GATHERING

(order of service on screen)Jess and Evan will be doing a smudging ceremony to people as they enter through the door. Chyvonne Pancer to hand out stones from the basket to each person as they enter.

Welcome and announcements - BeccaAre there any other announcements that anyone would like to share?Will introduce Alydia and Jason as our guests and the TST Choir.Communion will be self-administered. Hang on to your stones. We’ll take them to the table and bless them at the end of the service.Jason will rehearse the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei.

Prelude: O Virtus Sapientiaesung by the TST Choir

Evan and Jess walk forward to the lectern

Territorial Acknowledgement- (Jess Swance)

As we come together in this place,we take a moment to acknowledge this sacred landon which Emmanuel College and the University of Toronto stands.This has been a site of human activity for many thousands of years.This land is the territory of the Huron-Wendat and Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit River.Today, the meeting place of Toronto is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island.We are grateful for the opportunity to live and work on this territory. Let us be mindful of broken covenants,and strive to make right with all our relations.

Water Song - performed by Jess Swance and Evan Smith

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Silence A candle is lit – JessJo-Ann and Jason go to the lectern together

Call to Worship- Hildegard of Bingen – (Jo-Ann Graham)The earth is at the same time mother, She is mother of all that is natural, mother of all that is human. She is mother of all, for contained in her are the seeds of all. The earth of human kind contains all moistness, all verdancy, all germinating power. It is in so many ways fruitful. All creation comes from it. Yet it forms not only the basic raw material for humankind, but also the substance of the incarnation of God’s son.

Opening Prayer - (based on Psalm 122 adapted from PFAS p. 806) (unison led by Jason Meyers)Sophia God,we long for the day when we will find ourselves inside your city.There all your people will experience justice, peace and fullness of liferegardless of their gender identity, race, age, sexuality, class or ability;There, all of us called to ministry will be supported in the work that you have prepared them for.Until then, as we journey toward home,guide and protect your holy catholic church:be our unity, truth, and peace.We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ.Amen.From She Flies on: A Liturgy Inspired by Lydia Gruchy, Celebrating Women in Ministry. Alydia Smith, & HyeRan Kim-

Cragg,

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*Please rise as you are able Jason Meyers to invite people to stand

HYMN: VU 380 She Flies On Jason Locke to lead from the piano and by singing as well…

Cheryl walks to lecternWORD

READING: Philippians 4:1-9 – (Cheryl McMurray)

A reading from Philippians…

For these reasons, my sisters and brothers- you whom I so love and long for, you who are my joy and my crown- continue, my dear ones, to stand firm in Christ Jesus. I implore Euodia and Syntyche to come to an agreement with each other in Christ. And I ask you, Syzygus, to be a true comrade and help these coworkers. These two women struggled at my side in defending the Good News, along with Clement and the others who worked with me. Their names are written in the book of life.

Rejoice in God always! I say it again: Rejoice! Let everyone see your forbearing spirit. Our God is near. Dismiss all anxiety form your minds; instead, present your needs to God through prayer and petition, giving thanks for all circumstances. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, my sisters and brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserve respect, all that is honest, pure, decent, admirable, virtuous or worthy of praise. Live accordingly to what you have learned and accepted, what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then will God of peace be with you.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to us.

Thanks be to God.

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PSALM 23 – (Sung by Choir ) Adapted Bobby MCFerrin

READING: Exodus 32:1-14 [Alydia Smith]

A reading from Exodus…

Moses was an extremely long time in returning from the mountain, and when the people saw this, they turned to Aaron and said: “Come and make a God for us, someone will lead us. We don’t know what happened to that Moses who brought us up from the land of Egypt.”

Aaron replied, “Remove the gold earrings you are wearing- wives and husbands, sons and daughters alike- and bring them to me.” All the people brought their gold earrings to Aaron. Aaron took the gold, melted it down and cast into a mold, and made it into a calf, a young bull.

Then the people said, “Israel, here is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”.

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the idol, proclaiming, “Tomorrow we will have a feast in honour of YHWH!”

In the morning the people rose early, sacrificing burnt offerings and bringing communion offerings, and then they sat down to eat and drink, and lost themselves in debauchery.

YHWH said to Moses, “Go down, now! These people whom you let out of Egypt have corrupted themselves! In such a short time, they have turned from the way that I have given them, and made themselves a molten calf. Then they worshipped it and sacrificed it to it saying, ‘Israel, here is your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’

YHWH then said to Moses, “I look at these people- how stubborn they are! Now leave me to myself so that my anger may pour out on them, and destroy them! But you will make into a great nation.”

Then Moses soothed the face of YHWH, his God. “But why, my God, should you let your wrath pour out on these people whom you delivered from Egypt with great might, with a strong hand! Why should the

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Egyptians say, ‘Their God intended to destroy them all along, to kill them in the mountains, to erase them from earth?’ Turn your back on your rage; reconsider the disaster you intended for your people. Do not forget Sarah and Abraham, Rebecca and Isaac, and Leah and Rachel and Jacob, your chosen ones, to whom you promised, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; I will give to you all this land which I have promised- I will give it to your descendants, and they will enjoy its inheritance forever.’ ”

So YHWH relented, and the disaster that threatened the Israelites was forestalled.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to us.

Thanks be to God.

SERMON [Alydia Smith]

SILENT REFLECTION…silence…

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

SUNG RESPONSE: VU 948 O God Hear My Prayer

O God, hear my prayer,O God, hear my prayer;when I call answer me.O God, hear my prayer,

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O God, hear my prayer;come and listen to me.Leaders read from their seats, preferably from different places.

(Stephanie Richmond) As we pray, you are invited to name people or circumstances in the silence of your heart or aloud. Dear God, thank you for this day and the opportunity to gather here together. We thank you for all our many blessings.

(Pause)

(Someone will offer their thanksgiving)

Sung Response: O God Hear My Prayer

(Kevin Fitzpatrick) Sophia, we come to you with our hearts open, with our hopes and with our pain, with our joys and our illnesses, with our questions and concerns. We pray that you touch our lives and the lives of others who are struggling at this time.

We pray for….. (Pause)

Sung Response: O God hear my prayer

(Oliver Dingwall)Creator, be with us as we face losses in our lives. As we remember those who are not here, give us strength until we see each other again.

We pray for (Pause)

Sung Response: O God hear my prayer –

(Joe Kim)

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We pray for those around the world that are suffering the consequences of a war, or are victims of natural disasters, for those who are looking for hope.

(Pause)

Sung Response: O God hear my prayer –

(Chyvonne Pancer)Take your stones, symbols of strength and of the earth, our mother.Let them remind us of the strength and courage we seek for our ministries,present and future. Let them remind us of God’s gentle steadfast presence.We pause to reflect on our ministries and set our intentions in the stones.(Pause)

Sung Response: O God hear my prayer –

(Alex Jebson)Dear loving God, we know you hear our prayers and we lift them up to you. In your many names we pray, AMEN.

TABLE(Natalie moves to the front and stands behind the altar. The elements are already set on the table)

Invitation & Peace (Natalie Wigg Stevenson)The peace of Christ, who unites us in love, be with you all.

And also with you.Let us greet each other with signs of peace.

Presentation Hymn: Prayer for Peace(based on a Navaho prayer, David Haas)

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1. Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet. Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace.

2. Love before us, love behind us, love under our feet. Love within us, love over us, let all around us be love.

3. Light before us, light behind us, light under our feet. Light within us, light over us, let all around us be light.

4. Christ before us, Christ behind us, Christ under our feet. Christ within us, Christ over us, let all around us be Christ.

5. Alleluia.

*6. Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet. Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING - (Natalie)

The Spirit of God be with you.

And also with you.

Turn to God, the source of life.

We lift our hearts in prayer.

Let us give thanks.

We offer joyful thanks to God.

Loving God, Source of all,8

we thank and praise you with our minds, our actions and with our lives,that, having created us and all things,you welcome our prayer and praise.You formed the universe in your wisdomand created all things by your grace.

In the hope that we all may be brought together into your reign of justice and compassion,we gather with those of every time and every placewe join in this hymn of praise and thanksgiving:

Sanctus by Jason Locke

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As we gather at this table,we remember that on the night before he died,Jesus had supper with his friends.He took a loaf of bread, thanked you as we have thanked you,And shared the bread, saying:“Take, eat. This is my body, given for you.Each time you do this, remember me.”Then, he took a cup, and after giving thanks,passed it to his friends, saying:“Drink. This cup is the promise of God.Each time you drink from this cup, remember me.”Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Christ has died.Christ is risen.Christ will come again.

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We pray you, God of Love,send your Holy Spirit upon us and what we do here,that we, and these gifts,touched by your Spirit,may be signs of life and love to each other,and to all the world.

Praise be to God, the Source of love!Praise be to Christ, Love incarnate!Praise be to the Spirit, Love’s power!Praise be to God!

Presider: Let us join in this paraphrase of the Prayer of Jesus...

OUR MOTHER WHOSE BODY IS THE EARTH- (Carol P. Christ, Based on Jesus’ Prayer)

Our Mother whose body is the Earth,Blessed are you,And blessed are all the fruits of your womb.You give us this day our daily bread,And we share it with others.Our Mother whose body is the Earth,We love you with all our hearts,And our neighbors as ourselves.Amen.

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SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP – From Diann L. Neu

Presider: Creation shares power by giving us daily food. (The leader takes the basket of nuts, bread and wine) Extend your hands, palms up, and let us bless these fruits of the earth together. Please pray after me.

Blessed are you, Source of Nourishment, Blessed are you, Source of Nourishment

For creating these fruits of the earth For creating these fruits of the earth

And sharing manna with your people as they wandered in the desert. And sharing manna with your people as they wandered in the desert.

Air, fire, water, earth and spirit combined to make this food.Air, fire, water, earth and spirit combined to make this food.

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Numberless beings have died and laboured that we may eat. Numberless beings have died and laboured that we may eat.

Nourish us with the power of creation that we may nourish life. Nourish us with the power of creation that we may nourish life.

Eternal God, we unite in this covenant of faith,as we break bread and share the cup,giving thanks for your love in Jesus.We spread your table with these gifts of the earthand of our labour.We present to you our very lives,committed to your service on behalf of all people.

*(instructions to appear in Powerpoint: Self-administered communion. Please take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice for your consumption. Bring your stone with you and deposit in the basket to be blessed.

Presider: This is gluten free bread and homemade grape juice. I invite you to come and receive God’s gifts as a symbol of God’s unconditional love. Please take a piece of bread and dip it in the juice. You are also invited to bring your stone forward and drop it in the basket to be blessed afterwards.All are welcome.

COMMUNION HYMNS

Agnus Dei by Jason Locke

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MV 202 Bread for the Journey

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (led by Natalie) spoken in unison

Eternal and gracious One,though we live in a world of need,here we have tasted your goodnessand hungered for a world more just.Though afflicted by brokenness and division,here we have heard your callto be a people of healing community.Though daily we touch our limits,here we have receivedthe fullness of your grace.Send us forth, O God,in faith, in hope, and in love.Amen.

GOING FORTH

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HYMN: VU 510 We Have This Ministry

Blessing from presider Dear loving God, bless these stones and the ministries they represent, just as you bless each and every one of us. Let them be symbols of strength and steadfastness,Reminders that you accompany us in our ministries.When we doubt our own capacities,When we are overwhelmed,May they remind us that you are with us, That many have gone before us,And that together we are strong, as members of the body of Christ,And ministers of the church,Empowered to accompany each otherAnd To enact God’s liberating love in the world.Please take one stone as you leave, as a reminder to support each other’s ministries.

Go forth in peace.

Amen

CHORAL BENEDICTION- Everything Will Be Alright

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sung by the TST Choir

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