Weekly Worship Material

Order of Service for January 26th, 2025

Third Sunday after Epiphany

 

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD

 

GATHERING MUSIC: 

Verse (#5) in G Major                                                         - J. Blow

Voluntary #4 in D Major                                                    - W. Russell

            

PRELUDE: Flötenuhr Musik #5                                                             - J. Haydn 

 

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LAND:

We give thanks for the land and our ancestors who have cared for it, for Indigenous and for settlers. Thank you to the people called Haudenosaunee, Mississauga, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora (Ska-Ruh-Reh) Six Nations.

are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe (Anish-nah-bay), and Haudenosaunee (Hoe-den-no-show-nee) peoples.  Upper Canada Treaty and the Haldimand Treaty of 1784

 

INTROIT: Creating God, Your Fingers Trace                                        -J. Haydn

 

CALL TO WORSHIP:

ALL:

Wonderful and Glorious God, 

Your word and revelation, 

Set our entire beings aflame.

 

The mighty chorus of creation, 

Sends chills down our spines, 

Prickles our skin with goosebumps, 

And reveals Your glory,

as it draws us in

to sing the song of Your praise. 

 

We lay down in sacrifice, 

an offering of ourselves 
in confession

that we have witnessed
the radiant proclamation of the sea and sky,
the mountains and valleys,
a body warmed, 
an ache fed, 
a hand held-

Our breath has been taken away, 
Our hearts have skipped a beat, 
and we know, 
that You are God.

 

PASSING OF THE PEACE: The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you… And also with you.

 

*OPENING HYMN: VU #406 See The Morning Sun Ascending

 

            ♫1       See the morning sun ascending,

                        radiant in the eastern sky;

                        hear the angel voices blending

                        in their praise to God on high!

                        Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

                        Glory be to God on high!

                                      

            2         So may we, in lowly station,

                        join the choristers above;

                        singing with the whole creation,

                        praising you for your great love.

                        Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

                        Glory be to God above!

                                     

            3         For your loving-kindness ever

                        shed upon our earthly way;

                        for your mercy, ceasing never,

                        for your blessing day by day:

                        Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

                        Glory be to God alway!

                                   

            4         “Wisdom, honour, power, and blessing!”

                        with the angelic host we cry;

                        round your throne, your name confessing,

                        now we would to you draw nigh.

                        Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

                        Glory be to God on high!

                                                    

~Children are welcomed to the front of the Sanctuary 

for Children’s Time following the hymn~

 

CHILDREN’S TIME

 

LORD’S PRAYER:

Abba with us,

hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth, as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread, 

And forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those who trespass against us. 

And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil: 

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 

forever and ever. AMEN.

 

ANTHEM: The Heavens Sing Praises                                                    -L. Beethoven

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION & ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

ALL: 

God, Your will brings life,
You encourage us on a path 
to delight, 
where we can rejoice 
in the simplicity of its wisdom. 

You guide us to the way
of truth and light, 
to an existence of sweetness and ease. 

We long to get there, 
and can fail to see what we don’t know to look for, 
protect us from the insolent, 
           those who do evil knowingly, 

and do not let them have dominion over us.

 

ONE: We offer up our prayers, trusting they are held as treasures of love and truth for God to delight in. May we draw closer to God and our Neighbours, in love and grace, knowing God is infinite in each.

 

*CREED:

We are not alone,
    we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:
    who has created and is creating,
    who has come in Jesus,
       the Word made flesh,
       to reconcile and make new,
    who works in us and others
       by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:
    to celebrate God’s presence,
    to live with respect in Creation,
    to love and serve others,
    to seek justice and resist evil,
    to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
       our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,
    God is with us.
We are not alone.

Thanks be to God. 

 

*HYMN: VU #296 This Is God’s Wondrous World

 

            ♫1      This is God’s wondrous world,

                        and to my listening ears

                        all nature sings, and round me rings

                        the music of the spheres.

                        This is God’s wondrous world;

                        I rest me in the thought

                        of rocks and trees, and skies and seas,

                        God’s hand the wonders wrought.

                                      

            2         This is God’s wondrous world:

                        the birds their carols raise;

                        the morning light, the lily white,

                        declare their Maker’s praise.

                        This is God’s wondrous world:

                        God shines in all that’s fair;

                        in the rustling grass or mountain pass,

                        God’s voice speaks everywhere.

 

            3         This is God’s wondrous world:

                        O let me ne’er forget

                        that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

                        God is the ruler yet.

                        This is God’s wondrous world:

                        why should my heart be sad?

                        let voices sing, let the heavens ring:

                        God reigns, let earth be glad!

                  

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:

Proverbs 31:25-26

25 Clothed with strength and dignity,

she can laugh at the days to come.

26 When she opens her mouth, she speaks wisely;

        on her tongue is loving instruction. 

 

OFFERING:

            INVITATION TO INVEST IN GOD’S MISSION:

“Called by God, as disciples of Jesus, The United Church of Canada seeks to be a bold, connected, evolving church of diverse, courageous, hope-filled communities united in deep spirituality, inspiring worship, and daring justice.”

 

            OFFERTORY: Adagio in C Major                                               -W. A. Mozart

 

            *DOXOLOGY: VU #542

 

                        ♫       We give you but your own,

                                    what-e’er the gift may be;

                                    all that we have is yours alone,

                                    we give it gratefully.

 

            PRAYER:

“We send forth our offerings in blessing and thanksgiving that they may serve God’s Holy mission that has this church. May we walk humbly in your way.”

 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 

SCRIPTURE READING:  Psalm 19

 

1 The heavens are telling the glory of God,
   and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
   and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
   their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth
   and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
   and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens
   and its circuit to the end of them,
   and nothing is hid from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
   reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
   making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
   rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
   enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure,
   enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
   and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
   even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
   and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
   in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect one’s own errors?
   Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; 
   do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
   and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
   be acceptable to you,
   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

 

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

 

MESSAGE: 

“The Words of my Mouth and the Prayers of my Heart are offered up to God.”

 

*CLOSING HYMN: VU #330 Jesus Shall Reign

 

♫1       Jesus shall reign wher-e’er the sun

            does its successive journeys run;

            his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

            till moons shall wax and wane no more.

 

2         People and realms of every tongue

            dwell on his love with sweetest song,

            and infant voices shall proclaim

            their early blessings on his name.

 

3         Blessings abound wher-e’er he reigns;

            and prisoners leap to lose their chains;

            the weary find eternal rest,

            and all who suffer want are blest.

 

4         Let every creature rise and bring

            peculiar honours to our King,

            angels descend with songs again,

            and earth repeat the loud Amen!

 

*COMMISSIONING

 

*SUNG RESPONSE:

 

♫        The Lord bless you, and keep you:

The Lord make his face shine upon you, 

and be gracious unto you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, 

and give you peace.  

 

POSTLUDE: Voluntary #6 in D Major                                                  -J. Hook