Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Welcome And Opening Prayer
Prelude Sonata in D, K. 300k: Andante con espressione W. A. Mozart
Responsive Call to Worship based on I Corinthians I
One: The message about the cross seems foolish.
All: Yes, except it is the power of God.
One: So God has made foolish the wisdom of this world?
All: Yes, for we proclaim Christ crucified.
One: And Christ risen.
All: Yes, we worship the living God!
One: Let us worship in word and song and silence, the one who is, who always was, and always shall be!
All: Let us worship God!
Hymn 701 red God Is Here!
God is here! As we his people
meet to offer praise and prayer,
may we find in fuller measure
what it is in Christ we share:
here, as in the world around us,
all our varied skills and arts
wait the coming of his Spirit
into open minds and hearts.
Here are symbols to remind us
of our lifelong need of grace;
here are table, font and pulpit,
here the cross has central place:
here in honesty of preaching,
here in silence, as in speech,
here in newness and renewal
God the Spirit comes to each.
Here our children find a welcome
in the Shepherd’s flock and fold;
here as bread and wine are taken,
Christ sustains us as of old;
here the servants of the Servant
seek in worship to explore
what it means in daily living
to believe and to adore.
Lord of all, of church and kingdom,
in an age of change and doubt,
keep us faithful to the gospel,
help us work your purpose out;
here, in this day’s dedication,
all we have to give, receive;
we who cannot live without you,
we adore you! we believe.
Call to Confession
Confession of Sin
Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble heart we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son. (Let us continue, personalizing this prayer for ourselves, in silent prayer.)
Assurance of Pardon
One: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
All: We are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Prayer for Illumination in Unison
Prepare our hearts, O God, to accept your Word. Silence in us any voices but your own, so that we may hear your word and also do it; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Scripture Reading (In Unison) James 3:13 – 4:3, 7-8a
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Second Scripture Reading Mark 9:30-37
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
Sermon “The GOAT” Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn Red 445 Just As I Am, without One Plea
Just as I am, without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in thee I find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Affirmation of Faith Philippians 2:5-11
[We believe in] Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of 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 Voluntary on O Waly Waly Emma Lou Diemer
Doxology
Pastoral Prayer/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 Green 269 Tú has venido a la orilla/You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore
Tú Has venido a la orilla
No has buscado ni a sabios, ni a ricos
Tan solo quieres que yo te siga
You have come down to the lakeshore
seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
but only asking for me to follow.
Señor, me has mirado a los ojos
Sonriendo, has dicho mi nombre
En la arena, he dejado mi barca
Junto a ti, buscaré otro mar
O Lord, you have looked into my eyes;
kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
now with you, I will seek other seas.
Tú sabes bien lo que tengo
En mi barca no hay oro, ni plata
Tan solo redes y mi trabajo
You know full well what I have, Lord;
neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,
just these my fish nets and will for working.
Tú necesitas mis manos
Mi cansancio que a otros descanse
Amor que quisiera seguir amando
You need my hands, my exhaustion,
working love for the rest of the weary ‘
a love that’s willing to go on loving.
Tu pescador de otros mares
Ansia eterna de almas que esperan
Amigo bueno que así me llamas
You who have fished other waters;
you, the longing of souls that are yearning:
O loving Friend, you have come to call me.
Benediction
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