they gave birth.  

He told them, “If a Hebrew woman gives birth to a girl, let the child live. If the baby is a boy, kill him!” But the two women were faithful to God and did not kill the boys, even though the king had told them to. The king called them in again and asked, “Why are you letting those baby boys live?”

They answered, “Hebrew women have their babies much quicker than Egyptian women. By the time we arrive, their babies are already born.” God was good to the two women because they truly respected him, and he blessed them with children of their own.

The Hebrews kept increasing  until finally, the king gave a command to everyone in the nation, 

“As soon as a Hebrew boy is born, throw him into the Nile River! But you can let the girls live.” moses Is Born A man from the Levi tribe married a woman from the same tribe, and she later had a baby boy. 

He was a beautiful child, and she kept him inside for three months. But when she could no longer keep him hidden, she made a basket out of reeds and covered it with tar. She put him in the basket and placed it in the tall grass along the edge of the Nile River. The baby’s older sister stood off at a distance to see what would happen to him. About that time one of the king’s daughters came down to take a bath in the river, while her servant women walked along the river bank. She saw the basket in the tall grass and sent one of the young women to pull it out of the water. When the king’s daughter opened the basket, she saw the baby and felt sorry for him because he was crying. She said, “This must be one of the Hebrew babies.”

At once the baby’s older sister came up and asked, “Do you want me to get a Hebrew woman to take care of the baby for you?” “Yes,” the king’s daughter answered.

So the girl brought the baby’s mother,  and the king’s daughter told her, “Take care of this child, and I will pay you.” The baby’s mother carried him home and took care of him.  And when he was old enough, she took him to the king’s daughter, who adopted him. She named him Moses because she said, “I pulled him out of the water.”

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

Psalm 124 

Refrain: Our help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and Earth

If God had not been at our side
now let Israel say:
If God had not been on our side when mortals rose against us,
then they would have swallowed us alive
      when their fury was roused against us. 
Then the flood would have swept us away
and the torrent would have covered us.
Then the raging waters 
would have gone right over our heads. 

Refrain: Our help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and Earth

Our second reading comes from Paul’s letter to the Romans beginning at the 12 chapter

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. 

Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. 

But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn - “Seek ye First”

Seek Ye first the kingdom of God
And God’s righteousness,
And all these things
shall be added unto you
Hallelu, hallelujah.

Ask and it shall be given unto you
Seek and you shall find;
Knock and the door
shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, hallelujah.

We do not live by bread alone.
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, hallelujah

SERMON: “Content of character” - Christopher Slusar

OFFERING OF OUR LIFE AND WORK

MINISTRY OF MUSIC:  “ Amazing Grace”

VU # 538  DOXOLOGY “For the Gift of Creation”

For the gift of creation, 
The gift of your love
And the gift of the Spirit
By which we live
We thank you and give you 
The fruit of our hands
May your grace be proclaimed 
By the gifts that we bring

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Almighty God you took a baby from the Nile and used him to lead your people to the promised land.
Take our offerings and use them for your people in this land and throughout your world.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Life-giving God, you equip your people with gifts to work for your kingdom, bringing justice and peace to every land and community. Through your Spirit, O God, you give the gift of prophecy. Help us to use this gift to speak words of justice and truth into situations where people are exploited or treated unfairly. Guide our actions so that we might influence change for good in the world, and bring hope to the hopeless.

You give the gift of serving, O God, in the example of your Son Jesus. Help us to use this gift to serve those who have been cast aside by structures of power and privilege. Increase our awareness of injustice and our dedication to work with those who suffer its effects. May the abundance we share in our country touch every life and community in this land.

God of wisdom, you give the gift of teaching. Help us to use this gift to ensure that every child has access to education and opportunity. Be with every teacher and every student in the coming months as schools adapt to the challenges of COVID-19. Support creative teaching and diligent learning in every school and centre for learning.

God of hope, you give the gift of encouragement. Help us to use this gift to hearten all who are struggling in these difficult days. Bless us with words and actions to bring comfort to all who morn, to those coping with mental or physical illness, and to any who feel isolated or left behind.

God of purpose and promise, you give the gift of leadership. Help us to use this skill to build up our communities and model respectful ways of living and loving. Show us how our churches can be places of support within our neighbourhoods.

God of love, you give the gift of kindness. Help us be kind to all who cross our paths, even those who anger or upset us. Teach us to be forgiving and reconciling in all our relationships.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus Christ who taught us to pray…

THE LORD’S PRAYER Voices United # 959

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and driver us from evil
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
Now and forever.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

- Sandy is away this week for some well earned time off.

- This is our last Sunday that we will have Christopher with us. Thank you for your presence and contribution to the life of our congregation. Blessing in your studies this year.

- Church Board and Trustees will need to chat this week in regard to a potential re-opening date.

- Next Sunday, August 30th we will celebrate communion, as part of our on-line service at 11am.

- Although we are not using the building the costs of the Church continue with utilities & insurance costs as well we have chosen not to lay off our three staff.
Rather than passing the plate weekly we would encourage either:
By post-dated cheques mailed to the Church: 2550  Danforth Avenue, Toronto M4C 1LC
OR by credit card through the CanadaHelps website:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/hope-united-church/
In Search: select Hope United Church Toronto, then click on the connection. Then use Donate Now and proceed.
(Note that CanadaHelps levies a 4% service fee so your donation will be for the lower unless you select donating the 4% fee to CanadaHelps which is a charity so you will receive a tax receipt.)
If you have any questions about donations please contact the Church office.
Thank you.

- Thank you to everyone who read and assisted in leading our service of worship this morning.

- For pastoral emergencies, please contact Brian Stevens via email HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com or on his cell 647-825-5136

CLOSING PRAYER (Christopher) adapted from the United Church of Canada Hymnary (The blue book) 1930, #434

Saviour, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Your tender care;
In your pleasant pastures feed us
We are Yours, do befriend us
Be the guardian of our way
Keep us from ill and from darkness defend us
Seek us when we go astray. 
Blessed Jesus in Your name we pray.

Closing Hymn  MV # 84 “Take, O Take Me as I Am”

Take, O take me as I  am
Summon out what I shall be
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me!

Take, O take me as I  am
Summon out what I shall be
Set your seal upon my heart and live in me
Live in me, Yes Live in me… Live in Me!

BENEDICTION and BLESSING
May the Lord who made heaven and Earth, the Christ who lived and died for all, and the Holy Spirit who renews our hearts and minds abide with you and all God’s people, now and forever.

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 “Guide me Thou, O Great Jehovah”