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

—based on Psalm 27; John 4:23

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LEADER:

Let us worship God, our light and our salvation.

ALL:

The Lord is the stronghold of our lives.

LEADER:

We desire to live in God’s house

and to seek God in his holy temple.

ALL:

We have come with shouts of joy,

to sing and to make music to the Lord.

LEADER:

Let us worship God in spirit and in truth.

ALL:

Teach us your ways and make straight our paths

in this hour of worship and always.

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SONG - BETTER IS ONE DAY

(© 1995 Thankyou Music. CCLI # 1097451)

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How lovely is Your dwelling place

O Lord almighty

For my soul longs and even faints for You

For here my heart is satisfied

Within Your presence

I sing beneath the shadow of Your wings

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Better is one day in Your courts

Better is one day in Your house

Better is one day in Your courts

Than thousands elsewhere

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One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place

Your glory dwells

One thing I ask and I would seek

To see Your beauty

To find You in the place

Your glory dwells

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My heart and flesh cry out

For You the living God

Your Spirit's water to my soul

I've tasted and I've seen

Come once again to me

I will draw near to You

I will draw near to You

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Better is one day better is one day

Better is one day than thousands elsewhere

Better is one day better is one day

Better is one day than thousands elsewhere

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SONG - HOLY FOREVER

(© 2022 Brian and Jenn Publishing; Capitol CMG Paragon; S. D. G. Publishing; Be Essential Songs; My Magnolia Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Bethel Music Publishing. CCLI Song # 7201044)

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A thousand generations falling down in worship

To sing the song of ages to the Lamb

And all who've gone before us

And all who will believe

Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

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Your name is the highest

Your name is the greatest

Your name stands above them all

All thrones and dominions

All powers and positions

Your name stands above them all

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And the angels cry Holy

All creation cries Holy

You are lifted high Holy

Holy forever

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If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed

Sing the song forever to the Lamb

If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name

Sing the song forever to the Lamb

We'll sing the song forever and amen

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Hear Your people sing Holy

To the King of Kings Holy

You will always be Holy

Holy forever

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You will always be Holy

Holy forever

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SONG- GIVE US CLEAN HANDS

(© 2000 CCLI # 2060208.)

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We bow our hearts we bend our knees

Oh Spirit come make us humble

We turn our eyes from evil things

Oh Lord we cast down our idols

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Give us clean hands give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

And oh God let us be a generation that seeks

That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob

And oh God let us be a generation that seeks

That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob

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GOD CLEANSES

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

—Psalm 51:1-4, 6, 9-11, NRSV

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LEADER:

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your steadfast love;

according to your abundant mercy

blot out my transgressions.

ALL:

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

LEADER:

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

ALL:

Against you, you alone, have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are justified in your sentence

and blameless when you pass judgment.

LEADER:

You desire truth in the inward being;

therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

ALL:

Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

LEADER:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and put a new and right spirit within me.

ALL:

Do not cast me from your presence,

and do not take your holy spirit from me.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

—Romans 8:15-17, NRSV

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You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you have received a spirit of adoption.

When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit

bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

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SONG OF ASSURANCE - NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

(© Public Domain. CCLI # 21332.)

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What can wash away my sin

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

What can make me whole again

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

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O precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow

No other fount I know

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

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For my pardon this I see

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my cleansing this my plea

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

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Nothing can for sin atone

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Naught of good that I have done

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

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This is all my hope and peace

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

This is all my righteousness

Nothing but the blood of Jesus

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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MISSIONS LUNCH

• Come and have lunch with missionaries Alex and Nicole on Sunday Oct. 20th, in the sanctuary after 2nd service! Hear about their calling to be long-term missionaries in Asia Minor! Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events

WOMEN'S MINISTRY BREAKFAST AND MINGLE

• Women of Grace, come meet up for a light morning breakfast and banter Sunday OCTOBER 20, 9:15–10:30 am. in St. Andrews Hall. Reconnect with old friends and take time to meet new ones. Hope to see you there!

THANKSGIVING BRUNCH

• Join us after either service for brunch in the St. Andrew’s Hall TODAY. Start new friendships or deepen old ones over a plate of tasty food. Please RSVP in advance to save your seat! Adults are $10. Children 12 and under are free.

YOUNG ADULTS THANKSGIVING POTLUCK

• Are you between the ages of 18 and 25? Do you like impressing others with a secret family recipe? Can you buy a bucket of KFC chicken? Then join us for a potluck dinner on OCTOBER 16, 7pm in the church building! RSVP to let us know what you’re bringing.

PCC 40TH ANNIVERSARY

• PCC Toronto is hosting its 40th Anniversary fundraising event over a special dessert and concert. The goal is $250,000 this year to expand their services to families with unexpected pregnancies. To register, please email stephen@gracetoronto.ca.

FAMILY TALKS

• Family Talks: Education and Our ChildrenGrace Toronto invites you to our next “Family Talks” Seminar on Saturday, November 9th from 9-11:30 am. This month we're looking at how families can make good and wise decisions about where to send their children to school. Breakfast is included! Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events.

IMPRINT LAUNCH

• Join us for an evening of fellowship and readings on November 9th as we celebrate the launch of Imprint issue #12: Turn & Return! Hosted in the St. Andrew’s Hall, come purchase your copy of the new issue and connect with writers, artists, and fellow readers. Doors open at 7:00pm.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• COVENANT (Jeremiah 31:31-33) Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promises a new covenant: one where He transforms us from within. This is a relationship fulfilled in Christ, who established it through His sacrifice. Through Jesus, believers are given a transformed heart, enabling them to know God personally. Have you personally experienced this new covenant relationship with Christ?

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

Matthew 3: 1- 17

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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’”

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

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The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

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SERMON

Tarak George

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE - THE LION AND THE LAMB

(© 2015 Meaux Mercy, Thankyou Music, The Devil Is A Liar! Publishing,

Bethel Music Publishing. CCLI # 7038281.)

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He's coming on the clouds

Kings and kingdoms will bow down

And every chain will break

As broken hearts declare His praise

For who can stop the Lord Almighty

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Our God is the Lion

The Lion of Judah

He's roaring with power

And fighting our battles

And every knee will bow before Him

Our God is the Lamb

The Lamb that was slain

For the sins of the world

His blood breaks the chains

And every knee will bow before the Lion and the Lamb

Every knee will bow before Him

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So open up the gates

Make way before the King of kings

The God who comes to save

Is here to set the captives free

For who can stop the Lord Almighty

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Who can stop the Lord Almighty

Who can stop the Lord (Almighty

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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

BENEDICTION

—based on 2 Corinthians 4:6, NIV

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May almighty God,

who caused light to shine out of darkness,

shine in our hearts, cleansing us from all our sins,

and restoring us to the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, in the face of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

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PRAYER

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

CONNECT WITH US

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