“Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.”
These words from the hymn “God of Grace and God of Glory” were first sung as the processional hymn at the first service held in Riverside Church in New York City on October 5, 1930.
The hymn was written by Rev. Harry Emerson Fosdick. Under Fosdick’s leadership, Riverside became an interracial and interdenominational faith community, and a prominent voice for the ‘social gospel’, calling for healing and new social policies to end racism, poverty and war.
This Sunday when will sing this hymn at the close of our service, the words will be as relevant today as when Fosdick wrote them.
The world still seems gripped with “warring madness” and there are still many who seem “captive’ to poverty, hatred, prejudice, demeaning work and personal relations – there are still many who long to be “set…free”
So, let us continue to ask God for wisdom and courage for the living of these days, these times!
Please continue to pause to offer Prayers for Peace in Ukraine and everywhere at 6:00 p.m. daily. #StandWithUkraine.
There is lots happening at TMUC these days. The midweek groups are returning. We are in conversation with Families Connecting and the Seniors’ Meal Program about their fall plans – the Pre-School will be back next week – it is a busy place again!
This Sunday we say thank you to Cheryl Jackson as she leaves TMUC’s music team and begins a full-time teaching position. Cheryl’s spirited piano skills, beautiful singing voice and her enthusiasm have been an appreciated blessing. We offer our blessings in her new job.
We are pleased to welcome Hannah Cole to our music team as our new accompanist. And, there is more music news:
Calling All Singers! Calling all Musicians!
Fall is fast approaching and with it, planning for music in the church.
We are trying something a little different this year. We are going to have an anthem choir – The TMUC Singers – who will practice every Tuesday, starting September 13th at 7pm and will sing at the end of the month and at special services.
We will also have a hymn choir – Hymnotic – who will practice Sunday at 9am before the 10am church service. They will be singing Sept. 18th, Oct.2nd, 16th, 23rd. More dates will follow.
On the weeks we have Hymnotic, we will be looking for musicians to help out with special music. If you play an instrument (piano, violin, cello, tuba, saxophone, etc.), are a soloist, sing with a small group, play with a band, etc. please be in touch and we can arrange for you to be the special music for one of these weeks.
Our 10 a.m. Sunday morning worship service continue to be livestreamed on ZOOM. Here is the link if you would like to join us online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7538449219
Some church news:
Office hours are still irregular, so please email to confirm that someone will be there to meet you if you need to drop by.
Next Sunday we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the UCW! A reception in Yale Hall will follow the service – we hope that you will join us! And, to help us get ready for the celebration please send UCW related photos to tmuc@shaw.ca by September 7 or bring them to the church office on Wednesday, September 7 from 9 to noon!
Messy Church returns in person on Friday, September 16 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (Snack but not dinner is provided.) All are welcome!
Volunteers are needed to help with the Auction on Friday, September 23. We need a set up crew, and a hosting crew. Send us a note at tmuc@shaw.ca or call the office to volunteer please! We also invite you to donate your ‘time and talents’ for the auction. Donation forms are available in the office.
This is the last week that TMUC is collecting school supplies to donate to the Newcomer program at the River East Transcona School Division. Donations may be dropped off this Sunday morning or on Wednesday, September 7 from 9-12.
The monthly Book Group will have the first meeting of the season in person on Tuesday, September 20 from 7-8:30. All are welcome!
Please remember the TMUC projects:
• The Pop can recycling fundraiser (so far we have raised over $100)
• Old batteries recycling
• The TruEarth Fundraiser (so far we have raised about $140!) – here’s the link
We continue to appreciate and thank everyone who continues to support TMUC’s ministry. We appreciate any extra donations to the Building Fund as we prepare for our roof renovations this fall. If you want to make a donation online to any of the TMUC accounts, here’s the link:
Our music team has prepared videos of some of this week’s worship music:
“Here I Am, Lord” – Voices United #509: shared by Lisa Trochim, Crystal Schau and Shelley Schau. Lynne Mavins is the accompanist on the organ.
“Over My Head” – More Voices #88: vocals by Crystal Schau and Cheryl Jackson (accompanist)
An offering piece: “Your Work O God needs Many Hands” VU 537 shared by Cheryl and Crystal
The Call to Prayer is “O God, Hear my Prayer” VU 948 shared by Crystal and Cheryl
and a Blessing: “I Am Walking a Path of Peace” MV 213 shared by Lynne and Crystal.
Words for Worship for Sunday, September 4, 2022
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
*INTROIT: There is Room For All – More Voices#62
There is room for all in the shadow of God’s wing;
there is room for all, sheltered in God’s love.
And I rejoice and sing,
My refuge and my rock in whom I trust.”
There is room for all, there is room for all.
Reproduced #605666, OneLicense
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
*HYMN: Voiced United #509 “Here I Am, Lord”
OPENING PRAYER: Loving God we are gathered here as your people. Be with us we pray as we open ourselves to listen to your word. Be with us in the words and the music. Be with us in the silence and the speech. Be with us as we seek to live as your faith filled followers, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
GOSPEL READING: Luke 14:25-33
The Cost of Discipleship
Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’
Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.
So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
*HYMN: More Voices #88 “Over My Head”
MEDITATION
OFFERTORY: Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands – Voices United #537
Your Work, O God, needs many hands
to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve
unless our gifts we share.
Reproduced #605666, OneLicense
ANTHEM: Walk on Water (written by Nestor Guspodarchuk)
CALL TO PRAYER: O God, Hear my Prayer – Voices United #948
O God, hear my prayer, O God, hear my prayer;
When I call, answer me.
O God, hear my prayer, O God, hear my prayer,
come and listen to me.
Reproduced #605666, OneLicense
PASTORAL PRAYER:
The prayer that Jesus taught:
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Forever and ever. AMEN
*Hymn: Voices United #686 “God of Grace, and God of Glory”
*Blessings and Sending Forth
*Choral Blessing: I am Walking a Path of Peace – More Voices #221
I am walking a path of peace,
I am walking a path of peace,
I am walking a path of peace,
lead me home, lead me home…I am home.
Reproduced #605666, OneLicense