Celebrate Grace

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Service of Worship

Aria in F Major
George Frederic Handel
© Public Domain

Opening Prayer
We gather to meet with God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
To be aware of your presence in our day
For you, Lord, are here now;
your Spirit dwells within us
To bring you our worship
And offer you our praise
To be conscious that you walk beside us
And we do not make the journey alone
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, draw near to us
As we draw near to you
Amen

Opening Hymn — #378 Amazing Grace (v. 1-4, 6)

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.

2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.

6. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
than when we’d first begun.

Amazing Grace
Edwin Othello Excell | John Newton
© Public Domain

Children’s Time with Ms Becky

Joys and Concerns — Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer
Mysterious God
power behind all we see
grace beyond all we know
love before all we meet,
We cannot comprehend your majesty
we only know your presence in our lives:
you, who knew us before we were born
you, who will cradle us after our last breath…
We cannot encompass your glory
instead we marvel at all the works your hand has made
and we worship and adore you.

It seems too good to be true
that you would care for mere mortals like us…
in our messy lives
often caught-up in trivialities,
that you would mold us in your own image
social creatures with a divine spark…
So good, we’d rather not believe:
rather not see your image in those around us
crying out for love and companionship
rather not see your wisdom underpinning creation
groaning at our wanton waste and exploitation

God above all, help us with our unbelief
our incredulity
our self-preserving acts
which isolate and harm…

Pour mercy into our hearts and souls
giving us eyes to see and ears to hear
your gift
in every person
every place
every moment;
For your greatness is seen in all the world:
may our words and actions be our praise of you
reaching up and out
into your Kingdom,
made real for us in the person of Jesus
who taught us so much
including how to pray:

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, the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory – Hani

What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Arr. by Greg Howlett
© 2015 Greg Howlett Productions

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
© Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

Almighty God, we gather in the name of the one to whom all authority is given—Jesus Christ. As we offer you this money, you ask us to renew our commitment to be your faith-filled disciples. May our lifestyles reflect a desire to be in mission for others. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Reading – Genesis 50:15-21 (NRSV)

Genesis 50:15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16 So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Celebrating Grace

Special Music – Heidi

Benediction

So now we leave this space of worship
And while so much of the road ahead is uncertain,
the path constantly changing,
we know some things that are as solid and sure
as the ground beneath our feet,
and the sky above our heads.

We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.

We know the Holy Spirit this there,
found in the space between all things,
closer to us than our next breath,
binding us to each other,
until we meet we again,

Go in peace. Amen.

Postlude – Hani