Worship Service for June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025 – Third 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: It is good to give thanks to God;
All: Let us sing praises to God’s holy name!

One: We will declare God’s steadfast love in the morning,
All: And God’s faithfulness night after night.

One: Let us make a joyful noise in our worship!
All: For God is good and we know God’s blessings.

One: Let us worship God with grateful hearts;
All: We will give God thanks in our prayers and praise.

Opening Hymn

“Praise, I will Praise” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 420). Original French words (1976) by French composer and musician Claude Fraysse (1941–2012); English translation (1989) by American hymnwriter Kenneth I. Morse (1913–1999). Music (1977; tune “Je louerai l’Éternel”) by Fraysse; arrangement by Alain Bergèse. Original French words copyright © 1976 Claude Fraysse; English translation copyright ©1989 The Hymnal Project; used by permission of Brethren Press. Music copyright copyright © 1977 Claude Fraysse.

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

Faithful, fruitful God,
you created our minds to grow in wisdom. You created our hearts to expand with love. You created our voices to sing your praises forever. We bring you our worship with joyful praise, turning to Jesus for grace and guidance. Fill us to overflowing with your Holy Spirit so that the fruit of the Spirit will bound in our lives. May we worship you in spirit and in truth, and serve you in the example of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Faithful, fruitful God,
you call us to follow you, whatever the circumstance, yet we confess we prefer to remain where we are. You offer us new beginnings, yet we continue to make the same choices, guided by our own desires. We make excuses for avoiding your challenge to change. Forgive us, O God. Cleanse us with your mercy, and energize us to serve you even when the challenge seems great.

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

In Christ, we are made a new creation; the old life is gone and the new life has come! Know that God loves you and forgives you. Do not be afraid to make a new start!
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)

Musical Reflection

“Hymn to Freedom” by Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson (1925–2007). From the 1963 album “Night Train”.

Note from GCPC Music Director Brooks Gorst

Greetings. Today marks my first time playing at our wonderful church since the last Sunday in February of 2025. On March 2, 2025, I was scheduled to play “Hymn to Freedom,” which was my way of putting a nice little “bow” on what would have been the culmination of Black History Month. My reappearance today happens to be contemporaneous with the coming 100^th birthday of the late Oscar Peterson. Some of you may know that Peterson suffered a significant stroke which affected his playing. I am thankful that I have not had that experience, yet I can relate because I’ve had similar challenges in relearning how to play the piano with my own version of “new normal.” He overcame his struggles and resumed performing. What an inspiration for me. I am happy to be back. Also, we can relish in the fact that Oscar Peterson was all ours: the greatest jazz pianist that ever lived, a Canadian. Though Black History month is well behind us, with all the violence going on in the Middle East, and our ever-coarsening world that we live in, “Hymn to Freedom” fits beautifully in today’s musical reflection.

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 9:51–62  <– 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 9:51–62

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, 53 but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 And Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Sermon

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

Hymn

“Christ, you call us all to service” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 585). Words (1994) by American Presbyterian elder and hymnwriter Joy F. Patterson (1931–). Music (first published 1710; tune: “In Babilone”) traditional Dutch melody. This arrangement by German-Dutch composer Julius Röntgen (1855–1932). Music and arrangement public domain. Words copyright © 1994 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

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

O God, we know you to be kind and generous, so we bring our gifts in gratitude and joy. Pour out your Spirit on these gifts and on our lives, so that we may bear the fruit of your Spirit in every situation and relationship, through Christ, our Living Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Hope

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

God of life and love,
You engage us in the midst of our lives when we need you. We pray today for all those who feel fearful about their future, and for all who wrestle with challenges at work or at home. We remember before you those weighed down by illness or worry, and all who provide care for those in need of support. Help each one of us face our fears and our challenges supported by your love.

God of courage and comfort,
whenever 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, and for their friends and families…    For refugees at risk in so many places in the world, remembering especially those who have fled Ukraine and Palestine… We pray for those caught in despair and poverty in our own community and in the forgotten corners of your world… Renew the strength of all those challenged by realities beyond their control and equip our leaders to support those in the deepest need.

God of purpose and promise,
Receive our prayers. God of the world and all its peoples, we pray for our country and our leaders as we prepare to mark Canada Day. Equip Canada to be a force for justice and well-being in your world. Give our leaders wisdom and integrity to make decisions that provide for a good future for all who call this nation home. Open our eyes and our hearts to the opportunities we have to serve you in serving one another. Make us alert to cries for justice in our midst and guide us in repairing relationships strained by differences between us.

Receive all our prayers, spoken and unspoken. AMEN.

Closing Hymn

“When we are living”(Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 630). Original Spanish words paraphrase of Romans 14:8. Verse 1 anonymous; verses 2–4 (1983) by Mexican-American hymnwriter Roberto Escamilla (1931–). English translation verse 1 by American Elise S. Eslinger (1942–); verses 2–4 by American George Lockwood (1942–). Music (tune: “Somos del Señor”) Hispanic folk song. English words copyright © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; 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 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.

OR

“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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Last updated 2025-07-02 18:05 – First version.