January 26, 2020

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

Please be mindful of your volume during the Prelude as we prepare for worship together.

PRELUDE Sonata in C Major (Movement I)   W. A. Mozart

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

       *PASSING OF THE PEACE

       *Sanctus

(Choir sings first time; congregation joins second time)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

*CALL TO WORSHIP  Margret Dougherty

Arise, shine, for your light has come!

The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.

Let us praise the Lord together.

The sun shall no longer be our light by day,

nor will the brightness of the moon shine on us,

for the Lord will be our light,

and our God will be our glory.

The Lord will be our everlasting light,

and our days of sorrow will end.

Come, let us sing to our light and salvation!

HYMN No. 2  Holy, Holy Holy! Lord God Almighty

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Loving God,

In Jesus Christ, your kingdom has drawn near and you have called us to repent.

Turn our hearts and minds back to you.

In Jesus Christ, your light has dawned on all of creation.

Forgive us when we choose to walk in the darkness.

In Jesus Christ, you call the nations to come and worship you.

Forgive us when we restrict access to you and your grace.

In Jesus Christ, you loosen the bonds of injustice and set your people free.

Forgive us when our actions harm and oppress.

In Jesus Christ, your good and perfect law is fulfilled.

Forgive us when we fail to live according to your will.

(Prayers of Silent Confession)

Kyrie (sung):

Choral Leader: Lord, have mercy.

Congregation: Lord, have mercy.

 Christ, have mercy.

 Christ, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE

Hear these words of Jesus:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid.

What does the LORD ask of us?

To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

JUNIOR SERMON

(Following the Junior Sermon, the children are dismissed to Children at Worship. They can be picked up there following the worship service in Room 2D.)

ANTHEM  Bless the Lord, O My Soul   M. Ippolitof-Ivanof

Bless the Lord, O my soul, blessed art Thou, O Lord;

Bless the Lord, O my soul, Bless the Lord 

and forget not all His benefits.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 

and all that is within me, bless His holy Name.

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;

who crowneth thee with loving kindness.

He will not always chide:

neither will He keep His anger forever.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 

and all that is within me bless His holy Name.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Response          Hear Our Prayer, O Heavenly Father

Hear our prayer, O heavenly Father,

for the dear Redeemer's sake. Amen.

*HYMN No. 512                                            At The Cross

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

God of light:

I delight to do your will; may your word dwell within our hearts.

I desire to see your face: reveal yourself to us today.
I want to hear your voice: speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 9:1-4                                                                     p.555

1 Corinthians 1:10-18                                                       p.926

       This is the Word of the Lord.

       Thanks be to God.

SERMON      Seeing Others in the Light    Rev. Blaine

Crawford

CONFESSION OF FAITH

*HYMN No. 689       The Church’s One Foundation(v. 1)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory            

The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune       R. Vaughan Williams

All people that on earth do dwell,

sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;

Him serve with joy His praise forth tell,

Come ye before Him, and rejoice

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed,

Without our aid He did us make;

We are his folk, he doth us feed,

And for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,

Approach with joy his courts unto;

Praise, laud, and bless his name always,

For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good:

His mercy is forever sure;

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

The God whom heaven and earth adore,

From men and from the angel host

Be praise and glory forever more. Amen.

*Doxology (pew card)

*Prayer of Dedication

*HYMN No. 50      Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound

*BENEDICTION

       Response     The Lord Bless you and Keep You

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord give his countenance upon you,

and give you peace.

The Lord make his face to shine upon you

and be gracious unto you. Amen.    

POSTLUDE

Improvisation on Amazing Grace Sean Cotty             

All are invited to join us downstairs

For coffee hour following worship.

____________________________________________________________

Announcements

CHILDREN AT WORSHIP

Children at Worship is a spiritual formation program for children ages 4-9. Children are dismissed following the Junior Sermon and may be picked up from Classroom 2D after the service. There will be no Children at Worship today. It will be offered again on January 26.

 

BIBLE STUDY

Bible study will start again on January 21 with a study on the parables of Jesus! The Bible study meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.

 

AFTER-WORSHIP WORKSHOPS

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation when you never say what you actually think or feel? Have you found yourself in a conversation so wrought with emotion that you had to step away? How can we have the conversations that really matter to us in a way that both parties are actually heard? The Churches Learning Change team will be hosting workshops on crucial conversations on February 2 and February 9 beginning at 12:30 p.m. The sessions will be about 45 minutes. All are invited to join in these workshops that will meet in the Music Room.

 

SOUPER BOWL OF CARING

Next Sunday, January 26th through Sunday, February 2nd we will be collecting donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring! All monetary donations will go to the Greenpoint Reformed Church food pantry and soup kitchen. All canned goods will go to the Queens Federation of Churches. Join us as we tackle hunger!

 

WOMEN’S SHELTER VOLUNTEERS

Every Friday, we house up to ten women in Gessner Hall. We need volunteers to greet, to provide food and hospitality, and to stay overnight. We are especially in need of overnight chaperones. Sign up on our website or speak with our Women’s Shelter coordinator, Maureen Saepia-Chen, following the service

 

FOOD FOR KIDS

School’s back in session which means that our Food for Kids ministry is back in full swing. Each week, bags of food are delivered to a local school to give to children who might be at risk of hunger over the weekend.

We are seeking donations of the following items on a regular basis:

·       1lb. white rice

·       1 can beans (red or black)

·       2 cans vegetables

·       1 can fruit

·       1lb. box of pasta

·       1 can pasta sauce

·       1 box mac & cheese

·       1 box cereal

·       *1 jar peanut butter

·       *1 jar jelly

*The jars of peanut butter and jelly must be plastic containers.

OFFICE CLOSINGS IN JANUARY

The Church office will be closed on Monday, January 20th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 21st.

OFFERING ENVELOPES

2020 Offering Envelopes are located in the back of the sanctuary for pickup.

COMMUNITY YOGA

Join us in Gessner Hall for free yoga on Wednesday evenings at 7:30p.m. If you would like to join the yoga email list, please contact the church office at office@churchonthehill.org. The class is open to all ability levels and mats are available for use.

BARGAIN BOUTIQUE

The Boutique is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Please bring your donations to the basement during these hours.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Prayer Requests

JOHN BABINSKY

DIANE BLAGBURN

LILLIAN CALFA

DAVID CERQUEIRA

GRACINDA CERQUEIRA

JOSE CERQUEIRA

MARILYN COONEY

EDWARD COTTY

ROSINA CUTICONE

LOWELL FEWSTER

FROCIONE FAMILY

BROOKE GRAFFEO

JAYNE HALLEY

MIKE HENRY

HOTCHKISS FAMILY

JANE LYNCH

JORGE & TIFFANY MARTINEZ

JEAN MENDLER

RUBEN MUNOZ

THE FAMILY OF JOAN PEARSON

DIANE THORP

JOE THORSEN

CHRISTIE TWEED

ALISON VENABLE

SANDY WESTON

MAYA YANIK

January 19, 2020

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

Please be mindful of your volume during the Prelude as we prepare for worship together.

PRELUDE Prelude in C     J.S.Bach

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

       *PASSING OF THE PEACE

       *Sanctus

(Choir sings first time; congregation joins second time)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

*CALL TO WORSHIP                               Sue Nicholas

Arise, shine, for your light has come!

The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.

Let us praise the Lord together.

The sun shall no longer be our light by day,

nor will the brightness of the moon shine on us,

for the Lord will be our light,

and our God will be our glory.

The Lord will be our everlasting light,

and our days of sorrow will end.

Come, let us sing to our light and salvation!

*HYMN No. 376   We Gather Together

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Loving God,

In Jesus Christ, your kingdom has drawn near and you have called us to repent.

Turn our hearts and minds back to you.

In Jesus Christ, your light has dawned on all of creation.

Forgive us when we choose to walk in the darkness.

In Jesus Christ, you call the nations to come and worship you.

Forgive us when we restrict access to you and your grace.

In Jesus Christ, you loosen the bonds of injustice and set your people free.

Forgive us when our actions harm and oppress.

In Jesus Christ, your good and perfect law is fulfilled.

Forgive us when we fail to live according to your will.

(Prayers of Silent Confession)

Kyrie (sung):

Choral Leader: Lord, have mercy.

Congregation: Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE

Hear these words of Jesus:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid.

What does the LORD ask of us?

To do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

JUNIOR SERMON

(Following the Junior Sermon, children are invited to remain in the sanctuary for worship. There is no Children at Worship today.)

ANTHEM    On Eagle's Wings Michael Joncas

And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,

bear you on the breath of dawn,

make you to shine like the sun,

and hold you in the palm of His hand.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,

who abide in His shadow for life,

Say to the Lord: "My refuge,

my rock in whom I trust!"

You need not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day;

Though thousands fall about you,

near you it shall not come.

For to His angels He's given a command

to guard you in all of your ways;

Upon their hands they will bear you up,

lest you dash your foot against a stone.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

Response                   All Things Come of Thee, O Lord

All things come of thee, O Lord

and of thine own have we given thee.          

*HYMN No. 594          Like a River Glorious 

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

God of light:

I delight to do your will; may your word dwell within our hearts.

I desire to see your face: reveal yourself to us today.
I want to hear your voice: speak, O Lord, for your servants are listening.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 49:1-7                                        p.592

1 Corinthians 1:1-9                           p.926

       This is the Word of the Lord.

       Thanks be to God.

SERMON   Seen in the Light  Rev. Blaine Crawford

CONFESSION OF FAITH

*HYMN No. 60     Great is Thy Faithfulness (v. 1)

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory      The New 23rd  Ralph Carmichael

Because the Lord is my shepherd,

I have everything that I need.

He lets me rest in meadows green

and leads me beside the quiet stream:

He keeps on giving life to me

and helps me to do what honors Him the most.

Even when walking through the dark valley of death,

I will never be afraid,

for he is close beside me,

guarding, guiding all the way,

He spreads a feast before me

in the presence of my enemies

He welcomes me as His special guest 

with blessing overflowing.

His goodness and unfailing kindness

shall be with me all of my life,

and afterwards I will live with Him,

Forever and ever, in His home.

*Doxology (pew card)

*Prayer of Dedication

*HYMN No. 27            O Splendor of God's Glory Bright

*BENEDICTION

Response                  For the Life That You Have Given

For the life that you have given, 

for the love in Christ made known,

with these fruits of time and labor, 

with these gifts that are your own:

here we offer, Lord, our praises;

heart and mind and strength we bring;

give us grace to love and serve you,

living what we pray and sing. 

POSTLUDE            Fugue in c-minor   Mendelssohn

 

All are invited to join us downstairs

For coffee hour following worship.

—————————————————————————————

Announcements

Children at Worship

Children at Worship is a spiritual formation program for children ages 4-9. Children are dismissed following the Junior Sermon and may be picked up from Classroom 2D after the service. There will be no Children at Worship today. It will be offered again on January 26.

 

Bible Study

Bible study will start again on January 21 with a study on the parables of Jesus! The Bible study meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.

 

After-Worship Workshops

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation when you never say what you actually think or feel? Have you found yourself in a conversation so wrought with emotion that you had to step away? How can we have the conversations that really matter to us in a way that both parties are actually heard? The Churches Learning Change team will be hosting workshops on crucial conversations on February 2 and February 9 beginning at 12:30 p.m. The sessions will be about 45 minutes. All are invited to join in these workshops that will meet in the Music Room.

 

Souper Bowl of Caring

Next Sunday, January 26th through Sunday, February 2nd we will be collecting donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring! All monetary donations will go to the Greenpoint Reformed Church food pantry and soup kitchen. All canned goods will go to the Queens Federation of Churches. Join us as we tackle hunger!

 

Women’s Shelter Volunteers

Every Friday, we house up to ten women in Gessner Hall. We need volunteers to greet, to provide food and hospitality, and to stay overnight. We are especially in need of overnight chaperones. Sign up on our website or speak with our Women’s Shelter coordinator, Maureen Saepia-Chen, following the service

 

Food for Kids

School’s back in session which means that our Food for Kids ministry is back in full swing. Each week, bags of food are delivered to a local school to give to children who might be at risk of hunger over the weekend.

We are seeking donations of the following items on a regular basis:

·       1lb. white rice

·       1 can beans (red or black)

·       2 cans vegetables

·       1 can fruit

·       1lb. box of pasta

·       1 can pasta sauce

·       1 box mac & cheese

·       1 box cereal

·       *1 jar peanut butter

·       *1 jar jelly

*The jars of peanut butter and jelly must be plastic containers.

Office Closings in January

The Church office will be closed on Monday, January 20th in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 21st.

Offering Envelopes

2020 Offering Envelopes are located in the back of the sanctuary for pickup.

Community Yoga

Join us in Gessner Hall for free yoga on Wednesday evenings at 7:30p.m. If you would like to join the yoga email list, please contact the church office at office@churchonthehill.org. The class is open to all ability levels and mats are available for use.

Bargain Boutique

The Boutique is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. Please bring your donations to the basement during these hours.

——————————————————————————————————————————

Prayer Requests

John Babinsky

Diane Blagburn

Lillian Calfa

David Cerqueira

Gracinda Cerqueira

Jose Cerqueira

Marilyn Cooney

Edward Cotty

Rosina Cuticone

Lowell Fewster

Frocione Family

Brooke Graffeo

Jayne Halley

Mike Henry

Hotchkiss Family

Jane Lynch

Jorge & Tiffany Martinez

Jean Mendler

Ruben Munoz

the family of Joan Pearson

Diane Thorp

Joe Thorsen

Christie Tweed

Alison Venable

Sandy Weston

Maya Yanik

January 12, 2020

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

Please be mindful of your volume during the Prelude as we prepare for worship together.

 

PRELUDE                    The Sunken Cathedral                   Debussy

 

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

       *PASSING OF THE PEACE

       *Sanctus

(Choir sings first time; congregation joins second time)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                         Bob White

Arise, shine, for your light has come!

The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.

Let us praise the Lord together.

The sun shall no longer be our light by day,

nor will the brightness of the moon shine on us,

for the Lord will be our light,

and our God will be our glory.

The Lord will be our everlasting light,

and our days of sorrow will end.

Come, let us sing to our light and salvation!

 

HYMN No. 185                                  We Three Kings of Orient Are

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty and merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned

against you and one another

in both our actions and our inactions.

We recognize that in Jesus Christ our light has come,

yet often we choose to walk in shadows and ignore the light.

Gracious God, forgive our sins and remove from us

the veil of darkness that shrouds our lives.

(Prayers of Silent Confession)

Kyrie (sung):

Choral Leader: Lord, have mercy.

 Congregation: Lord, have mercy.

 Christ, have mercy.

 Christ, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE

The true light that gives light to everyone

was coming into the world.

To all who have received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others,

that they may see our good works and give glory to God in heaven!

 

JUNIOR SERMON

 

ANTHEM                     We Have Seen His Star        Everett Titcomb

We have seen His star, 

His star in the East,

and are come with our offerings 

to worship the Lord.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

       Lord’s Prayer (pew card)

       Response                                      Let the Words of My Mouth

Let the words of my mouth 

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in thy sight, 

O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Amen.

 

*HYMN No.181                                  As with Gladness Men of Old

 

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Almighty Father,

in the glorious incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ,

you have sent a new light into the world;

give us grace, that we may so receive the same light

into our hearts as to be guided

by it into the way of everlasting salvation,

through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 60:1-6                                                             p.602

Matthew 2:1-12                                                      pp. 783-784

       This is the Word of the Lord.

       Thanks be to God.

 

SERMON              Drawn to the Light          Rev. Blaine Crawford

 

CONFESSION OF FAITH

*Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

 

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory                     Come to My Heart                     Timothy R. Matthews

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown

When Thou cadets to earth for me;

But in Bethlehem's home there was found no room 

for Thy holy nativity:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,

proclaiming Thy royal degree;

But in lowly birth thou didst come to earth,

and in great humility:

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,

there is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heavens shall ring and the angels sing

at Thy coming victory,

Let Thy voice call me home, saying,

"Yet there is room, there is room at My side for Thee."

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,

When Thou comest and callest for me!

Come to my heart; there is room for Thee.

Come to my heart.

 

*HYMN No. 186                              Wise Men, They Came to Look

 

*BENEDICTION

       Response                      May the Grace of Christ Our Savior      

May the grace of Christ our Savior 

and the Father's boundless love,

with the Holy Spirit's favor,

rest upon us from above.

Amen.

 

POSTLUDE          Improvisation on "Kings of Orient"              Sean Cotty

 

Announcements

Children at Worship

Children at Worship is a spiritual formation program for children ages 4-9. Children are dismissed following the Junior Sermon and may be picked up from Classroom 2D after the service. There will be no Children at Worship on January 19. 

Bible Study

Bible study will start again on January 21 with a study on the parables of Jesus! The Bible study meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.

 

After-Worship Workshops

The Churches Learning Change team will be hosting two more workshops on February 2 and February 9 beginning at 12:30 p.m. Last fall, the CLC team taught us about anxiety and our responses to it. This winter, they will be leading workshops about identifying and moving towards God’s emerging future in our lives and what helps us get there (and what gets in the way).

 

Women’s Shelter Volunteers
Every Friday, we house up to ten women in Gessner Hall. We need volunteers to greet, to provide food and hospitality, and to stay overnight. Sign up on our website or speak with our Women’s Shelter coordinator, Maureen Saepia-Chen, following the service

 

Food for Kids

School’s back in session which means that our Food for Kids ministry is back in full swing. Each week, bags of food are delivered to a local school to give to children who might be at risk of hunger over the weekend.

We are seeking donations of the following items on a regular basis:

·   1lb. white rice

·       1 can beans (red or black)

·       2 cans vegetables

·       1 can fruit

·       1lb. box of pasta

·       1 can pasta sauce

·       1 box mac & cheese

·       1 box cereal

·       *1 jar peanut butter

·       *1 jar jelly

*The jars of peanut butter and jelly must be plastic containers.

Office Closings in January

The Church office will be closed on Monday, January 20th.

 

Offering Envelopes

2020 Offering Envelopes are located in the back of the Sanctuary for pickup.

 

Community Yoga

The Winter/Spring session of Community Yoga will be beginning on Wednesday, January 15th at 7:30 p.m.

 

Bargain Boutique

The Boutique is open and will be following a normal schedule, Thursdays and Saturdays, 10 a.m to 1 p.m.

January 5, 2020

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

* Congregation stands

BOLD – Congregation responds

Please be mindful of your volume during the Prelude as we prepare for worship together.

 

PRELUDE                                    Organ Sonata No. 1 –Andante Sostenuto                           Felix Mendelssohn

 

SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

       *PASSING OF THE PEACE

       *Gloria Patri (pew card)

      

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                      Ray Durney

(Based on Isaiah 42:1-9)

Thus, says the LORD God,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

“I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness. I have taken you by the hand and kept you. I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations:

To open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the LORD, that is my name.

See, the former things have come to pass and new things I now declare.

 

*HYMN No. 169                                        Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God,

in baptism you grafted us into the body of Christ,

promising us forgiveness of sin and newness of life.

But we fail to live as forgiven people.

We keep destructive habits and hold grudges.

We allow our past to hold us hostage

and are reluctant to welcome newness.

In your loving-kindness

have mercy on us and free us from sin.

Remind us of the promises you have made to us in baptism

so that we may live as your people,

claimed in the waters of promise.

(Prayers of Silent Confession)

Kyrie (sung):

Choral Leader: Lord, have mercy.

 Congregation: Lord, have mercy.

 Christ, have mercy.

 Christ, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

 Lord, have mercy.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON/WISDOM FOR LIFE

(Based on Acts 10:34-43)

God shows no partiality.

In every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ.

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power;

How he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil;

For God was with him.

And God is with you.

Everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name!

Glory be to Christ!

 

JUNIOR SERMON

 

MUSICAL SOLO          If With All Your Hearts      Felix Mendelssohn

     Soloist – Glenn Alamilla

If with all your hearts ye truly seek me,
ye shall ever surely find me.
Thus saith our God.
Oh! that I knew where I might find Him, that I might even come before His presence! "If with all your hearts ye truly seek me,
ye shall ever surely find me." Thus saith our God.

 

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Presentation of Avery Lee Crawford

 

*Profession of Faith

Do you promise to love, encourage, and support these brothers and sisters by teaching the gospel of God’s love, by being an example of Christian faith and character, and by giving the strong support of God’s family in fellowship, prayer, and service? We do.

 

The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

 

The Baptismal Covenant

 

Welcome

Let us welcome the newly baptized.

With joy and thanksgiving

we welcome you into Christ’s church

to share with us in his ministry,

for we are all one in Christ.

 

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Glory be to you, O God, 

whom we worship in awe and wonder.

You are the author of all beginnings

and all that is pronounced “good.”

In you both day and night have purpose,

both calm and storm have meaning.

Open the eyes of our imagination,

that we may be ready to receive your gifts

and discern your activity in our midst.

In the name of Jesus,

in whose baptism we too are baptized. Amen

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Psalm 29                                                                           p. 438

Matthew 3:13-17                                                           pp. 784-785

       This is the Word of the Lord.

       Thanks be to God.

 

SERMON                 Anointed For Service       Rev. Blaine Crawford

 

CONFESSION OF FAITH

*The Apostles’ Creed (pew card)

 

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

Offertory               Say Where Is He Born and There Shall A Star                     Felix Mendelssohn

Soloist - Glenn Alamilla

When Jesus, Our Lord, was born in Bethlehem, 

in the land of Judea;

behold, from the east to the city of Jerusalem 

there came wise men, and said:

Say, where is He born, the King of Judea?

For we have seen His star,

and are come to adore Him.

There shall a Star from Jacob come forth,

And a Sceptre from Israel rise up,

And dash in pieces princes and nations.

As bright the star of morning gleams,

So Jesus sheddeth glorious beams

Of light and consolation!

Thy Word, O Lord, radiance darting,

Truth imparting, gives salvation;

Thine be praise and adoration!                                                                                         

*Doxology

*Prayer of Dedication

 

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

       *Communion Hymn                                                                                Draw Near

Draw near, draw near! Take the body of your Lord.

Draw near, draw near! Drink the blood for you outpoured.

 

Let us approach with faithful hearts sincere,

and take the pledges of salvation here:

Christ who in this life all the saints defend,

gives all believers life that never ends.

 

With heavenly bread make those who hunger whole,

gives living waters to the thirsting soul:

Judge of the nations, to whom all must bow,

in this great feast of love is with us now.

 

Invitation

Communion Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

Sanctus:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

 

Mystery of the Faith:

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Words of Institution

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Lord’s Prayer (pew card)                                                      

 

*HYMN No. 150                                                What Child Is This?

 

*BENEDICTION                       

 

POSTLUDE                                        Improvisation on What Child Is This?            Sean Cotty

Announcements

Children at Worship

Children at Worship is a spiritual formation program for children ages 4-9. Children are dismissed following the Junior Sermon and may be picked up from Classroom 2D after the service. Children at Worship will restart on January 12. Until then, children are invited to remain in the sanctuary for worship.

 

Bible Study

Adult Bible Study has concluded for 2019. Bible study will start again on January 21 with a study on the parables of Jesus! The Bible study meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.

Women’s Shelter Volunteers
Every Friday, we house up to ten women in Gessner Hall. We need volunteers to greet, to provide food and hospitality, and to stay overnight. Sign up on our website or speak with our Women’s Shelter coordinator, Maureen Saepia-Chen, following the service

Food for Kids

School’s back in session which means that our Food for Kids ministry is back in full swing. Each week, bags of food are delivered to a local school to give to children who might be at risk of hunger over the weekend.

We are seeking donations of the following items on a regular basis:

·       1lb. white rice

·       1 can beans (red or black)

·       2 cans vegetables

·       1 can fruit

·       1lb. box of pasta

·       1 can pasta sauce

·       1 box mac & cheese

·       1 box cereal

·       *1 jar peanut butter

·       *1 jar jelly

*The jars of peanut butter and jelly must be plastic containers.