Grace Presbyterian Church and Union Congregational Church
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE in the Sanctuary of Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
PRELUDE Come, Blessed Creator Camille Saint-Saëns
Come, blessed Creator,
Grant us Thy blessing.
We implore Thee,
Come, weary of striving
We kneel before Thee.
Oh, blessed Creator,
Grant us now Thy peace and mercy.
Souls faint with longing,
Pray for Thy healing balm of heavenly
grace.
Hear, Lord, our prayer.
We wait before Thee.
Hear our humble prayer.
Amen.
Alyce Daubenspeck, John David Whitener, and Charl Louw
WELCOME Rev. Katrina Forman
*CALL TO WORSHIP (Inspired by Psalm 85:8-13)
One: Let us turn our hearts to hear from the Holy One!
Many: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and
peace will embrace.
One: Let us turn our hearts to gain insight from the Holy One!
Many: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness
will look down from the sky.
One: Let us turn our hearts to receive from the Holy One!
Many: Righteousness will go before them, and will make a path for
their steps.
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
*HYMN #5 – Praise to God SAKURA
Words: Nobuaki Hanaoka Music: Trad. Japanese Melody, arr. Jonathan McNair
(see hymn on next page)
SCRIPTURE READING – Genie Temmler
Psalm 24 (Inclusive Language Translation)
The earth is GOD’s and all that is in it,
the world and all who dwell therein.
2
For it is GOD who founded it upon the seas
and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3
“Who can ascend the hill of GOD?
and who can stand in GOD’s holy place?”
4 “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart,
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5 They shall receive a blessing from GOD
and a just reward from the God of their salvation.”
6
Such is the generation of those who seek GOD,
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7
Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors;
and the Sovereign of glory shall come in.
8
“Who is this Sovereign of glory?”
“GOD, strong and mighty,
GOD,, mighty in battle.”
9
Lift up your heads, O gates;
lift them high, O everlasting doors;
and the Sovereign of glory shall come in.
10 “Who is this Sovereign of glory?”
“GOD of hosts,
GOD is the Sovereign of glory.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SUNG RESPONSE #327 – Jesus Loves Me JESUS LOVES ME
Words: Anna B. Warner Music: William B. Bradbury
Jesus loves me, this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Righteous God, you have created us in your image to reflect your holiness.
You have affirmed the goodness within us. We struggle to be the people
you call us to be. You have given us the guidance of the Law and the
wisdom of the Prophets and the gift of your Presence. Still, we struggle
against the pull to go our own direction without your counsel. We fail to
extend the grace and compassion you give to us. Be merciful in your
judgment while holding us accountable for your justice as we strive to live
the fullness of life in you. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION AND SCRIPTURE READING Genie Temmler
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 (NRSVUE)
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2David and all
the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the
ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on
the cherubim. 3They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of
the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of
Abinadab, were driving the new cart 4with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front
of the ark. 5David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all
their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and
cymbals.
12It was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and
all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up
the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with
rejoicing; 13and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he
sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14David danced before the Lord with all his might;
David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel
brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the
trumpet. 16As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of
Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before
the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. 17They brought in the ark of the Lord,
and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David
offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. 18When David
had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed
the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, 19and distributed food among all the
people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of
bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to
their homes.
SERMON “Raiders Of The Ark” Rev. Katrina Forman
*HYMN #573 – Lead on Eternal Sovereign LANCASHIRE
Words: Ernest W. Shurtleff Music: Henry T. Smart
OFFERING
Invitation Music for Meditation Charl Louw
*Response of Thanksgiving – Doxology OLD HUNDREDTH
Words: Thomas Ken, adapt. William B. Abernathy Music: Louis Bourgeois
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done;
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.
*Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Holy One, we thank you for the gifts of life and living. We give thanks
by bringing our resources to community, to be shared and used for
your kindom, in our ministry, and for the world we inhabit. Bless and
facilitate our generosity beyond our imagination. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Our [Father/Name for God] in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and
forever. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*HYMN #21 – God Reigns o’er All the Earth TERRA BEATA
Words: Jane Parker Huber Music: Franklin L. Sheppard
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Charl Louw
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Charl Louw
Resources used or adapted in this morning’s liturgy:
Salviati, Francesco, 1510-1563. David with Ark of the Covenant – Michal displeasure, from Art in the Christian
Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-
imagelink.pl?RC=47899 [retrieved July 3, 2024]. Original source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_Salviati_004.jpg.
Led by Love, Worship Resources for Year B – Lavon Bayler
Lawful, Righteous, Holy: Service Prayers for the Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Year B was written by the Rev. Dr.
Cheryl A. Lindsay who serves as Minister for Worship and Theology for the United Church of Christ.
THANK YOU for joining us for worship this morning. Please sign a welcome card if
you are visiting and put it in the offering plate. Please stay for coffee hour in the
Assembly Room immediately following the service.
Mark your calendars:
Today, 11:00 am, Special Session Meeting in the Chapel
5pm-7pm, Friends of Grace Community Dinner, St John’s Episcopal Church, 55 Montclair Avenue.
Monday, 6:30 pm, Amazin’ Grace Softball game at Brookdale, Field 3
Tuesday, 8:00 am, Men’s Fellowship Breakfast, St John’s Epsicopal Church, 55 Montclair Avenue
7:30 pm, Reach Meeting on Zoom
Thursday, Rebuild Committee, 10 am, online and at the Manse
Food for the Little Pantry is always wanted and needed. Non-perishables only please. With school out of session peanut butter, mac and cheese, and other kid-friendly items are needed. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Give online to Grace Church: https://gracemontclair.org/give