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 “Thirty-Five Miniatures, No. 26” Flor Peeters, Op. 55
Responsive Call to Worship Based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
The People: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Leader: For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.
The People: O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
All: For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. We will worship God.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 476* “O Worship the King”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Mark 9:14-27
When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak, and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid, and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, help us! Have compassion on us!” Jesus said to him, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.
Time with Children
Hymn 304 v. 1* “Jesus Loves Me!”
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by Silent Personal Confession
Merciful God, we confess that 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 our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be, that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name.
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Matthew 15: 21 – 28
Message: A Desperate Faith Elder Norma Prescott
Hymn 362* “I Love the Lord, Who Heard My Cry”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) Philippians 2.5 – 11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him even more highly and gave him the name that is above every other name, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Offertory “Thy Word” Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith arr. Mark Hayes
Doxology
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer concluding with the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 540* “God Be with You Till We Meet Again”
Benediction
Mark your calendars:
After worship:
6–8 PM today, 6th through 8th graders are invited to the Ecumenical Youth Ministry at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 South Fullerton Avenue in Montclair.
Tuesday: The Men’s Fellowship will meet for breakfast this Tuesday, November 7, at 8:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, 55 Montclair Avenue, Montclair.
Wednesday: Norma’s Bible Study will meet on Wednesday, November 8, at 10:00 a.m. in the Learning Center here at Union Congregational Church. We’re studying the book of Genesis and this week we begin to look at the story of Joseph.
Thursday: 10 AM (on-line) Insurance and Rebuilding Committee meets
7:30 PM choir rehearsal @ Union Congregational chapel
Next Sunday:
Book Study after worship at the Manse.
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM
Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
Supplies for our little food pantry are low. No tuna or mac and cheese needed; however, peanut butter, cereal, shelf-milk such as parmalat, beans (dry or canned), soup w/ pull tabs, jars of marinara sauce, non-perishables that are ready to eat (not mixes that require milk or butter). Food can be dropped off at the Manse.
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.