August 6, 2023 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Order of Worship – Grace United Church
Worship led by Rev. Cathy Kinsman, Adrienne Christopherson, Pam & Jonathan Rollheiser
GOD CALLS US TOGETHER
GATHERING
WELCOME
HYMN “Creator God You Gave Us Life” MV #27
Words & Music: Judith Snowdon, 2004
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 “Be Thou My Vision” VU # 642
Words: Mary Elizabeth Byrne 1905; vers. Eleanor H. Hull1912, alt Music: Irish traditional melody
PRAYER OF HEALING
God of our longing,
God of our living,
God of our nighttime wrestling.
You come to us is in so many ways,
times, and places.
Every breath we take is your gift to us and our opportunity to be filled with you,
moment by moment.
We share with you Holy Friend,
we are grieved by the ways we live at times.
Our hearts are broken –
we are not whole.
We share our fragmented thoughts in prayer now,
surrendering to you all that keeps us apart from your love.
(Silent reflective prayer time offered)
WORDS OF GRACE AND COMFORT
Emptied of our self-concern,
we now have room for you and what you would ask us to do.
We find, Amazing God,
that you give us a blessing.
You call us your own.
You wipe our tears.
May we now touch one another’s living with your blessing, that all the world may know your grace and comfort.
Thanks be to God.
THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK TO US
SCRIPTURE READING-
Genesis 32:22-31 – Jacob wrestles with God
In this is God’s hope for the world. Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE
HYMN “Praise God for This Holy Ground” MV #42
Words & Music: John L. Bell 2002
GOD INVITES US TO RESPOND
*OFFERING INVITATION
*OFFERING RESPONSE “Grateful” MV #182
Words & Music: Tom Tomaszek; arr. Sarah Hart and Tom Tomaszek, 2003
OFFERING PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
WE GO OUT IN FAITH
*HYMN “God Be with You till We Meet Again” VU #422
Words: Jeremiah E Ranking 1880, alt. Music: Willian G. Tomer 1880
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
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
August: Monday – Thursday 9 - 12
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAYS
August 7th
OFFICE CLOSED – Heritage Day
August 8th
9:30 am - 12:00 pm - Hub of Healing
1:00 pm - Staff Meeting
August 9th
12:30 pm - Soup Trio
August 10th
9:30 am - Book Club
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Outreach Cupboard
August 11th
2:00 - 11:00 pm - Quilang Booking
August 12th
1:00 - 3:00 pm - Irene Knowlson’s 90th Birthday
August 13th
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
Generosity is what transforms five loaves and two fish into a feast for five thousand.
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; zip ties, colorful tape, foil pans, dryer tube, pool noodles, colorful craft sticks (popsicle sticks), old baking sheets, to-go containers, jars, pie tins, 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.
YOU’RE INVITED!
Please join us while we celebrate Irene Knowlson’s 90th Birthday, with a come and go tea & cake from 1-3 pm at Grace United Church in the hall. Please no gifts, as your presence is more then enough. We hope you can join us.
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.
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