Father,
We gather and sing and play instruments to you because we are thankful for all that you have done. What could be more fitting than for us to consider your work and marvel and burst into song. The whole world is full of demonstrations of your care. When we look into the night sky, we see what was made by your word and breath. When we look at the water, we see what you have gathered together within the boundaries you have established. You love what is right and just.
We hear about so many groups making plans to promote evil of various kinds. And sometimes they even succeed. But though we may see some evil prosper for a short time, you ultimately frustrate those plans because it is your will that will stand.
Your blessing rests not on those who seem to be powerful in this present world, but on the nation you have chosen for yourself - not Canada, but the kingdom of heaven - Us, who are united, not by a common geography, but by a common love for a glorious king. You are attentive to we who fear you and who trust your love. You rescue us when it seems too late and preserve us when the world seems to be falling apart.
Please uphold the organizations who work for good in your name. It is so much easier to tear down than to build up and so much easier to lead people to sin than to godliness. In addition, there is the direct opposition of the world. Bless the Pregnancy care center as they labor to save the lives of infants and care for mothers in difficult circumstances. Bless Urban Promise as they teach faith and life skills to youth who live in community housing. Bless Scott Mission as they care for the hungry and the homeless in your name. Give them all money, and volunteers, and a good reputation, and preserve them from the attacks of those who hate you.
Bless us in our own good work here at Royal York. Stir us up to love one another through hospitality. Many of us have small homes, small incomes, and small margins in our time and that makes both accepting and especially offering hospitality difficult. Show us how we can be more devoted to meeting together, not only in this building, but in one another’s homes. Toronto is a complicated and confusing place to live. Give us the wisdom we need to understand what to do. Keep us from not doing what you have called us to do. But also keep us from feeling guilty for what is legitimately not within our power to change.
Father, we are together in this place this morning because of the one that you sent. We thank you for his skillful and costly victory. You outsmarted the powers of this world, keeping your plan veiled from the beginning. Just as evil seemed to have reached its peak, when men had crucified the lord of glory, you suddenly prevailed. We thank you for bringing us into your kingdom of light, having stripped the power from the kingdom of darkness to which we once belonged.
May all that is done here in this service this morning be pleasing to you.