Grace Presbyterian 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 “Thirty-Five Miniatures, No. 13” Flor Peeters, Op. 55
Responsive Call to Worship
One: Into our fears and through our locked doors,
All: Come, Almighty God.
One: When we think ‘peace be with you,’ means no change or disruption, Or a call to arms,
All: Come, Lord Jesus.
One: Amidst our lives that settles for entertainment rather than fulfillment,
All: Come, Holy Spirit.
One: For the sake of your community who would follow you,
All: Come, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, come.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 316* “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) John 13:38 – 14:10
Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works
Time with Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Unison Prayer of Confession
O Lord our God, forgive us for not expecting you to show up. When we are anxious and driven to lock the doors of your house for fear of all that is outside, forgive us for thinking that church mainly happens inside these walls and not in the world you so love and into which we are sent. Through your Spirit and your love made known through us, may we experience your power in places of brokenness, crisis and defeat. In your mercy, forgive our sins, repair what we have done, and by the power of Christ’s resurrection, raise us up to serve others for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Responsive Assurance of Pardon
One: You are already forgiven, loved and whole. Live in the confidence that God’s grace provides!
All: Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading John 11:7-8, 16
Scripture Lesson John 20:19-31
Message A Closer Look at Thomas The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 116* “O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing!”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) from The Study Catechism, Questions 43 and 46
One: What do you affirm when you say that he was “crucified, dead, and buried”?
All: That when our Lord passed through the door of real human death, he showed us that there is no sorrow that he has not known, no grief he has not borne, and no price he was unwilling to pay in order to reconcile us to God.
One: What do you affirm when you say that ‘on the third day he rose again from the dead’?
All: That our Lord could not be held by the power of death. Having died on the cross, he appeared to his followers, triumphant from the grave, in a new, exalted kind of life. In showing them his hands and his feet, the one who was crucified revealed himself to them as the Lord and Savior of the world.
Offertory “Majesty” Jack W. Hayford arr. Mark Hayes
Doxology Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer for the Community concluding with the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 339 * “Be Thou My Vision”
Benediction
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Mark your calendars:
After Church 11:30 am, Book Group discussion on Mitch Albom’s “Have A Little Faith,” at the Manse.
3-5pm Youth Group Serving at Toni’s Kitchen
Wednesday, April 10, 10:00 am, Norma’s Bible Study at Union Congregational Learning Center
Thursday, April 11, 10:00 am Church Rebuild online
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal at Union Cong Chapel
Saturday, April 13, Gospel Choir Rehearsal 1pm – 4pm at Union Cong Chapel