Worship Service for September 15, 2024

September 15, 2024 – Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

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: Come, people of God, worship the One who listens to our prayers.
All: We will worship the One who hears us.

One: Come, people of God, worship the One who watches over us.
All: We will worship the One who cares deeply for us all.

One: Come, people of God, worship the One who offered his life for us.
All: We will offer thanks and praise to the One who gives us life.

Opening Hymn

“In the bulb there is a flower” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 674). Words and music (both 1986; tune: “Promise”) by American composer Natalie Sleeth (1930–1992). Words and music © copyright 1986 Hope Publishing Co; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)

Living God,
you are the artist of the changing skies and architect of the steadfast earth, Loving Christ, you were born to walk life’s journey with us and show us God’s purposes. Spirit of life, you are always moving in us and among us, offering us wisdom for every choice. Creator, Christ and Spirit, we honour you in our prayers and our praise. In this time of worship, show us how we can serve you, for we seek your guidance and your grace now and always. Amen.

God of time and eternity,
we confess that we have long memories, especially for moments we resent or regret. Each week we seek your forgiveness for our mistakes, but we confess we do not forgive others so faithfully. Sometimes we seek opportunity to even the score. Confront us with your mercy, O God, and open our hearts to its cleansing power.

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

From now on, the Apostle Paul declared, we regard no one from a human point of view. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Through Christ God has reconciled us, and given us a ministry of reconciliation. Thanks be to God that we can all make a new start, this day and every day!
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)

Guildwood Senior Choir Presents

“The Water is Wide”, also known as “O Waly, Waly”. Music and words Scottish folk song. Music and words adapted and arranged (1977) by American choral composer and conductor Ed Lojeski (–2020). Music and words public domain. This arrangement and adaption copyright © 1977 Hal Leonard Corporation; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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Commissioning of the Sunday School Coordinator, Lorelee Sankarlal

The Narration of Steps

(by the Clerk of Session, Bruce Morrison)

The introduction of Lorelee Sankarlal

(by the search committee chair, Christianne James)

Questions to the Sunday School Coordinator

(by Rev. Helen Smith, the chair of the Nurture and Education committee)

Question to the congregation

People of God, do you promise to support our Sunday School Coordinator, Lorelee Sankarlal with your blessing and prayers?
All: We will, and we ask God to help us.

An Act of Commissioning

Prayer

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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 Reading

Mark 8:27–38  <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible

Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Mark 8:27–38

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

34 He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words[k] in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Sermon

Please, join our Sunday worship service at 11 am, in person or on-line, to hear the full version of the sermon.

Hymn

“We are God’s people” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 472). Words (1976) by Anglo-American minister and composer Bryan Jeffery Leech (1931–2015). Music (1877; tune: “Symphony”) by German composer Johannes Brahms (1833–1897). Arrangement (1976) also by Leech. Words and arrangement copyright © 1976 Fred Bock Music Company; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.

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 100^th” 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

Generous God, you poured out your love for us through Jesus Christ, who gave up everything on the cross. We bring what we have to offer you in love and loyalty. Receive our gratitude and bless all that our gifts can do to share your love for Christ’s sake. Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope

God of inspiration and imagination,
you are the artist of our lives. You have filled your world with gifts, expressed through the creativity and dedication of so many. We give you thanks for a new season of opportunity to gather in worship and witness, learning from you and from each other.

Today we give you thanks for the artists among us, offering their inspiring gifts. Thank you for painters and poets, for lines on a canvas and lines on a page, which inspire us and leave us wondering. Thank you for sculptors and storytellers who fashion faces in stone and scenes in words to outline the profile of your truth for us. And thank you for the art on our fridge doors.

God of grace and goodness,
We know your creativity in the arts of fabric and foodstuff, in hands that work with wood and keep machinery humming. We give you thanks for those who stitch patterns with thread, and those who set patterns on our plates, mixing colours and flavours. Thank you for those who build and repair, refinish and restore the things we need and the things we cherish.

God of music and movement,
We know your beauty in the gifts of keyboard and composer, in the blending of voices and the bending of dancers. We thank you for these sounds and sights that can touch our hearts once more, and open our souls to praise you. We pray for artists of every kind, that their work will find appreciation and support throughout our community.

God of hope and healing,
We thank you, too, for the healing arts, for the care and relief offered by professionals in our health care system and for support given by friends and volunteers. We pray for all who seek healing – for body, mind or spirit. Give each one your presence and peace through our prayer and friendship. Awaken us to all to our creative potential to serve you in serving each other. Hear our prayers, silent and spoken. Amen.

Closing Hymn

“O Lord my God / How great thou art” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 332). Words (1885) by Swedish poet Carl Boberg (1859–1940). English text by English missionary Stuart K. Hine (1899–1989). Music (tune: “O Store Gud”) based on a traditional Swedish folk melody; arrangement (1955) by Hine. English text and arrangement copyright © 1955, 1981 Manna Music, Inc.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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

Copyright © 2024 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2024-09-22 22:20 – Updated personnel in third paragraph; added Guildwood Choir present piece information.