Worship on the Lord’s Day, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 am Aug 03, 2025
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs, Music Director: Binu Kapadia
Vocalist: Fionna McCrostie Welcoming Elder: Renita McCallum
Reader: Heather Tansem
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
Preparation for worship
Call to worship: Psalm 9 1-2, 9-11 ESV.
L: I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
P: I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
L: The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
All: Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!
Opening praise: Great are you, Lord
Prayers of Approach and Confession
Holy God,
We come before you in humility. Great are the works of your hands, O Lord, and greater still are your deeds. When your people were lost in the desert, you led them with a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night, and you led them to your Promised Land, fulfilling your promises to them. Lord, let us not forget that you are Truthful and you fulfill your promises.
Lord, as we approach you humbly, we must also confess that we have not perfectly lived up to being your lights into the world. When we should have loved our neighbours, we despised them, when we should have fed one of our brothers, we turned them away, when we should have visited one of the least of these, we stayed away. Fill our hearts with your Spirit, Lord, be a light unto our path. Hear our confessions that we humbly bring before you. …
Amen.
Response: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God
Assurance of God’s Pardon
If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful- for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 11b-13) God has paid in full for our sins. We can trust in his ever-enduring promise!
We listen for the voice of God.
Song: Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts 366
Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11
Response: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
Message
The young man said, “I’m here to help you, ma’am. Why don’t you just wait in the car where it’s warm? By the way, I’m Bryan.” The two shook hands quickly, and then the woman climbed back into the car, feeling very thankful to be out of the cold.
She was an older woman and a widow. She was, for all accounts, very resourceful, but before he died, her husband had always been the kind of man who could fix anything. As a result, she’d never had to change a tire before. Ever the gentleman, he never would have let her. She had no phone to call for help, and she had no idea where to start.
Bryan had seen her standing out in the cold, wet snow with a look of utter confusion on her face as countless cars went speeding by.
Bryan (much like her husband would have) had the spare tire on and jack down in less than ten minutes. He knew exactly what to do. As he was tightening the lug nuts, the woman rolled down her window and began to talk. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only passing through. She couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed the trunk. She asked him how much she owed him. Any price would have been fine. She was just happy someone had stopped.
Bryan never thought twice about asking for money, even though he could have used a little help back then. Changing a tire, though, wasn’t really a job to him; it was just a neighbourly thing to do.
He told the kind woman that if she wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who looked like they might need help, she could do something nice for them.
Bryan waited patiently in his old rusty truck as the woman started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but Bryan felt good as he headed home. A few miles down the road, the woman saw a small diner. She was pretty hungry and still a little cold, so she decided to grab a bite to eat.
Her waitress brought a clean towel for her to dry her wet hair. She smiled, and the woman wondered how hard it must be for a clearly pregnant woman to be on her feet all day serving meals.
Then the woman remembered Bryan. After she finished her meal, she gave the waitress a $100 bill. When the waitress went off to get the change, the older woman slipped quietly out the door. When the waitress came back to the table, she noticed a note written on a napkin. It was a poem: “You don’t owe me anything. I’ve been there too. Somebody nice helped me out the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, he is what you’ve done; don’t let this chain of love end with you.” As she picked up the napkin, the waitress discovered four more $100 bills waiting for her.
That night, when the waitress got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what that kind woman had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed that money? With a baby due in a month, she knew how worried her husband had been. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek and whispered, “Good night. Everything is going to be alright. I love you, Bryan.”
By the time Paul delivered his letter to the Philippian Church, gatherings of believers had already begun writing hymns (as a way to praise God and teach theology). In our verses from Philippians today, the Apostle Paul (who wrote the letter to the Philippians) is not actually the author of this section. Instead, here, he appears to be quoting from one of the first Christian hymns ever written.
Although it doesn’t rhyme in English, most Bibles have this section formatted into stanzas so we can tell that it’s a song or poem.
In it, the earliest Christian church is taught that Jesus (though he is equal to the Father) chose to live life as a servant. The word used is not quite as subtle. In the Konie Greek, it says that Jesus gave up all the powers of heaven and made himself a δοῦλος (doulos), a word literally meaning “slave”. The hymn says that Christ made himself “a slave” and also “made himself nothing”; that he “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death–even death on a cross!” Though Konie Greek has no punctuation, most translations add an explanation mark here. Because for the early Jewish audience, this made no sense. In Deuteronomy, Moses wrote, “cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree”. For the first century Jews, this was no small thing. In fact, it was often referred to as “the offence of the cross” and many Jewish people could not get their heads around the idea that the Jewish Messiah was said to be “cursed”.
But others saw this as the ultimate example of sacrifice, and they wrote this song in response. The song is about just that – saying that not only did Christ humble himself to the position of a slave in total devotion, but more than that… this is what all Christians are called to do. Before the hymn begins, Paul writes, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”.
Several years ago, a small group of students from Princeton Theological Seminary, as well as a group from Eastern University, started a new movement in the Christian Tradition. They are often called “The New Monastics” because seeing the poverty of the inner city led them to create a whole new kind of modern monastery of Christian communal living.
Shane Claiborne is perhaps this group’s best-known leader. His experience is unique. Not only did he serve at North America’s fastest-growing and largest church (Willow Creek Community, a congregation of some 25,000 people in weekly attendance), but he also served in Calcutta with Mother Teresa before her death. Interestingly, Shane says, they did some research, got the number and called Mother Teresa up on the phone. It was surprisingly easy to get a hold of her. They just called the number and asked to speak with her. They said, and she told them that he and his friends were welcome to come and help. No questions asked.
In one of his books, The Irresistible Revolution, Shane tells this story:
People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Did she glow in the dark or have a halo? She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery – like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget – her feet. They were deformed. Each morning during Mass, I would stare at those feet. I couldn’t help it. I wondered if Mother Teresa had leprosy. But I wasn’t going to ask, of course.
One day, a sister asked us, “Have you noticed Mother’s feet?” We nodded, curiously. She said, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother doesn’t want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair. So each time the new crates come in, she digs through the shoes until she finds the worst pair. She claims them. The worst pair is always her pair. After years of wearing the worst pair of shoes, her feet have become terribly deformed. She has trouble walking. Each step is filled with pain; pain she accepted so no child would have to.
That is the kind of love that places our neighbours’ needs above our own. That is how we put on the mind of Christ and humble ourselves like a slave to others. That is what makes Christ visible in this world and why His name is above all names and why every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
In the last section of the Hymn, the writer says “Jesus Christ is Lord”. In the Konie Greek it says Ἰησοῦς Iēsous Χριστός Christos κύριος kyrios. Jesus Christ is ku-re-os. Kyrios means “Maser”. Quite literally, it means “The owner”.
See in the Hymn, the early church was teaching that Christ humbled himself into slavery, but he was really the owner of everything. One week before his crucifixion, he was paraded into town by thousands of people praising his name and crying out Hosanna because they thought he had come to be the ruler or master of all. A week later, they cried Crucify him and handed him over to be beaten and killed. But he didn’t run. The master became the slave for our sake.
Paul sees this as the ultimate example, and he reminds the Philippian Christians of this hymn in his letter as an example for all of us to follow.
But what does that mean for us? Paul says, “5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”… “who made himself a slave”. He says, “No, you cannot die on the cross for our sins; the true Master has already done that job.” But you can do your best to be like Him by serving others. The people expected a man of great fame and power to rule over them. That was the messiah they laid the palms before. But that’s not the messiah he was.
I want to give you a quick interactive quiz this morning. Although Presbyterians generally have steal-veins, I’m going to ask you to do a little exercise today. So don’t be shy.
Quiz one. If you can do these things please raise your hand.
- Name the MVPs of the last World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup finals and NBA finals?
- Name the winner of the last 3 Heisman Trophies.
- Name the winner of the last Miss Canada
- Name the two largest lottery winners in history
- Name the last winner of the Kentucky Derby.
- Name the winner of the last Indianapolis 500
- Name three recent Nobel or Pulitzer Prize recipients
Quiz two. If you can do these things please raise your hand.
- Name someone who sat with you when you lost a loved one.
- Name a friend who makes you laugh.
- Name three friends that you can tell anything to.
- Name three people you know who were role models for you.
- Name two people who love you and pray for you.
- Name a teacher or mentor who helped you become a better person.
- Name someone who has given you something of great value but little monetary worth.
The world tells us that the famous and the admired are the owners and masters of this world. These are the people who deserve to have the palm branches laid before them. But the truth is, we can’t even name them. In reality, the true masters of this world (those who deserve honour) are the people who humbly serve others.
We can’t all die on the cross for the sins of the world (that job’s been done and quite frankly we don’t want it), but we can put on the mind of Christ, we can follow that example, we can be humble servants. Today, may we all come to know Jesus Christ, the master who became enslaved. May we all put on the mind of Christ. May we follow his example in service. We can pass it on. We can continue this chain of love. We can have a significant effect on other people’s lives. And may we all find a time to, in some way, take the worst pair of shoes so that no one else has to. -Amen.
*Song: You walk along our shoreline 753
We Respond to serve God
Our time of giving
As Jesus reminded his disciples in the Temple, what we give is of less consequence than how we give it. The older woman gave much more with her few copper coins than the wealthy man with his bag full of coins. Remembering this, that whatever we give, let us give it to His Glory, not for our own gratification.
Here at Dayspring, we receive retiring offerings or offerings via a machine in the back. Please talk to Marc or Adrian if you wish to give your offerings in that way.
Prayers of the People (Gratitude and prayers for others, and ourselves)
Almighty God,
Please accept the offerings that we humbly present to you. Let them be used to your Glory and for expanding your Truth here on earth.
Lord,
We thank you for the good you have given to us. For the friends, family, relatives, and neighbours who fill our lives with joy.
Help those facing times of trial, and deliver them from evil, just as you have delivered us.
Relieve those who are suffering from starvation. Relieve those who are dying of thirst. Soften the hearts of those with power, so that they might see your Truth and love their neighbours. Teach them to forgive their enemies, rather than destroy their neighbours.
Strengthen us when we are sick, imprisoned, shuttered, or kept out of the way. You are our refuge Lord, keep us together in our darkest moments.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation
We gather from east and west, from north and south,
to meet at the table of our Lord.
Christ welcomes us all, and in His love, we are renewed.
Let us lift our hearts in gratitude and receive His grace.
Song: All who hunger, gather gladly 534
Before we partake together as a community of believers in Holy Communion, let us first confess our common faith.
The Apostles Creed-
I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Let us pray.
The Communion Prayer–
Holy and merciful God,
You gave your Son for the life of the world, who, being truly and eternal God, took on flesh and became human for us and for our salvation. So we offer thanks, for his incarnation, for his life on earth, for his suffering, for his death upon the cross, for his resurrection, and for his glorious return to your right hand until he returns to us in glory.
O Lord and heavenly father, through the intercession of our great High Priest and Advocate, Jesus Christ, we come before your divine majesty to receive the eternal sacrifice of your Son, to remember Him and celebrate with the gifts that he gave to us.
By your Word and Holy Spirit,
Make these gifts of bread and wine your own, so that the bread we break may be a communion in the body of Christ, and the cup of blessing which we bless may be a communion in the blood of Christ.
In union with Jesus Christ and the whole church in heaven and on earth, we present ourselves to you, O God, to be a living and holy sacrifice.
Through Christ, by Christ, with Christ, in unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory is yours,
Amen
Words of Institution
Breaking of the Bread (Fraction)
“Therefore, I received from the lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took the bread and, when he had given thanks, he broke it and said This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Pouring and Revelation of the Cup
“In the same way after supper he took the top saying “this is the new covenant in my blood do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me” , “for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Sharing of the Bread and Wine
Song: Eat this bread 527
Distribution of the elements:
Bread: The gifts of god for the people of god “take eat”
Wine: The gifts of god for the people of god “take eat”
Prayer after Communion-
Rejoicing in the communion of saints, we praise your name, most holy God Almighty. We give you thanks for all of your servants who lived for you, departed in faith, and are now at peace with you. We thank you for all the saints of every age and especially those who we knew and were dear to us, fathers in the faith, mothers in the faith, sisters and brothers in the faith, who led us to you. Believing that we are still at one with them we pray that we may follow their faith and example, until that time when we feast with them in your heavenly kingdom.
Our Father in heaven, hear our plea, for the sake of your only begotten Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, to whom, in unity with you and the Holy Spirit, be all glory, power, and dominion, now and forever more. Amen.
*Song: May the God of hope go with us
Sending out with God’s blessing: Benediction
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
(Jude 1:24-25)
Response: Go forth into the world
Music postlude
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The Communion liturgy is based on the liturgies of the PCC’s 1991 Book of Common Worship. Some of the other prayers were written by Romulus Rhoad. 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).
The Rev. Brad Childs and Romulus Rhoad retain the copyright (© 2025) on all original material in this service. As far as they are aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is their own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.