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.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Love
Welcome
Prelude “Sleepers, Wake“ Philipp Nicolai arr. Felix Mendelssohn
Call to Worship
One: In this weary world,
All: we sing of joy.
One: In this fragile world,
All: we lift each other up.
One: In this beautiful world,
All: we look for God.
One: In this tender world,
All: we hold onto hope.
One: This is the invitation of faith. So in this time of worship, may we sing, lift up, look for, and hold onto our with-us God.
All: With hope in our hearts, amen!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 25 * “Away in a Manger”
Lighting the Advent Candle of Love
One: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again? Where do we start?
All: Let us begin with tenderness. Let us begin with our hearts on our sleeve. Let us begin from a place of vulnerability and hope. Let us begin with love.
One: Yes, let us start with love. Today we light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love.
All: May the warmth of these lights be our cornerstone. May the truth in these lights help us
begin again.
One: May it be so! Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Unison Scripture Lesson Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Time with Children
Call to Confession
Responsive Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, You paint pictures of what could be,
but we declare those visions impossible.
You speak of the lion lying down with the lamb,
but we spout skepticism and uncertainty.
You dream of a more just day,
but we poke holes in the plan, unable to fathom that horizon.
Forgive us for losing sight of hope.
Forgive us for assuming that what we see is all there is.
Open up our hearts to see the world as you see it.
Open up our hearts to risk hope, to dream dreams,
and to not be afraid of either.
With gratitude we pray, amen.
Words of Forgiveness
Praise be to God in Song “Gloria Patri”
Glory be to the Father, 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 Luke 1:46-55
Message Hope is Worth the Risk The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 44 * “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
Affirmation of Faith Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible
Choral Anthem “ O Come, Divine Messiah” arr. Healy Willan
Call to the Offering
Offertory
Doxology Lasst Uns Erfreuen
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 Thanksgiving
Hymn 23 * “Angels We Have Heard on High”
Pastoral Prayer concluding with 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.
Announcements
Benediction
This morning’s liturgy comes from Sanctified Art and Pastor Robin.
Mark your calendars:
Sunday, December 22, 10:00 am, Session Meeting after worship at UCC
Tuesday, December 24, 7:00 pm Christmas Eve Worship service in the sanctuary at UCC
Wednesday, December 25, 10 am, Lay-Led Christmas Day service in the chapel at UCC
Sunday, December 29, 10 am, Worship led by Norma Prescott in the chapel at UCC
Wednesday, January 1, 10 am, start the New Year with a walk around Brookdale Park, weather permitting. The group will meet in the upper parking lot and stop a few times for readings and prayer.
Note: the church office will be closed December 25-27.
All donations must be in to the church office or post marked 12/31/2024 to count for this calendar year!
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 needed. Non-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.
Fill out an Estimate of Giving Form for 2025 on Tithely! For those of you who already give online, please use your current login information to fill in your estimate of giving card. If you are new to Tithely, you may put in your information and you do not need to sign up for giving online when you do so. Feel free to also use the printed forms or to let the office know what you will be giving for 2025.