Worship Service for October 20, 2024

October 20, 2024 – Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost and Memorial Service

A livestream of this service will take place on our YouTube channel on Sunday, October 20, 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, October 20.

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.

Brooks Gorst is Music Director. Kay Galbraith is the Duty Elder. The ushers/greeters are lead by Bill. The scripture reading is by Cindy Similas.

Introit – The Bells of Guildwood

“Give Thanks!” Music (1978) by American composer Henry Smith (1952–). Arranged (2010) for handbells by American composer and arranger Susan E. Geschke. Music copyright © 1978 and this arrangement copyright © 2010 both by Integrity’s Hosanna! Music; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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.

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.

Prayer of the day

Praise be to you, O God, for the wonders of your creation. You spin the galaxies and stretch out the seas to the furthest horizon. You lift the curtain of dawn to end the night. You give the earth its seasons and each creature its lifespan, breathing life into each precious soul. And so we come to praise you, knowing human greatness is a mere shadow of yours. Breathe your Spirit into us once again, and inspire us to serve you with creativity and commitment, and the honesty and humility we meet in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, you call us to walk your way in the world, serving our neighbours and loving our enemies. We confess these are not easy choices for us. We seek acknowledgement for our own achievements, and enjoy being served. Forgive us for seeking our own way rather than your way.

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.

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

GCPC Senior Choir presents

“The Prayer/Lead Us, Lord” arranged by Tom Fettke

“The Prayer with Lead Us Lord”. A combination of the song “The Prayer” (1998), with words by American lyricist Carole Bayer Sager (1944–) and music by Canadian composer David Foster (1949–), as performed by Canadian singer Celine Dion (1968–) and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli (1958–); and the hymn “Lead me, Lord” (for example, Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 575), with words from Psalm 4:8 and Psalm 5:8 and music (1861; tune: “Lead me, Lord”) by English composer and organist Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810–1876). This arrangement of the two pieces by American composer and arranger Tom Fettke. “The Prayer” words and music copyright © 1998 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. “Lead me, Lord” words and music public domain. This arrangement “The Prayer with Lead Us Lord” words and music copyright © 2008 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.

Note from Music Director Brooks Gorst

“The Prayer/Lead Us, Lord” was an anthem dedicated to Evelyn Skripitsky [and family] in loving memory of her late son, Jeff Skripitsky on Sunday May 5, 2024. The road of grief is not a straight one, and with Evelyn’s permission, she has granted us the grace to sing this beautiful anthem today as an opportunity for us all to walk side by side together on this inevitable road that we all share at points in our lives. May this anthem bring hope and peace to all of us as we remember those that are no longer with us but remain in our hearts. — Brooks Gorst.

Fun with the young at heart (Children may join the Sunday School Class)

Scripture Reading

John 20:1–18  <– 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.

John 20:1–18

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb,12 and she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, ‘Do not touch me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Homily

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

Hymn

“Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 229). Words (1963) by Scottish missionary and hymnwriter Tom Colvin (1928–2000). Music (tune: “Chereponi”) Ghanaian folk melody, adapted (1963) by Colvin. This arrangement (1982) by American academic and church musician Jane Marshall (1924–2019). Words and musical adaptation copyright © 1969, arrangement copyright © 1982 all by Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A


Litany of Remembrance

Prayer

Presentation of Flowers

—Time to remember—

Prayer of Awareness

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.


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

Gracious God, we offer you these gifts, small tokens of our love for you. Bless them with the power of your Holy Spirit so they may accomplish more than we can even imagine, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our Friend. Amen.

The Bells of Guildwood

“Spirit in the Wind”. Music (1995) by American church musician and handbell director Lee J. Afdahl. Music copyright © 1995 Augsburg Fortress Press; 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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