SEPTEMBER 6, 2020 - 11:00am - Pentecost 14
The Congregation of Hope United Church
Worship Leader - Brian Stevens BA. MDiv
PRELUDE
WELCOME
Welcome everyone to our online ZOOM Sunday worship. My name is Brian Stevens, I am the Pastoral Charge Supervisor here at Hope United in Toronto and am so pleased to have you with us today. Our musician today is Sandy. You can type hellos and greetings at anytime 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
With respect, we acknowledge the worldviews, spirituality, history and stewardship of the Mississauga of the New Credit on whose traditional lands our church resides. We thank and honour the other indigenous peoples who share this land. We affirm our commitment as Canadian Treaty people to work in right relation toward reconciliation.
GREETING
I greet you in the name of our risen Lord and welcome you to our service of worship. Let us join together in our opening song “Where Two or Three are Gathered in My Name”. The words will also appear on your screen and it is also in More Voices # 14.
More Voices #14 “Where Two or Three are Gathered in My Name”
Where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there, I am there.
CALL TO WORSHIP
(Adapted from United Church of Christ)
Spirit descends like a dove,
Bringing peace that unites, when we least expect
Spirit comes like a winter breath of wind
Bringing life to renew the people of God.
Spirit spreads like fire,
Bringing energy for witnessing to the love of God.
Spirit of the living God,
come to us and transform our lives by your power
That we may truly be a just and caring community. Amen
OPENING PRAYER
(from Life in Liturgy)
O God, you have made your love for us known in the ways in which you seek out that which is hardest for us to find. You guide us toward those things in life which we may have counted as lost – missing dreams, broken relationships, injured hopes. Help us to find in you the strength and courage to resume the search, so that we may all celebrate together the wondrous care and compassion you have shown for this world you love. Amen.
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
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”
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
(from Faith and Worship)
Unclutter our lives, Lord…
we have too much,
consume too much,
expect too much.
Grant us perspective;
to see this world
through others’ eyes
than just our own.
Grant us compassion;
where there is need
to play our part
not turn aside.
Grant us gratitude
for what we have,
our daily bread
the gift of life.
Unclutter our lives, Lord,
give us space,
simplicity
thankful hearts.
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
God’s grace and mercy is always with us. In the times we are joyful, in the times we are sad, God’s abundant grace has no bounds; ever present to hold and steady us as we walk the path set by Christ. A path of forgiveness, love, compassion and care. 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.
Voices United # 37 “Gloria” (sung three times through)
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. Let us take a moment to greet one another!
FIRST READING Exodus 12:1-15
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are.
You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire - with the head, legs and internal organs. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord - a lasting ordinance.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Voices United # 873 PSALM 149
Refrain: Hallelujah, hallelujah hallelujah
Sing to God a new song
give praise in the assembly of the faithful
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker
let the children of Zion exult in their Sovereign!
Let them praise God's name with dancing,
let them sing god's praise with tambourine and harp!
Refrain: Hallelujah, hallelujah hallelujah
For you, O God, take delight in your people;
you crown the humble with victory
Let the faithful exult in their glory,
let them sing as they feast.
Refrain: Hallelujah, hallelujah hallelujah
Let God's praise be on their lips,
the two-edged sword in their hands
to bring the nations to justice
and call to account the peoples
to bind their rules with fetters
their great ones with bonds of iron
to execute on them the sentence decreed.
This is the glory of God's saints!
Refrain: Hallelujah, hallelujah hallelujah
GOSPEL READING Matthew 18:15-20
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Hear the Good News of Christ!
Praise to you, O Christ.
Voices United # 382 “Breathe on me Breath of God”
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
REFLECTION: “Gathering in Praise”
MUSIC MINISTRY “Speak O Lord”
Speak, O Lord, as we come to you
to receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take your truth, plant it deep in us,
Shape and fashion us in your likeness;
That the light of Christ might be seen today
That our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us, all your purposes for your glory.
Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes,
in the radiance of your purity.
Cause our faith to rise,
Cause our eyes to see,
And your majesty and authority.
Words of pow'r, that can never fail;
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace will stand on your promises,
And by faith will walk as you walk with us.
Speak O Lord, 'till your church is built,
and the earth is filled with your glory.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
In your Creation, O God, we stand on the holiest of ground. May these gifts be a blessing to all that you have made. May the church, organizations and people that receive them act as your hands. May needs be seen and met, and may the giving fit the need. Through Christ, who models infinite giving. Amen.
Let us join our voices in thanks as we sing “We Will Take What You Offer”. It is the first verse from More Voices # 196 and the words will also appear on the screen.
More Voices # 196 DOXOLOGY “We Will Take What You Offer” (Sung twice through)
We will take what you offer,
We will live by your word
We will love one another,
And be fed by you Lord.
PRAYERS OF THE DAY
Let us centre ourselves prayer as we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.
Our response to each prayer and intention: Lord, Hear our Prayer
As the evenings cool, we are reminded of changing seasons
Hints of red begin to appear amongst the vibrant green leaves
Vibrant colours will soon mark the transition to fall.
Guide us through this season of abundance
The season of harvest, that all may continue to share
Generously
We pray to the Lord…
Lord, Hear our Prayer
Calm us and steady us, let our fears be stilled
Give us the strength to remain vigilant in our desire to keep all safe
Through this next phase of covid 19
As our children, youth and young adults return to school
Keep them safe, steady the hands and hearts of those who guide and teach them
For it is now different and difficult in new ways to be both teacher and student
For parents who are preparing their children to head back to school
Or be schooled at home, hold them in your care O Lord
For their hearts have much trepidation about the days and weeks ahead
We pray to the Lord…
Lord, Hear our Prayer
For the people and country of the United States….
For peace of heart
For the return of stillness in the night
For calm in the cities
For justice, benevolence, care and compassion
For the laying own of guns, tasers and batons
That people might hear each others words
Allowing them to rest upon hearts, ears and eyes
That new ways of dialogue might be found
We pray to the Lord…
Lord, Hear our Prayer
For those in need of your healing love O Lord
those we name aloud) or those we hold silently in our hearts
(mics will be unmuted, please say name or intention)
Moment of Silence
For all those named…For all intentions offered
We pray to the Lord…
Lord, Hear our Prayer
Lord, may our prayers and intentions fall gently upon your ear, grant them O Lord, as you see fit in time, in ways, in blessing and care. And with the words that our Saviour taught us….we sing the Lord’s Prayer. It is Voices United # 959 and the words also appear on the screen.
LORD’S PRAYER (Sung)
Our Father, in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your 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.
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
• Online Worship next Sunday, September 13 at 11:00am
• In regard to Sunday worship on-site at Hope, the Church Board and trustees have made the decision to wait until schools have reopened, then assess at that time.
• We are assembling a working group to oversee the planning of capital repairs to our building. The work will consist of developing a five year plan based on the building assessment which has been completed. If this work is of interest to you, please send an email hopeunitedchurch@gmail.com or call Brian Stevens.
• For Pastoral emergencies contact Brian Stevens at 647-825-5136 or by email: HopeUnitedChurch@gmail.com
CLOSING PRAYER
(adapted from Motivation and Love Worship Resources)
Lord we have felt your presence today as we have gathered in your name. We pray that the joy and inspiration experienced when we gather in your name, rest always upon our hearts. May we continue to journey in the truth of who we are in are.
Amen.
Let us sing together “To Show By Touch and Word”. The words will also appear on your screen and it is also in Voices United # 427.
Voices United # 427 “To Show by Touch and Word”
To show by touch and word devotion to the earth,
to hold in high regard all life that comes to birth,
we need, O God, the will to find
the good you had of old in mind.
Renew our minds to choose the things that matter most,
our hearts to long for truth till pride of self is lost.
For every challenge that we face
we need your guidance and your grace.
Let love from day to day be yardstick, rule, and norm,
and let our lives portray your word in human form.
Now come with us that we may have
your wits about us where we live.
BENEDICTION
The blessing of Almighty God:
Source, Word and Spirit One,
be with us now, as we depart from this gathering.
And may you walk always the path of Christ,
A path filled with care and compassion
For all whom you encounter as you journey on your way. 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 everyone who assisted with our Service of Worship.
Blessings to all and keep safe!
Hope United.ca