Order of Worship

January 19, 2025 - 10 a.m. EST

Prelude - Arietta (Thomas Kerr)

Ringing of the Church Bell
Tom McLeish

Invitation to Worship
Kristin Ream

One: O praise the Lord with me,

All: Let us exalt God’s name together.

One: O come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the rock of our salvation!

All: Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise.

One: Let us worship God.

Hymn 402 - How Lovely, Lord

How lovely, Lord, how lovely
is your abiding place;
my soul is longing, fainting,
to feast upon your grace.
The sparrow finds a shelter,
a place to build her nest;
and so your temple calls us
within its walls to rest.

In your blest courts to worship,
O God, a single day
is better than a thousand
if I from you should stray.
I'd rather keep the entrance
and claim you as my Lord
than revel in the riches
the ways of sin afford.

A sun and shield forever
are you, O Lord Most High;
you shower us with blessings;
no good will you deny.
The saints, your grace receiving,
from strength to strength shall go,
and from their life shall rivers
of blessing overflow.

Prayer of Confession (unison)

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with pure hearts, we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God. In your loving kindness and compassion, forgive and restore us. Do not cast us away from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of your salvation, and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

One: Hear the good news: Hope does not disappoint us, for God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit in baptism.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Response 582 - Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me

Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
And to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
And to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be. Amen.

World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be. Amen.

Sharing the Peace

Welcome and Announcements

Scripture Reading - Philippians 2:1-11
Judy McNeish, liturgist

Anthem - Precious Lord, Take My Hand (arr. Roy Ringwald)
Chancel Choir
Lianne Meredith-Stewart, descant

Word with Children
Kathi Bubb

Scripture Reading - Mark 8:27-38
David Bubb

Sermon - “The Greatest Story Ever Told?”

Hymn 726 - Will You Come and Follow Me

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown?
Will you let my name be known?
Will you let my life be grown in you,
and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare,
should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you
and you in me?

Will you let the blinded man see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
and do such as this unseen?
And admit to what I mean in you,
and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell that fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found
to reshape the world around
through my sight and touch and sound in you,
and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I'll go,
where your love and footsteps show,
thus I'll move and live and grow in you,
and you in me.

Affirmation of Faith (unison)

Christ Jesus, 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 to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

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.

Offering

Offertory - Lord, I Want to be a Christian (arr. Lloyd Larson)
Sara Light and Heather Kessler

Give online at granpres.org/give

Doxology 606 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

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.

Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Ever-giving God, in Jesus you teach us, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.” Receive these offerings of our whole hearts, that through us and our giving, your great love might envelop this world. Through Jesus Christ, who teaches us how to love and give. Amen.

Hymn 700 - I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

I’m gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna live so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna work so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna pray so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna sing so God can use me
anywhere, Lord, anytime

Charge and Benediction

Postlude - Deep River (arr. David Hurd)
Philip Everingham

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service has been obtained from ONE LICENSE with license A-722069.