Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday July 26, 2026 – 9th after Pentecost
We welcome Danah-Lee Krieger as our Guest Speaker today.
We also welcome Schroeder Nordholt as our Guest Music Director.
Prelude
Words of Welcome / Land Acknowledgement
TSA acknowledges that today’s worship service is taking place on the traditional, unceded, and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinàbe People. This land has never been given up, and it continues to bear witness to the systemic marginalization of its original caretakers. We remember that our solidarity with oppressed communities everywhere is part of our call to live justly, love mercy and walk humbly. Together, in this place, we commit to ongoing learning, truth-telling and relationship-building and trusting that through love, community and shared work, we can help create a future rooted in justice and belonging.
Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
As we light the Christ candle, we remember that the light of Christ is revealed through love, mercy and kindness. May this flame remind us that even the smallest act of compassion can brighten someone’s day, soften a hardened heart and reflect the loving-kindness of God.
Passing the Peace of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: We gather in the light of Christ, the light of love, mercy and kindness.
All: May that light shine through us.
Leader: We come as people who are still learning to speak with care, to listen with compassion and to treat others as we hope to be treated.
All: May God soften our hearts and guide our actions.
Leader: In a world where we can choose anger or patience, division or understanding, cruelty or kindness…
All: May we choose the way of love.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose loving-kindness has no limits.
All: We come to worship, to learn and to be changed. Amen.
Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide MV 145
Refrain: Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
- God the still point of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms. Refrain
- Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call. Refrain
- Let the dreams we dream be larger,
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door. Refrain
Prayer of Approach
Loving God, We come before you just as we are. You are a God of mercy, compassion and loving-kindness. As we worship, soften our hearts and teach us to love one another well. Help us to speak with care, listen with patience and respond with kindness. Fill us with the Spirit of Christ for the living of these days, so that your love may be seen in all we say and do. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Time for Young and Young at Heart: A Bible story of Joseph taken from Genesis: Addison Fochuk-Bucher
Scripture Reader: Susan Humphries
1 Peter 4:8-11
Luke 6:27-36
A reading from the writings of his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Hymn It Only Takes a Spark (Pass It On) VU 289
- It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing:
that’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it:
you spread God’s love to everyone,
you want to pass it on.
- What a wondrous time is spring when all the trees are budding,
the birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
that’s how it is with God’s love,
once you’ve experienced it:
you want to sing, it’s fresh like spring,
you want to pass it on.
- I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found –
on God you can depend, it matters not where
you’re bound;
I’ll shout it from the mountain top;
I want the world to know:
the Lord of love has come to me,
I want to pass it on.
Sermon: In a World Where You Can Be Anything…
Special Music: Ross McEwen
The Offering
We give thanks to everyone who continues to support TSA and our many ministries. Your gifts of support and encouragement mean a lot to us. You can get more information about making a donation by contacting the church office or by visiting our website. There are also many opportunities to volunteer in our different ministries. For all the gifts you share, for all the people you bless by your serving and giving as a disciple of Jesus, we give thanks.
Offering Song Your Work, O God, Needs Many Hands VU 537
Your work, O God, needs many hands
to help you everywhere,
and some there are who cannot serve
unless our gifts we share.
Offering Prayer
Generous God, Receive these gifts and use them to bring hope, compassion and kindness into the world. May what we give today help feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, comfort the hurting and share your love with all people. Bless these gifts and bless us as we seek to live generously and kindly each day. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Hymn Blest Be the Tie That Binds VU 602
- Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the unity of heart and mind
is like to that above.
- Before our Maker’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
- We share each other’s woes,
each other’s burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
- This glorious hope revives
our courage on the way;
that we shall live in perfect love
in God’s eternal day.
Pastoral Prayer
Loving and Compassionate God, We come before you carrying many different things. Some of us are joyful and thankful; others are tired, worried, grieving or overwhelmed. You know the needs we speak aloud and those we hold quietly within our hearts. We pray for those who are sick, lonely or afraid. We pray for those facing difficult news. For families carrying heavy burdens. And for all who are mourning the loss of someone they love. Surround them with comfort, strength and hope. We pray for our divided world. Where there is hatred, bring understanding. Where there is cruelty, awaken compassion. Where people are ignored, excluded or treated as less than, help us to speak and act with courage and kindness. We pray also for those we find difficult to love. When we are impatient, soften our hearts. When we are quick to judge, help us to pause. When our words could wound, guide us toward words that bring life. Make us attentive to the people around us. Show us where a kind word, a generous gift, a listening ear or a simple act of care might reflect your love. May your loving-kindness be known through us, so that in all we say and do, others may encounter the grace of Christ. Give us courage for living these days, dear Lord. Keep our hearts ever open to one another and our hearts open to you, that we too might bless this world. All this we pray in Jesus’ Name who taught us to say and pray together*
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me VU 575
- I’m gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
- I’m gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
- I’m gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
- I’m gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
Benediction
Go now into a world where you can be anything… and choose kindness. Speak words that bring life. Offer mercy when judgment would be easier. Show compassion to the hurting, welcome the stranger and love even those who are difficult to love. And may the grace of Christ, the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit go with you today and always.
Go now in peace friends, Amen.
Choral Amen Go, Make a Diff’rence MV 209
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world. (2x)
