Trinity-St. Andrew’s United Church
Order of Worship
Sunday July 27, 2025 – 7th after Pentecost
We welcome Danah-Lee Krieger as our guest speaker today.
Prelude
Words of Welcome and Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
As we light the Christ Candle today, we remember that Christ’s light shines brightest where we feel most limited. Where we see obstacles, God sees opportunities. Where we feel stuck, Christ stands ready to launch us forward. This flame reminds us that we are not defined by what holds us back, but by the One who goes before us, making a way. May this light be our hope and our courage, turning every limitation into a launchpad for God’s love in the world.
Introit Norma Abercrombie, Margo Aubert, Susan Humphries & Erin Wilson
Call to Worship
Leader: Come, people of God. Bring your self doubts and dreams, your fears and faith.
People: We come, trusting that where we feel limited, God can launch us forward.
Leader: When we feel too small, too tired, or not enough.
People: God’s Spirit lifts us up, ready to do more than we can imagine.
Leader: This is holy ground, a place where our struggles are met with hope.
People: We gather to worship the God who turns our limitations into launchpads.
Leader: Come, let us worship with open hearts and willing spirits.
All: We are ready, O God. Lead us from limitation to launchpad! Amen.
Hymn Shine Jesus Shine
- Lord, the light of Your love is shining,
in the midst of the darkness, shining;
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us,
set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Refrain: Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy;
Send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
- Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
from the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me. Refrain
- As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
so our faces display Your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
mirrored here may our lives tell Your story,
Shine on me, shine on me. Refrain
Prayer of Approach
Loving God, You know our hearts. You see where we feel stuck, where our fears hold us back, where we’ve convinced ourselves, we can’t. Yet you are the God who meets us in our limitations and lifts us into new possibilities. You turn what weighs us down into stepping stones for something more. So, we come to you just as we are, trusting your grace, open to your Spirit, ready to be surprised by hope. Make this time together a launchpad for our faith, our church and our community. Remind us that everything that IS possible. For we know that nothing with you is impossible. And we can do all things through Christ who is our strength. Renew our courage, strengthen our love and send us out shining with your light. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Scripture
The Bible story of Gideon paraphrased from (Judges 6-8)
Luke 19:1-10
Hymn Just as I Am VU 508
- Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
- Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
- Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
- Just as I am, thy love unknown
has broken every barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone;
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Homily “Turning Limitations to Launchpads”
Special Music John and Barb Fife
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 donations 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 God is So Good
God is so good. God is so good.
God is so good. He’s so good to me (2x)
Offering Prayer
Generous and Gracious God, all that we have comes from Your hand. As we bring these gifts before You today, we give thanks for Your abundant love and Your faithfulness to us in every season. Bless these offerings and bless each giver. May what we share today bring light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair, and love where it is most needed. Use these gifts, and use us, to do Your work in this world. so that all may know Your goodness and Your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Hymn Will You Come and Follow Me VU 567
- Will you come and follow me
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
and never be the same?
Will you let my voice be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you and you in me?
- Will you leave yourself behind
if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
in you and you in me?
- Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you and you in me?
- Will you love the “you” you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?
- Christ, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
in you and you in me.
Pastoral Prayer
God of grace and possibility, We come to you just as we are with the things we celebrate and the things that weigh us down. Thank you for meeting us in our real lives, in our worries, our doubts, our regrets, our dreams. Where we feel limited by fear, by pain, or by our past, remind us that nothing is too small or too broken for you to use. Turn our excuses into courage, our hesitation into trust. Launch us, God, into new ways of loving and serving. We pray for all those who feel stuck today. For those waiting for good news, for those facing illness or treatments, for those weighed down by depression or anxiety. May your Spirit breathe fresh hope into weary hearts. We pray for our community. For neighbours who struggle to find enough food or shelter. For children and youth longing to know they matter. For all who feel unseen or unheard. Help us to be part of the answer to these prayers. Help us to share our light, our compassion and our hands. God, take our lives, our church, our limits and use them as launchpads for your love in the world. When we are tempted to play it safe, remind us that you go ahead of us, calling us forward, lifting us higher. We pray all this in the name of Jesus, who calls us beyond our comfort and promises us new life. And using the word that He taught us*
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, knowing that what limits you does not define you. God can use every weakness, every doubt, every obstacle as a launchpad for grace. May Christ go before you to show you the way, behind you to encourage you, beside you to befriend you, above you to watch over you, and within you to give you peace. Go in courage, go in hope and may your life lift off in love. Amen.
Choral Amen Go, Make a Diff’rence MV 209 (refrain only)
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world. (2x)
Turning Limitations into Launchpads
I heard by special request that we wanted a belly laugh to start the service because you loved the laughter so much from our last service together. So here it is… and still a bit on topic for this week.
There were three ministers out in a boat fishing together. One of them says, “You know, we never really get to let our guard down. What if we each shared the thing we struggle with most so we can pray for each other?”
The first minister says, “Honestly… I have a gambling problem. Sometimes I sneak out at night and hit the casino.”
The second minister says, “Whew, okay. I guess I’ll admit it. I have a habit of cheating on my taxes.”
Then the third minister just sits there, quiet. The others press him: “Come on, we all shared. What’s yours?”
He finally says, “Alright. alright… my biggest struggle is gossip. And I cannot wait to get off this boat!”
Today I want to talk to you about how God can turn your limitations into launchpads. God can use you, not in spite of your limitations, but through them.
We all carry things we wish were different. Maybe you’ve said to yourself, “If only I were taller,” or “If I had a more outgoing personality,” or “If I came from a different background.” Or maybe it’s more internal. “If I didn’t get so angry,” or “If I could just be more patient.”
Whatever it is, we all have parts of ourselves we’d rather cut out. But God doesn’t need a flawless version of you to do something powerful. In fact, it’s often the very parts we see as obstacles that become the openings for God’s grace to shine through.
Too often, we let our flaws become the very reason of why we play small. We tell ourselves, “I’m too this,” or “not enough that,” and we start believing we’re disqualified from doing anything meaningful. We settle for a watered-down version of ourselves, and we are convinced that our limitations are stop signs.
But here’s the good news- God doesn’t wait for us to be perfect. If God only worked through perfect people, none of us would be part of the story. God’s purpose for your life isn’t delayed until you’ve mastered every struggle or polished every rough edge. God is already at work right now, in the middle of your becoming. Don’t let your own misgivings be a reason to stand still. Instead, let it be the very place where transformation begins.
Take Peter, for example. Peter wasn’t perfect. Not even close. He was impulsive, quick to anger, and didn’t always think before he spoke. He used strong language. He acted out of fear. He cut off someone’s ear. And even at one point he denied knowing Jesus. Not once. Not twice. But three times. He had more than a few rough edges. And yet… God still chose him.
Peter wasn’t pushed aside because of his mistakes. He wasn’t disqualified because of his temper or his fear. In fact, after all of that, after the sword, after the denials, Peter stood up and delivered a message so powerful that over 3,000 people came to believe. That moment became one of the most significant turning points in early Christian history. Peter’s story reminds us that God doesn’t wait until we’re polished and put together. God works through us as we are, even when we’re still figuring it out.
You might assume that God would only work through people who seem polished. Those who are disciplined, mature, and have all their ducks in a row. But that’s not how God operates. God isn’t looking for perfection. God is looking at your heart. While the world might measure us by performance, status, or outward appearances, God sees something deeper. God looks at your intentions, your desire to grow, your willingness to show up. Even when it’s messy.
So yes, you might still be working through some things. You might stumble. You might need grace. But if your heart longs to follow God, that’s enough. You are not disqualified. In fact, you’re exactly the kind of person God loves to use to do something meaningful and beautiful along the way.
The bible tells us that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. That means the very places where we feel lacking can become the places where God’s presence shines the brightest. And Peter is a living example of that. He wasn’t perfect. He was far from it. But, if God could move through someone like Peter with all his fears, flaws, and failures, then surely, God can work through you and me. You are not too broken. You are not too behind. You’re exactly where God can begin something powerful.
I’ve come to understand that some weaknesses, God doesn’t take away. And maybe that’s because those are the very places that keep us relying on God’s grace. If everything was perfect, if we had no struggles, no rough edges, we might start thinking we don’t need God at all. So, if you’re waiting to feel “good enough” or conquer every insecurity, or fix every flaw before God can use you… you might be waiting your whole life. Give yourself permission to be a work in progress. You can still grow and be gentle with yourself at the same time.
Now, I’m not saying we should stay stuck or stop striving. Growth is important. But while we’re in that process, (and we are all in it), we don’t need to shame ourselves for not having arrived.
All throughout the bible, we see people just like Peter. Far from perfect yet still chosen. They made mistakes. They messed up. They had baggage, bad habits, and brokenness. And still… God used them to do incredible things.
Jacob was a manipulator.
Peter had a temper.
Paul was a murder.
David had an affair.
Noah got drunk.
Jonah ran away.
Gideon was riddled with insecurity.
Miriam spread gossip.
Mary worried.
Thomas doubted.
Sarah grew impatient.
Elijah was moody.
Moses stuttered.
Zacchaeus was short
Abraham was old.
And Lazarus? Well… Lazarus was dead.
So … what’s your excuse?
In all of those instances, God said, “I can use that.”
If God can use doubters, drifters, worriers and wanderers. And if God can work through the impulsive, the insecure, the impatient, and the broken. God can absolutely work through you. You’re not too late. You’re not too far gone. You’re not too flawed. You’re exactly the kind of person grace was made for.
Gideon said that he felt small, overlooked, unqualified. But God called him a “mighty warrior”. A person of fearless courage. God pulled him out of his insecurity and used him to help save an entire nation. Whatever it is you think is holding you back, a limitation, a failure, a weakness, something from your past, I want to tell you with full confidence it has not disqualified you from how God can use you.
But here’s the trick. We have to let go of our own insecurities and guilt from the past. Sometimes we carry around condemnation like it’s part of our identity. One of the most damaging things we can do is to go through life being against ourselves. There’s already enough hostility out there. Don’t let your inner voice join the crowd. It’s time to flip the script. Spend more time celebrating what’s right with you than what’s wrong.
Too often the very thing we dislike most about ourselves is actually our greatest strength.
Take Zacchaeus, for example. We’re told that he was very short. Something he likely saw as a disadvantage. Something he probably wished away countless times. He was likely mocked. While other people could reach the top shelf without thinking, Zacchaeus needed a step stool. Growing up, he would’ve been the target of every short joke.
I imagine he cried out at times, “God, why didn’t you make me taller? Why couldn’t I be like everyone else?” He saw his size as his greatest flaw, but God saw something more.
One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through his town. Excited, he made his way to the main road, but the crowd was already massive. People were shoulder to shoulder, packed in layers deep, all straining to catch a glimpse. And Zacchaeus? Well, he couldn’t see over anyone. He could’ve let that moment go. He could’ve shrugged it off and gone home discouraged, thinking, “Figures. I never get to be up front. I always get left out because of my size.”
But instead, he did something simple and something he’d probably done a hundred times before. He climbed a tree. It wasn’t flashy or heroic. It was practical. It was what he had learned to do in a world that didn’t always make room for him. And that small decision? It changed everything.
Because as Jesus made his way through the noise and the crowd, he noticed Zacchaeus. Not because Zacchaeus was loud, or important, or well-positioned. But because he showed up. Because he made the effort. Because he was hungry for more.
And Jesus looked up, locked eyes with him, and said, “Come down from there. I’m coming to your house today.” Thousands of people were there that day. But Jesus called him. What Zacchaeus once saw as a drawback, his height, ended up being the very thing that positioned him for a divine encounter. What he thought disqualified him actually set him apart.
And maybe you need to hear this today. There’s nothing about you that’s a mistake. Your personality, your voice, your body, your skin, your sexual identity or gender, your story. None of it is random. You’ve been created with care, intention, and purpose. You’ve been shaped for the exact life you’ve been called to live. If you needed to look different, think different, or be someone else, God would’ve made you that way. But God didn’t because- who you are is enough.
This morning, we’re going to imagine we’re standing on the edge of a beautiful canyon. Can anyone tell me what happens when you yell out into a big canyon or across the mountains? You hear your voice come back. It echoes. Today, we’re going to do our own kind of echo, but with encouragement.
Here’s what I want you to do. Pick one person at your table, look them in the eyes, and say one kind thing about them. Not just about their physical appearance. You can go deeper than that. You might say, ‘You’re strong,’ or ‘You’re a great listener,’ or ‘You’re a fantastic cook.’ Something meaningful. Then, they’re going to echo it back to you and say the exact same thing back. After that, switch roles. They’ll say something kind about you, and you’ll echo it back to them. You’ve got one minute.
Friends, far too often the “Church” is shame and guilt focused. It can make us feel weighed down by our shortcomings. And as I mentioned earlier, we should always strive to grow and do better. But today, I want you to walk out of here carrying something deeper. The unshakable truth that…
You ARE accepted.
You ARE loved.
You ARE enough.
You ARE capable.
You ARE valued.
You ARE seen.
You ARE a child of God.
You ARE worthy.
No matter your age, your past, your hair colour, skin colour, gender identity, who you love.
Let’s declare it together.
Echo after me on the TSA canyon side:
“I am accepted.”
“I am loved.”
“I am enough.”
“I am strong.”
“I am capable.”
“I am valued.”
“I am seen.”
“I am a child of God.”
“I am worthy.”
“God is doing great things at TSA!”
Amen.
