GOVERNMENT STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Mobile, Alabama Sunday, September 27, 2020 | 10AM THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN PENTECOST
Wherever
you
GATHERING
are
worshiping today, we pray that the Holy Spirit will
CHIMING OF THE HOUR
WESTMINSTER
speak to you through the PRELUDE
Shall We Gather at the River arr. Richard Elliott
scripture, prayers, music, and sermon. We are called WELCOME to worship by the promises of God in whom we place our faith and trust. Scripture
and
Hymn
settings can be found on pages 4-9 of the bulletin. We invite you to reflect on the hymn texts as they are sung, and the Scriptures as they are read. Hymn
375—A
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR
CALL TO WORSHIP The Lord is our hope. Our trust is in God. God brought the slaves to freedom and sent food from heaven. God protected the people in the wilderness and led them to the Promised Land. God gave the law to guide the people and sent prophets to speak justice. God sent Jesus to offer grace and the Holy Spirit to direct our paths. The Lord is our hope. Our trust is in God.
Baptist
pastor wrote this hymn HYMN 375 while seated at his parlor
organ.
Created
as
Shall We Gather at the River HANSON PLACE
an PRAYER OF CONFESSION unison
alternative to gloomy “river of death” hymns, it is a celebration of the “pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out
Holy God, we have been wandering in the wilderness of sin. We have complained in the face of your mercy. We have been selfish in the face of your sacrifice. We have not done your will as you taught us. Forgive us for our failings, O God.
of the throne of God and of the Lamb” (Revelation 22:1 KJV).
(Time of silence for individual prayers.)
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Gracious Lord, teach us humility. Teach us gratitude. Reconcile us to you through your merciful love. In Jesus’ 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 FIRST READING
Exodus 17:1-7
CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALEXANDRA HUTSON
SECOND READING
Matthew 21:28-32
SERMON
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR “What Do You Think?”
THANKSGIVING HYMN 840 Hymn 840—This text is a remarkable expression of AFFIRMATION OF FAITH unison faith born of grief. The author,
an
active
Presbyterian layman who had just lost four daughters in a tragic shipwreck, wrote it while sailing to Paris to meet his wife, who had survived. The tune was named for the ship that sank.
When Peace Like a River
VILLE DU HAVRE
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 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 270—Although this paraphrase of Psalm 145 is abbreviated (the original psalm has a verse for each letter
of
the
Hebrew
alphabet), it maintains the tone
of
praise
that
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
characterizes the final six psalms. In fact, the whole book takes its Hebrew name, Tehillim (praises), from them.
HYMN 270
O Lord, You Are My God and King JERUSALEM
BENEDICTION POSTLUDE
REV. REBEKAH ABEL LAMAR Centennial Triptych: 1. Rigaudon David Lasky
GSPC Chorale Sami Anselmo 3
Exodus 17:1-7 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?” 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the
elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
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Matthew 21:28-32 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
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ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF ALEXANDRA STEWART HUTSON TO THE OFFICE OF MINISTER OF WORD & SACRAMENT AND ASSOCIATE PASTOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020 | 11:00 A.M. The prelude will begin at 10:30 a.m. Please RSVP your intent to attend at gspcmobile.org/rsvp.
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
10
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
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be held immediately following worship today on Zoom at 11 a.m. to elect Elders and Deacons for the Class of 2023.
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 to the glory of God and in loving memory of Elizabeth & Austill Pharr, by their family. 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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