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 “Sarabande from Partita no.1 in Bb Major” J.S. Bach
Responsive Call to Worship Based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9
One: Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
All: We will keep these words in our hearts. We will recite them to our children and talk about them when we are at home and when we are away, when we lie down and when we rise.
One: With heart, soul, mind, and strength, let us worship the living God.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 335* “Though I May Speak”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Responsive) Luke 10:25-37
An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Time with Children
Hymn 304 v. 1* “Jesus Loves Me!”
Unison Prayer of Confession followed by Silent Personal Confession
You call us to love you.
You call us to love others.
You call us to love ourselves.
We confess the ways that we are not loving–withholding, reticent, and condemning.
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Matthew 22:34-40
Message: Reciting Scripture Standing on One Foot The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 326* “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) from the Belhar Confession
We believe
• that Christ’s work of reconciliation is made manifest in the church as the community of believers who have been reconciled with God and with one another;
• that unity is, therefore, both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; that through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet simultaneously a reality which must be earnestly pursued and sought: one which the people of God must continually be built up to attain;
• that this unity must become visible so that the world may believe that separation, enmity and hatred between people and groups is sin which Christ has already conquered, and accordingly that anything which threatens this unity may have no place in the church and must be resisted;
• that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways: in that we love one another; that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another; that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another; that we share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind; have one God and [Creator], are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope; together come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ; together are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity; together know and bear one another’s burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ that we need one another and upbuild one another, admonishing and comforting one another; that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness; pray together; together serve God in this world; and together fight against all which may threaten or hinder this unity.
Offertory “With a Voice of Singing” Martin Shaw
Doxology
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer concluding with the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn 443* “O Christ, the Great Foundation”
Benediction
Mark your calendars:
After worship:
6-8 PM Middle School Youth Group (includes dinner) at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 73 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair
Wednesday: 2:30 pm Women’s Bible Study at the Manse
Thursday: 10 AM (on-line) Insurance and Rebuilding Committee meets
1:00 PM Thank you note writing at the Manse
7:30 PM choir rehearsal @ Union Congregational chapel
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.
© Presbyterian Outlook, 2023
Some of this morning’s liturgy was written by Teri McDowell Ott and provided for free distribution.