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 “Prologue from Serenade for Horn, Tenor, and Strings” Benjamin Britten Richard Hagen, solo Horn
Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 34:1-8)
One: It is time.
All: It is always a good time.
One: To bless the Lord!
All: To praise our God!
One: God’s Spirit is present with us now.
All: Come, Holy Spirit, come!
One: For we seek holy communion.
All: We are humbled, and our spirits gladdened.
One: God is our hope, our joy, and our peace.
All: Let us worship the Living God!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 290* (black hymnal) “Spirit Of God, Descend Upon My Heart”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson in Unison 1 Kings 19:4-8 NRSV
19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”
19:5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”
19:6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again.
19:7 The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
19:8 He got up and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
Time With Children The Rev. Katrina Forman
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 Psalm 130
130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
130:2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
130:4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
130:5 I wait for the LORD; my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
130:7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
130:8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
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 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 NRSV
Message Essential Reading The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn * “We Are One In The Spirit”
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
We are One in The Spirit,
We are One in The Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,
By our Love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand.
And together we’ll spread the news
that God is in our land. (Chorus)
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
We will work with each other,
We will work side by side.
And we’ll guard human dignity
And save human pride. (Chorus)
Call to the Offering
Offertory “Steal Away” Traditional Spiritual
Norma Prescott, Alto
Doxology Old Hundredth
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done;
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayers concluding with the Lord’s Prayer (“debts”)
Hymn 43* (black hymnal) “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
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:
The Friends of Grace Community Dinner is this Sunday, August 11, from 5pm – 7pm at St John’s Episcopal Church, 55 Montclair Avenue.
Thursday, August 15, 10:00 am, gather on the lawn of the church for the one-year anniversary of the church fire. We will pray, ring the bell, and then allow a peek at the progress of the rebuild and the manse renovation, 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