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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GOD CALLS

CALL TO WORSHIP

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—from Psalm 89:1-4, NRSV

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LEADER:

I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever;

ALL:

with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness

to all generations.

LEADER:

I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;

ALL:

your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

LEADER:

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have sworn to my servant David:

‘I will establish your descendants forever,

and build your throne for all generations.’”

ALL:

Praise the Lord!

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SONG - THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD/ YOUR LOVE OH LORD

(© 1974, 1975 Celebration. CCLI Song # 21590) (© 1999 New Spring and Vandura 2500 Songs. CCLI # 1894255)

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The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases

His mercies never come to an end

They are new every morning

New every morning

Great is Thy faithfulness O Lord

Great is Thy faithfulness

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Your love O Lord

Reaches to the heavens

Your faithfulness

Stretches to the sky

Your righteousness

Is like the mighty mountains

Your justice flows

Like the ocean's tide

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I will lift my voice

To worship You my King

I will find my strength

In the shadow of Your wings

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SONG - I COULD SING OF YOUR LOVE FOREVER

(© 1994 Curious? Music UK. CCLI Song # 1043199)

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Over the mountains and the sea

Your river runs with love for me

And I will open up my heart

And let the Healer set me free

I'm happy to be in the truth

And I will daily lift my hands

For I will always sing

Of when Your love came down yeah

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I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

I could sing of Your love forever

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Oh I feel like dancing

It's foolishness I know

But when the world has seen the light

They will dance with joy like we're dancing now

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SONG - PROMISES

(© 2020 Bethel Worship Publishing; Maverick City Publishing; Capitol CMG Paragon; ForTheDreamers Publishing; JDW Legacy Publishing; Aaron Moses Chiriboga Music; Heaven Publishing. CCLI Song # 7149439)

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God of Abraham You're the God of covenant

Of faithful promises

Time and time again You have proven

You do just what You say

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Though the storms may come

And the winds may blow

I'll remain steadfast

And let my heart learn when You speak a word

It will come to pass

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Great is Your faithfulness to me

Great is Your faithfulness to me

From the rising sun to the setting same

I will praise Your name

Great is Your faithfulness to me

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God from age to age

Though the earth may pass away

Your word remains the same yeah

Your history can prove

There's nothing You can't do

You're faithful and true

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I put my faith in Jesus

My anchor to the ground

My hope and firm foundation

He'll never let me down

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GOD CLEANSES

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

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LEADER:

Merciful God,

we confess our sin and the sin of this world.

Although Christ is among us as our peace,

we are a people divided against ourselves

as we cling to the values of a broken world.

The fears and jealousies that we harbor

set neighbor against neighbor

and nation against nation.

We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom,

of intellect and reason,

and turn them into bonds of oppression.

Lord, have mercy upon us;

heal and forgive us.

Set us free to serve you in the world

as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ.

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ALL:

Amen.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

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—Ephesians 2:4-7, NRSV

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God, who is rich in mercy,

out of the great love with which he loved us

even when we were dead through our trespasses,

made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

and raised us up with him and seated us with him

in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

so that in the ages to come he might show

the immeasurable riches of his grace

in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

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SONG OF ASSURANCE - O GOD OF MERCY HEAR OUR PLEA

(© Sovereign Grace Praise. CCLI# 7096628)

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O God we've seen Your faithfulness

You brought us from the wilderness

But now our faith is frail and weak

O God of mercy hear our plea

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When will You comfort our distress

How long until the promised rest

We cry to You from deepest need

O God of mercy hear our plea

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Abba Father our Redeemer

In this barren land be our hope and strength

Until glory we will trust and sing

Abba Father hear our plea

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We join creation's longing groan

To take Your ransomed children home

For then the eyes of all will see

The God of mercy hears our plea

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For then the eyes of all will see

The God of mercy hears our plea

Ending

Abba Father hear our plea

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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GT KIDS POTLUCK

• Bring your favourite main dish to share! Family Ministry is hosting a potluck for all interested GT Kids families on March 29th right after the first service. Save the date! Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events.

COMMUNION VOLUNTEERS

• We are still in need of 20 volunteers to help serve communion in both services. If you are interested in serving, please email communion@gracetoronto.ca

FAMILY TALKS

• Join us for our next Family Talks Seminar on Saturday, March 28th from 9-11:30 am. This month we're looking at how families can cultivate healthy rhythms of Sabbath rest. Breakfast is included! Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events.

GOOD FRIDAY

• Join us for a joint Good Friday service with on April 3rd from 7-8:30 PM at St. Paul's on Bloor Street.

VBS REGISTRATION

• Join us for VBS! This year's theme is "Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God. We will be running a joint VBS with St. Paul's on Bloor from July 6th to 10th from 9 am to 4 pm. Registration is now open at gracetoronto.ca/events.

‍PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• LIVING WATER (John 4:7-14) Jesus offers the Samaritan woman living water that satisfies eternally. Consider the areas in your life where you seek satisfaction in temporary things. Pray for a deeper thirst for God and the living water He provides.

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, visitgracetoronto.ca/give.

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GOD COMMUNES

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SCRIPTURE READING

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James 4:13-5:6

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Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Warning to Rich Oppressors

¹ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

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SERMON

Dan MacDonald

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE - BE THOU MY VISION

(© Public Domain. CCLI # 30639)

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Be Thou my vision

O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me

Save that Thou art

Thou my best thought

By day or by night

Waking or sleeping

Thy presence my light

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Be Thou my wisdom

Be Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee

And Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father

I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling

And I with Thee one

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Riches I heed not

Nor man's empty praise

Thou mine inheritance

Now and always

Thou and Thou only

Be first in my heart

High King of heaven

My treasure Thou art

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High King of heaven

When vict'ry is won

May I reach heaven's joys

O bright heaven's Sun

Heart of my own heart

Whatever befall

Still be my vision

O Ruler of all

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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

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—2 Thessalonians 3:16

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Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace

at all times in every way.

The Lord be with you all.

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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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