Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Welcome And Opening Prayer
Prelude Sonata in C, K. 300h: Andante cantabile W. A. Mozart
Responsive Call to Worship based on Isaiah 55
One: Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
All: Why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on that which does not satisfy?
One: Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to God; listen, that you may live.
All: We come to seek the Lord; to call on his name; to listen for his voice; to seek life. We come to worship God!
One: Let us worship God together!
Hymn Red 777 The Lord is here!
The Lord is here! His promised word is evermore the same,
himself to be where two or three are gathered in his name.
The Lord is here! Where Christ is come his spirit too is there,
with all who raise the song of praise or breathe the voice of prayer.
The Lord is here! He comes in peace with blessings from above,
by pledge and sign of bread and wine to fold us in his love.
The Lord is here! To every soul this gift of grace be given,
to walk the way of Christ today, and share the life of heaven.
Call to Confession
Confession of Sin
Gracious God, we confess that we are afraid of getting it wrong, that somehow your grace is contingent on our right belief. Our desire to get it right makes us critical of those we think get it wrong. Forgive us when we judge without compassion, without humility, and when we condemn people in your name. We know that you appreciate our best efforts, but remind us that even at our most excellent, we still fall short. With the same mercy that you extend to us, may we allow for ourselves and offer to one another. (Let us continue in silent prayer.)
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Prayer for Illumination in Unison
Gracious Lord, like Nicodemus, we come to the word with many questions. Like the pharisees, we can be captivated by correctness, intent on right answers. As we turn to your word, Spirit of God, do not let our desire for information dominate our need for transformation. Let us hear the word and be moved to greater faith and obedience. Amen.
First Scripture Reading Psalm 111
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
Second Scripture Reading John 6:51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Sermon “Understandings of Communion” Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Affirmation of Faith from The Westminster Catechism
What is God? God is a Spirit, in and of God’s self infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty; knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Offertory Romance, Op. 36 Camille Saint-Saëns
Richard Hagen, horn
Doxology
Pastoral Prayer/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.
Hymn Red 532 Be thou my vision
Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art–
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my Wisdom, and thou my true Word,
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou and thou only, first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my Treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Benediction
———————————————————————————————————————————–
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84531485041?pwd=UXRMUGJIOFVOWUh4cFFRK3BoenVsQT09
Meeting ID: 845 3148 5041
Passcode: 391303
Phone In 19292056099,,84531485041# US (New York)
https://gracemontclair.org/covid-19/worship/