Grace Presbyterian Church
Meeting in the Chapel at Union Congregational, 76 Cooper Avenue, Upper Montclair.
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome Alex Kirkland
Prelude “Largo from Xerxes” G.F. Handel
*Responsive Call to Worship Psalm 66 Declan Sharrock
One: Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.
All: I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you— vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.
One: Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
All: but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!
Opening Prayer Teresa Simmons
*Hymn 839 “Blessed Assurance”
Prayer for Illumination Olivia Kirkland
Scripture Reading (In Unison) Acts 17:22-29 Olivia Kirkland
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.
One: The Word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God
Introduction of the Confirmands Pastor Cindy & Irene Rottenberg
Time with the Children Alex Kirkland
The Lord’s Prayer TJ Simmons
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.
*Passing of the Peace (Please allow the children to exit before standing) Declan S.
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by time of Silent Confession
Dear Lord, We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone, We have not loved you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. Silent Confession.
Assurance of Forgiveness
*Glory Be to God in Song 582 “Glory to God”
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen. (sing 3 times)
Scripture Lesson Psalm 115:1-8 James Trimble
Sermon The Unknown God The Rev. Cindy Wilcox
Choral Anthem “Total Praise” Richard Smallwood
*Affirmation of Faith (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed TJ Simmons
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.
Introduction to the Offering Ryan Berutti
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 Dedication Ryan Berutti
Pastoral Prayers Grace Kennedy/Ben Trimble
Announcements Alex Kirkland/TJ Simmons
*Hymn 69 “Here I am Lord”
*Benediction
(All are welcome to join us for coffee hour!)
The flowers in the chapel this morning were donated by Pastor Cindy and Irene, confirmation class teachers, in honor of the Confirmands and in appreciation to Yvonne for providing lunch for the confirmands each session.
Happening this Week:
Tuesday, May 12, 7:30 PM Reach Meeting. NO Big Picture Bible Study.
Wednesday, May 13, 10:00 AM, Norma’s Bible Study at the Learning Center at Union Congregational.
Thursday, May 14, 1:30 PM Sweet Hour of Prayer, at the Manse.
Saturday, May 16, 11 AM – 6 PM, We are hosting a few local bands in Montclair’s Porch Fest- at the Manse. Stop by 63 Tuxedo!
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
The next Friends of Grace Community Dinner is May 17. If you can provide and appetizer, salad, or entree to serve 30 guests please let a Friends of Grace member know.
RSVP now for “A Night at the Oscar’s” (Janet and Richard Oscar) POT LUCK DINNER, Saturday, June 6th, 5 PM, please contact the church office or Janet Oscar. joscar@benefitnavigator.com Reservations are needed so the hosts know how many to expect and what dish you will be bringing!
Favorite Hymn? If you have a favorite hymn that you would like to hear as part of the worship service, please let Pastor Cindy know.
The flowers on the chancel table will be distributed to congregants who can’t get to church. If you would like to donate flowers in celebration or in memory of anyone please contact Ruth Liang rrliang76@gmail.com. Also, if you have any spare vases you would like to donate, please bring them to church or drop them off at the Manse.
Food Pantry Supplies are desperately needed! We are in need of: Pasta, Rice, Cereal (hot or cold), Peanut butter, Tuna fish, Spam, Spaghettios (or similar canned pastas), Canned chili, Soup. Please bring items to church on Sunday or leave in the bin on the Manse driveway!
Sight and Sound – date: October 24, 2026 is the performance of “Joshua”; please sign up for the trip after coffee hour and the payment is due by June 1. $165 for adults and $110 for kids. contact Irene or Kem Mackey
