inwardly growing, outwardly serving

“Welcome One Another” Series: One Anothering August 22, 2021

Welcome to Grace DowntownHere at Grace Downtown, we long to express the good news of Jesus Christ by being an inwardly growing, outwardly serving community experiencing God’s rich grace and extending it to our city and our neighbors. Whatever your spiritual disposition—skeptic, seeker, follower—we welcome you and pray that you might know something of this good news today.

Worship at 5:00pm at the Chinese Community Church, 500 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

About Grace DCGrace Downtown is part of the Grace DC network, one church made up of a family of congregations in and for Washington, DC. Our city is diverse, with each cluster of neighborhoods bearing its own unique personality, needs and opportunities. Taking part in the life and history of a particular neighborhood allows each Grace DC congregation to give the Christian faith fresh expression. We are excited to play a small part in the big work that God is doing in our city.

Office at 637 Indiana Ave NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20004 p: 202.386.7637 office@gracedc.netVisit gracedc.net to learn more about any of the congregations in the Grace DC network.

PrayerThe Grace Downtown Prayer Team creates opportunities for our community to learn more about prayer together for our church family, our city, and our world. Throughout the coming week, the Prayer Team is ask-ing our church community to pray...

Lord, thank you that you are our Comforter, and ever-present Help in time of need. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to walk with us, every moment of every day, when alone or together; scared or confident; doing well or barely holding on; feeling wronged or doing wrong; you extend your grace and forgiveness - and Presence - to us.

Jesus, we ask for you to be at work in our hearts as we soak in all that you are showing us through the preaching of your Word. We are challenged and encouraged to love one another - much too high a calling to do on our own - so we ask for your help as we attempt to love others, especially when life is messy. Please bring your healing to our broken world. Open our eyes to see the love you have for us, and help us to share that with others.

If you would like someone to pray for you for any reason this week, please contact the Prayer Team at prayer@gracedc.net.

Welcome

Call to Worship Psalm 100Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!People: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Leader: Enter his gate with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!ALL: For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Song of Invitation 10,000 Reasons

Reading from the Old Testament Leviticus 19:13-16, 33-3413“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.15“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteous-ness shall you judge your neighbor. 16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.33“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.Reader: This is the word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God!

Greeting One Another

Songs of Confession & Pardon Waiting Here for YouLiving Hope

1 Please stand if possible.

Giving of Tithes & Offerings If you consider Grace Downtown your home community, you can respond to God’s grace by making an offering online, by using the Grace Downtown mobile app or texting ‘gracedt’ to 1-888-364-GIVE (4483) and following the link. Please note that this we are transitioning to a new payment processor and if you have not already done so, you will be directed to set up a Subsplash Giving account.

Song of Preparation Your Glory/Nothing But the Blood

Reading from the New Testament 1 Peter 4:7-117The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.Reader: This is the word of the Lord.All: Thanks be to God!

Sermon Elder Ryan Bratt“Welcome One Another”Series: One Anothering

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Sign and Seal of God’s Grace The Lord’s SupperEveryone who is a member in good standing of a church that proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ is invited to participate.Come forward row by row (or as directed by an usher). A gluten-free bread substitute is available, as well as prepackaged communion elements (the cracker in the prepackaged combo is not gluten free). Wine is served in the first drink tray, grape juice in the second. You may take the elements standing to the side or at your seat. To avoid spills and out of respect for our host church, please do not leave the cups in your pew.PrayerIf you would like someone to pray for you, church leaders are available for prayer during communion on the first floor. If you are not participating in the Lord’s Supper and not receiving prayer, please observe commu-nion, reflect on its meaning and, if willing, utilize the prayer below.Prayer of DoubtDear God, I’ve got a lot of doubts—about you, about people, about myself. I don’t know what to believe. But I think I want to believe that you’re there, that you’re good, that you love me, that you forgive me, that you’ll provide for me and protect me. Could these things be true? Open my heart and mind. I’ve been wandering and wondering for far too long. Jesus, if you’re the way and the truth, please show yourself to me. Amen.

Song of Faith Everlasting God/Strength Will Rise

Benediction Going with God’s blessing

Doxology

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Save the Date! September 11 Grace Downtown Day of Vision & Prayer Brunch

The Bible calls God’s people to regular celebration, thanksgiving and anticipation. At Grace Downtown’s Vision Brunch, we put all three into practice!

Over a potluck brunch, we’ll celebrate God’s goodness and character, share sto-ries of how he has worked in our lives over the past year, and hear from Grace Downtown leaders about what the year ahead may look like for our community.

All are welcome. If you’re new to the community, it’s a great way to learn more about our church. Grace Downtown members and regular attenders are especially encouraged to attend and participate.

It’s a potluck. Please consider bringing a breakfast or lunch main dish, a side or dessert. Coffee, juice, soda and water will be provided. RSVP on our website.

On our website, look out for the Week of Devotionals and Prayer Guide, available the week of the event!

Grace Downtown 2021 Day of Vision & Prayer BrunchSeptember 11, 202110 am – 1 pmChinese Community Church500 I Street NW Washington, DC

Events & Announcements

Update to Giving PlatformOver the next several weeks we will be transitioning to a new giving platform. If you have had a recurring gift and/or have a PushPay account connected to Grace Downtown, you will receive an email in Septem-ber with details on moving to our new platform, Subsplash. Questions? email accountant@gracedc.netICCM Conference “Journeying Towards Beautiful Community”Join us on October 2nd for ICCM’s inaugural conference, featuring keynote speakers Rev. Dr. Irwyn Ince, Dr. Christina Edmondson, and Dr. Elissa Yukiko Weichbrodt. Register through the ICCM website (https://gracedc.institute)

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Visit downtown.gracedc.net for more information on these events and opportunities to serve or to sign up for our listservs.

Upcoming Events

Kids Promotion Sunday (8/29)

Community Groups Resume (9/7)

Day of Vision & Prayer Brunch (9/11)

ICCM Conference (10/2)

Fall Retreat (11/5-7)

Community Groups - currently on breakThe basic building blocks of our community[Email mazare@gracedc.net for details.]Men’s Same-Sex Attraction GroupMeets bi-weekly[Email baldwinrobert@mac.com for details.]Moms’ Bible StudyMeets Thursday mornings during the school year

Ongoing Groups

We are continuing the process of resuming our broader ministries and will begin scheduling mem-bers for service as ushers and children’s minis-try over the next week. All members are asked to go into CCB and block out your unavailable dates through December 2021.

New and interested in getting involved through ser-vice? Let us know! (office@gracedc.net)

Children’s activities are provided throughout the service. Please check in before the service to get a nametag. Story, play, snack, community - join us for age appropriate interaction. Big Kids will be in the fellowship hall & little kids in the main nursery. Kids can go to their rooms before the service or before the sermon. All kids should be picked up immediately fol-lowing communion.

Volunteer SchedulingChildren’s Ministry

Questions, Notes or Prayer Requests

Please keep prayer requests confidential (elders only)

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Keeping ConnectedWe’d love to get to know you and help you get to know our church. If you’re a visitor, or a member up-dating your information, or a regular attender interest-ed in learning more or sharing a prayer request, please fill out the bottom of this sheet and tear it off. You can place it in the offering basket as it is passed around or turn it in at the Welcome Table after the service.

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Grace DC OnlineSign-up to our digital hub, www.gracedconline.com.CounselingNeed to talk? Book an appointment with staff Counselors Jackie Griffith and Cyndy Lamb on our website.