Sunday July 30, 2023 – Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
Worship led by Marilyn Knowlson-Vermeulen, Adrienne Christopherson,
Garnet Weaver
GOD CALLS US TOGETHER
GATHERING
WELCOME
HYMN “Let Us Build a House (vs.1,3,5) MV #1
Words & Music: Marty Haugen 2006
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
CHILDRENS TIME
HYMN “Small Things Count” VU # 361
Words: Shirley Erena Murray 1990 Music: Jillian 1992
PRAYER OF HEALING
Holy Three in One,
you make us and ask us to care for creation,
all things in your kin-dom.
Sometimes, we don't share your vision.
When things look unfamiliar,
feel uncomfortable, or challenge our beliefs, we move slowly to reach out in love,
to follow Jesus' example to provide unconditional aid.
Loving God, be firm but patient.
Leading Christ, remind us with your encompassing love.
Holly Spirit,
light our fire so we can burn brightly in the darkness of others.
Open our hearts and our understanding.
(Silent reflective prayer time offered)
WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT
In God's love,
we find hope, we are loved,
and we can find the means to help.
Even in the smallest ways,
we are sustained and can sustain in return.
Thanks be to God for our strength,
love, and knowledge.
With these gifts, we can share amongst all.
Amen.
THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US
SCRIPTURE READING-
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Genesis 29:15-28- Five parables: Mustard seed, yeast, treasure, pearls, net.
In this is God’s hope for the world. Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE
HYMN “Likes a Healing Stream” MV #144
Words & Music: Bruce Harding, 2003
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND
*OFFERING INVITATION
*OFFERING RESPONSE “We Give our Thanks” MV #187
Words & Music: traditional song. Botswana, as tought by daisy Nsakazongwe & Andrew Donaldson
OFFERING PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
WE GO OUT IN FAITH
*HYMN “Wherever You May Go” MV #216
Words & Music: David Kai, 1996
ANNOUNCEMENTS – LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
BLESSING
*CHORAL BENEDICTION “We Will Go With God” MV #212
Words & Music: traditional song, Cuba. English translation Jorge Maldonado; arr .More Voices, 2007
Hymns from More Voices and Voices United are used with permission. One License #A-7252
What’s Happening This Week
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS JULY:
MONDAY – THURSDAY 9 – 1
AUGUST – MONDAY-THURSDAY – 9-12
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAYS
August 1
8:45 - 11:45 am - Activity Morning
August 2
9:45 - 11:45 am - Activity Morning
August 3
8:45 - 11:45 am - Activity Morning
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Outreach Cupboard
August 4
August 5
2:00 - 3:00 pm - Blize/Charles Wedding
August 6
10:00 am - Worship
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
How we spend our money reflects our spiritual priorities.
ACTIVITY MORNINGS
It’s hard to believe that this is the last week for activity morning for the summer - Aug 1-3 - from 8:45am – 11:45 am, please see the following link to register: https://www.jotform.com/build/231625580943257. The cost $10/day or $25/3 days. You can e-transfer to guctreasurer@graceunitedchurch.ca or come to the church prior to activity morning to register in person. Payment must be received in order for your child(ren) to be registered.
GRACE UNITED CHURCH’S CORE VALUES COMPASSION, COMMUNITY, INCLUSION, INNOVATION, AND INVITATION AUGUST HOSPITALITY HELPERS NEEDED
Would you consider helping Grace continue to live into our core values even in the summer months? Greeting folks as they come into Sunday worship and offering refreshments after worship are ways we can live into these beliefs. Would you be willing to help make coffee/tea and refreshments for one Sunday after worship? Would you greet and welcome people at the door on one of the Sundays in August? Would you be willing to help with cleaning up the coffee cups after our visiting time? You don’t have to do all three jobs in August, just one act of service would be great! Please put a note on the friendship form in church or call/email the church office at 780-875-8959 (gucexecdirector@graceunitedchurch.ca, if you could help with one of these opportunities, or all of them!
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
CONGRATULATIONS
Mahdin Uddin, one of our Homework Club tutors, who won the Governor General’s Award for highest academic average (a combined grade 11 and 12 average) at LCHS. Mahdin is off to Calgary where he will study pre-med. We wish him continued success.
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.
CONGREGATIONAL SHARING AND INFORMATION TIME: CALLING A SECOND MINISTER
The search committee invites you to stay after worship on July 30th for an information and question time regarding the hiring of a second minister. Please plan to stay if you have questions or concerns. An email, further announcements and a letter to congregational members who are not on email/facebook will be circulated prior to this meeting.
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.
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
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 gucplayschool@graceunitedchurch.ca