Grace Presbyterian Church
Meeting in the Chapel at Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome
Prelude “The Baptism of our Lord” Charles Callahan
*Responsive Call to Worship
One: Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of is holiness.
All: The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful, and majestic and breaks the cedars;
One: The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
All: The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Opening Prayer
*Hymn 265 “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Reading (In Unison) Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
One: The Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God
Time With Children
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
*Passing of the Peace (Please let children pass before standing)
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by time of Silent Confession
We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed. By what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbor as ourself. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. Silent Confession.
Assurance of Forgiveness
*Glory Be to God in Song 582 “Glory to God”
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen. (sing 3 times)
As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Scripture Lesson Acts 10:34-43
Sermon This is my son whom I love The Rev. Cindy Wilcox
Choral Anthem “With a Voice of Singing” Martin Shaw
*Affirmation of Faith (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Introduction to the Offering
Offertory
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayer of Dedication
Announcements
*Hymn 39 “Great Is Thy Faithfullness”
*Benediction
(All are welcome to join us for coffee hour!)
Happening this Week:
January 11, Choir Rehearsal in the Chapel after worship.
January 11, 3-4:30 PM, Ecumenical Youth Group meeting at Glen Ridge Congregational, 195 Ridgewood Avenue.
January 11, 5-6:30 PM, Friends of Grace Community Dinner, St. John’s Episcopal, 55 Montclair Avenue.
January 13, Reach Meeting, 7:30 PM on Zoom. No Big Picture Bible Study this week!
January 14, Norma’s Bible Study, 10:0 AM, in the Learning Center at Union Congregational.
January 14, Exalt Meeting, 7:30 PM on Zoom.
January 15, Sweet Hour of Prayer, 1:30 PM, at the Manse.
The Grace Presbyterian Church Annual Meeting of the congregation and corporation will take place Sunday, January 25, immediately after the worship service. The purposes of the meeting are to elect Elders and Deacons, approve Terms of Call for our pastor, elect members of the Nominating Committee and Personnel Committees, receive reports from ministry leaders, and approve minutes of past meetings. All are welcome; members are especially encouraged to attend.
“Out of this mountain of despair let us hew out a stone of hope.”
A special Worship service is planned for January 18 to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.! This will be held during our regular Worship Service at 10:00 AM in the Chapel at Union Congregational. Our guest singer/and co-preacher will be Pastor Nancey Jackson Johnson (pastor, hospice and police chaplain, recording artist). Please plan on attending and bringing friends. You won’t want to miss it!
Favorite Hymn? If you have a favorite hymn that you would like to hear as part of the worship service, please let Pastor Cindy know.
The flowers on the chancel table will be distributed to congregants who can’t get to church. If you would like to donate flowers in celebration or in memory of anyone please contact Ruth Liang rrliang76@gmail.com. Also, if you have any spare vases you would like to donate, please bring them to church or drop them off at the Manse.
Food Pantry Supplies are always needed! Shop RIte is having their “can can” sale which is a great time to help out with our pantry supplies! We are in need of: Pasta, Rice, Cereal (hot or cold), Peanut butter, Tuna fish, Spam, Spaghettios (or similar canned pastas), Canned chili, Soup. Please bring items to church on Sunday or leave in the bin on the Manse driveway!
The Friends of Grace Community Dinner is today, January 11, from 5- 6:30 PM at St. John’s, 55 Montclair Avenue.
Interested in Joining the Church? Please let Pastor Cindy know so she can include you in upcoming informational membership meetings.
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
