October 26, 2025 - 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Dale woods
Reader: The Rev. Dr. Victor C. Gavino
Music: Danny Park
10:30 - 11:30 AM at the Sanctuary
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Land Acknowledgement
We want to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples: Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations.
Lighting the Candle - A Litany
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Christ is the Light of the World, guiding us to truth.
As we light this candle, we welcome the presence of Christ, our Saviour.
His light scatters our shadows and leads us to hope.
May this flame remind us of His love, eternal and unending.
May it kindle in our hearts a fire for justice, peace, and grace.
Let us pray: O God, You sent Your Son to be the Light of the World. As we light this candle, fill us with His radiance, that we may reflect Your love and truth in all we do.
Amen.
Praise and Worship in Song: Adoration, Confession and Assurance of Pardon
"Holy, holy, holy - We bow before thee"
"Amazing grace - My chains are gone"
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, 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 he 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.
Passing of the Peace
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Question 41: Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended?
The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Question. 42: What is the sum of the ten commandments?
The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Song: "10,000 Reasons"
Prayer for understanding
Scripture readings:
Esther 4:9-17 (NRSV)
9 And Hathach went back and told Esther the words of Mordecai. 10 And Esther spoke to Hathach and she gave him a message for Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman who goes to the king to the inner courtyard, who is not called, he has one law, to be killed, except if the king extends to him the gold sceptre so that he may live. I have not been called to come to the king ⌊for thirty days⌋.” 12 And they told Mordecai the words of Esther. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther: “Do not think that your life will be saved in the palace of the king more than all the Jews. 14 For if indeed you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and the family of your father will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to a royal position for a time such as this.” 15 Esther replied to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews that are found in Susa and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, both night and day. I and my young girls will fast likewise, and then I will go to the king, which is not according to the law; if I perish, I perish. 17 And Mordecai went away and he did everything that Esther commanded him.
John 14:23-27 (NRSV)
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, why is it that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and ⌊will take up residence with him⌋. 24 The one who does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. 25 These things I have spoken to you while residing with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—that one will teach you all things and will remind you of everything that I said to you.
27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you—not as the world gives, I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them* be afraid.
Sermon: “Finding Courage”
Song: "In Christ Alone"
Reception of Dirk Vaandering into membership
Offertory
Doxology and Prayer of Thanksgiving
Prayers of the People
The Lord's Prayer
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.
Closing hymn: "The Church's One Foundation" Book of Praise #479
Charge and Benediction
Threefold Amen
Postlude