Sunday August 13, 2023 – Eleventh After Pentecost
Worship led by Meri-dian Ukuleles, Darrel Howell, Alice Robinson,
Grace Choir, Jonathon Rollheiser, and Garnet Weaver
GOD CALLS US TOGETHER
GATHERING “Jacob and Sons” Meri Ukes
Words: Tim Rice Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
WELCOME
**HYMN Holy, Holy, Holy” VU #315
Words: Reginald Heber ca. 1820; alt. Music: John Bacchus Dykes 1861; desc. Godfrey Hewitt ca. 1971
WE OFFER OURSELVES TO GOD
CANDLE LIGHTING “In the Quiet Stillness of Creation” Gladys Jack
“In the quiet stillness of creation, in the quiet stillness of home.
In the quiet stillness of our being, God reminds us that we’re not alone.”
CENTERING PRAYER
CHILDREN’S TIME
SPECIAL MUSIC “Coat of Many Colorsol” Meri Ukes
Words and Music: Dolly Parton:
PRAYER OF HEALING
Lord, we thank you for your many blessings today.
We thank you for our welcoming and inclusive Grace United Church family.
We tend to take these blessings for granted.
Continue to speak with us and enlighten our journey.
Stay with us, Lord.
Reach out and invite us to pause and meet with you, we pray.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us the wisdom and compassion to accept others who do not fit the norm.
You have blessed us as you blessed Joseph.
We call your name, Lord,
wanting to sense your presence as we reveal our hurting hearts to you in prayer.
(silent reflective prayer time offered)
WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT
Whether we believe it, or not,
Jesus Christ never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Let us open our hearts to receive the grace which Christ brings to us in faithfulness.
We are comforted and renewed in God’s grace offered! Thanks be to God. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Any Dream Will Do” Meri Ukes
Words: Tim Rice Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber
THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US
SCRIPTURE READING
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers.
In this is God’s hope for the world. Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE
HYMN “Come Touch Our Hearts” MV #12
Words & Music: Gordon Light, 2002; arr. Andrew Donaldson, 2002
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND
*OFFERING INVITATION
*OFFERING RESPONSE “Grateful” MV #182
Words and Music: Tom Tomaszek; arr. Sarah Hart and T. Tomaszek, 2003
OFFERING PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
*HYMN “The Lord’s Prayer” VU# 959
Words & Music: David Haas 1986
WE GO OUT IN FAITH
*HYMN “My Love Colors Outside the Lines” MV #138
Words & Music: Gordon Light, 1995; arr. Andrew Donaldson
ANNOUNCEMENTS – LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
BLESSING
*CHORAL BENEDICTION “We Will Go with God” MV #223
Words & Music: traditional song, Swaziland, and South Africa; arr. Dave Dargi
Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission. One License #A-7252
What’s Happening This Week
OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday 9 - 12
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAYS
August 14
8:45 am - 12:00 pm - VBS
9:00 am - Pie Baking
August 15
8:45 am - 12:00 pm - VBS
9:00 am - Pie Baking
August 16
8:45 am - 12:00 pm - VBS
9:00 am - Pie Baking
August 17
8:45 am - 12:00 pm - VBS
9:00 am - Pie Baking
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Outreach Cupboard
August 18
9:00 am - Pie Baking
August 19
9:00 am - Pie Baking
4:00 - 9:30pm - Pauline Minish's 90th Birthday
August 20
10:00 am - Worship
Sanctuary
10:00 am
Outreach Shopping List
o Canned fruit
o Canned vegetables
o Granola Bars
o Cereal
o Instant oatmeal pkgs
o Pasta sauce
o Juice boxes
o Larger canned protein (Ham, chicken, tuna)
STEWARDSHIP SECONDS
Caring for the financial health of your community of faith is not a sprint to be accomplished with one time of worship or one campaign. It is a marathon that is accomplished by developing relationships, expressing gratitude, and teaching generosity as a spiritual practice.
STELLAR – SHINE JESUS SHINE - V.B.S. 2023 |AUGUST 14TH – 17TH|
8:45 – 11:45 AM|GUC
We are so excited this year Grace United Church will be hosting VBS. A Vacation Bible School that will send everyone over the moon! We are going on a cosmic quest where we’ll have a blast shining Jesus’ light to the world. Stellar, will rocket kids on an out-of-this world adventure that’s light years of faith-building fun. There is no cost to register. Some activities may be outside, so please have your child(ren) dressed for the weather. We look forward to meeting all of you at VBS! Please call 780-875-8959 or email the office at gucadmin@graceunitedchurch.ca or see the following link to register children Kindergarten to Grade 5. https://form.jotform.com/221646945291260
MODERATOR LANSDOWNE URGES GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS LACK OF HOUSING FOR REFUGEES
The Right Rev. Carmen Lansdowne, Moderator of The United Church of Canada, has written to the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, urging a more proactive response to the lack of housing for refugee claimants. This is not only a challenge in Toronto, where the government fails to address the crisis at 129 Peter St., Moderator Lansdowne wrote; this situation will continue to expand across the country if there is not a more robust strategy for providing asylum seekers and refugees with a safe and soft place to land. While the current crisis in Toronto particularly impacts Black African refugees, this is not a single-issue affecting people of one identity group. The current crisis also affects LGBTQIA+ people fleeing persecution, as well as people of many diverse identity groups. African and refugee organizations are providing as much amazing leadership and support as they can, but the federal government and other levels of government must join them and fulfill our obligations under international human rights law. For more on Refugee news, sponsorship policies, and stories from newcomers in Canada subscribe to our Refugee Sponsorship News Newsletter
VBS IS COMING!
Can you help us with our decorating? We are looking for the following items to help create a stellar adventure; dryer tube, pool noodles, 5 pkgs yellow streamers, leaf blower, old baking sheets, to-go containers, large pkg Starburst candies, 10 little buckets, gift wrap rolls/ tubes, wire, tubing, PVC, small boxes, old sheets (will not be returned) and rope. Please contact Bev at gucexecdirector@graceunitedchurch.ca if you can help with any of this.
BROADVIEW MAGAZINE
Recently we received our subscription renewal for the Broadview magazine. As is the case with numerous things, the cost of the renewal has increased dramatically. We have sent an email out to subscribers but want to make sure we catch everyone so if you would or wouldn’t like to receive the magazine anymore, please let the Executive Director know by Aug 15, 2023. You can email to gucexecdirector@graceunitedchurch.ca or call the church 780-875-8959 to leave a message. Thank you so much.
THANK YOU
Ministry & Personnel would like to thank Ashley Barber, our Admin Support for her valued service at Grace United Church. Ashley has resigned and her last day will be August 17th. Please feel free to come in and talk to Ashley and wish her well as she is starting her new job September 1st. Good luck in your new endeavors!
As beloved children of God, all are included in the life and ministry of
the Grace Family where diversity is celebrated.
Grace remembers, as we celebrate God’s presence in worship,
that Grace United Church gathers on Treaty 6 land,
the traditional territory of the Plains, Wood Cree, Assiniboine and Métis peoples.
As Treaty people
we seek to live with respect on this land and live in peace and friendship with all our relations.
we seek to live with respect on this land and live in peace and friendship with all our relations.
Administrative Support - Ashley Barber 780-875-8959 gucadmin@graceunitedchurch.ca
Treasurer - Lynda Campbell 306-821-2575 guctreasurer@graceunitedchurch.ca
Playschool Coordinator - Lori Haygarth 780-808-0959 dannyandlori@telus.net
Choir Director - Karen Fawcett 780-875-4642 karenfawcett@hotmail.com
Affirming Support Worker - Jenson Brown 780-875-8959 gucjensonbrown@gmail.com
Minister - Rev Cathy Kinsman 1-204-294-2142 gucminister@graceunitedchurch.ca
Board Chair - Darrel Howell 780-870-1671 dhhowell@telus.net
Executive Director - Bev Thurlow 780-875-8959 gucexecdirector@graceunitedchurch.ca