Worship Service for September 29, 2024

September 29, 2024 – Nineteenth 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: We are called together
All: To worship God as the people of God.

One: God calls us by name and knows what rests in our minds and our hearts, and calls us:
All: To worship God as the people of God.

One: We come yearning to be transformed and redirected to paths of justice and in ways of love so that in truth we can turn to God:
All: To worship God as the people of God.

One: God invites us to worship as beloved and loving people and together:
All: To worship God as the people of God.

Opening Hymn

“When morning gilds the skies” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 438). Original German words (1828), anonymous. English words (1854) by English clergyman and hymnwriter Edward Caswall (1814–1878). Music (1868; tune: “Laudes Domini”) by English composer and conductor Joseph Barnby (1838–1896). Descant by English musician and composer Reginald Sparshatt Thatcher (1888–1957). Words, music and descant in the public domain.

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

Holy and loving God, blessed are you in all the universe: your goodness is seen in creation, your holiness is incomprehensible, your truth and wisdom are radiant, your justice rolls down like waters, your love is wider than all the universe and your mercy greater than the heights of heaven. and so, with our lips we sing your praises and we join with your good creation in joyful praise of you as Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit.

In recalling all that you are and all that you have done, we recall then who we are and what we have done. We confess that we have failed to comfort those in pain, ignored the needs of others, and not sought peace or worked for justice. And we confess the sins of your church in running residential schools that separated children from their families. We confess that in our cultural arrogance where there was laughter, we stifled it; where families lived warmly together, we broke them up, and where there was dignity, and we stole it.

We pray in Jesus’ name, and continue to pray as he taught:

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

By God’s grace we have been saved and this is not our own doing; it is a gift of God.
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)

GCPC Senior Choir presents

“Homeward Bound”. Words and music (1996) by American composer and educator Marta Keen Thompson (1953–). Arrangement by American composer Jay Althouse (1951–). Words, music and arrangement copyright © 1996 Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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.

Responsive Psalm

Psalm 124  <– this links to on-line text of the NRSV bible

Scripture Reading

Mark 9:38–50  <– 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 9:38–50

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 “If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew[a] Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. 3 In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Sermon

Do you want to be healed

Preached by the Rev. Dr. Ian Morrison

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

Hymn

“O breath of life, come sweeping through us” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 384). Words (1920) by Anglo-Irish hymnwriter Bessie Porter Head (1850–1936); music (1914; tune “Spiritus Vitae”) by English composer Mary Jane Hammond (1878–1964). Words and music in the 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

All that we have comes from you, O God. Use our lives and the gifts we offer to build a more peaceful and just world that reflects the principles of your reign and the Good News of peace, healing and reconciliation Christ taught. Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope

We bring you our prayers for the world, for people and communities harmed by discrimination and hate, for your church and for those we are in relationships with and love.

Creator God, you created us in your image and set us in the world to live in peace with you and one another. We pray for those who are hurt and hurting because of false beliefs about the superiority of a particular race, class, or gender; let your truth and justice bring healing.

Comforting God, we pray for healing in the communities and families of all who experienced residential schools. Hold in your loving care and bless with strength and courage those who pursue healing, truth and reconciliation: let your grace and power bring new life.

We pray for strength and healing for all Survivors and intergenerational Survivors of residential schools. And we pray for healing for the siblings, family, and friends of those were taken from home but did not return, and for the intergenerational impacts the schools continue to cause today in families and communities.

God of transforming love, the wounds of racism continue to this day, imbedded in the fabric of our institutions and governments. Let your compassion and wisdom flow through all public policies and practices. Where power is horded, bring your equity and justice. Where racism is resisted, bring your courage and strength to acknowledge and address it. We pray that our communities, churches and country will be places where there is justice and where people advocate for dignity of all creation.

We pray:

• for people whose bodies, minds and souls are in pain and those struggling with physical or mental illness;
• for people who experience violence in their relationships, in their home, workplace, community or country, and for those who have been displaced by war, unjust economic systems, the climate crisis, and ongoing impacts of colonization around the world;
• for people living with housing insecurity: where home is inadequate for the needs of the people it must shelter, is unsafe, unaffordable, or inaccessible;
• for people who are struggling with economic insecurity, barriers to education or employment, unfairness in policies or practices;
• for people at the frontlines of social support systems who daily face the evidence of systemic racism and continue to strive for the safety and dignity of people and creation.

Amen.

Closing Hymn

“One more step along the world I go” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 641). Words and music (both 1971; tune: “Southcote”) by English poet, songwriter and musician Sydney Carter (1915–2004). Words and music copyright © 1971 Stainer & Bell Ltd; 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 2024-10-26 21:10 – Updated Call to Worship, first and second hymns, scripture reading, and Responsive Psalm.