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

—Psalm 95:6-7, NIV

LEADER:

Come, let us bow down in worship,

ALL:

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

LEADER:

for he is our God

ALL:

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

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SONG - COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN

(© 1980 Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing. CCLI Song # 27329)

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Come let us worship and bow down

Let us kneel before the Lord

Our God our Maker

Come let us worship and bow down

Let us kneel before the Lord

Our God our Maker

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For He is our God

And we are the people of His pasture

And the sheep of His hand

Just the sheep of His hand

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SONG - HOUSE OF THE LORD‍

(© 2020 Be Essential Songs, Cashagamble Jet Music, Phil Wickham Music, Simply Global Songs. CCLI # 7168995)

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We worship the God who was

We worship the God who is

We worship the God who evermore will be

He opened the prison doors

He parted the raging sea

My God He holds the victory yeah

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There’s joy in the house of the Lord

There’s joy in the house of the Lord today

And we won’t be quiet

We shout out Your praise

There’s joy in the house of the Lord

Our God is surely in this place

And we won’t be quiet

We shout out Your praise

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We sing to the God who heals

We sing to the God who saves

We sing to the God who always makes a way

'Cause He hung up on that cross

Then He rose up from that grave

My God’s still rolling stones away

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('Cause) We were the beggars

Now we’re royalty

We were the prisoners

Now we’re running free

We are forgiven accepted

Redeemed by His grace

Let the house of the Lord sing praise

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SONG - A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

(© 2022 City and Vine Music Publishing International; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs. CCLI Song # 7190270)

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Who else would rocks cry out to worship

Whose glory taught the stars to shine

Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing

But this joy is ours

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With a thousand hallelujahs

We magnify Your name

You alone deserve the glory

The honour and the praise

Lord Jesus this song is forever Yours

A thousand hallelujahs

And a thousand more

Who else would die for our redemption

Whose resurrection means we'll rise

There isn't time enough to sing of all You've done

But we have eternity to try

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Praise to the Lord

To the Lamb

To the King of heaven

Praise for He rose

Now He reigns

We will sing forever

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GOD CLEANSES

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

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ALL:

Gracious God,

our sins are too heavy to carry,

too real to hide,

and too deep to undo.

Forgive what our lips tremble to name,

what our hearts can no longer bear,

and what has become for us

a consuming fire of judgment.

Set us free from a past that we cannot change;

open to us a future in which we can be changed;

and grant us grace

to grow more and more in your likeness and image;

through Jesus Christ, the light of the world.

Amen.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

—Micah 7:18-20, NRSV

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LEADER:

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity

and passing over the transgression

of the remnant of your possession?

He does not retain his anger forever,

because he delights in showing clemency.

He will again have compassion upon us;

he will tread our iniquities under foot.

You will cast all our sins

into the depths of the sea.

You will show faithfulness to Jacob

and unswerving loyalty to Abraham,

as you have sworn to our ancestors

from the days of old.

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ALL:

Hallelujah!

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SONG OF ASSURANCE - WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD

(© 1998 CFN Music. CCLI # 2834496)

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When I think about the Lord

How He saved me how He raised me

How He filled me with the Holy Ghost

How He healed me to the uttermost

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When I think about the Lord

How He picked me up and turned me around

How He placed my feet on solid ground

It makes me wanna shout

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Hallelujah thank You Jesus

Lord You're worthy of all the glory

And all the honour and all the praise

It makes me wanna shout

Hallelujah thank You Jesus

Lord You're worthy of all the glory

And all the honour and all the praise

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL (CHURCH WIDE)

• Our  Five-Week Adult Sunday School class, "Deep Doctrine: The Ordo Salutis," concludes today. This class will run in the St. Andrews hall at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM. Come join us- It'll be fun!

MEMBERSHIP CLASS

• Interested in becoming a member of our church? We invite you to attend a membership class on Saturday March 22nd from 9am-2pm in the St. Andrews hall (2nd floor). Lunch is provided.

STORIES FROM THE HONDURAS MISSIONS TEAM: MARCH 16 & 19

• The Honduras team is back and ready to share about their experiences and how God was at work during their time in the field. Join us on Sunday March. 16, at 11am in the St. Andrew's Hall for a family-friendly time of storytelling! Light refreshments will be provided. The Young Adults Group will have a dedicated evening of stories on March 19, 7:30-9:00. Come and hear how God is moving!

IMPRINT CALL FOR PITCHES

• We're excited to announce our 2025 theme, Taking Shape! Writers and artists, send us your ideas for pieces that engage questions of what shapes us, our communities, and the world around us. We would love to feature your work in our annual print issue! Visit imprintmagazine.ca for details, and submit your pitch by Monday, March 17.

WORKING MOMS LUNCH

• If you're a mother who works outside the home, join us on Sunday, March 23 in St. Andrew's hall at 11:00 am for a discussion around the challenges of work, faith and motherhood. Lunch will be provided. Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events

FAMILY TALKS: THE GOSPEL TO MY NEIGHBOUR

• Join us for our next Family Talks Seminar on Saturday, March 29th from 9-11:30 am. This month we're looking at how families can meaningfully reach neighbours with the good news of the Gospel. Breakfast is included! Register online 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, visit gracetoronto.ca/give.

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GOD COMMUNES

SCRIPTURE READING

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Matt 13: 1-9, 18- 23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

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SERMON

Dan MacDonald

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE - TURN YOUR EYES

(© 2018 You Simply Love Publishing. CCLI # 7120053)

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Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

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Turn your eyes to the hillside

Where justice and mercy embrace

There the Son of God gave His life for us

And our measureless debt was erased

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Jesus to You we lift our eyes

Jesus our glory and our prize

We adore You behold You our Saviour ever true

Oh Jesus we turn our eyes to You

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Turn your eyes to the morning

And see Christ the lion awake

What a glorious dawn fear of death is gone

For we carry His life in our veins

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Turn your eyes to the heavens

Our King will return for His own

Every knee will bow every tongue will shout

All glory to Jesus alone

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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

—2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, NIV

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May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace

gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.

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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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