GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Sunday, November 1, 2020 | 10AM
ALL SAINTS’ HOLY COMMUNION Wherever you are worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to you through the scripture, prayers, music, and sermon. We are called to worship by the promises of God in whom we place our faith and trust. Scripture and Hymn settings can be found on pages 5-9 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read.
GATHERING PRELUDE | PIANO & ORGAN DUET
Beautiful Savior
CHIMING OF THE HOUR
WESTMINSTER
WELCOME
arr. Dan Miller
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
CALL TO WORSHIP The one who is seated on the throne says to us: “See, I am making all things new!” God makes a new heaven and a new earth, where the home of God is among the people of God. Remembering God’s mighty acts in the past, rejoicing in God’s faithfulness in the present, anticipating God’s full revelation in the future, Let us worship God!
Hymn 326—The broad and sweeping tune with which this HYMN 326 For All the Saints hymn is so closely identified SINE NOMINE was created to be sung during PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison a reverent but dramatic procession at the beginning of God of every generation, you are a rock an All Saints’ Day service, an who has steadied our ancestors in faith through the enacted representation of the storms of life just as you steady us today. enduring “fellowship divine” Despite your constancy, we are fickle, celebrated by this text. swayed by the slightest wind.
We ask your forgiveness for failing to follow you as we promised. We ask for your grace to empower us to love more fully and serve more faithfully. 1
May we continue to build upon the sure foundation passed on to us. In Christ’s name, Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON RESPONSE | HYMN 581
Glory Be to the Father 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.
PROCLAIMING THE WORD In the Prayer for Illumination, we ask the Holy Spirit to be present with us as we hear God’s word read and preached. We seek to better understand God’s will so that we can follow Christ more faithfully.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
TOM RUE
FIRST READING
I John 3:1-3
CHILDREN’S SERMON
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON
SECOND READING SERMON
Matthew 5:1-12
“Blessing”
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
THANKSGIVING AFFIRMATION OF FAITH unison
Confessions define what we I believe in God the Father Almighty, as a community believe, maker of heaven and earth; affirming our beliefs about and in Jesus Christ God, Jesus Christ, the Holy his only Son our Lord; Spirit, and about humanity, the who was conceived by the Holy church and the world. The Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, Apostles’ Creed affirms the suffered under Pontius Pilate, historical nature of Jesus of was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; Nazareth as the Christ and the third day he rose again from the confirms the Trinitarian nature dead; he ascended into heaven, of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON 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 STEWARDSHIP MINUTE
ANN GREER ADAMS
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DOXOLOGY | HYMN 607
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye Heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The Sacraments are the Word of God enacted and INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE sealed in the life of the GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING responsive Church, the body of Christ. The Lord be with you. When we gather at the Lord's Supper, the Spirit draws us And also with you. into Christ's presence and Lift up your hearts. unites us with the Church in We lift them to the Lord. every time and place. We join Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. with the faithful in heaven and It is right to give our thanks and praise. on earth in offering thanksgiving to the triune God. REMEMBERING THE SAINTS -From the PC(USA) Directory of Worship
Communion will be served to you by pew. All are invited to receive communion.
REV. DR. JOE BRYAN DONAHO LAURA KEITH DURANT WINSTON FRANCIS GROOM, JR. CHARLTON DUKES HARRIS REBECCA ANDERSON IVY REV. JULIA PARKER SIMMONS THE LORD’S PRAYER unison Our Father, who art in heaven, For thine is the kingdom, hallowed be thy name, and the power, thy kingdom come, and the glory, forever. thy will be done, Amen. 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. 3
Today we name before God BREAKING OF THE BREAD the faithful saints of GSPC COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE who have entered the Church Triumphant and who we trust COMMUNION MEDITATION SAMI ANSELMO, SOPRANO join us in offering thanksgiving I Know That My Redeemer Liveth G.F. Handel (1685-1759) and praise to the triune God I know that my Redeemer liveth, through the resurrection of and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. Christ. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. For now is Christ risen from the dead, Meditation — This aria for the first fruits of them that sleep. soprano is from the third movement of Messiah, George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece, and most well-known work. Like the rest of its songs and choruses, the text is entirely based on Scripture, in this case on verses from Job 19:25 -26 and I Corinthians 15:20. It is heard most foften
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
SENDING HYMN 517 BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
Here, O Our Lord, We See You vs. 1-4 MORECAMBE
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Thine Is the Glory
arr. Diane Bish
Please remain seated at the postlude. An usher will come by to dismiss your pew. Celebrating in Worship Ann Adams, pianist Sami Anselmo Jacob Mohr
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1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
1 See what love the Father has given 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. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Commitment Sunday November 8 | 10 a.m. Pledge cards and Time & Talent surveys may be placed in the baskets provided at the entrances to the sanctuary. If you have not received a stewardship packet, please contact the church office.
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CopyrightŠ Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission. Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2021 9
Volunteers are needed to assist with these upcoming initiatives by the Urban Ministries Committee. If you are interesting in volunteering, please contact Pastor Rebekah or Laurie Shorter.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 & 18 8 - 9:30 A.M. We will be handing out sack lunches and snacks from the parking lot at Guesnard House.
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The Sanctuary Flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of those members who have died this past year. 300 Government Street Mobile, Alabama 36602 251.432.1749 | gspcmobile.org Member PC(USA)
Staff REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Pastor & Head of Staff rebekah@gspcmobile.org
ADULT BIBLE STUDY (online) Women’s Bible Study—Tuesdays at 10AM Contact: Laurie Shorter or Mary Elizabeth Perry Sunday Book Study Group Sundays at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom Contact: Laurie Shorter
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON Associate Pastor alexandra@gspcmobile.org TOMMY WATTS Director of Music & Organist Communications tommy@gspcmobile.org SAMANTHA ANSELMO Children’s Choir Director
KATY PARTRIDGE Office & Property Manager katy@gspcmobile.org DAWN HEARN Bookkeeper bookkeeper@gspcmobile.org
THIS WEEK AT GSPC
BARBARA WILLIAMS Hostess barbara@gspcmobile.org SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton ARTHUR LEWIS Sexton
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