Hybrid Worship, 13th after Pentecost, 23 August 2026, Rev Deborah van der Goes

 Hybrid Worship

13^th after Pentecost

23 August 2026

Rev. Deborah van der Goes

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

The candle is lit to remind us of Christ the Light of the world

Prelude

Welcome

Land acknowledgement

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 

Let us pray together.

God, by whatever name we call You…however we experience You in our individual lives, we come today ready to celebrate Your Presence. 

As we gather together, open our hearts to notice your voice.

In the song of birds… in the rustle of leaves…in the warmth of the sun

in the wetness of the rain.

In the wisdom of other peoples and cultures.

In our own longing for connection and Oneness.

Thank you for this time of prayer, reflection and learning.

We come ready and grateful to receive You.

Confession and Forgiveness

Before God, with the people of God, I admit my fears and failings…

the way I wound my life, the lives of others, and the life of the world

May God forgive you; Christ renew you,

and the Spirit enable you to grow in love. 

Silence

And the people say

Before God, with the people of God, we confess our fears and failings.  The ways we wound our lives, the lives of others,

and the life of the world.

May God forgive you; Christ renew you,

and the Sprit enable you to grow in love. 

With the whole church, We affirm that we are made in God’s image, befriended by Christ, empowered by the Spirit.

With people everywhere, We affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity, planted more deeply than all that is wrong.

With all creation,

We celebrate the miracle and wonder of life: the unfolding purposes of God, forever at work in ourselves and the world. Amen.

Opening Hymn: Where Charity and Love Prevail                   CP #487

The Collect – Prayer of the Day                                                         Anglican Church Canada

Living God, you accept our stumbling faith, our misplaced answers, our false horizons, and through them you build a way of peace. Empower and enable us to bind the wounds of the world and loose the bonds of oppression, so that all may confess the grace that is your work alone; through Jesus Christ, your anointed one.

Amen.

Prayer before the Reading of Scripture                      ACC & UCC Sources

O God, your Word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.

Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love.

Scripture Reading: Romans 12:1-8                        Reader: Susan Brockley          

One body in Christ, with gifts that differ

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God's mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

 

This is the Word of God

Thanks be to God.

Hymn: How Firm a Foundation                                                 CP #527

Gospel Reading                                           Reader: Deborah van der Goes

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.

Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle                                          VU #958

            Halle, Halle, Hallelujah

Matthew 16:13-20

The profession of Peter's faith

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist but others Elijah and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

 

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Matthew

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

 

Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle                                          VU #958

            Halle, Halle, Hallelujah

 

Sermon: Seeking Jesus the Christ

 

Affirmation of Faith

Hear, O people of God,

The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

The second is like it:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no greater commandment than these.

Life & Work of the Church

Prayers of the People                                                         Paddy Waymark

Your Spirit abides in us,

            Hear our Prayers.

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.

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

(You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on Zoom, please unmute and share with one another)

Offering

(offering now to be collected and brought forward, with quiet music)             

Offering Prayer                                                                        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.

Holy Communion

Assistants: Susan Brockley, Margaret Marlatt

Invitation                                                                                                

Here is the table of the Lord.

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

 

 

The Great Thanksgiving                                               Lutheran Book of Worship

The Lord be with you.

            And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

            We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

            It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and all places, give thanks and praise to you, Almighty and Merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and hosts in heaven, we praise your holy name and join in their unending hymn.

Sanctus:                                                                         (sung) MV #203

O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace. Hosanna in the highest heaven, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus Christ took bread,

and gave thanks; and broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat, this is my body given for you. 

Do this to remember me.

And again, after supper, he took the cup,

gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 

Do this to remember me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:                           (sung) MV #204

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

 

With this bread and cup

We remember your Word

Dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth

In his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

            Come Lord Jesus.

 

Holy God, We long for your Spirit,

Come among us. Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.

Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.

            Come Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours,

Holy one of Israel,

Word of God incarnate,

Power of the Most High,

One God, 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.

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

And all the tables of the world

may be one body, one holy people

Communion is Shared

All are welcome at the Lord’s Table, Gluten free wafers are available upon request. 

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God,

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

 

Closing Hymn: Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God                CP #458

 

Blessing For Here and at Home

God of all consolation, in your unending love and mercy

you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.

May we who seek to listen to the Great Spirit

trust in your power to restore all things,

who gives life to all creation. Amen.

 

Postlude          

 

_________________________________

 

 

A prayer for all who dwell near the forest fires

 

Do not forget

that the ashes falling from the sky

are all that remains

of the pine and grass and thistle

and bear and coyote

and deer and mouse

that could not escape.

Scoop some up in a sacred manner.

Take it to your alter.

Offer prayers for these beings.

Honour their death.

Pray for life.

Call in rain.

Remind Fire that it is full,

has gobbled enough,

and can rest.

May all beings be safe.

May all beings be loved.

May all beings be remembered.

May all beings be mourned.

author unknown

 

Front Cover Image: By Art Young 1866-1943 American cartoonist and writer.

First published in “The Masses” in 1917 Vanderbuilt collection.