August 18, 2024 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
A livestream of this service will take place on our YouTube channel on Sunday, August 18, at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time. A video recording of the live stream will be available on our YouTube channel from 6:00 PM EDT on Sunday, August 18.
Previous livestreams and other worship and musical content is available on our YouTube channel. You can also check out our entire worship services archive. Our SoundCloud channel has yet more music and worship content.
We welcome back Rev. Chuck from his holidays and give thanks for his safe return, and continue to welcome Dr. Hanné Becker as summer guest organist. Christianne is the Duty Elder. Bonnie Horton will give the scripture reading. The ushers/greeters are lead by Bill.
Introit
Prelude
Lighting of the Christ Candle
This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.
Call to Worship
One: Praise God! Give thanks to God from your heart!
All: Great are the works of our God and we delight in them.
One: Yes, the works of God’s hands are faithful and just;
All: Holy and awesome is God’s name.
One: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
All: So we honour God’s name, so that God’s praise may endure forever.
Opening Hymn
“The Lord’s my shepherd (Psalm 23)”. (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 11). Words Psalm 23; paraphrase, Scottish Psalter, 1650. Music (1872; tune: “Crimond”) by Scottish amateur hymn composer Jessie Seymour Irvine (1836–1887). Harmony by Thomas Cuthbertson Leithead Pritchard (1885–1960). Descant by W. Baird Ross (1871–1950). Words, music, harmony and descant all public domain.
Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, when our souls hunger for fulfillment, you give us the Bread of Life. Creator, Christ, and Spirit, when our souls thirst for communion with you, you refresh us with living water. Creator, Christ, and Spirit, when we long for what is authentic, you show us the Way, the Truth and the Life. And so we come to worship you, Creator, Christ, and Spirit. Receive our praise and gratitude, Living God, for you are the source of all that matters, and the strength to live out your purposes, now and evermore.
God of all that matters, Forgive us when we forget what matters to you. Forgive the sins we have tried to hide, and those we were once proud to commit. Forgive the sins we have done to please ourselves, and the sins we have done to please others. By your grace, forgive us, and bless what we can become through your faithfulness to us.
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.
Declaration of Pardon
In Christ, all things are made new. Know that you are forgiven by his great mercy. Trust in God’s mercy and have the courage to forgive each other in Jesus’ name.
All: Thanks be to God!
The Peace
One: The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)
Music Ministry
Presented by Dr. Hanné Becker.
Fun with the Young at Heart (children’s story)
We sing verse 1 of “Jesus loves me this I know”.
“Jesus loves me, this I know” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 373). Words (1859 or 1860) by American writer Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). Revisions to v2 and v3 by Canadian Anglican priest David Rutherford McGuire (1929–1971). Music (1862; tune: “Jesus loves me”) by American musician William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Words, revisions, and music in the public domain.
Scripture Readings
Ephesians 5:15–20 <– these link to on-line texts of the NRSV bible
John 6:51–58
Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Ephesians 5:15–20
15 Be careful, then, how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,…
John 6:51–58
51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day, 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.
Sermon
Please, join our Sunday worship service at 11 am, in person, to hear the full version of the sermon.
Hymn
“You satisfy the hungry heart” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 538). Words (1976) by American hymnwriter Omer Westendorf (1916-1997). Music (1976; tune: “Finest Wheat” or “Bicentennial”) by American composer Robert Edward Kreutz (1922-1996). Words and music copyright © 1977 Archdiocese of Philadelphia, admin. OCP; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.
Offering
As Jesus gave himself for us, let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.
Offering – Musical Reflection
We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.
Dedication of our Gifts
Our offering will now be received.
Doxology 306
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 306). Based on the tune “Old 100th” with words (1989) by English hymnwriter Brian A. Wren (1936–). Words copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures high and low;
praise God in Jesus fully known,
Creator Word and Spirit One.
Prayer of dedication
Loving God, we offer you our gifts with thanksgiving, grateful for all we have received in Christ and in creation. Bless our gifts and our lives, so that we may live to bring you glory, and share your love with the world. Amen.
The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope
Gracious God, we are grateful for your presence with us in all things, especially in times of challenge and change. We thank you for times of rest and reunion this summer, for opportunities to see people we miss and places that inspire us with wonder.
Yet we know this summer holds deep challenges for many, and so we bring before you people and places on our minds and hearts.
We pray for the families and communities facing fire, flood or storms, worrying about what will remain of their homes and hometowns. Protect those who fight fires or conduct rescues in dangerous circumstances. Open our hearts in generosity to do what we can to assist recovery.
We pray for the earth, for the land and the seas suffering as the climate warms, and for the creatures being displaced by disaster and disruption. Protect all that is precious to you in creation, and open our hearts to live more responsibly within the balance of life you created.
We pray for people facing hatred and discrimination, and those coming to terms with historic injustice and injury. Guide the relations between indigenous peoples and other Canadians to correct misunderstandings, and create justice for all communities. Open our hearts to discover what we share as your peoples, and appreciate the gifts we have to offer to each other.
We pray for all those who are suffering this summer: those who face pain or illness, those who are dying or who know bereavement, all who are anxious about what lies ahead, and any who do not have enough to make ends meet. Bring courage and comfort to those who are struggling, and open our hearts to offer companionship to ease their journey.
In silence we hold before you those near and dear to us. Speak to us the truth we need to hear and guide us in our relationships: Receive our prayers, spoken and unspoken, O God, Amen.
Closing Hymn
“When we are living”(Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 630). Original Spanish words paraphrase of Romans 14:8. Verse 1 anonymous; verses 2–4 (1983) by Mexican-American hymnwriter Roberto Escamilla (1931–). English translation verse 1 by American Elise S. Eslinger (1942–); verses 2–4 by American George Lockwood (1942–). Music (tune: “Somos del Señor”) Hispanic folk song. English words copyright © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.
Changing the Light
Now, it is time to change the light. The light that was in one place can now be in every place and every time going with you wherever you go.
Benediction
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ (the risen Christ), the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.
Blessing
“Danish Amen” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 780). Words and music (tune: “Amen (Danish)”) traditional. Words and music public domain.
Postlude
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Last updated 2024-08-17 22:05 – First version.