Sunday, September 29, 2024 – Fourth Sunday of Creation / Sunday before the Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Creation / Sunday before the Day of Truth and Reconciliation
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome to this day of Creation and recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that this land on which Windsor Park United Church gathers is Treaty 1 land. The traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree and Dakota peoples in the heart of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge the Inuit and all people of this grant Land on Turtle Island and their ancestors. Today, this meeting place is still the home of many Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
(adapted from Gathering Worship Resources)
Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
One: Our souls long for you, O God. By day, Eternal One, you proclaim steadfast love,
All: and at night your song sounds within each one of us.
One: Creator, send out your light and your truth; let them lead us,
All: let them bring us to your holy dwelling.
One: We approach your altar, god, to worship you, the author of our joy,
All: we praise you, O God, our creator.
(Worship Service for Indigenous Day of Prayer 2022, United Church of Canada)
Hymn – “Many and Great, O God, are Your Works” (VU #308)
Many and great, O God, are your works,
Maker of earth and sky.
Your hands have set the heavens with stars,
Your fingers spread the mountains and plains.
Lo, at your word the waters were formed;
Deep seas obey your voice.
Grant unto us communion with you,
O star-abiding one.
Come unto us and dwell with us,
With you are found the gifts of life.
Bless us with life that has no end,
Eternal life with you.
Prayer of Approach
(Abingdon Worship Annual 2024)
Prayer of Confession
Gracious and ever-giving God, we come to you with ears that do not hear, with eyes that do not see, with hearts that do not feel. Creation cries out as our broken ways visit pay upon your world, Our minds have become empty of caring for others. We think only of what we can hold and save for ourselves. We have forgotten our sisters and brother and our relationship with creation, and we have become empty in our hearts. Forgive our separateness from you from your creation story. Open our ears; open our eyes; open our hearts to your fiery, cleansing touch.
Words of Assurance
Sung Response – “O Beautiful Gaia” (MV #41)
O beautiful Gaia,
O Gaia, calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
Calling us on.
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Psalm 124 (VU #848)
One: “If God had not been at our side,”
All: now let Israel say:
One: “If God had not been at our side when mortals rose up against us,
All: then they would have swallowed us alive, when their fury was roused against us.
One: Then the flood would have swept us away, and the torrent would have covered us.
All: Then the raging waters would have gone right over our heads.”
Sung Refrain:
Our help comes from God the maker of heaven and earth.
One: But praised be God: who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.
All: We have escaped like a bird from the hunter’s snare; the snare is broken and we are free.
Sung Refrain:
Our help comes from God the maker of heaven and earth.
Scripture Reading: James 5:13-20
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess yours sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brother, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring hm back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!
Hymn – “Spirit, Open My Heart?” (MV #79)
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory.
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
May I weep with those who weep, share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
Meditation
Anthem – “Song of Community”
We’ll weave a love that greens sure as spring,
Then deepens in summer to the fall autumn brings.
Resting still in winter to spiral again,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
We’ll weave a love that opens our eyes
To see one another beyond all disguise,
Where our trust like water will wash away lies,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
That rising and turning then yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
Or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
By turning that love moves on.
We’ll weave a love that touches our pain,
That come like the water to drought-fevered plains,
So the roots once withered sing praise to the rain,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
We’ll weave a love that holds the despised,
The stranger who wanders, the focus of lies,
We’ll stand sure as mountains with earth’s victimized,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
That rising and turning yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
Or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
By turning that love moves on.
We’ll weave a love with roots growing deep
And sap pushing branches to wake from their sleep,
Bearing leaves burnt amber with morning’s full sweep,
Together, my friends, we’ll weave on, we’ll weave on.
A love that heals, friend, that bends, friend,
That rising and turning yields, friend,
Like the mountain to rain, or frost in the spring,
Or darkness that turns with the dawn.
It’s by turning, turning, turning, my friend,
By turning that love moves on.
We Respond to God’s Word
Invitation to Share
Offering Response – “For the Gift of Creation” (VU #538)
For the gift creation, the gift of your love,
And the gift of the Spirit by which we live,
We thank you and give you the fruit of our hands.
May your grace be proclaimed by the gifts that we give.
Offering Prayer
Prayers of the People
One: We give thanks,
All: Great Spirit, for your creation.
A Paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer
Eternal Spirit, Earth maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, source of all that is and that shall be. Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by peoples of the world! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen.
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “May We Rise”
May we rise with all Creation as the Spirit gives us strength.
May we heed the inner wisdom that God’s loving knows no length.
May we be a faith-filled people, living out compassion’s way.
May we find the heart-felt courage to embrace the dawning day.
May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.
May we walk to meet the shadows of our woundedness and grief.
May we trust the Holy Spirit to bring healing and relief.
May we live with Love and justice, bring Your messages of Peace.
May we know the guiding power of Your gift of Grace released.
May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.
May we reach beyond the bound’ries of the walls that do divide.
May we feel the gift of Presence in Life’s circle with no sides.
May we listen for Your calling, hearts be open to Your Way.
May we live as one in Christ. As one people, God we pray.
May we rise. Let the songs of Love be sung.
May we rise. Sisters, brothers we are one, we are one.
Benediction
One: Wind of God, come from the East
All: and expand our understanding and compassion.
One: Come from the South
All: and melt our hearts with passion for liberation.
One: Come from the West
All: and challenge us to venture forth into new places in new ways.
One: Come from the North
All: and test our powers to resist injustice.
One: Wind of God, blow us according to your will.
All: May it be so!
(Sue Jackson, 2001, Gathering, Year C, page 24)
Response – “When You Walk from Here” (VU #298)
When you walk from here, when you walk from here,
Walk with justice, walk with mercy, and with God’s humble care.
