Worship Service for February 16, 2025 – Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

February 16, 2025 – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

A livestream of this service will take place on our YouTube channel on Sunday, February 16, 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, February 16.

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.

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: Sing to the Lord a new song!
All: Let us make melody before our God!

One: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
All: Let us praise God’s holy name together.

One: How good it is to sing praises to our God;
All: For God is gracious and steadfast in mercy.

One: A song of praise is always fitting,
All: For God heals the broken hearted and binds up our wounds.

Opening Hymn

“The steadfast love of the Lord” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 20). Words (1974; paraphrase of Lamentations 3:21–26, 31–33, 40) and music (1974; tune: “The Steadfast Love”) by American composer Edith McNeill (1920–2014). Words and music copyright © 1974 Celebration; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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

God of majesty and mystery,
we come in wonder and humility. Source of all that is, you are beyond our imagining, astonishing us with the detail and designs within your creation. Word of hope and healing, you touch our lives with truth and tenderness, revealing our need and our gift. Spirit of purpose and possibility, you move within us when we least expect it, awakening our gifts, urging us to respond. Receive our praise and prayer this day, and prepare us to receive your Word in its wisdom and warning, for we come to you through Christ our Lord, trusting in his grace and truth.

Confident of your forgiveness and out of a desire to begin again with you and one another, we confess our sins: …

God of life and love,
at this season of the year our hearts are grateful for all the love that touches our lives. Still, we confess that we are not always shining examples of the love we long for. Forgive us for those times when we failed to keep our word and disappointed those who love us. Forgive us when we gave into our tempers and temptations and disappointed your hopes for us. Renew and remake us through the grace of your Son, Jesus, your love made flesh.

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

The Gospel writer John writes that God is love, and that God’s perfect love casts out fear. We are promised that those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. So claim your hope in this Good News: God’s perfect love abides in you through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

The Peace

One: May the peace of Christ be with us all.
All: And also with you.

Musical presentation

“Amazing Grace”. Soprano vocal solo by Christianne James. This arrangement by Fabrizio Ferrari.

Note from Music Director Brooks Gorst

“Amazing Grace” has deep ties to Black history, particularly in the U.S., where it became an anthem for hope and resilience among enslaved people and later during the Civil Rights Movement. The song’s author, John Newton (1725–1807), was a former slave trader who later renounced his past and became an abolitionist. Over time, “Amazing Grace” was embraced by Black churches and gospel traditions, with influential renditions by artists like Mahalia Jackson and Aretha Franklin. Its message of redemption and perseverance continues to resonate in Black history and culture today.

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

Luke 6:17–26 <– 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.

Luke 6:17–26

17 He came down with them and stood on a level place with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.

Blessings and Woes

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full now,
or you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.

26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”

Sermon

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

Hymn

“Sometimes a healing word is comfort” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 768). Words by American church musician Patrick Michaels (1954–). Music (first published 1657; tune: “Wer nur den lieben Gott”, also known as “Neumark”) by German poet and composer Georg Neumark (1621–1681). Words public domain. Music copyright © Patrick Michaels.

Offering

The season of Epiphany begins January 6, the day celebrating the journey of the Magi to greet Christ, the new-born king. They brought gold, frankincense and myrrh. Our gifts are not so exotic, but what we offer today and throughout the year honours Jesus as Lord of our lives and Saviour of the world.

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

God, you are the Source of our lives. From you, all loving kindness, justice and mercy flow. Bless these gifts so that acts of kindness, justice and mercy may flow through them, too. And bless our lives so our words and actions show your Spirit at work in us and through us, in the name of Jesus Christ, our friend and Saviour. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Hope

God of mystery and mercy,
We come before you today carrying hopes and dreams, the burdens and blessings of our lives. We bring all that is on our hearts and minds to you, seeking your comfort and strength, listening for your guidance, grateful that you hear us when we pray.

God of life and love,
We give you thanks that you engage us whenever we need you, in the midst of challenge and uncertainty. We pray today for all those who are fearful about their future, and for all who wrestle with challenges at work or at home. Help us face our fears and our challenges, sure of your steadfast love:

God of hope and healing,
In Jesus Christ you confronted demons that trouble our minds and the pain and illness that can weigh us down. We pray today for all those who are facing health concerns, and for all who care for the suffering and those in need of support. Surround each one with your steadfast love.

God of peace and promise,
when we wrestle with any burden, your Spirit prays within us with sighs too deep for words. Today we pray for all those whose burdens seem too heavy to bear:

For the victims of violence or disaster, for their friends and families…

For refugees at risk in so many places in the world, and those making a new home in our community…

For those caught in despair and poverty in our own neighbourhoods and in the forgotten corners of your world…

Renew the strength of all facing realities beyond their control with your steadfast love. Faithful God, in Your name, we pray. AMEN.

Closing Hymn

“We are marching / Siyahamba” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 639). Words South African Xhosa traditional; English translation (1984) by Swedish composer and musician Anders Nyberg (1955–). Music traditional South African; arrangement (1984; tune “Siyahamba”) by Nyberg. English translation and musical arrangement copyright © 1984 Walton Music Corporation; 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 love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you always. AMEN.

Blessing

Postlude

Last updated 2025-02-14 21:25 – First version.