Worship Service Bulletin

A Service for the Lord’s Day

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

(*Please stand in body or in spirit)

The Instrumental Prelude and Time for Meditation

Announcements, Rev. Hana Elliott

Celebrations and the Birthday Song,

  Happy birthday, happy birthday, your friends are all singing.

May the year that is coming bring gladness to you.

   May it teach you to be helpful, kindhearted, and loving.

     Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

*Call to Worship: (1)

Leader: O God, you called us by name to come, and we respond with delight and gladness.

People: In joyful obedience, we come to worship our God.

Leader: Rising our of the depths of despair, we gratefully gather for worship.

People: In joyful hope, we come to worship our loving God.

Leader: Our God had given us a new song of praise to sing to our Awesome God!

People: In joyful trust, we come to worship our God. Amen.

*Hymn #46 “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

*Call to Confession:

Ever dependent on the grace of God, let us affirm our brokenness and trust God’s goodness to carry us through to a new day, with a new name, and a new song. Let us confess our sin, first in silence, and then aloud together.

*Prayer of Confession, In Unison

(Begin with individual silent prayer before joining in unison)

God of our baptismal waters,

You sent the Baptist to point to your Son.

But too often, we abandon his message and point only to ourselves.

We point to our worship preferences rather than the God we worship.

We point to our status rather than the grace that makes us all equal.

We point to our values rather than the One who has always valued everyone.

We point to our traditions rather than to the One who calls us to let go.

We point to our past rather than to the One who calls us into the future.

Forgive us, Lord, for pointing in all the wrong directions.

Forgive us when we do not wait patiently for your direction.

Through the power of your Spirit, give us the courage to speak what we have seen and point to the One who takes away the sins of the world.

*Assurance of Forgiveness:

Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that we are forgiven and be at peace. Thanks be to God!

*The Gloria #108, In Unison

  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

*Passing of the Peace:

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:

Let us pray together: Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove: Open our ears to the truth of your word, that the testimony of Christ may be strengthened among us and the glad news of deliverance revealed. Amen.

First Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-19 (pg. 1782)

Second Scripture Reading: John 1:29-42 (pg. 1658)

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord

People: Let our thanks and praise be to God!

Children’s Message: Blake Burch

Sermon:

*Hymn #205 “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners”

*Affirmation of Faith,(3)

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen.

Call to Offering:

Through steadfast love and faithful care, God enriches us in every way. Therefore, do not delay! Let us offer to God ourselves this day, all that we have and all that we are, in praise and love of Christ.

Offering,

Monetary gifts may be placed in the offering plates as they are passed among the pews.

*Doxology #109

  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 Dedication

Let us Pray: We give you thanks, O loving God, that you have placed in the hearts of your faithful people the gift of generosity and the desire to do your will. Use these gifts to proclaim good news to every nation and restore all people to Christ. Amen.

Prayers of the People (4)

….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.

Choral Response

  Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord,

Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen

*Hymn #454 “He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought”

*Charge & Blessing, (5)

*Choral Response: “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” (Insert)

  Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.

Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.

   Here my Spirit’s power filled you;

    here my tender comfort stilled you.

       Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.

*The Choral Amen,

  Amen,   Amen,   Amen.

 (1) © 2011 Joan Stott ‘-The Timeless Psalms ‘RCL Psalms Year A. Used with permission.

(2) adapted from Stephen Fearing, http://www.stephenmfearing.com/.

 (3) Philippians 2:5-11

(4) © Presbyterian Outlook, 2026; written by Stephanie Sorge, adapted.

 (5) http://www.minnistrymatters.com/worship/article/entry4549/worship-connection-january-12-2014.