WE’RE GLAD YOU’VE JOINED US TODAY.

WHO WE ARE.

• We are a community of city-centred, gospel-focused people striving to serve and renew Toronto through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

WHO WE WELCOME.

• We welcome people of all races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds and faiths – both religious and irreligious.

WHO WE BELIEVE IN.

• We believe Christ is relevant to every person in every situation, and we want to help you discover him.

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THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT - HOPE

(Isaiah 9:6-7) What hope do we hold onto as we wait for the coming of Christ? Isaiah prophesies the birth of a child who will bring everlasting peace and justice. This hope is fulfilled in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Let us cling to the hope of His coming, trusting in His promise to bring restoration and peace to a broken world. This first Sunday of Advent we read, pray, and reflect on the hope God’s plan gives us (foretold by the prophets and fulfilled by the life and death of Christ), and we meditate on the promise of Christ’s coming glory-filled return.

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GOD CALLS

CALL TO WORSHIP

—based on Philippians 4:4-5, NIV

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LEADER:

Rejoice in the Lord always.

ALL:

Let us say it again: Rejoice!

LEADER:

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

ALL:

We rejoice in the hope of Christ’s coming.

Let us worship God!

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SONG - COME PEOPLE OF THE RISEN KING‍

(© 2007 Thankyou Music. CCLI # 5232617)

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Come people of the Risen King

Who delight to bring Him praise

Come all and tune your hearts to sing

To the Morning Star of grace

From the shifting shadows of the earth

We will lift our eyes to Him

Where steady arms of mercy reach

To gather children in

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Rejoice rejoice let ev'ry tongue rejoice

One heart one voice

O Church of Christ rejoice

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Come those whose joy is morning sun

And those weeping through the night

Come those who tell of battles won

And those struggling in the fight

For His perfect love will never change

And His mercies never cease

But follow us through all our days

With the certain hope of peace

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Come young and old from ev'ry land

Men and women of the faith

Come those with full or empty hands

Find the riches of His grace

Over all the world His people sing

Shore to shore we hear them call

The truth that cries through ev'ry age

Our God is all in all

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SONG - JOY TO THE WORLD (UNSPEAKABLE JOY)

(© sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, worshiptogether.com songs, Ryan House Music, Wondrously Made Songs. CCLI # 5607039)

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Joy to the world the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and nature sing

And heaven and heaven and nature sing

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Joy to the world the Savior reigns

Let all their songs employ

While fields and floods rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat repeat the sounding joy

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Joy unspeakable joy

An overflowing well

No tongue can tell

Joy unspeakable joy

It rises in my soul

Never lets me go

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He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love

And wonders of His love

And wonders wonders of His love

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SONG - CORNERSTONE

(© 2011 Hillsong Music Publishing. CCLI # 6158927)

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My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' Name

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Christ alone cornerstone

Weak made strong in the Saviour's love

Through the storm He is Lord

Lord of all

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When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

My anchor holds within the veil

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When He shall come with trumpet sound

Oh may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless stand before the throne

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GOD CLEANSES

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

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ALL:

Merciful God,

always with us, always coming:

We confess that we do not know

how to prepare for your Advent.

We have forgotten how to hope in miracles;

we have ignored the promise of your kingdom;

we get distracted by all the busyness of this season.

Forgive us, God.

Grant us the simple wonder of the shepherds,

the intelligent courage of the Magi,

and the patient faith of Mary and Joseph,

that we may journey with them to Bethlehem

and find the good news of a child born for us.

Now, in the quiet of our hearts,

we ask you to make us ready for his coming.

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Amen.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

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LEADER:

The good news of this Advent season

is forgiveness of sin and new life.

Let us commit our lives to Christ’s way of hope and peace.

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ALL:

Thanks be to the Advent God,

who comes among us,

setting us free to love and serve.

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SONG OF ASSURANCE - AWAY IN A MANGER (FOREVER AMEN)

(© 2019 Be Essential Songs; Cashagamble Jet Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Sing My Songs. CCLI Song # 7138828)

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Away in a manger

No crib for a bed

The little Lord Jesus

Lay down His sweet head

The stars in the sky

Look down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

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The cattle are lowing

The baby awakes

The dawn of salvation

Beginning to break

I love thee Lord Jesus

Oh gift from above

The King of the heavens

Forever with us

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I worship You Jesus

For all of my days

The highest of praises

Be unto Your name

My God and my Savior

My King and my friend

Yours is the glory forever amen

Yours is the glory forever amen

Yours is the glory forever amen

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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MEN'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

• Join us for a festive night of fellowship, food, and encouragement! Come enjoy dinner, fun games, and hear a testimony of God's Providence and Provision. Take advantage of Early Bird pricing until Nov 28th! Purchase your ticket online at gracetoronto.ca/events

CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE

• On Sunday, December 15th, Grace Toronto is hosting a Christmas Bake Sale to raise funds for the Pregnancy Care Center. Interested in baking goods to support this cause? Please sign up at gracetoronto.ca.events

SLEEPING BAGS FOR CHRISTMAS

• Join us as we love the homeless by collecting new sleeping bags for Christmas! There will be bins in the main lobby to collect these sleeping bags. For more information, please contact stephen@gracetoronto.ca. Donations will be accepted until December 8th.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE AND DINNER

• Join us on December 24th for a Christmas Eve service from 4-5PM, followed by a communal dinner from 5-7PM! Invite your friends, colleagues and neighbours as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

YEAR-END REIMBURSEMENTS AND GIVING

• Donations must be received and deposited in the bank by DECEMBER 31 for your 2024 tax receipt. Receipts will be sent out on FEBRUARY 2025. The CRA requires your mailing address.  Please log in to your Planning Center account to update your mailing address for  tax receipts.

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SUPPORT

• If you are in any form of need or if you are able to help others, please visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/help  or visit http://www.gracetoronto.ca/prayer  to submit your prayers.

DIACONATE

• The Diaconate exists to contribute to the flourishing of gospel-centered community by meeting the practical needs of our church community, and extending help and compassion to those experiencing hardship or difficult circumstances.
• Click here for more information.

OFFERING

• To set up your online giving or to learn more about giving options, visit gracetoronto.ca/give.

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GOD COMMUNES

SCRIPTURE READING

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Isaiah 9:1-7

1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan –

2 The people walking in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
   a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation
   and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
   as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
   when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
   you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
   the bar across their shoulders,
   the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
   and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
   will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,
   to us a son is given,
   and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
   Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
   there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
   and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
   with justice and righteousness
   from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
   will accomplish this.

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SERMON

Dan MacDonald

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE - CHRIST OUR HOPE IN LIFE AND DEATH

(© 2020 Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Jordan Kauflin Music; Love Your Enemies Publishing; Matthew Merker Music; Messenger Hymns. CCLI Song # 7147502)

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What is our hope in life and death

Christ alone Christ alone

What is our only confidence

That our souls to Him belong

Who holds our days within His hand

What comes apart from His command

And what will keep us to the end

The love of Christ in which we stand

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O sing hallelujah

Our hope springs eternal

O sing hallelujah

Now and ever we confess

Christ our hope in life and death

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What truth can calm the troubled soul

God is good God is good

Where is His grace and goodness known

In our great Redeemer's blood

Who holds our faith when fears arise

Who stands above the stormy trial

Who sends the waves that bring us nigh

Unto the shore the rock of Christ

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Unto the grave what will we sing

Christ He lives Christ He lives

And what reward will heaven bring

Everlasting life with Him

There we will rise to meet the Lord

Then sin and death will be destroyed

And we will feast in endless joy

When Christ is ours forevermore

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COMMUNION
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PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR TRUTH

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life.  Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open me to the reality of who you are.  Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing and that leads to the life you promise.  Amen.

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PRAYER OF BELIEF

Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope.  I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness.  Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

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GOD COMMISSIONS

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BENEDICTION

—Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

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PRAYER

Would you like prayer?  Send us an email at prayer@gracetoronto.ca.  We would love to intercede for you!

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