October 29, 2023 – Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Order of Worship – Grace United Church

Worship led by Grace Choir, Rev Kinsman

Lois Sonnega and Garnet Weaver

 GOD CALLS US TOGETHER

GATHERING

WELCOME

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

**HYMN “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You” VU #232

Words: Henry van Dyke  Music: Ludwig van Beethoven

CHILDREN’S TIME

**SONG “I’m Gonna Shout, Shout” MV #183

Words & Music: Bruce Harding

(Children will move to Sunday school after this song)

PRAYER OF HEALING

Creator God, being faithful has never been easy.

You asked Noah to build a ship.

You asked the Israelites to plant gardens and build homes while in exile.

You asked the prophets to speak challenging truths.

You asked the disciples to drop their nets and follow you.

And you ask us to love bigger than society wants to.

Being faithful has never been easy, and as a result, we often miss the mark.

Forgive us for the times we say no to you, so we can say yes to ourselves.

Unravel the grip we have on our agendas, so we make room for healing ourselves and others.

Gratefully we pray, in need of your grace.

(Time for silent prayer and meditation) 

WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT

You are safe in God’s love and grace.

May our actions reveal to others the presence of God’s love with us.

Thanks be to God.

THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 22:34-46 – Love God; love our neighbour as yourself.

In this is God’s hope for the world. Thanks be to God!

MESSAGE

**HYMN “Who Is My Mother” MV #178

Words: Shirley Erena Murray   Music: Ron Klusmeier

GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND

*OFFERING INVITATION 

*OFFERING HYMN “For the Fruit of All Creation” (Vs. 1 only)    VU #227

Words: Fred Pratt Green   Music: Welsh folk melody

OFFERING PRAYER

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

WE GO OUT IN FAITH

*HYMN “Go Make A Diff’rence” MV #209

Words & Music: Traditional song India

ANNOUNCEMENTS – LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

BLESSING

*CHORAL BENEDICTION        “May Your Presence Go With Us”   Grace Choir

Words & Music: Don Moen                

Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission.  One License #A-7252