Grace Presbyterian Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude “Andante Tranquillo” Christoph Willibald Gluck
arr. S. Drummond Wolff
Responsive Call to Worship Psalm 78:1-7
One: Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.
All: We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and God’s might, and the wonders that he has done.
One: The Lord established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which God commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children,
All: So that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep God’s commandments.
One: We gather to remember, to teach, to learn, and to give hope.
All: We gather to worship God.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 391* “Take My Life”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Joshua 24: 14-25
“Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did
those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.” But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the LORD!” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” The people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
Time with Children
Hymn* “This Little Light of Mine”
This little light of mine,
I’m goin’- a let it shine’
this little light of mine,
I’m goin’- a let it shine;
This little light of mine,
I’m goin’- a let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine,
Let it shine.
All through the night….
Everywhere I go…
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by Silent Personal Confession
We confess, Merciful God, that we worship the false gods of fear, security, ambition, wealth, reputation, self, family, country, and denomination, to name a few. May we serve no other God but you with your help and through your Spirit, we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Matthew 25:1-13
Message You’re Going to Serve Somebody The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 15* “Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) Exodus 20
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them… You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God…
Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy… Honor your father and your mother…
You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled…Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.’
Offertory “Zion’s Walls” Aaron Copland
Doxology
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer concluding with the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 539* “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
I want to walk as a child of the light.
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain:
In him there is no darkness at all.
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God.
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father. (refrain)
I’m looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus. (refrain)
Benediction
Mark your calendars:
Mark your calendars:
After worship:
Book Group after worship at the Manse.
6–8 PM today, High Schoolers are invited to the Ecumenical Youth Ministry at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.
Tuesday: REACH Meeting
Wednesday: Women’s Book Group 2:30 pm at the Manse
Session Meeting on-line 7:30 pm
Thursday: 10 AM (on-line) Insurance and Rebuilding Committee meets
Nominating Committee Meeting at the Manse at Noon
7:30 PM choir rehearsal @ Union Congregational chapel
Next Sunday:
Stewardship Sunday
Friends of Grace Community Meal 2 pm at St John’s Episcopal Church in Montclair.
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM
Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Donations of socks, hats, gloves and new or gently used and washed blankets are wanted for Friends of Grace. Bring them to church on Sundays or drop them off at the Manse.