Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Welcome And Opening Prayer
Prelude Voluntary on Eisenach Gerald Near
Responsive Call to Worship Psalm 67
One: May the Lord be gracious to us and bless us and make God’s face to shine upon us,
All: that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.
One: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
All: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
One: God, our God, has blessed us.
All: May God continue to bless us; let us worship God!
Hymn Red 291* “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know you feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us,
filling us with your love.
And for these blessings,
we lift our hearts in praise.
Without a doubt
we’ll know that we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.
Opening Prayer and Prayer for Illumination
God, the stories of our lives include meeting you: a gradual knowing or a lightning bolt moment, and a lifetime learning who you are and who we are because of you. We pray that our story might grow deeper in knowledge and love for you and your world. As we listen now to the words of your story in scripture, guide our understanding. And as we understand, guide our lives as we seek to respond in faith. Amen.
First Scripture Reading Acts 16:9-15
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
We therefore set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.
Time with Children
Call to Confession
Confession of Sin
Grace-giving God, you ask us to love and to keep your word. Simple instructions. Yet, even with the Advocate to help us, we still fail at loving and following faithfully. Every time we fail, speak to us again of your truths and your grace and your faithfulness to us despite our failures. Keep telling us over and over again, so that we might be as gracious to ourselves and others as you are to us. Amen. Time for silent prayer and reflection.
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Second Scripture Reading John 14:23-29
Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe.
Sermon What is the Question Again? Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn Red 295* “Breathe on Me, Breath of God”
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with thine,
to do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
till I am wholly thine,
until this earthly part of me
glows with thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with thee the perfect life
of thine eternity.
Affirmation of Faith from the Iona Community
We believe in God above us, maker and sustainer of all life. We believe in God beside us, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, born of a woman, servant of the poor, tortured and nailed to a tree. A man of sorrows, he died forsaken. He descended into the earth to the place of death. On the third day he rose from the tomb. He ascended into heaven to be everywhere present, and his kingdom will come on earth. We believe in God within us, the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire, life-giving breath of the church, Spirit of healing and forgiveness, source of resurrection and eternal life. Amen.
Offertory Improvisation on Trentham
Doxology
Prayer after the Offering
Pastoral Prayers/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 Red 694* “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken”
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
See the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove:
who can faint, while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?–
grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near!
Thus they march, the pillar leading,
light by night and shade by day,
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when they pray.
Savior, since of Zion’s city
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name;
fading is the world’s best pleasure,
all its boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion’s children know.
Benediction
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