GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Mobile, Alabama Sunday, September 20, 2020 | 10AM THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN PENTECOST
Wherever
you
GATHERING
are
worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will
PRELUDE
IMPROVISED
speak to you through the CHIMING OF THE HOUR scripture, prayers, music, WELCOME 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 4-8 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read.
WESTMINSTER
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
CALL TO WORSHIP The people’s response is in bold.
Jesus, who calms the wind and waves, calms our hearts and minds Jesus, who heals the sick, gives us strength in times of trial. Jesus, who fed the crowds, gathers us for this moment of worship. The Lord is our rock and our refuge. With gratitude and hope, Let us worship, God! HYMN 65
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah CWM RHONNDA
Welsh PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison hymns are as well known Hymn
65—Few
or loved as this 18thcentury text that did not gain its popular tune until the early 20th century. In both its original text and in English translation, it is a
Holy God, You know us better than we know ourselves. We celebrate while others are hurting. We fail to see your provision in difficult times. We struggle to trust you fully. For these and our many other failings, we ask your forgiveness.
stirring hymn of pilgrimage filled with vivid imagery
(Time of silence for individual prayers.)
from Hebrew scripture. 1
Grant us courage, O God, for the living of these days. Make us brave for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. 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 PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
BO PERRY
FIRST READING
Exodus 16:2-15
CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALEXANDRA HUTSON
SECOND READING
Ezra 3:10-13
SERMON
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR “Joyful Shouts & Weeping”
THANKSGIVING HYMN 819 Hymn
FINLANDIA
819—This
meditative text seems to be AFFIRMATION OF FAITH unison rooted in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am
God,” while also reaching forward to 1 Thessalonians 4:17b , “we will be with the Lord forever.” Much of the appeal of this hymn comes from its tune, named for the tone poem on which it is based.
Be Still, My Soul 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 2
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 HONORING SALLY PEARSALL ERICSON
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! PRAYER OF INTERCESSION & THANKSGIVING THE LORD’S PRAYER unison
Hymn 463—It seems odd now to think of singing this text to ADESTE FIDELIS, but mainline churches did so well into the 20th century because of a cultural bias against shape note music.
The vigor of the present tune seems especially right for the final line’s reference
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.
SENDING
to Hebrews 13:5.
HYMN 463
How Firm a Foundation FOUNDATION
GSPC Chorale Sami Anselmo
BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Water Music Suite
G.F. Handel (1685-1759) 3
Exodus 16:2-15
near to the Lord, for he has heard your
2 The whole congregation of the Israelites
complaining.’” 10 And as Aaron spoke to the
complained against Moses and Aaron in the
whole congregation of the Israelites, they
wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If
looked toward the wilderness, and the glory
only we had died by the hand of the Lord in
of
the land of Egypt, when we sat by the
cloud. 11 The Lord spoke to Moses and
fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you
said, 12 “I have heard the complaining of the
have brought us out into this wilderness to
Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall
kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
eat meat, and in the morning you shall have
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going
your fill of bread; then you shall know that I
to rain bread from heaven for you, and each
am the Lord your God.’”
day the people shall go out and gather
13 In the evening quails came up and
enough for that day. In that way I will test
covered the camp; and in the morning there
them,
was
whether
they
will
follow
my
the
a
Lord
layer
appeared
of
dew
in
around
the
the
instruction or not. 5 On the sixth day, when
camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there
they prepare what they bring in, it will be
on the surface of the wilderness was a fine
twice as much as they gather on other
flaky substance, as fine as frost on the
days.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the
ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they
Israelites, “In the evening you shall know
said to one another, “What is it?”[a] For they
that it was the Lord who brought you out of
did not know what it was. Moses said to
the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you
them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given
shall see the glory of the Lord, because he
you to eat.
has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against
us?”
8
And
Moses
said,
“When
the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him— what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the
whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw 4
Ezra 3:10-13 10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments
were
stationed
to
praise
the Lord with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel; 11 and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For
he
is
good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites
and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard
far away.
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6
7
8
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held on Sunday, September 27 at 11 a.m. to elect Elders and Deacons for the Class of 2023. Those worshipping from home will be able to join in on the meeting via Zoom. Please watch your e-mail for an invitation that will be in the 8 a.m. e-mail on that day.
CopyrightŠ 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 to the glory of God and in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. John Elliott Moses By Marilyn & John Moses. 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
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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