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.
Welcome
Prelude “There is a Balm in Gilead” Harry Thacker Burleigh
Call to Worship
One: Welcome, beloved!
All: Peace be with you!
One: Today, our spiritual cups will be filled to overflowing!
All: That is our prayer. May it be so!
One: Whether you come empty or partially-filled, enthusiastic or desperate for restoration!
All: The Spirit of God is here to sustain us.
One: To fill us.
All: To God be the Glory!
One: Let us worship God!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 404 * “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson in Unison
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Joel 2:28
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. Psalm 85:8-10
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2:2-4
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27-28
Time With Children
Call to Confession
Responsive Prayer of Confession
One: For the ways we keep silent when we should speak,
All: Forgive us, and may our repentance seek repair.
One: For the times when we stay home when we need to show up,
All: Forgive us and may our repentance lead to renewed commitment.
One: For the ways that we have harmed others regardless of our intentions,
All: Forgive us and may our repentance lead to accountability and the mending of relationships.
One: We know there will never be peace, if there is not justice.
All: Blessed are the peacemakers!
Assurance 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 John 2:1-11
Message The First Miracle Foreshadows the Last The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
- I am weak, but thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
as I walk, let me walk close to thee.
(Refrain)
Just a closer walk with thee,
grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee:
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
- Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee. (Refrain) - When my feeble life is o’er,
time for me will be no more;
guide me gently, safely o’er
to thy kingdom shore, to thy shore. (Refrain)
Affirmation of Faith (in Unison)
We trust in Jesus Christ,
fully human, fully God.
Jesus proclaimed the reign of God:
preaching good news to the poor
and release to the captives,
teaching by word and deed
and blessing the children,
healing the sick
and binding up the brokenhearted,
eating with outcasts,
forgiving sinners,
and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.
Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition,
Jesus was crucified,
suffering the depths of human pain
and giving his life for the sins of the world.
God raised this Jesus from the dead,
vindicating his sinless life,
breaking the power of sin and evil,
delivering us from death to life eternal.
Call to Offering
Offertory “Center of My Joy” Richard Smallwood
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
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 * “We Shall Overcome”
We shall overcome;
we shall overcome;
we shall overcome someday.
Refrain:
O, deep in my heart
I do believe
we shall overcome someday!
- We’ll walk hand in hand…
- We shall live in peace…
- We are not afraid…
- God will see us through…
Announcements and Benediction
The liturgy today was created by Pastor Robin and Teri McDowell Ott of the Presbyterian Outlook. Pastoral prayers are informed by the World in Prayer, an online ministry resource.
The Grace Presbyterian Church Annual Meeting of the congregation and corporation will take place Sunday, January 26, immediately after the worship service. The purposes of the meeting are to elect Elders and Deacons, elect members of the Nominating Committee and Personnel Committees, receive reports from ministry leaders, and approve minutes of past meetings. All are welcome; members are especially encouraged to attend.
Mark your calendars:holiday
Sunday, January 19, Book Group meeting at the Manse after worship
Monday, January 20, Church Office closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
Tuesday, January 21, Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, 8:00 AM, St John’s Episcopal, 55 Montclair Avenue
Wednesday, January 22, Norma’s Bible Study, 10:00 AM, at the Learning Center at Union Congregational
Thursday, January 23, Church Rebuild Meeting, 10:00 AM, Online and at the Manse
Thursday, January 23, Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 PM, in the Chapel of UCC
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Food for the Little Pantry: 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.