Worship on the Lord’s Day: February 2, 2025 10:00 am
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Online & Onsite (Mixed Presence) Gathering as a Worshipping Community
Led by the Raymond Baker
Communion presented, via videotape, by the Rev Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Vivian Houg
Elder: Iris Routledge
We gather to worship God
Music prelude
Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
P: and also with you.
Lighting of the Christ candle
Welcome and announcements
Silent preparation for worship
Call to Worship
L: Who made this beautiful day?
P: We believe the God, the Creator, made this day –
L: God made this day so we can rest, and reflect, and enjoy;
P: God made this day so we can open our eyes and see beauty,
L: And see pain, and see opportunity,
P: And see hope.
L: So let us go into this day with our eyes and hearts wide open,
P: And let us worship God.
Opening praise: Love the Lord, your God
Prayers of approach and confession
Lord God, you are an amazing and loving God, we come to you humbly and in awe. You are greater than we can imagine, and your creation fills us with wonder.
God, receive our praise and prayers today. Prepare us to hear your Word and receive its wisdom and guidance. Show us what we need to do and the gifts you’ve given us. Holy Spirit, move within us, awaken our gifts, and inspire us to act.
We come to you through Christ. We accept His sacrifice for our sins. Confident in your forgiveness, we desire to start fresh with you as Lord of every part of our lives.
Thank you, Lord, for your love that fills our lives. Help us to share that love with others. Forgive us when we fail to show love. Forgive us when we give in to temptation, and help us to turn to you instead. Renew us and make us new.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Response: We come to ask your forgiveness, O God
Assurance of God’s forgiveness
God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love; as far as the East is from the West, so far has God removed our sins. This is all done through us accepting Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Thanks be to God, whose love and forgiveness are steadfast. May we be steadfast in our forgiveness of one another.
We listen for the voice of God
Song: Saviour, teach me day by day (698)
Scripture readings (NRSV): Jeremiah 1:4-10; Luke 4:21-20; and I Corinthians 13:1-13
Response: Glory to the Father
Message: Godly Love
Years ago, as I prepared to officiate the wedding of my niece and her fiancé, the fiancé made a particular request. Having attended numerous weddings, he asked if I could omit the familiar passage from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This presented an interesting challenge. While crafting my message, I sought to truly capture the essence of love, and in doing so, I came to a renewed appreciation for those very verses. I ultimately felt compelled to ask their permission to include them, for I realized that they weren’t simply a common reading; they beautifully encapsulate the very heart of godly love.
Some time ago, I unfortunately succumbed to watching one episode of “The Bachelor.” I was rather dismayed to witness several contestants, after mere two encounters with the supposed object of their affections, profess to have fallen in love. This fleeting and superficial notion of love, so prevalent in our society, made me ponder. It underscored the critical need for us, as Christians, to cultivate a truly godly understanding of love. And so, today’s sermon will explore this Godly love in: our relationship with one another, our love for the Church, our love for God, and, of course, God’s boundless love for each of us.
In the tapestry of human existence, amidst the myriad emotions and experiences that shape our lives, there lies a thread that binds all Christians – love. Not the fleeting infatuation often portrayed in today’s society, but a love that is profound, enduring, and transformative.
The Bible, employs a variety of Greek words to express the concept of love. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, the passage we explore today, the word used is agape. This agape love, as revealed in the Bible, is not merely a passive sentiment, but a selfless, unconditional, and active force. It is a conscious choice, a deliberate act of will to benefit others, rather than a feeling that simply arises within us. Indeed, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, offering himself for our sins, stands as the ultimate and most profound expression of agape love.
Corinthians 13 is between two Chapters about spiritual gifts. It’s as if we’re privy to a letter Paul addressed to a church in turmoil, a community grappling with the question of which spiritual gift reigns supreme. In this chapter, Paul, with the urgency of a bold, all-caps email, delivers a resounding message: without love, these gifts, however impressive, are ultimately devoid of meaning.
Without love, the most eloquent speech (tongues of men and angels), deep spiritual knowledge (prophecy), and profound faith are meaningless.
I spent years and tens of thousands of dollars on my seminary education. If I preached to you out of anger and not love. This sermon would be useless.
I truly believe that God is all powerful but if I treated my neighbours with distane and not love. I believe I would not be acting like a believer.
Agape Love is Godly love for others.
Just a few weeks ago, I attended a funeral service led by a minister named Terry, whom I’ve had the privilege of knowing for years. I’m consistently struck by his genuine love and sincere care for others. He possesses a remarkable ability to be fully present with each person he encounters, offering them his undivided attention and heartfelt loving compassion. This particular funeral was especially poignant, as it was for a young man who tragically succumbed to an overdose. The grief in the room was palpable, a heavy blanket of sorrow. Yet, as Terry moved among the mourners, greeting each one with his characteristic warmth and love, a subtle shift began to occur. His presence, a beacon of Godly love, seemed to lighten the oppressive atmosphere, offering a glimmer of comfort amidst the devastation. This is a powerful testament to how our godly love for others can ripple outwards, impacting not only individuals but entire communities.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 contains attributes of love. These are the verses that I used for our niece’s wedding. Let me read them out and as I read them imagine a person that shows these attributes:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
This is the kind of person we are all drawn to, the kind of person who reflects the very image of God.
A person who is patient with you. A person who is kind in all their dealings. This person also would not be competitive or boastful and is not prideful. This person would not speak ill of others but thinks well of others. This person rejoices in seeking God’s will in all he does. This person is level headed and not easily angered. This person has grace and does not hold grudges.
I was watching YouTube videos on success in life. This was from a secular point of view. Jamie Dimon the CEO of J. P. Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the United States and Ray Dalio, CEO of Bridgewater and Associates, both said the problem with most people that they meet is they do not have principles.
If we had Godly principles found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 the world would be a better place.
I truly believe the Holy Spirit can help us become people like this.
In a world obsessed with success, where principles are often sacrificed at the altar of ambition. Let us remember that Godly love for others is the foundation upon which the Kingdom of God is built. Godly Giftedness, talent, or Godly Wisdom without love hinders our progress to help a hurting world.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to cultivate these virtues, to become beacons of Godly love in a world desperately yearning for compassion and understanding. Let us not use our gifts for self-glorification, but to edify and uplift one another, reflecting God’s love in all that we do.
From an eternal perspective, our earthly achievements will fade, but the Godly love we share will endure and have a lasting impact. Let us, therefore, embrace agape love, not only in our personal relationships but also in our service to the church and our communities. For it is through love that we truly experience the divine, and it is through love that we leave a lasting legacy that transcends time itself.
As I said before, Jesus died on the Cross for our sins because God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God showed us His love. Now it is our time to show our love through loving service in our church and to show love for others.
I pray to God that we all have faith, hope and love but we can’t forget that Agape or Godly love is the foundation for all.
May God grant us the grace to love as He loves, unconditionally and sacrificially, that we may be His instruments of peace and healing in a broken world. Amen.
Song: There is a Redeemer (358)
We respond to serve God: Our time of giving
Reflection on giving: Dayspring is empowered to carry out our mission of worship, service, and care by generously given volunteer time, talent, and treasure. Many thanks to all who give so generously!
PWS&D Sunday
This is the special Presbyterian World Service and Development Sunday. Your session, elders and Reverend Brad would invite you to give a special offering today to PWS&D. This is not in place of your regular offering.
Presbyterian World Service and Development is the international development and relief agency of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. PWS and D responds with programs in food security, health, livelihoods, human rights, and emergency relief to ease the pain of want and build more sustainable futures. The agriculture programs in developing countries rely on small-scale subsistence farming for survival. Soil erosion, prolonged drought and the rising price of seeds and commercial fertilizers make it difficult for farmers to increase crop production or purchase a variety of foods to balance their diets. This leads to high rates of hunger and malnutrition. Working with partners in Guatemala, Haiti, Malawi, Tanzania, Nicaragua and Pakistan, PWS and D is helping farmers increase crop yields, grow crop varieties, improve nutrition and build resilience to environmental changes.
Now let us pray for PWS & D
Holy God, Creator of all that is good, grant us the wisdom and compassion to be faithful stewards of this world and its people. Our hearts are heavy for those whose lives are marked by famine, poverty, and war, for all who suffer the injustices of oppressive governments and inequitable economies.
Today, we offer special thanks for our community of faith across this nation and for our global partners in ministry. We lift up those working through Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D), whose dedication empowers local communities in developing nations to build a better future. We pray for PWS&D, that their efforts may be fruitful and bring relief to those in need.
We are grateful, Lord, for organizations like PWS&D, which extend your love and compassion to the most vulnerable. May PWS and D’s work be blessed and may it inspire us to greater acts of service.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
This is not a Dayspring Table. Neither is it a Presbyterian Table. It is a Table for all humankind – for men and women, girls and boys, who are seeking, or who have found, a relationship with Jesus Christ, whose Table this is. Do we believe that we are not in charge of the Table – rather that Jesus is? Yes – and Jesus says that all are welcome.
Song: Let us break bread together (548)
Communion Prayer
As we partake of this bread and wine, we honor Creator and creation.
As we bless and share these gifts, we celebrate the Table fellowship of Jesus.
All are made worthy by Jesus – adults, teenagers, children. All are welcome!
We celebrate the communion and community of all humankind.
And we join with the universe to lift our hearts in joyful praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
O God, we give you thanks and praise.
You brought the universe into being, instilled all creation with life, and shaped us humans as Your people.
In Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life and the True Vine, You feed us with the Word. You nourish us with Your Love poured out in abundance upon us.
O present Spirit, help us recognize the risen Christ in the breaking of the bread.
You feed us and all the world with this bread.
You bring joy with this wine and grape juice.
Bread and Wine are leaven, salt, and life in us – a community of faith strengthened by this symbolic meal.
We pray in the name of Jesus who came among us – a deep mystery of faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Come, Holy One, come.
Bless and prosper this community of faith and service.
Bless and prosper our lives, that justice and love may be the measure of our individual and community witness.
Bless us as we sing the prayer which Jesus taught.
The Lord’s Prayer (469)
Offering of the Bread
“The Bread of life is for all who come in faith.”
Offering of the Wine
“Christ’s love is poured out for all of us.”
Song: One bread, one body (540)
The prayer after Communion
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us symbolically and we have experienced your Real Presence.
We thank You for all those who have shared in this mystery, and thus in You – here and in many places through two millennia.
Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: Come let us sing (706)
Sending out with God’s blessing
May the Lord grant you peace. May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all. In The Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Amen.
Response: Benediction (as you go)
Music postlude
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The Communion liturgy is based on the liturgies of the PCC’s 1991 Book of Common Worship. Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).
Raymond Baker retains the copyright (© 2024) on all original material in this service. As far as he is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is his own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.