Grace Presbyterian Church – Epiphany/Communion
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 “A la Nanita Nana“ Traditional Spanish Carol
Call to Worship
One: How did you get here?
All: I walked, eyes looking up, following the star. I ran, lunging for a love that is bigger than me. I tumbled and fell, tender step after tender step. I ambled like a river, caught up in God’s flow. I crawled, kissing the earth below me.
One: Tell me again. How did you get here?
All: I am here by God’s grace and love’s pull.
One: Welcome home. This is God’s house. There is room for you here.
All: Let us worship our gracious God.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 63 * “As with Gladness Men of Old”
Prayer for Illumination
Unison Scripture Lesson Isaiah 43:16-21
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.
Time with Children
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of new beginnings, We admit that we often follow the well-worn path, simply because others have been there before. Sometimes this is holy and humble, but there are days when a new path needs to be tread. On those new-beginning days, O God, give us the courage to follow your star. Give us the courage to go home by another way. Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction for the sake of justice, love, and neighbor. For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow. With hope in our hearts we wander, we travel. Amen.
Responsive Assurance of Forgiveness
One: Dear travelers,
No matter the roads you’ve taken, the steps you’ve made, or the paths you’ve traveled, there is nowhere you could go that would land you outside of God’s love. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel:
All: Regardless of the path we travel, of how lost we may get, or the twists and turns along the way, we do not walk alone. We are loved. We are forgiven. We have every chance to begin again. Thanks be to God for a love like that!
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 Matthew 2:1-12
Message The Road Isn’t Straight The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 62 * “Bring We the Frankincense of Our Love”
Affirmation of Faith 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.
Call to the Offering
Offertory “We Three Kings of Orient Are” arr. D. Malyszko
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
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper concluding with the Lord’s Prayer ( note that the bread served is gluten-free and grape juice may be substituted with water)
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 400 * “When We Are Living/Pues Si Vivimos”
Announcements
Benediction
This morning’s liturgy was written by Pastor Robin and A Sanctified Art, LLC. The pastoral prayer has been shaped in conversation with World In Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, in Lodi, CA, USA, whose mission is to assist Christians to pray with current events in mind.
Sunday, January 5, Youth Group at Toni’s Kitchen/Choir Rehearsal after church
Tuesday, January 7, Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, 8:00 am, at St John’s Episcopal, 55 Montclair Ave.
Nominating Committee Meeting, 1 pm, at the Manse
Wednesday, January 8, Norma’s Bible Study, 10:00 am, at the Learning Center at UCC
Thursday, January 9, Church Rebuilding committee meeting online and 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 very low and urgently needed. Shoprite is having their “Can-Can” sale, please consider picking up non-perishables on your next grocery trip. 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.