Worship Service for April 27, 2025

April 27, 2025 – Second Sunday of Easter

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: In life, in death, and in life beyond death,
All: The Risen Christ is Lord.

One: In success and discouragement, in fear and in hope,
All: The Risen Christ is Lord.

One: Of the poor and broken, of the sinner and the sinned against,
All: The Risen Christ is Lord.

One: In Church and community, in our hearts and our homes,
All: The Risen Christ is Lord, and so we gather to worship in his name.

Opening Hymn

“Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord / Alleluia No. 1” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 260). Words and music (both 1971; tune: “Alleluia No. 1”) by American composer Donald Fishel (1950–). Arrangement (1982) by English Anglican priest Norman Warren (1934–2019). Descant by English composer Angela Reith (1952–). Words, music copyright © 1973, arrangement copyright © 1982 Word of God Music; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Descant copyright © Angela Reith.

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

God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow,  we rejoice in this new day you have made.  We praise you for the abundant life with which you bless us,  and for all the beauty that surrounds us as spring takes hold again.  We praise you for your Son, Jesus, and the power of new life promised in his resurrection.  We praise you for your Spirit at work in human history,  to restore and redeem our hope with that power of new life.  God of steadfast love, we worship you with the Spirit and the Son,  and claim your gift of new life, even in the face of any doubt or danger within the world you love. All praise, honour and glory be yours, O God, now and evermore.

O God of might and mercy,  in raising Jesus from the dead, you showed us your power to defeat all that brings fear and sorrow to our lives. In his resurrection, Jesus promised to be with us everywhere and always. Yet we confess we are sometimes uncertain about your promises. We doubt the promise of resurrection for our own lives. Upheaval and anxiety eat away at our peace. Forgive us when we struggle to trust your goodness  and your steadfast love for 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

Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free from sin and sorrow. In Jesus Christ, God offers us the gift of peace.
All: Thanks be to God.

The Peace

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

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

Mission Moments

Liberty Argonza-Andaya, Director of Operations for Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Health Care

GCPC Senior Choir presents

“Hail, O festival Day” by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958).

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

John 20:19–31  <– 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 20:19–31

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Sermon

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

Hymn

“Come to us, beloved Stranger” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 262). Words (1993) by American hymnwriter Edith Sinclair Downing (1922–2016). Music (tune: “Beach Spring”) attributed to American singing master Benjamin Franklin White (1800–1879), from the tune book “The Sacred Harp” (published 1844) that he compiled. Harmony by James H. Wood. Words copyright © 1993 Edith Sinclair Downing, published by Selah Publishing; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain. Harmony copyright © 1958, renewed 1986 Broadman Press.

Offering

May we bring forward our gifts, tithes and offerings.

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, Along with our gifts we offer you our thanks for your steadfast love, our foundation when things around us seem uncertain. Bless these gifts and the ministry of our faith community. May what we offer spread the blessings we know to others, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Hope

We thank you, God, for the many ways you provide for our needs: for air and water, for food and shelter, for work to do and rest to sustain us. We pray for your creation, too often at risk because of the choices we’ve made. Help us care for the earth and all its creatures and relationships. Show us how to cherish the gifts you have given and protect them for future generations.

We thank you, God, for family:

• the families we were born or adopted into,
• the families we married into,
• and other families who welcomed us into their midst as friends and neighbours.

We pray for those who have lost family members and relationships, and for any who know abuse and pain within the family circle. God, we also thank you for friendship, and for those who bring us joy and wise counsel. Help us extend the gift of friendship to those who are experiencing isolation, loneliness or grief.

We thank you, God, for the peace and freedom we enjoy in Canada, and pray that the conflict over what these gifts mean will be soothed with deeper understanding among us all. We pray for those who know neither freedom nor peace: those living under oppressive regimes or in conflict zones, and those who have fled their homelands, in search of safety.

We thank you, God, for your Church, for our congregation and its leaders, and for all who volunteer time, talent and energy to the work we undertake in Jesus’ name. By your Spirit, guide us and inspire us with new insight into mission and ministry. We pray for other churches in our community and in our presbytery, and the sense of mission that guides each one into service.

Fill us with a deeper sense of unity so that we can model relationships that transcend differences in this divided world.

O God, thank you for the gift of your Son, whose resurrection empowers us to look to the future with hope. Thank you for the gift of your Spirit who draws us into unity with you and one another, as together we offer this prayer. Amen.

Closing Hymn

“Jesus is risen from the grave” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 254). Words and music (both 1989; tune: “Jesus is risen from the grave”) by Scottish hymn-writer and Church of Scotland minister John L. Bell (1949–) and his Scottish hymn-writing partner Graham Maule (1958–2019), both affiliated with the Iona Community. Words and music copyright © 1989, Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc. agent; 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

“Celtic Blessing”. Words Irish traditional. Music by former GCPC Music Director Carmen Lappano. Words public domain. Music copyright © Carmen Lappano; used by permission.

Postlude

Copyright © 2025 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2025-04-26 21:55 – First version.