Grace Presbyterian Church and Union Congregational Church
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE in the Sanctuary of Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Centering Space
Prelude “Still, Still With Thee” John Ness Beck Alyce Daubenspeck, vocal
Dave Malyszko, piano
Call to Worship (inspired by Ephesians 3:14-21)
One: May this worship service be a blessing to us, the family of God, in whose likeness we were created!
All: Yes. May it be so!
One: May we be strengthened in our inner beings with power through Christ’s Spirit!
All: Truly, we are rich in God’s abundant and gracious presence.
One: May Jesus dwell in our hearts!
All: And may we be rooted and grounded in his love!
One: May the breadth and length and height and depth of his love fill us with awe,
All: And move us to dream impossible dreams of restoration and redemption to the glory of God, and may we live believing in the power of the Triune God!
One: Yes. May it be so!
All: We worship the Living God!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 4* (black hymnal) “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson in Unison 2 Kings 4:42-44 NRSV
4:42 A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, “Give it to the people and let them eat.”
4:43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” So he repeated, “Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the LORD: They shall eat and have some left.”
4:44 He set it before them; they ate and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
Time With Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible Tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession
Forgive us, God of abundance, Maker of miracles, and Lover of all that you have created. Forgive us for callusing over our hearts to the hardness of the world becoming that which we only tolerate out of necessity. May your power and your love and your spirit move us to openness and service and never-ending hope that we can make a difference.
Assurance of Pardon
Praise Be to God in Song Gloria Patri
Glory be to [the Father/our Maker], and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Lesson John 6:1-21 NRSV
Message Holy Naivete The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 347* (black hymnal) “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”
Call to the Offering
Offertory “Glorify Thy Name” Donna Adkins arr. Mark Hayes
Doxology Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
(Alternative: Praise God, above, ye heavenly host. Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!)
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Commissioning of Youth
Pastoral Prayers concluding with the Lord’s Prayer (“debts”)
Hymn 425* (black hymnal) “For the Fruit of All Creation”
Announcements
Benediction
The liturgy is prepared by Pastor Robin each week. Sometimes she uses outside sources for inspiration which are noted here. The pastoral prayer in recent weeks has been shaped in conversation with World In Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, in Lodi, CA, USA, whose mission is to assist Christians to pray with current events in mind.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Monday, July 29, Amazin’ Grace softball championship game, @ 7pm, Smith Field, Parsippany
Thursday, August 1, church rebuild committee 10:00 am, online and at the Manse
The next Friends of Grace Community Dinner is August 11. If you can provide an appetizer, salad, entree, or dessert to serve thirty guests, please let a member of the committee or the church office know. Also, if you would rather make a donation instead to purchase these items, that is appreciated, too.
Food for the Little Pantry is always wanted and needed. Non-perishables only please. With school out of session peanut butter, mac and cheese, and other kid-friendly items are needed. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Give online to Grace Church: https://gracemontclair.org/give