GCPC Worship May 10, 2020
Words of Approach
~ from Psalm 47.2, 8-9
[Have one person read these verses aloud.]
The Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted!
Song of Approach
Holy Holy Holy
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Who wert and art and ever more shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see; Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name In earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Words: Reginald Heber
Music: John Dykes
Public Domain
Prayer of Approach
[Have one person pray this prayer aloud.]
Eternal Father, who loved us and set us free from our sins, who loves us still with a love that will never let us go, and who will love us forever, we worship you today as the only true lover of our souls. Lord stoop to receive the love of our poor hearts. Enable us to remember the depth of your love for us in Christ. May we love because you first loved us. ~ Amen
Affirmation of Our Faith
~ Ephesians 1.3-8
[ALL declare these verses aloud.]
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Our Prayers and Confession
[Spend a season in prayer as a group. One person should take the Leader part; others will reply the parts marked ALL. At two points there is a time for Silent Confession & Intercession. At these points, pause and allow participants time to pray silently in response to what had been prayed immediately before. Allow ample time to pray as the Spirit leads:]
Leader: God of all life, hear our prayers:
All: We thank you for adopting us into your family through the blood of Jesus, the only Son of God, and for calling us to be brothers and sisters to each other.
Leader: We recognize, on a day like today, that everything in God’s creation isn’t as it should be. Sin has broken families and caused deep pain and heartache, and suffering in creation has led to suffering in the flesh – some who long to be parents are unable to experience that joy.
All: We weep with those who weep; and we rejoice with those who rejoice.
Leader: On this day, our Father, we pray for our mothers:
- who cared for us when we were helpless,
- who comforted us when we were hurt,
- whose love and care we often took for granted, even as we often take your love for granted.
– SILENT CONFESSIONS & INTERCESSION –
Leader: Today we pray for:
- those who are grieving the loss of their mother, maybe even years after they were separated;
- those who never knew their biological mother, and now yearn for her;
- those who have experienced the wonder of an adopted mother’s love;
All: Lord, give them special blessings.
– SILENT PRAYERS & INTERCESSION –
Words of Grace
~ 1 John 3.1-3
[These verses can be declared by one person reading this passage aloud or by ALL reading these verses aloud together. Each home/group should decide for themselves.]
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Song of Adoration
Before the Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea | A great High Priest whose name is love, Who ever lives and pleads for me | My name is graven on His hands; My name is written on His heart | I know that while in heav’n He stands; No tongue can bid me thence depart | No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within | Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin. | Because the sinless Savior died, My sinful soul is counted free | For God the Just is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me | To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there, the risen Lamb, My perfect, spotless Righteousness | The great unchangeable I AM The King of glory and of grace | One with Himself, I cannot die; My soul is purchased by His blood | My life is hid with Christ on high; With Christ my Savior and my God
One with Himself, I cannot die; My soul is purchased by His blood | My life is hid with Christ on high; With Christ my Savior and my God | With Christ my Savior and my God; | With Christ my Savior and my God
Songwriters: Charitie Bancroft / Vikki Cook
© Capitol Christian Music Group
CCLI #360938/#20167508
Offering
Our giving is an act of worship. It is a response to who God is and to God’s grace. Giving is a way that God invites us to participate in His work. If you would like to give a tithe or offering today, you can do so by clicking: www.gracecovpca.org/resources/giving
Meditation on God’s Word
-
Scripture: Luke 1.26-56
[Have one person read this passage aloud. Then have one person, or several people, pray for the Holy Spirit to speak through this Word and message.]
-
Message: A Mother’s Song (See video)
Rev. W. Dennis Griffith, Lead Pastor
Song of Dismissal
We Will Feast in the House of Zion
We will feast in the house of Zion; We will sing with our hearts restored | He has done great things, we will say together’ We will feast and weep no more
We will not be burned by the fire; He is the LORD our God | We are not consumed, by the flood; Upheld, protected, gathered up
We will feast in the house of Zion; We will sing with our hearts restored | He has done great things, we will say together; We will feast and weep no more
In the dark of night, before the dawn; My soul, be not afraid | For the promised morning, oh how long? Oh God of Jacob, be my strength
We will feast in the house of Zion; We will sing with our hearts restored | He has done great things, we will say together; We will feast and weep no more
Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed; You are the Faithful one | And from the garden to the grave; Bind us together, bring shalom
We will feast in the house of Zion; We will sing with our hearts restored | He has done great things, we will say together; We will feast and weep no more
Words & Music: Sandra McCracken & Joshua Moore
CCLI #360938/#20167508
Benediction
***
NOTES:
Passage Next Week:
Matthew 12.46-50
Worship Leaders Today
- Piano/Guitar/Vocals: Isaiah Day
- Vocals: Rachel Bartelmay
- Message: Rev. W. Dennis Griffith, Lead Pastor
- Benediction: Rev. Camper Mundy, Associate Pastor
- Video/Sound/Tech: Tim Nargi
- Tech Assist: Charley Bartelmay
Special Note on Supporting the Mission & Work of Grace Covenant:
During these extraordinary times, the life and ministry of our church will continue – even when we are not able to meet corporately for worship. We humbly but boldly ask the people of Grace Covenant to continue to give generously for the benefit of God’s kingdom here in Williamsburg and beyond.
You can make your gifts in two ways:
1) Online at www.gracecovpca.org/resources/giving
2) Sending your check to the church offices at 1677 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg VA 23185
If you would like to make a special gift to help those from our church and community who are in need during this crisis, please write “Mercy Ministries” on the memo line of your check or select that fund when making a gift online.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church 