This week we have been watching some of the televised Commonwealth Games.
One day we watched coverage of Net Ball. After several minutes we confessed that we really we didn’t really know how the game was supposed to be played.
Athletes who play sports know how the game is ‘supposed to be played’, but some athletes know that how the game is supposed to be played is not the way they have to play the game.
Some athletes have changed the way the game is played!
We think of Billie Jean King and Venus and Serena Williams who changed the way women tennis players play, as well as how they are financially compensated and respected.
In the 1950s, Jacques Plante changed the way hockey goaltenders play as he wandered from the net to play the puck, and as he insisted on wearing a protective mask while playing.
You can add more names – Tiger Woods, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean…
People who knew that something could be done differently, done as it had not been done before.
There are also people who change the way the ‘game’ of life is played.
Jesus was such a game-changer. Jesus knew the way the ‘game’ was supposed to go – the rich protected their wealth and the poor struggled day by day; the powerful were those with the most weapons and military victories; do unto others before they do unto you; the winner takes it all…
Jesus knew the Jewish prophetic traditions. He knew that this is God’s world and we are all God’s people. He knew that compassion and shared blessings were God’s way of life. His game plan included healing, forgiving, blessing, sharing food, affirming each person as God’s beloved, and finding power in acts of service and love.
We invite you to consider the sometimes unspoken ‘rules’ that seem to shape our lives, our economies and this world.
SOME CHURCH NEWS:
- TMUC requires a Musical Accompanist for worship services, beginning in September. Information and a description of responsibilities can be found on the TMUC website at this link
- The 2023 United Church Edition of the Canadian Church Calendar – features a photo of TMUC’s building for November 2023! The calendars are $10 and available through the church office.
- To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the UCW, TMUC is assembling a ‘Thank you for all the UCW has done and does’ CHOIR to record A Tapestry of Love. It is a choir to which EVERYONE is welcome! Perhaps the CHOIR could have some families of UCW people participate – all ages – kids too! All voices (soprano, alto, tenor, bass – and those who just sing the melody!), children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren of UCW founders and members – neighbours, friends, church people, community people – really – a celebration of an amazing gift of UCW! Yes – we will be singing in masks. Yes, we are practicing before the recording. This is a song that was written in tribute to the AMAZING work of the United Church Women! If you want to be a part of this, you are welcome – just come to the back (Choir room) door of the church for the rehearsal times!
Please, share the news, and let’s raise the musical roof in appreciation for the UCW!
Here’s the schedule:
Wednesday, August 24 at 7:00 Rehearsal
Tuesday, August 30 at 7:00 Recording
- Please continue to pause to offer Prayers for Peace in Ukraine at 6:00 p.m. daily. And, please continue your prayers for reconciliation, and for refugees everywhere. These are difficult times in our world, and our thoughts and prayers connect us to others and to the healing of this hurting world. #StandWithUkraine.Please remember the TMUC projects:
• The pop can recycling fundraiser
• Old batteries recycling
• The TruEarth fundraiser – here’s the link - We continue to be grateful for your generous support of the TMUC community. Extra donations to the Building Fund would be appreciated as this fall we will be shingling and insulating the roof, along with some other roof repair work. If you want to make a donation online, here’s the link
Our music team has prepared videos of some of this week’s worship music:
“There is Room for All” More Voices #62, is shared by Crystal Schau and Cheryl Jackson:
“I Have Called You by Your Name” – More Voices # 161, is shared by Cheryl Jackson, Crystal Schau and Lynne Mavins:
“The Day thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended” – Voices United #438 is shared by Crystal Schau, Cheryl Jackson and Lynne Mavins:
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
“I Am a Child of God” More Voices #161
and a Blessing: “I Am Walking a Path of Peace” MV 213 shared by Lynne and Crystal.
Words for Worship for Sunday, August 7, 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.
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*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: More Voices #157 “I Have Called You by Your Name”
OPENING PRAYER: God, You have called each of us by our name. You have called each of us as You call every person born of Your love and grace. You call us through the lives of people of faith who trust that this is Your world. You call us through the life of Jesus, who invites us into Your peace, compassion, healing, forgiveness and just relations. God, open our lives to Your call, that we may be agents of the Christ Spirit in our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Christ. AMEN
GOSPEL READING: Luke 12:32-40
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
HYMN: More Voices #438 “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended”
MEDITATION
ANTHEM: Lord, Listen to Your Children
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.
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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.
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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: More Voices #161 “I Am a Child of God”
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.
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