Grace Presbyterian Church
Meeting in the Chapel at Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome
Prelude “Jesus Calls Us” William H. Jude
Call to Worship (from Psalm 136:1-3)
One: O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good,
All: for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: O give thanks to the God of gods,
All: for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
All: for God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: Let us worship God!
Opening Prayer
Hymn * “Give Me Jesus”
In the morning when I rise,
in the morning when I rise,
in the morning when I rise,
Give me Jesus
Refrain:
Give me Jesus,
give me Jesus,
you can have all this world,
give me Jesus
Dark midnight was my cry,
dark midnight was my cry,
dark midnight was my cry,
give me Jesus. [Refrain]
Just about the break of day,
just about the break of day,
just about the break of day,
give me Jesus. [Refrain]
O, when I come to die,
O, when I come to die,
O, when I come to die,
give me Jesus. [Refrain]
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Mark 10: 17-22
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.”’ He said to him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.’ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Time with Children
Call to Confession
Unison Confession of Sin
Gracious and merciful God, we often wonder what we must do to be right with you. The gospel tells us what you have done for us in Jesus Christ to make us right with you. We establish rules and try to follow them to win your love. You call us to trust in your grace and promises in Jesus Christ. We strive for security by piling up the things of this life. Jesus says, “Come, follow me.” Lord, forgive our self-centeredness that seeks our well-being while we ignore the needs of others. Forgive our relying on ourselves rather than accepting fully Jesus’s call to discipleship. Help us to seek your kingdom and righteousness first in our lives. Through Jesus Christ, amen.
Responsive Assurance of Forgiveness (based on 1 Timothy 1:15)
One: The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
All: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
One: Children of God, hear and believe the good news:
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Praise be to God in Song (back of bulletin repeat 3 times) “Take, O Take Me As I Am”
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Psalm 51: 10-17
Message Looked at Him, Loved Him, and Broke His Heart The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 326 * “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart”
Affirmation of Faith (unison) from A Declaration of Faith
Jesus broadened the definition of neighbor
to include those ordinarily despised and excluded.
His life in behalf of others
led to persecution and death.
He commanded his disciples to live the same way.
We believe Christ gives us and demands of us
lives that recognize all people in all cultures
as our neighbors on this planet.
Christ teaches us
to go beyond legal requirements
in serving and helping our neighbor,
to treat our neighbor’s needs as our own,
to care passionately for the other’s good,
to share what we have.
It is part of our discipline
to live in simplicity,
avoiding greed and luxury
that threaten our neighbor’s survival.
We are obligated to speak the truth in love,
to listen with patience and openness,
to love our enemies,
to accept the risk and pain
which love involves.
Offertory “We are an Offering” Dwight Liles/arr. Mark Hayes
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 Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayers concluding with 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 422 * “God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending”
Announcements
Benediction
This morning’s liturgy was written by Pastor Robin and © Presbyterian Outlook, 2024, by the Rev. Philip K. Gladden and provided for free distribution. The pastoral prayer has been shaped in conversation with World In Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, in Lodi, CA, USA, whose mission is to assist Christians to pray with current events in mind.y was written by Pastor Robin. The pastoral prayer has been shaped in conversation with World In Prayer, a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, in Lodi, CA, USA, whose mission is to assist Christians to pray with current events in mind.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mark your calendars:
Youth group today 5-7 pm here at Union Congregational
Please stop by the Cole room after church to sign Christmas Cards for our missionaries
Tuesday, Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at St John’s Episcopal, 55 Montclair Avenue
Thursday, Nominating Committee Meeting, 12 Noon at the Manse
Choir Rehearsal, every Thursday at 7:30 pm in the Chapel
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Food for the Little Pantry is always wanted and needed. Non-perishables only please. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
