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 – A Lute Will Lie Kristine Hart & Dave Malyszko
Words: Callum MacColl Music: Edwin Penhorwood
A lute will lie on darkened cabinet shelf and snap its strings for lack of skillful hands.
And to useless dust the lute will go unless a knowing touch redeems the wood and plays on freshly tightened strings.
And we companions to dust were songless wood and idle hands.
Now music makes a lofty stair to aid our erring climb to tread the angels winding.
WELCOME Rev. Katrina Forman
*CALL TO WORSHIP (Inspired by Psalm 89)
One: The Holy One is with us. God’s hand remains with us.
Many: God’s love is steadfast. God’s strength is enough. We can rest in God’s presence.
One: Holy Love keeps their covenant from generation to generation and establishes our future.
Many: God’s love is steadfast. God’s strength is enough. We can rest in God’s presence.
One: Let us worship God together and praise the Holy Name!
Many: God’s love is steadfast. God’s strength is enough. We can rest in God’s presence.
*PRAYER OF INVOCATION
*HYMN #22 – Sing Praise to God LOBE DEN HERREN
Words: Joachim Neander Music: William S. Bennett
SCRIPTURE READING – Jeremiah 23:1-6 Rob Middleton
Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SUNG RESPONSE #327 – Jesus Loves Me (vs. 1) 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)
Holy God, we confess that our lives keep us consumed more with doing than with being. We trust in the chariots and horses of our times–our tools, our schemes, our positions. We acknowledge that you call us to rest in your truth, your love, and your peace without abdicating our responsibility to embody your good news in the world. We struggle to balance the rhythms of rest and renewal in our lives and seek your guidance and direction toward a life where you are our peace, our hope, and our standard. Guide us on this path, we pray. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
ASSURANCE OF GRACE
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION & GOSPEL READING Rob Middleton
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
30The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
SERMON “Of Shepherds and Solitude” Rev. Katrina Forman
*HYMN #581 – Lead Us from Death to Life WORLD PEACE PRAYER
Words: Satish Kumar (Refrain), Marty Haugen (Stanzas) Music: Marty Haugen
OFFERING
Invitation
Music for Meditation Dave Malyszko
*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)
Generous God, we give these gifts to you through this faith community. May you lead and guide us with discernment so that our ministry would give you glory, honor your name, and benefit your creation. 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 #81 – God Be with You GOD BE WITH YOU
Words: Jeremiah E. Rankin Music: William G. Tomer
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE – Lean on Me Kristine Hart & Dave Malyszko
Words & Music: Kirk Franklin
There’s a man standing on the corner;
he has no home, he has no food,
and his blue skies are gone.
Can’t you hear him crying out?
And there’s a girl searching for a father and a friend,
praying that the storm someday will end.
But, instead of walking away, open up your heart and say:
I am here; you don’t have to worry.
I can see your tears;
I’ll be there in a hurry when you call.
Friends are there to catch you when you fall.
Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me.
There’s a child who is sick and begging to be free,
but there is no cure for his disease.
He looks up to his mother and as she his hand,
praying that someday the sun will shine again,
And the pain will end.
I am here; you don’t have to worry.
I can see your tears;
I’ll be there in a hurry when you call.
Friends are there to catch you when you fall.
Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me.
Tell me, how can I, how can I love Jesus
when I’ve never seen His face,
Yet, I see you dying, and I turn and walk away?
So hold my hand,
let me take you to a friend of mine.
He’s waiting just to ease your troubled mind.
Instead of walking away, open up your heart and say:
I am here; you don’t have to worry.
I can see your tears;
I’ll be there in a hurry when you call.
Friends are there to catch you when you fall.
Here’s my shoulder, you can lean on me.
Resources used or adapted in this morning’s liturgy:
Coming and Going: Service Prayers for the Ninth 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.
Mauve, Anton, 1838-1888. Landscape with Shepherd and Sheep, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=51139 [retrieved July 15, 2024]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%27Shepherd_and_Sheep%27_by_Anton_Mauve,_Cincinnati_Art_Museum.JPG
Mark your calendars:
Wednesday, Session Meeting, 7:30 pm online
Thursday, Rebuild Committee, 10 am, online and at the Manse
The next Friends of Grace Community Dinner is August 11. If you can provide an appetizer, salad, entree, or dessert to serve thirty guests, please let a member of the committee or the church office know. Also, if you would rather make a donation instead to purchase these items, that is appreciated, too.
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