Weekly Worship Material

This page is updated weekly and will have the weekly worship materials available for those who are unable to join us in person to follow along with the service.

Order of Service for September 24th, 2023

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD

PRE-BROADCAST PRELUDES:

Poor Wayfaring Stranger - S. Coleridge-Taylor

There Is A Balm In Gilead - B. Sowash

PRELUDE: I Want To Be Ready - P. Wolf

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND:

We acknowledge that we worship and reside on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe peoples. It is in the spirit of reconciliation and right relationships and working towards this reality that we come to worship the One that will empower and guide us with Grace.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The Jim Hutchison concert scheduled for September 30th has unfortunately been cancelled.

INTROIT: Cotton Dance Song -Anon.

CALL TO WORSHIP:

O Happy Morning!

The Lord is my strength,

Let us sing out in thanksgiving.

For I was naked and

you gave me clothing,

I was sick and

you took care of me,

I was in prison and

you visited me,

I was a hungry stranger and

you welcomed me in and gave me my daily bread.

Thanks, be to god!

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: Ain’t That Good News

♫1 Got a crown up in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

Got a crown up in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

I’m a-goin’ to lay down this world,

goin’ to shoulder up my cross,

goin’ to take it home to Jesus,

ain’t that good news?

♫2 Got a harp up in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

Got a harp up in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

I’m a-goin’ to lay down this world,

goin’ to shoulder up my cross,

goin’ to take it home to Jesus,

ain’t that good news?

♫3 Got a robe up in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

Got a robe up in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

I’m a-goin’ to lay down this world,

goin’ to shoulder up my cross,

goin’ to take it home to Jesus,

ain’t that good news?

♫4 Got a Saviour in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

Got a Saviour in the Kingdom,

ain’t that good news?

I’m a-goin’ to lay down this world,

goin’ to shoulder up my cross,

goin’ to take it home to Jesus,

ain’t that good news?

SANCTUS: Holy, Holy, Holy (VU#315 v1)

♫ Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

*Children are welcomed to the front during the Sanctus*

CHILDREN’S TIME

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Abba, with us,

hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come,

thy 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 thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

ANTHEM: The Lord Is My Strength -S. Coleridge-Taylor

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF PARDON

PSALM: #105 VU #828 Parts 1 & 4

♫ Choir: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

♫All: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

Give thanks and call on God’s name.

Make known to the nations what God has done.

Sing, O sing the songs of praise;

Tell of all God’s wonderful deeds.

Exult in God’s holy name;

Let those who seek God be joyful in heart.

♫All: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

Turn for help to the One who is your strength;

Seek God’s presence continually.

Remember the marvels the Most High has done,

The wonders and judgements God has given,

O children of Abraham and Sarah, God’s servants,

O offspring of Israel, chosen of God.

♫All: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

You are the eternal God,

Your justice reaches every corner of the earth.

You are ever mindful of your covenant,

The promise you gave to a thousand generations,

The covenant you made with Sarah and Abraham,

The oath you gave to Isaac.

You confirmed it for Jacob as binding.

To Israel your everlasting covenant you declared,

“To you I give the land of Canaan,

As your appointed inheritance.”

♫All: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

You led Israel out, with spoil of silver and gold.

Among the tribes not one fell behind.

The Egyptians were glad when they went,

For dread of Israel had fallen upon them.

You spread cloud as a screen,

And fire as light by night.

The people asked, and you sent them quail;

You filled them with bread from heaven.

You opened a rock and water gushed out:

It flowed like a river through the arid land.

♫All: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

For you remembered the sacred promise

You made to Abraham and Sarah, your servants.

You led out your people rejoicing,

Your chosen ones with songs of gladness.

You gave them the lands of nations;

They took possession where others had toiled,

That they might keep your laws and obey your teachings.

♫All: Bless God, my soul. Hallelujah!

*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: Lord, Guard Us All

Intro (Katie) Oluwa Pawa mo, Ninu aye ese yi,

Oluwa Pawa mo loru, Jesu, Jesu, Pawa mo.

♫1 Jesus, Lord, guard us al in this world of sin,

Jesus, Lord, guard us all in the night, Jesus, Jesus, guard us all

2 Jesus, Lord, heal us all, heal our minds and souls.

Jesus, Lord, heal our land we pray, Jesus, Jesus, heal us all.

3 Jesus, Lord, bless our homes, bless our hands we pray.

Jesus, Lord, bless our church always, Jesus, Jesus, bless us all.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:

One: Startle us, O God, with your truth,

All: Open our minds to your Spirit

OFFERING:

INVITATION TO INVEST IN GOD’S MISSION:

“Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a

bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities

united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.”

OFFERTORY: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot -P. Wolf

*DOXOLOGY: VU #541 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

♫ Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures high and low;

Give thanks to God in love made known:

Creator, Word and Spirit, One.

PRAYER

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 20:1–16

The Laborers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’[a] 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”[b]

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

MESSAGE: “Give us this day our daily bread”

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #575 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

♫1 I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

*COMMISSIONING

*SUNG RESPONSE:

♫ The Lord bless you, and keep you:

The Lord make his face shine upon you,

and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

POSTLUDE: Ain-a That Good News! -J. Carter