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 Isaiah 9:2, NIV

LEADER:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

ALL:

Jesus Christ is our life and light.

In his name and in his power, let us worship God!

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SONG - HERE I AM TO WORSHIP

(© 2000 Thankyou Music. CCLI # 3266032)

Light of the world

You stepped down into darkness

Opened my eyes let me see

Beauty that made

This heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You

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So here I am to worship

Here I am to bow down

Here I am to say that You're my God

And You're altogether lovely

Altogether worthy

Altogether wonderful to me

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King of all days

Oh so highly exalted

Glorious in heaven above

Humbly You came

To the earth You created

All for love's sake became poor

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And I'll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross

And I'll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross

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SONG - FAIREST LORD JESUS

(A.von Fallersleben, J. A. Seiss/Public Domain)

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Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,

O Thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honour,

Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

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All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,

Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;

None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,

Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

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Beautiful Saviour! Lord of all the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honour, praise, adoration,

Now and forever more be Thine.

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SONG - MIGHTY TO SAVE

(© 2006 Hillsong Publishing. CCLI # 4591782.)

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Ev’ryone needs compassion

Love that's never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Ev’ryone needs forgiveness

The kindness of a Saviour

The hope of nations

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Saviour He can move the mountains

My God is mighty to save

He is mighty to save

Forever Author of salvation

He rose and conquered the grave

Jesus conquered the grave

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So take me as You find me

All my fears and failures

Fill my life again

I give my life to follow

Ev’rything I believe in

Now I surrender

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Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see

We're singing

For the glory of the risen King

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GOD CLEANSES

BAPTISM

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

ALL:

Eternal and merciful God,

you have loved us with a love beyond our understanding,

and you have set us on paths of righteousness for your name’s sake.

Yet we have strayed from your way;

we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,

through what we have done and what we have left undone.

As we remember the lavish gift of your grace

symbolized in baptism, O God,

we praise you and give you thanks that you forgive us yet again.

Grant us now, we pray, the grace to die daily to sin,

and to rise daily to new life in Christ,

who lives and reigns with you,

and in whose strong name we pray.

Amen.

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SILENT CONFESSION

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WORDS OF ASSURANCE

—from 1 John 1:5, 7, NRSV

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 - WASHED BY THE BLOOD

(© 2014 CityAlight Music. CCLI Song # 7007945)

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Once a slave to the fear

And the darkness held within

All the weight of my sin my shame

By His grace purified in redeeming sacrifice

Living hope that won’t spoil or fade

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I am washed by the blood of the Son on the cross

I am washed by the blood of the Lamb

All my guilt all my shame

Were His wounds and His pain

I am washed by the blood of the Lamb

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Now we know who we are

Precious children called by God

Let us serve and exalt our King

With our heart and our mind

Freely offer up our lives

Run the race fix our gaze on Him

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We are washed by the blood of the Son on the cross

We are washed by the blood of the Lamb

All our guilt all our shame

Were His wounds and His pain

We are washed by the blood of the Lamb

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We will rise as He rose

For the grave no longer holds

Ev'ry tear will be wiped away

And the saints will be heard

Praising God forevermore

Face to face with the One who saves

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PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AND THE CITY

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COMMUNITY LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS

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FAMILY TALKS: EDUCATION AND OUR CHILDREN

• Grace 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 as we celebrate the launch of Imprint issue #12: Turn & Return! Hosted in the beautiful St. Andrew’s Hall at Grace Toronto Church, come purchase your copy of the new issue and connect with writers, artists, and fellow readers. Doors open at 7:00pm.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT GRACE

• It's the house party at Grace Toronto! This event is for everyone so come and bring your friends too! There will be snacks, board games, dancing, karaoke, and even a cash bar! See you there on Nov. 8, from 7-10pm!

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.

ALL CHURCH PRAYER AND WORSHIP

• We are excited to announce our first united prayer and worship gathering, as churches together, on November 14, from 7-8:30 at St. Paul’s on Bloor. Grace Toronto, Little Trinity, and Stone Church, along with several other partners, invite you to come and pray!

MISSIONS LUNCH

• The Missions Committee welcomes you to have lunch and get to know one of our local missionaries, Kevin Chan on November 10th after second service!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

• Our next church-wide Adult Sunday School course entitled "HOW TO READ THE BIBLE" will be held on November 17 and 24. Classes will be offered during both services to allow for participants to come to a class and worship service. The class will be taught by Rev. Kingsley Lai. In this course, we will explore 4 practical and technical approaches to reading the Bible.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

• WISDOM (1 Kings 3:1-15) Solomon humbly asks for wisdom to lead God's people rather than wealth or power. God grants him not only wisdom but also many other blessings. Let us approach God with humility and seek His wisdom above all else, trusting that He knows how to provide for us far beyond what we can imagine.

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 4:12-25

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Jesus Begins to Preach

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned.”

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

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Jesus Calls His First Disciples

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Heals the Sick

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

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SERMON

Dan MacDonald

Q&A

Text your questions to 416-830-0335

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SONG OF RESPONSE - TRUST AND OBEY

(© Words: Public Domain; Music: 2010 Belden Street Music Publishing. CCLI Song # 7056336)

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Trust and obey

For there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

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When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word

What a glory He sheds on our way

While we do His good will

He abides with us still

And with all who will trust and obey

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Not a shadow can rise

Not a cloud in the skies

But His smile quickly drives it away

Not a doubt nor a fear

Not a sigh nor a tear

Can abide while we trust and obey

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Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way

What He says we will do

Where He sends we will go

Never fear only trust and obey

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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

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 Savior. 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

Need to get connected at Grace? Click here to fill in our Connections form!

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