HYBRID WORSHIP 9th Sunday after Pentecost 26 JULY 2026 Minister: Mona Smart Music: Lisa Griffith

HYBRID WORSHIP

9^th Sunday after Pentecost

26 JULY 2026

Minister: Mona Smart

Music: Lisa Griffith

 

We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

 

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

 

 

Prelude

 

Gathering Words

Today’s gospel reading is a series of parables Jesus tells in which he compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, yeast, a thief and a merchant – unusual comparisons to make to God’s kingdom. What are we to make of them?

 

Acknowledgement of the Land

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we

gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen

 

Call to Worship or The Collect        Alternative Liturgies, Anglican Church of Canada

God of eternal wisdom,

you alone impart the gift of discernment:

grant us understanding hearts,

so that we may choose wisely

between the treasures of your promised reign

and this world’s counterfeits;

through Jesus Christ, the pearl of true value. Amen.

 

Lighting of Candle                                                                                                                 

Loving God,

By your light we see light.

Lead us to walk in the light of Christ,

strengthen us to walk the path of his teaching,

so that by word and deed and in the power of the Spirit we may manifest the gracious news of your love, and the light of your justice.

(Candle to be lit)

 

We walk with Jesus Christ, a light no darkness can extinguish.

 

Opening Hymn: Morning Has Broken                                      VU #409

 

 

 

 

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Prayer of Forgiveness                 adapted from Anglican and United Church sources

Holy God,

In your compassion, forgive us our doubts and our errors,

forgive us of things done and left undone. Uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in all joy, to the honour and glory of your name.

Amen.

 

Prayer for Illumination and Grace                                                         

Most merciful God,

We take comfort in the assurance that even those things that are hidden from memory, or are too deep for our words, are not beyond God’s forgiving love. God, who knows us completely, bestows pardon and peace. Amen.

 

Affirmation of Faith                                                      United Church of Canada

We are not alone;

we live in God’s world.

We believe in God who has created and is creating,

who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,

to reconcile and make new,

who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church,

to celebrate God’s presence,

to live with respect in Creation,

to love and serve others,

to seek justice and resist evil,

to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us.

We are not alone;

thanks be to God.

 

Peace of Christ

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

 

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture

God draws near to us through holy scripture. Let us be prepared to be inspired by God word.

We open our ears to hear, and our hearts and minds to receive the Word of God.                                                                            3

Scripture: 1 Kings 3:5-12 (NRSV)                                         Reader: Paddy Waymark

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not ask ed for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you.

 

This is the Word of God.

            Thanks be to God.

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (NRSV) Reader: Paddy Waymark

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

 

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, Christ Jesus

 

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

The Parable of the Yeast

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

 

Three Parables

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in 4 searchof fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Treasures New and Old

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

 

This is the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks be to God.

 

Word: A Reflection

 

Hymn of Response: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise       VU #264

 

Life & Work of the Church

 

Prayers of the People                                                         Lynette Jackson

Loving God,

            Hear our Prayers.

 

Offering (offering now to be collected)                                        CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

 

Offering Prayer

In the name and in the spirit of Jesus, we bring our gifts to you, O God. Help us to give with them a ready mind, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart. Amen

 

Holy Communion

 

Invitation                                 United Church adaptation of a contemporary composition

of the Anglican Church based on a 4^th century liturgy

Here is the table of the Lord.

We joyfully gather at the Lord’s table, open to all.

 

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Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

God be with you all.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts;

We lift them up to God.

Let us give thanks to God!

It is right to give God our thanks and praise!

It is indeed right that we should praise you, for you created all things. Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise.

At your command all things came to be:

the vast expanse of interstellar space,

galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses,

and this fragile earth, our island home;

by your will they were created and have their being.

 

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race,

And blessed us with memory, intelligence, reason, and skill;

You formed us in your own image:

male and female you created us.

You made us stewards of creation.

You made a covenant with Israel,

and through your servants Abraham and Sarah

gave the promise to a blessing to all nations.

Through Moses you led your people from bondage to freedom. Through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation. Therefore, we give you thanks.

 

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord (sung)                                                     VU #942

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

 

Holy God, source of life and goodness,

all creation rightly gives you praise.

In the fullness of time, you sent your child Jesus Christ.

to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us.

He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; He opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the Good News to the poor and to those in need. In all things, he fulfilled your will.

 

 

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Lords Prayer (sung)                                                                      VU #959

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever.

Amen.

 

Breaking of the Bread

Loving God,

as we break bread and share the cup,

we give thanks for the bread and the wine,

fruits of your earth and of our labour.

We commit ourselves to your service

and that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

On the night he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread;

And after giving thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to his disciples.

And said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given to you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

 

After supper he took the cup of wine;

And after giving thanks, gave it to them, and said,

“Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin.

Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”

 

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

We offer you, O God, this bread and this wine.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,

That all who eat and drink at this table may be one body, one holy people.

 

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

 

(Bread and wine to be served)

 

 

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Prayer after Communion

Gracious God,

May our participation in the sacramental gifts transform us that we may live lives of thanksgiving and be faithful to your will.

 

Closing Hymn: May the Grace of Christ                                  VU #419

 

Dismissal

May the God of hope fill us with all joy

and guide and comfort us in the disruptions

and turnings of our life,

so that we may abound

in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.        

 

Postlude