GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Mobile, Alabama Sunday, October 4, 2020 | 10AM THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN PENTECOST WORLD COMMUNION DAY Wherever
you
GATHERING
are
worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will
PRELUDE
Improvisation on the theme “Communion”
speak to you through the CHIMING OF THE HOUR scripture, prayers, music, and sermon. We are called
WELCOME
WESTMINSTER
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
to worship by the promises CALL TO WORSHIP of God in whom we place The heavens declare the glory of God! our faith and trust. Scripture
and
Hymn
settings can be found on pages 4-9 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are
The skies proclaim God’s handiwork. The day pronounces God’s glory without a sound, The night expounds God’s knowledge without a word, And yet their voice goes out through all the earth. Let us join the praise of creation and declare God’s glory. Let us worship God!
sung, and the Scriptures as HYMN 14 they are read.
For the Beauty of the Earth
DIX
indicates an invitation to PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison rise in body or in spirit as you are able. Hymn 14—In the course of many revisions, the original eucharistic emphasis of this
text has shifted to a hymn of thanksgiving for a wide range experience,
of
human with
a
Christological summation. It is set here to the tune
Holy God, You are the cornerstone, the foundation upon which we build our lives, and yet we reject you time and again. When you come to us, we do not receive your good news. We ignore your warnings. Our disobedience hurts you and those around us. (Time of silence for individual prayers.) Forgive us, Lord. Give us courage to hear and obey. In the name of Christ your Son we pray, Amen. 1
that is customary in North ASSURANCE OF PARDON America,
though
not
elsewhere.
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 PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST READING
DICK OTTS Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
CHILDREN’S SERMON
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON
SECOND READING SERMON
Matthew 21:33-46
“Harvest Time”
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
THANKSGIVING HYMN 803
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (vs. 1,2)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH unison
Hymn
803—The
effectiveness
of
beloved
paraphrase
this of
Psalm 23 owes much to the flowing shape note melody that serves as a “living stream” to carry the text,
which in turn has been given a remarkable clarity and lightness through the poet’s masterful use of
RESIGNATION
REV. ALEXANDRA HUTSON
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.
single-syllable words.
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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 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 communion elements INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE will be served to you and
may be consumed as they GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING responsive are received.
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise. 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. 3
BREAKING OF THE BREAD COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE COMMUNION HYMN 803
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (vs. 3)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
SENDING HYMN 744 Hymn
744—Echoing
Arise, Your Light Is Come!
FESTAL SONG
imagery from Isaiah 61:1–2 BENEDICTION and other passages, this POSTLUDE text was created as an
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Toccata in E minor
J. Pachelbel (Pl1653-1706)
inclusive-language alternative to an older hymn using this late 19th-
century tune. Because it is a song of encouragement rather than a song of praise, it is not directed to God but to people. Please remain seated at the postlude. An usher will come by to dismiss your pew. GSPC Chorale Monica Webb
CHILDREN AT THE LORD’S TABLE Celebrating Holy Communion today:
JAMES DAVID LAMAR ELEANOR REBECCA LORGE VIVIENNE ELIZABETH MCKEE HENRI LEO SCHOENVOGEL
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Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
were afraid and trembled and stood at a
Then God spoke all these words:
distance, 19 and said to Moses, “You speak
2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you
to us, and we will listen; but do not let God
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
speak to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses said to
slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods
the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has
before me.
come only to test you and to put the fear of
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol,
him upon you so that you do not sin.”
whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses
his name. 8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s
wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 18 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they 5
Matthew 21:33-46
will be taken away from you and given to a
33 “Listen to another parable. There was a
people that produces the fruits of the
landowner who planted a vineyard, put a
kingdom. 44 The one who falls on this stone
fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and
will be broken to pieces; and it will crush
built a watchtower. Then he leased it to
anyone on whom it falls.”
tenants
another
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees
country. 34 When the harvest time had
heard his parables, they realized that he was
come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to
speaking about them. 46 They wanted to
collect his produce. 35 But the tenants
arrest him, but they feared the crowds,
seized his slaves and beat one, killed
because they regarded him as a prophet.
and
went
to
another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they
treated
them
in
the
same
way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of
the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected has this
was
become the the
cornerstone;
Lord’s
doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God 6
7
8
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P.W. 2020/2021 SEASON The P.W. circles and Bible study will meet together by Zoom on Monday, October 12 at 7:00 p.m. The group study book Into the Light is available in the Jackson Street foyer. Cost is $12 each. Please make checks payable to: GSPC-PW.
P.W. SCHEDULE Circle Bible Study will be held on the following Mondays at 7 p.m. October 12
January 11
October 26
February 8
November 9
March 8
December 14
April 12
May 10
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Sunday Book Study via Zoom at noon. “A Room Called Remember” brings together some of Buechner’s finest writings on faith, love, and the power of words in the form of essays, addresses, and sermons.” Amazon review. This book study began on Sunday, September 13, but you can join anytime. Each chapter is independent of the others and we read and discuss as we go. All are welcome!
To join or for more information, contact Laurie Shorter. LauLee08@gmail.com | 251.404.0773
Copyright© Certificate Hymn settings, scripture, and other materials used by permission. Government Street Presbyterian Church CCLI# 11115660 Valid thru 10/31/2020 11
The Sanctuary Flowers are given by the GSPC congregation, to the glory of God and in honor of Rev. Alexandra Stewart Hutson on the occasion of her ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. 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 12:00 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 BARBARA WILLIAMS Hostess barbara@gspcmobile.org
THIS WEEK AT GSPC
Worship with us via Live-stream on
SHELIA SMITH Director of Food Services MARILYN MILLS Sexton
Sundays at 10 a.m.
ARTHUR LEWIS Sexton
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