Sunday, January 16
Second Sunday after Epiphany
Greeting and Announcements
Trinity Chimes
Prelude “Nobody Knows/I Need Thee” Janet Tolman
Call to Worship *based on Psalm 36:5-10
One: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
All: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep;
One: you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
All: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
One: All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
All: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
One: For with you is the fountain of life: in your light we see light.
All: O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!
All: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep;
One: you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
All: How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
One: All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
All: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
One: For with you is the fountain of life: in your light we see light.
All: O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!
Hymn of Praise UMH #103 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” (vs. 1 & 4) ST. DENIO
1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed,
most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
4. Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light; thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see ’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.
all laud we would render: O help us to see ’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.
Words: Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867; Music: Welsh melody from Canaidau y Cyssegr, 1839; adapt. by John Roberts
Scripture
John 2:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 NRSV
One: The word of God for the People of God
All: Thanks be to God!
All: Thanks be to God!
Message The Simple Gift Rev. Beth Rambikur
Musical Response “People Need the Lord” Helson & McHugh
Tom Messmore, solo
Lord’s Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Reception of New Members
Sending Hymn UMH #2243 “We All Are One in Mission” (vs. 1, 2 & 3) KUORTANE
1. We all are one in mission; We all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission compels us from above
to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission compels us from above
to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.
2. We all are called for service, to witness in God’s name.
Our ministries are different; our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others by God’s surprising grace,
so every folk and nation may feel God’s warm embrace.
Our ministries are different; our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others by God’s surprising grace,
so every folk and nation may feel God’s warm embrace.
3. Now let us be united, and let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming Word.
We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming Word.
We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
Words: Rusty Edwards, 1986 Music: Finnish folk melody
Benediction
Rev. Beth Rambikur
Go forth in peace, and grace of Christ, the love of God, and the harmony of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Postlude “Toccata in the Style of Scarlatti” Gordon Young
Postlude “Toccata in the Style of Scarlatti” Gordon Young
Sunday, January 9
First Sunday after Epiphany
Greeting and Announcements
Trinity Chimes
Prelude “The Rejoicing” Charles Callahan
Call to Worship
One: We want to be a part of God’s kingdom.
All: That is why we have come here today.
One: We can learn from one another as we worship together.
All: The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our God and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. Amen.
All: That is why we have come here today.
One: We can learn from one another as we worship together.
All: The kingdom of the world will become the kingdom of our God and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn of Praise UMH #715 “Rejoice, the Lord Is King” (vs. 1 & 3) DARWALL’S 148th
1. Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
mortals, give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
3. His kingdom cannot fail; he rules o’er earth and heaven;
the keys of earth and hell are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
the keys of earth and hell are to our Jesus given.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice; again I say, rejoice.
Words: Charles Wesley, 1746; Music: John Darwall, 1770
Scripture
Psalms 145:9-13; Matthew 13:31-33, 44-49a NRSV
One: The word of God for the People of God
All: Thanks be to God!
Music of Preparation “The Water is Wide” arr. René Clausen
The Chancel Choir
The Chancel Choir
Message Where is the Kingdom of God? Rev. Dr. Don Finch
Musical Response UMH #405 “Seek Ye First” (vs. 1 & 2) SEEK YE
1. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!
1. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!
2. Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek and ye shall find;
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia!
Words and Music: Karen Lafferty, 1972
Lord’s Prayer
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, 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 Hymn UMH #157 “Jesus Shall Reign” (vs. 1, 4 & 5) DUKE STREET
1. Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.
his kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.
4. Blessings abound where’er he reigns; all prisoners leap and loose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.
5. Let every creature rise and bring honors peculiar to our King;
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud amen!
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud amen!
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719 Music: John Hatton, 1793
Benediction
Rev. Dr. Don Finch
Postlude “Trumpet Tune” Charles Callahan
Sunday, January 2
Epiphany Sunday
Greeting and Announcements
Trinity Chimes
Prelude “Hymn for the New Year” arr. James Mansfield
Janet Tolman, organ
Janet Tolman, organ
Call to Worship
*based on Isaiah 60
*based on Isaiah 60
One: Arise, shine; for your light has come,
All: and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
One: For darkness had covered the earth and peoples,
All: But now God’s light has come, shining out in the darkness!
One: So let us lift up our eyes and look around,
All: Let us see and be radiant, so our hearts thrill and rejoice, amen!
All: and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
One: For darkness had covered the earth and peoples,
All: But now God’s light has come, shining out in the darkness!
One: So let us lift up our eyes and look around,
All: Let us see and be radiant, so our hearts thrill and rejoice, amen!
Hymn of Praise UMH #245 “The First Noel” (vs. 1 & 5) THE FIRST NOEL
1. The first Noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel.
5. Then entered in those Wise Men three, full reverently upon the knee,
and offered there, in his presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
and offered there, in his presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
(Refrain)
Words and Music: Traditional English carol; harm. from Christmas Carols New and Old, 1871
Children’s Moment
Scripture
Ephesians 3:5-6, and 19-21 Matthew 2:1-12 NRSV
One: The word of God for the People of God
All: Thanks be to God!
Music of Preparation “Cold December Flies Away” arr. Charles Callahan
Janet Tolman, organ
Janet Tolman, organ
Message Imagination Unbound: God Imagines Us Pastor Beth
Musical Response “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” arr. Wilbur Held
Janet Tolman, organ
Janet Tolman, organ
Communion
UMH #246 “Joy to the World” GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader: Behold Christ is born among us!
All: Christ is among us indeed!
Leader: Let us sing with Joy our praises!
All: We sing for Joy to the World!
Sing: Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Leader: God you have come among us, our Emmanuel, all creation reveals your glory, as Christ reveals your grace and love, your hope moving among us, giving us new life. And so with all your people on earth and the vast company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn singing:
Sing: Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Leader: From his first moments on earth swaddled and resting in a manger to his final moments speaking comfort to criminals from the cross, Jesus’ life was one of embracing all people, and teaching the transformative power of compassion. Today as we celebrate the light of Christ’s life, we remember the way Jesus gathered his disciples on his final night.
Sitting with friends and family, just as we are seated among friends and family today, he took bread, gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples saying, “take eat, this is new life given for you, every time you eat remember me and be filled with joy for what God is doing”.
When the supper was over Jesus took the cup, gave thanks to God, and offered it to each of his disciples saying, “tonight we seal the new covenant, a covenant of compassion and salvation for all people, every time you drink, drink deeply and know the love of God.”
And so, in remembrance of these mighty acts of grace, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a joyful and life filled gift in union with God’s work in Jesus Christ as we sing thanks for the mystery of faith:
Sing: No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; he comes to make God’s blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.
The Spirit of Love is pouring out over each of us and over these gifts of food and drink, just as the starlight of long ago poured out guiding wise men and wanderers to see the sleeping child whose love would change the world. Today, let our wonder unite us, let our hope empower us, and let our joy overflow until all the world knows what God has done for Love.
Sing: God rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of God’s righteousness, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders of God’s love, and wonders, wonders of God’s love.
Communion Hymn UMH #242 “Love Came Down at Christmas” (vs. 1 & 3) GARTAN
(Please eat and drink in remembrance now)
(Please eat and drink in remembrance now)
1. Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
Love was born at Christmas; star and angels gave the sign.
3. Love shall be our token; love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.
love to God and all men, love for plea and gift and sign.
Words: Christina G. Rossetti, 1885; Music: harm. by permission of Oxford University Press
Lord’s Prayer
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, 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 Hymn UMH #254 “We Three Kings” (vs. 1 & 5) KINGS OF ORIENT
1. We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
5. Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
(Refrain)
Words: John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1857 Music: John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1857
Benediction
Pastor Beth
May God, who is beyond time, walk each moment by our side giving us peace, hope, joy, and love, lighting our way through Christ and filling us with life abundant in the Holy Spirit, amen.
Postlude “A Joyous Acclamation” Lani Smith
Janet Tolman, organ
Janet Tolman, organ
