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 and Announcements
Prelude “O Holy Lord” R. Nathaniel Dett
Responsive Call to Worship (based on Psalm 19 & Wisdom of Solomon 7:26-8:1)
One: The heavens are telling the glory of God.
All: With Wisdom, we rejoice, knowing the streets are full of God’s glory!
One: The sky proclaims God’s handiwork.
All: With Wisdom, we rejoice, worshiping in the sanctuary of creation!
One: The ways of the Holy One make wise the simple.
All: With Wisdom, we rejoice, sharing in the oneness of love.
One: Let’s worship the Holy One in the streets, sanctuaries and squares!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 272 * “God of the Sparrow”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Exodus 3:13-15
But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you”, and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’ God also said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you”: This is my name for ever,
and this my title for all generations.
Time with Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Call to Confession
Unison Confession of Faith
You call out to us, Holy God, from city streets, town squares and cattle gates, but we refuse to listen. Preoccupied with our projections of you, we fail to see how these thoughts disrupt our communion with each other. You offer an outstretched hand to join you in transforming our lives, but we deny such a dance with Divinity is possible, choosing complacency to your counsel. Forgive us, Logos of Love, when we ignore your unremitting call to live in the way of love. By your mercy, may we heed your call to examine our foolishness so we may live as fools for Christ’s sake. Amen.
Responsive Assurance of Forgiveness
One: Beloved friends, receive the good news: the Risen Christ enters all corners of our lives and declares us forgiven.
All: Having been forgiven, we take up Wisdom’s way of knowing, embracing it as we journey toward wholeness and peace. Thanks be to God.
Praise be to God in Song “Gloria Patri”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Reading Proverbs 1:20, 2:1-5
Message The Sermon that Should have been Preached before the Summer
The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 306 * “Fairest Lord Jesus”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) from the Book of Confessions of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Brief Statement of Faith written in 1983
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father.
In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.
But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator.
Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.
We deserve God’s condemnation.
Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.
In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth.
Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage.
Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant.
Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.
Offertory “With a Voice of Singing” Martin Shaw
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 319 * “Spirit”
Benediction
This morning’s liturgy was written by Pastor Robin and © Presbyterian Outlook, 2024 Liturgy written by Adam Quine 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Tuesday, September 17, 8:00, Men’s Fellowship Breakfast at St John’s Episcopal, 55 Montclair Ave
Wednesday, September 18, 2:30 pm, Robin’s Women’s Bible Study, at the Manse
Choir Rehearsal every Thursday at 7:30 pm in the Chapel
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.
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
