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 “Larghetto” Willen De Fesch arr. S. Drummond Wolff
Responsive Call to Worship
One: Let us begin worship with a poem by Mary Oliver entitled, “Don’t Hesitate.” If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.
All: Jesus said, “I have come so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.” Joy is not made to be a crumb. Even for an instant, we give ourselves over to joy and to the worship of the living God.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 430* “Come Sing, O Church, in Joy!”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson Exodus 32:1-14
Time with Children
Hymn 304 v. 1* “Jesus Loves Me!”
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by Silent Personal Confession
God of perfect love, you continually bring forth life, transforming sadness to joy, and despair to hope. We are weak, but you are strong. Our ways are flawed, but your ways are true. Forgive us, redeem us, transform us. Take away the sin that burdens us, and restore us to the people you would have us be, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Responsive Assurance of Pardon
One: Relentlessly God seeks us out. With abundant grace and boundless mercy, God seeks us out. This is good news!
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Matthew 22:1-14
Message: Faith … Fashion The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 516* “Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) Psalm 23–King James Version
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.