Worship for Sunday, July 26 2020

Gathering  in virtual community

Making Space, getting ready:
Normally we know worship begins when we enter the sacred space of a church building. When we pray at home, we may find it hard to concentrate on worship. So spend a moment in preparation for worship. Create a little “sacred space”:
Take time to notice your breath and calm your breath. Wait till you are ready, then dedicate this time to God.

During the organ prelude, you may want to reflect on this verse:
“If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”
​2 Cor.5:17

Organ Prelude: “Nun Bitten wir” - D.Buxtehude         Deirdre Morrell-Ormerod

Call to Worship – Prayer* (Rosanne Peach)
We are yours Lord,
life and breath, all belong to you.
Thank you for this time today,
make it holy and precious,
so that all we say, all we sing, all we think and all we do
will give glory and honour to you.  Amen. 

Lighting of the Christ Candle
Light a candle or tealight in your home:
May this light remind us of Holy Presence, of “God with us”,” God in us”.  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Cor.4:6)

Opening Prayer: (Janice Potter)
At the height of summer, Creator, we observe your gracious goodness all around us and we say “Thank You!” Smells, tastes and sights of summer bring us joy even while we may be worried about the future.
With gratitude we name the delights of summer; the mist over the North Mountain, ice cream on a cone, waves crashing on the beach, cherries and raspberries, countless plants and flowers in bloom, fish & chips on the porch.
The first exploratory steps of little ones, a trip in the car, perhaps even in a sailboat, a smile to a “bubble tourist”...all that and so much more we enjoy.
Hear us as we give thanks for the blessings in our own lives right now...
All these good things have their source in you. And while we are living we are so grateful for the joy they bring. Allelujah Amen!

Sing: “Sing praises to God” Voices United # 228 (Formerly “O praise ye the Lord, Sing praise in the hight”)

Listening for the Word of God

​Prayer for Illumination
Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. May we hear today what we need to hear. May we see today what we need to perceive more clearly- by the grace of Holy Spirit, we pray.

A reading from the gospel of John14:1-6 (NIV) (Kerry Fitzgerald)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

A reading from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5
5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling— 3 if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors  for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.Thanks be to God.

Music:  Born Free" - J.Barry   Soloist - Gillian Ormerod

Reflection/Message ​ " Just a few thoughts on life and hereafter..."

Responding to the Word

Hymn: “ I was there to hear your borning cry...” Voices United # 644

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession  
​Mighty and tender God,
you know the way of suffering in Jesus Christ our Saviour, and in him you gave us the promise of the overcoming of evil. So we pray for the nations who are led by tyrants, for the ordinary people there and especially all who stand up for freedom of speech, protection of minorities and human rights, thus putting their lives on the line. Keep them safe, further their work....
For we walk by faith, not by sight
We pray for the refugees who are stuck in overcrowded camps across our world and have even less chance of getting out now because of the pandemic. We pray for aid workers and the organizations they belong to. Give them courage and give the wealthiest people and nations the will to erase the disgrace of hunger and starvation effectively....
For we walk by faith, not by sight
We pray for the families in our neighbourhood who are suffering from sickness, sorrow and loneliness...
We pray for the victims of violence in our country in the past week, and for those who minister to them and to their families; give them the grace which they need every moment....
For we walk by faith, not by sight
We pray for the land and the waters, now clothed in summer splendour. As people enjoy the ocean and the land open their eyes to the intricacies of Creation and to the urgent need for healing and protection of the earth.
For we walk by faith, not by sight
Tender and mighty God, in your loving purpose, answer our prayers and fulfill our hopes. But also, in all things for which we pray, give us wisdom to accept your will.

 Pray the “Our Father...”  here sung in Jesus' mother tongue, Aramaic.
​and the videos show Christians from the Eastern traditions at prayer

​Preparing for the coming week:
Faith-full Living

Announcements and Notices
Please send any announcements or news to share to the church email.


The Stewards wish to Thank everyone who contributed to the “Virtual Strawberry supper”.
$700.00 were raised.
An Official Board Meeting will be held by “Zoom” video conference on Thursday, July 30, 2020 at 7:00pm.
Looking for your digital photos that might be suitable for our bulletin covers. This can be nature or object or person.
Sunday worship in August will continued to be provided on the internet as audio. Bulletin distribution for those who don’t have internet will be suspended for the last 4 Sundays in August. Re-starting with the 1st Sunday in September. Pastoral care by telephone or via outdoor visits. Funerals, baptisms and weddings can 
now be held for small groups inside or larger groups outside.
Next week’s worship service will be an Ecumenical service for Natal Day, put together by the four churches in town!
Readings for Bible study
Series on 2 Corinthians  2 Cor 8:1-15 – Generosity
Bible study is every Tuesday morning by video tune in from 9:30-10:30. If you wish to participate its simple: call or email Rev. Elisabeth
Offering our Gifts:
If you are able, please send a cheque or postdated cheques by mail, sign up for PAR, or send an e-transfer to stgeorgeandstandrew@gmail.com
​Caring for the vulnerable through Mission & Service…

As you know, being able to assess any ministry’s financial health is crucial to managing well through this crisis. We are working hard to care for those who are vulnerable in Canada and around the world. Take a minute to read and share the stories of the incredible impact of your generosity through Mission & Service. You are making an amazing difference during this crisis. Thank you!

Hymn:”All the way my Saviour leads me”  in Voices United # 635   

Commissioning**:
Give to the winds your fears
Hope, and be undismayed
God shall lift up your head
God shall lift up your head.
​Blessing: [ More Voices # 218]
May the love of the Lord rest upon your soul.
May God's love dwell in you, throughout every day.
May God's countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May God's Spirit be upon you as you leave this place. 

​Organ Postlude : Toccata in E Minor - J.Pachelbel - Deirdre Morell-Ormerod

Source acknowledgement:
* CarolPenner:Leadinginworship,com  ** Voices United #636