Grace Presbyterian Church and Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude “Jesus Lives and So Shall I” Johann Cruger
Responsive Call to Worship
One: It is a joy to worship God together.
All: May our hearts unite in praise and prayer!
One: We rejoice that God is faithful across the ages.
All: Posterity will look to the Almighty.
Future generations will serve the Lord.
God’s love reaches the ends of the earth and beyond.
One: God’s love rests upon and within each one of us.
All: Here and now, God is with us.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 341 * “Blessed Assurance”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Acts 8:26-31, 35-38
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him…Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
Time with Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by Silent Personal Confession
Merciful God, we marvel that you meet each of us where we are at. Some of us need a good kick in the pants; others, a gentle hand, some, nothing but reassurance that we are loved no matter what. Lord, we seek to follow you and be your people. We acknowledge that none of us do that perfectly. Give us ears that hear, eyes that see, and minds that perceive how you are calling us to grow as your followers and as your children. May our hearts and our wills seek yours!
Assurance of Forgiveness
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading John 15:1-8
Message One of the Principles of Pruning: Love The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 400 * “Pues Si Vivimos”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) 1 John 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.
Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Offertory “How Majestic is Your Name” Michael W. Smith arr. Mark Hayes
Doxology Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer for the Community concluding with the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 391 * “Take Thou Our Minds Dear Lord”
Benediction
This morning’s liturgy was written by Tara Bulger (for Presbyterian Outlook, provided for free distribution) and by Pastor Robin.
Mark your calendars:
Wednesday, May 1, 10:30 am, Caregiver’s Group at the Learning Center at Union Congregational
Wednesday, May 1, 2:30 pm, Robin’s Women’s Bible Study at the Manse
Thursday, May 2, 10:00 am, Church Rebuilding Meeting
Saturday, May 4, 1pm-4pm, Crafting at the Manse
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Food for the Little Pantry is always wanted and the supply is low right now. on-perishables only please. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
The next Community Dinner is May 19. If you can provide an appetizer, salad, or dessert to serve 30 guests, please let a Friends of Grace member or the office know. The entree has been covered.
Give online to Grace Church: https://gracemontclair.org/give