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 “Adoration” Florence B Price
Responsive Call to Worship
One: Come as you are to worship the Living God.
All: With all our messiness, we pray that all we do and say might be pleasing to God.
One: God sees your full humanity and loves you without reservation.
All: Thank you for that. We are also hoping to be fed.
One: God welcomes your need and recognizes your wisdom.
All: We just need to know that God is with us.
One: You’ve come to the right place. Welcome home!
All: Praise be to God!
Opening Prayer
Hymn 487 * “When Morning Gilds the Skies”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (Unison) James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Time with Children
Song “Jesus Loves Me”
Call to Confession Hymn 362 * ”I Love the Lord, Who Heard My Cry”
Call to Confession of Faith
Unison Confession of Faith
For all the ways that we think about doing the right thing but do not act on them, forgive us.
Assurance of Forgiveness
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 Acts 6:1-6
Message ‘While we, for our part, devote ourselves to…” The Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn 391 * “Take My Life”
Affirmation of Faith (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offertory “Hear My Prayer” Moses Hogan
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
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper 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 369 * “I’m Gonna Live so God can Use Me”
Benediction
This morning’s liturgy was written by Teri McDowell Ott (for Presbyterian Outlook, provided for free distribution) and by Pastor Robin.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Friends of Grace Community Dinner is today, September 8, from 5pm-6:30pm at St John’s Episcopal Church, 55 Montclair Avenue
Grace upon Grace Fall Issue articles are due September 8
Norma’s Bible Study resumes September 11, 10:00 am, at the Union Cong Learning Center
Choir Rehearsal September 12 and every Thursday at 7:30 pm in the Chapel
Arts & Crafts meet up at the Manse on September 14 from 10am-1pm
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.
