Order of Service / Thanksgiving Sunday / October 12, 2025

*Gathering Hymn For the Fruit of all Creation (#227VU)

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: Come, people of God, with hearts full of gratitude.

All: We come to give thanks for all that God has done.

One: The earth has yielded its harvest; the seasons have turned in faithfulness.

  All: God’s goodness fills the world, and our hearts overflow with praise.

One: Come, let us worship the Giver of every good gift.

  All: We come to give thanks, to share our joy, and to lift our hearts in praise.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn Praise God for the Harvest (#517 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

O God, sometimes we see how blessed we are to live in this time and place. We enjoy more comfort and safety than those who lived before us. Still, we often forget to give thanks and complain about what we don’t have. We act as if we can manage everything on our own, forgetting to trust you. Forgive us, O God, and open our hearts to remember your grace and guidance. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

Words of Assurance

One: God is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

  All: God’s mercy and love never run dry.

One: Even when we forget to be thankful, God still surrounds us with blessings.

All: God restores our joy and teaches our hearts to give thanks again.

One: God’s grace meets us where we are and fills us with new gratitude.

All: We are forgiven and made thankful. Thanks be to God!

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Bring tithes; a wandering Aramean was my ancestor.

Psalm 100 (VU p. 824) Make a joyful noise for God.

Philippians 4:4-9 The peace of God which passes all understanding.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Come, O Fount of Every Blessing (#559 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#542 VU, We Give You But Your Own)

We give you but your own, whate’er the gift may be,

all that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)
Gracious God, we love living with you and we are grateful for our many blessings. We love knowing that you are present with us as we journey through life. With thanksgiving in our hearts, we pray that our gifts of time, talent, and treasure will bless our neighbours, near and far. Amen.

* The United Church of Canada, Season of Gratitude: World Communion Sunday to All Saints’ Sunday.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn We Plough the Fields (VU 520)

*Commissioning

One: Go into the world with hearts full of gratitude.

All: We will give thanks in all things, knowing every good gift comes from God.

One: Share the abundance of God’s love with everyone you meet.

All: We will be generous with our kindness, our words, and our care.

One: Go in peace, rejoicing in the goodness of God, who fills the earth with beauty, our homes with love, and our lives with grace.

All: Thanks be to God, whose faithfulness endures forever!

*Commissioning Song Peace Be With You (#215 MV)

Peace be with you, peace forever, peace be with you my friends.

Till we meet again, may God be with you. Peace, peace, peace.


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