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 57:9-10

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LEADER:

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

ALL:

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

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SONG - YOU ARE WORTHY OF MY PRAISE

(© 1991 Shade Tree Music; Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing. CCLI Song # 487976)

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I will worship (I will worship)

With all of my heart (with all of my heart)

I will praise You (I will praise You)

With all of my strength (all my strength)

I will seek You (I will seek You)

All of my days (all of my days)

I will follow (I will follow)

All of Your ways (all Your ways)

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I will give You all my worship

I will give You all my praise

You alone I long to worship

You alone are worthy of my praise

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I will bow down (I will bow down)

And hail You as King (and hail You as King)

I will serve You (I will serve You)

Give You everything (everything)

I will lift up (I will lift up)

My eyes to Your throne (my eyes to Your throne)

I will trust You (I will trust You)

Trust You alone (You alone)

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SONG - WE FALL DOWN

(© 1998 Rising Springs Music. Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing. CCLI Song # 2437367)

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We fall down

We lay our crowns

At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

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And we cry holy holy holy

And we cry holy holy holy

And we cry holy holy holy is the Lamb

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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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GOD CLEANSES

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PRAYER OF CONFESSION

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LEADER:

Awesome and compassionate God,

you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy,

but we have not loved you.

You constantly call us, but we do not listen.

You ask us to love, but we walk away from neighbours in need,

wrapped in our own concerns.

We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.

God of grace, as you come to us in mercy,

we repent in spirit and in truth,

admit our sin, and gratefully receive your forgiveness

through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.

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ALL:

Amen.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

—from 1 John 1:5, 7, NRSV

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This is the message we have heard from God

and proclaim to you,

that God is light and in God there is no darkness at all.

If we walk in the light, as God is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

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SONG OF ASSURANCE - RUN TO THE FATHER

(© Capitol CMG Paragon, Writer's Roof Publishing. CCLI# 7133494)

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I've carried a burden for too long on my own

I wasn't created to bear it alone

I hear Your invitation to let it all go

I see it now I'm laying it down

And I know that I need You

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I run to the Father

I fall into grace

I'm done with the hiding

No reason to wait

My heart needs a surgeon

My soul needs a friend

So I'll run to the Father

Again and again

And again and again

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You saw my condition

Had a plan from the start

Your Son for redemption

The price for my heart

I don't have a context

For that kind of love

I don't understand

I can't comprehend

All I know is I need You

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My heart has been in Your sights

Long before my first breath

Running into Your arms

Is running to life from death

I feel this rush deep in my chest

Your mercy is calling out

Just as I am You pull me in

And I know I need You now

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I run to the Father

I fall into grace

I'm done with the hiding

No reason to wait

My heart found a surgeon

My soul found a friend

So I'll run to the Father

Again and again

And again and again

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

ECHO CONFERENCE

• How do we glorify God in the ordinary rhythms of everyday life? Join us for a one-day conference on Saturday, November 7th, designed to equip and encourage students and young professionals to see how the gospel shapes our approach to life. Buy your ticket at gracetoronto.ca/events.

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL AND SUFFERING

• Why do evil and suffering exist? Join us as we unpack this important question with Wes Huff and Ben MacDonald from Apologetics Canada. Grab your ticket now before they're gone at gracetoronto.ca/events.

GRACE ON TAP

• Grab some friends or colleagues and unwind with us after a week of work! We'll be meeting at Hemingway's at 7 pm on Friday, October 16th. RSVP at gracetoronto.ca/events.

TRIVIA NIGHT

• Grab some friends for Trivia Night! Fri, Oct 30, 8:00-9:30 pm in the St. Andrew's Hall. Tickets are $10. Come ready to play! Register online at gracetoronto.ca/events.

‍PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• THANKFULNESS (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) We are called to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ. Reflect on the blessings in your life, big and small. Pray for a heart of gratitude that glorifies God and encourages others.

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

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SCRIPTURE READING

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Philippians 2:1-11

¹ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

⁷ rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

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SERMON

Dan MacDonald

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE - AMAZING GRACE

(© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain. CCLI Song # 22025)

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Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see

Verse 2

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

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The Lord has promised good to me

His Word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

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Through many dangers toils and snares

I have already come

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home

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When we've been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we first begun

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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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—Romans 15:5, ESV

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May the God of endurance and encouragement

grant you to live in harmony with one another,

(in accord with Christ Jesus)

that together you may with one voice

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

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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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