Order of Service for October 12th, 2025

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Thanksgiving Sunday

 

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD

 

GATHERING MUSIC

            

PRELUDE

 

Gracious God,
you fill the earth with abundance and our lives with your steadfast love.
As we gather on this Thanksgiving Sunday, open our hearts to your presence.
Free us from worry and fear, and fill us with songs of praise.
May our worship today be an offering of thanksgiving —
the fruit of our lips and the joy of our hearts —
for you are near, and your faithfulness endures forever.
Amen.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND:

We gather today on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, lands long cared for and shared among many nations.
As we give thanks for the abundance of creation,
we also commit ourselves to the work of truth, reconciliation, and right relationship,
that all may share the fruits of this land in peace and justice.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:

One: Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say, rejoice!
All: We come to give thanks and lift our hearts in praise.
One: Whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy of praise — 

think on these things.
All: We come to remember God’s faithfulness and to sing our thanksgiving.
One: The peace of Christ guards our hearts and minds.
All: Rejoice! God is near! 

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE:

 

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you… And also with you.

 

*OPENING HYMN: VU #520 We Plough the Fields and Scatter

 

♫1       We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,

            but it is fed and watered by your almighty hand;

            you send the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,

            the breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

                        All good gifts around us

are sent from heaven above;

                        we thank you, God, O holy God,

                        for all your love.

 

2         You only are the maker of all things near and far;                   

            you paint the wayside flower, you light the evening star;

            the winds and waves obey you, by you the birds are fed;

            much more to us, your children, you give us daily bread.

                        All good gifts around us

are sent from heaven above;

                        we thank you, God, O holy God,

                        for all your love.

 

3         We thank you then, O Maker, for all things bright and good,

            the seed-time and the harvest, our life, our health, our food;

            accept the gifts we offer for all your love imparts,

            and, what from us you long for, our humble, thankful hearts.

                        All good gifts around us

are sent from heaven above;

                        we thank you, God, O holy God,

                        for all your love.

 

~Children are welcomed to the front of the Sanctuary 

for Children’s Time following the hymn~

 

CHILDREN’S TIME: 

Lance’s blessing….

Dear God,
we thank you for these young children gathered here this morning.
As they go from this place, may they carry your blessing with them
throughout their days and throughout all the weeks of their lives.

We pray for their families —
for mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters,
for their teachers at school and at Sunday school.
Guide them, protect them, and fill them with joy and hope
as they grow in your love.

We ask this in your holy name.
 

All: Amen.

 

*Kids’ Turn to bless

Children (together):
“We thank God for you,
for your love and your care,
for teaching us about Jesus,
and for being part of God’s family with us.”

One: And so, with thankful hearts, young and old together, we say:
All: Thanks be to God!

 

LORD’S PRAYER:

Abba, with us,

hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth, as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread, 

And forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those who trespass against us. 

And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil: 

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 

forever and ever. AMEN. 

 

MUSICAL OFFERING

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 

One: Creator God, you have given us a world filled with wonder and hearts made for joy.
All: Yet we confess that we are quick to cry out when we are hurting,
and slow to lift our voices in thanksgiving when we are blessed.

One: We give so much space to the bad news —
to fear, to worry, to sorrow —
that we forget the goodness that surrounds us each day.
All: Forgive us when gratitude turns to complaint,
and when we let heaviness drown out your song.

One: Teach us again the prayer that gives life —
not only “Help me, help me, help me,”
but also “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
All: Let thanksgiving steady our hearts,
lift our spirits,
and give us courage to face what is hard.

One: For you, O God, are faithful,
your mercies are new every morning,
and your love never ends.
All: Amen.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

One: Friends, hear the good news:
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Even in sorrow, even in fear,
God’s mercy meets us with love that does not let go.

All: Rejoice — we are forgiven, we are free, we are beloved.
Thanks be to God!

 

*CREED: 

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

 

*HYMN: VU #288 Great is Thy Faithfulness

 

♫1      Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;

            there is no shadow of turning with thee;

            thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

            as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

                        Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

                        Morning by morning new mercies I see;

                        all I have needed they hand hath provided–

                        great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

 

2         Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

            sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

            join with all nature in manifold witness

            to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

                        Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

                        Morning by morning new mercies I see;

                        all I have needed they hand hath provided–

                        great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

 

3         Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

            thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,

            strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow–

            wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.

                        Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!

                        Morning by morning new mercies I see;

                        all I have needed they hand hath provided–

                        great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

 

PASTORAL PRAYER:

One: Let us pray.

God of steadfast love and new mercies,
on this Thanksgiving Sunday we lift our hearts to you.
When we remember our struggles, our losses, and our wanderings,
still we recall your faithfulness:

 

Refrain (All, sung):
♫ “All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, God unto me.”

 

We thank you for the gifts of daily bread,
for the food we eat,
for our dwelling places,
for our churches and our schools,
and for all those who give of their time and gifts
to keep your people walking in your ways of love and justice.

 

Refrain (All, sung):
♫ “All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, God unto me.”

 

We give thanks that we live in a land that seeks peace each and every day.
Yet we remember before you those who live far away,
in places torn by war and fear,
struggling to bring about peace.
Bless them, O God,
with shared meals of fellowship and family,
and with the promise of your saving presence.

 

Refrain (All, sung):
♫ “All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, God unto me.”

 

Compassionate One,
we hold before you those who could not gather with us today—
those who travel, those who are ill,
those weighed down by grief,
and those whose bodies or circumstances keep them apart.
Watch over them in love,
and remind them that they are held in this community of faith.

 

Refrain (All, sung):
♫ “All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, God unto me.”

 

Shepherding God,
you lead us beside still waters,
you restore our souls,
you prepare a table before us even in the presence of hardship.
At this harvest season, we rejoice in the abundance of the earth,
and in the generosity of your Spirit,
whose mercies are new every morning,
and whose faithfulness is great.

 

Refrain (All, sung):
♫ “All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, God unto me.”

 

One: In the name of Jesus Christ,
our Shepherd, our Host, and our Hope, we pray.
All: Amen.

 

OFFERING:

            INVITATION TO INVEST IN GOD’S MISSION:

One:
We give thanks that the Spirit of God continues to move through this church — calling us, shaping us, and sending us out in love.
As part of The United Church of Canada, we share a vision of being a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities — united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.

But every community lives that calling in its own way.
Here at St. Andrew’s, you have imagined what God’s mission looks like in this place:

To bring empathy to the world.
To be known as a place of care and comfort for all who enter these doors.
To live in peace — creating an inclusive community where people and nature live in harmony.
To nurture hope, embrace love, and foster joy.
To feed the hungry, welcome the lonely, and shelter the homeless.
To move beyond words into practical acts of faith — so that if God were to walk among us, we would already be found doing God’s work of grace, courage, strength, and healing.

This is the offering we bring — not only our gifts of money, but the vision and love of this congregation, offered in thanksgiving for all God has given.

 

            OFFERTORY

             

            *DOXOLOGY: VU #540

                                    

                        ♫       Grant us, God, the grace of giving,

with a spirit large and free,

that ourselves and all our living

we may offer faithfully.

 

            PRAYER OF THANKS:

One: Holy One,
for the gifts gathered here — coins, bills, time, talents, and hearts — we give you thanks.
All: Bless these offerings, O God, that they may become shelter for the weary, music for the joyful, and healing for the hurting.
One: May they strengthen this community’s mission —
to be a place of care, comfort, and courage;
to live peaceably with creation and with one another;
to walk humbly in your way.
All: We give thanks and praise to you, O God,
for all you have provided,
and for all you call us to become.
Amen.

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

God of truth and grace,
open our ears to hear your Word,
open our hearts to receive your peace,
and open our lives to live your praise.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

 

SCRIPTURE READING: Philippians 4:4–9

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

 

MESSAGE: “The Song that Holds Us”

 

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #213 Rejoice, the Lord is King

    

    ♫1  Rejoice the Lord is King!

            Your risen Lord adore!

            Rejoice, give thanks and sing 

            and triumph evermore.

            Lift up your heart,

            lift up your voice: rejoice;

            again I say, rejoice!

 

     2     Jesus the Saviour reigns,

            the God of truth and love,

            when he had purged our sins, 

            he took his seat above.

            Lift up your heart,

            lift up your voice: rejoice;

            again I say, rejoice!

 

3         God’s kingdom cannot fail;

            Christ rules o’er earth and heaven,

            the keys of death and hell 

            are to our Jesus given.

            Lift up your heart, 

            lift up your voice: rejoice;

            again I say, rejoice!

 

4         Rejoice in glorious hope,

            for Christ, the judge, shall come

            to glorify the saints 

            for their eternal home.

            We soon shall hear 

            the archangel’s voice;

            the trump of God shall sound, rejoice!

 

*COMMISSIONING:

Go forth rejoicing in the Lord always.
Let your gentleness be known to all,
and may the song of thanksgiving dwell in your hearts.
The peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
All: Amen.

 

*BENEDICTION

 

POSTLUDE