An Open and Affirming Beloved Faith Community. Second Sunday after the Epiphany. Our Calling

Transcription

1 An Open and Affirming Beloved Faith Community Welcoming and Inclusive Theologically Progressive Second Sunday after the Epiphany Our Calling

2 The Lord's Day Second Sunday after the Epiphany Our Calling Ten O'clock in the Morning The Worship of God THE SERVICE OF PREPARATION Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of the conscience by God's holiness; the nourishment of the mind with God's truth; the purifying of the imagination by God's beauty; the opening of the heart to God's love; the surrender of the will to God's purpose and all of this gathered up in adoration. ~ William Temple Prologue Our lections for today each offer the reminder that all of us, in our own uniquely special way, are called. "No matter who we are or where we are on life's journey" the still speaking God continues to call to us, calling us out with something specifically in mind for each and everyone of us. We all have a purpose, a calling, and it may take all of a lifetime to even begin to figure out what that calling might be. In the Witness from the Hebrew scriptures and from the Gospels, the writers of I Samuel and the Gospel of John describe the call of Samuel and the call of Philip, one of Jesus' twelve disciples. Today's texts are all about Calling out the Called. It is not only a matter of our calling, but is also a matter of our discerning the voice of the holy and still speaking Spirit and the response we will give as we answer our own unique, our specific and special call. The Gathering Music The Call to Worship and Welcome The Spirit of the still speaking God be with you! And also with you. The Music for Organ The Lighting of the Altar Candles The Opening of the Lectern Bible The Gathering Minister to the Lord with all your being! Declare your presence with words and songs and acts of praise! In the midst of the congregation, may all our voices proclaim, Here I am! Listen for the voice of the Holy! Listen for the call of God in our lives! Come and see and know God in this place! Let none of our words fall to the ground this day, but reach to the highest heavens! That our words and songs and acts of praise might tingle the ears of the One who raises us to a new awareness of all that is possible with God! Let us worship God.

3 The Choral Introit Lead Me, Lord Samuel S. Wesley Chancel Choir Lead me, Lord, lead me in Your righteousness: make Your way plain before my face. For it is You, Lord, You, Lord, only, that makes me dwell in safety. The Collect Calling God, we have gathered in this place to render praise to the One who has formed each one of us, who knows us intimately, and has uniquely called each one of us in our own way to follow in the ways of the Holy; we thank You for Your special call to each and everyone person You call Your own; open the heavens before us this day, O God, that we might see Your glory and know that You are God; speak to us and make us attentive to Your voice; we are listening; let none of our words fall to the ground, but reach to the highest heavens; accept our offerings of worship, that we might glorify the One who raises us as children of the Most High; all this we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the holy and still speaking Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. t The Processional Hymn THE SERVICE OF PRAISE Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing NETTLETON 2

4 t The Litany of Praise Calling God, You have searched us and known us, knowing when we sit down and when we we rise rise up! up! The Holy One discerns our thoughts from far away, searching out our paths, acquainted with all our ways. Even before a word is on our tongues, the Holy One knows it completely. God is all around us, behind and before us! The hand of God is upon us! Such knowledge is too wonderful for us! It is so far beyond our wildest imagination that we we cannot cannot even even begin begin to comprehend to comprehend it. it! How amazing to know that it was the Holy One who formed our inward parts, who knit us together in our mother s womb. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, secretly and intricately woven in the depths of the earth. The eyes of God beheld our unformed substance, all our days written down before they ever existed. How weighty are these thoughts, how vast their sum! They are more than sand! We come to the end, knowing God is still with us! Praise the Lord! t The Gloria GREATOREX 3

5 The Call to Confession 1 We can hide nothing from God, for the Holy One knows our every thought. God is aware of the faults and failures we have not recognized in our lives. Whenever we have broken a solemn trust, whenever we have acted on selfish impulse, whenever we have trampled the feelings of others or ignored their need, God has noticed. We cannot be right with God unless we examine ourselves and repent. In the silence and stillness of these moments, let us confess before the Holy. The Silent Confession The Corporate Confession 2 THE SERVICE OF CONFESSION Let us pray to the Lord: O God, our lives are an open book to You. Help us to recognize in ourselves what You have seen there. Remove the distortions that keep us from acknowledging our faults and failures. Awaken in us a sorrow over the wrong we have done and the good we have neglected. Create in us an earnest desire to change, for we are acutely aware and painfully in touch with the pain we have caused and the pain within us. Continually call out to us, O God, enabling us to face and overcome all that diminishes our humanity. The Kyrie arr. David N. Johnson The Assurance of Pardon 3 Beloved faith community, hear the good news. God has heard your cries and felt your pain. Your struggles to know yourself are prompted by God's love. God leads the beloved faith community beyond what is lawful to what is holy. We are glad to claim that we are not our own, but proud members of Christ. We are one in the holy and still speaking Spirit. By God's grace, we are turning from self-serving ways to selfless ministries. Above all else, we who were bought with a price seek to honor and glorify God. Thanks be to God! 4

6 THE SERVICE OF THE WORD The Witness from the Hebrew Scriptures I SAMUEL 3:1-10 (11-20) Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But He said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if He calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Your servant is listening." Listen to what the Spirit of the still speaking God is saying. Thanks be to God! HYFRYDOL The Response, PSALM 139:1-6, You, O Lord, Have Searched and Known Me 5

7 The Witness from the Epistles I CORINTHIANS 6:12-20 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, "The two shall be one flesh." But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. Listen to what the Spirit of the still speaking God is saying. Thanks be to God! The Sequence Hymn Jesus Calls Us GALILEE There will be a break between verses three and four for the reading of the first Gospel. The reading of the Gospel is read in the midst of the beloved faith community, reminding the congregation that the Gospel is for all people, and that our call is to carry out its witness in the world. At this high point in the liturgy, the Gospel is not 6

8 that our call is to carry out its witness in the world. At this high point in the liturgy, the Gospel is not worshipped, but rather is reverenced with respect as it proclaims the ministry and mission of Jesus, represented in words attributed to Jesus. t The Witness from the Gospels JOHN 1:43-51 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, He said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked Him, "Where did you come to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And He said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." The Gospel for today. Thanks be to God! The Sermon Calling Out the Called! THE SERVICE OF COMMITMENT Timothy W. Shirley t The Hymn of Commitment Be Thou My Vision SLANE 7

9 t The Peace The peace of Christ always be with you. And also with you. The Concerns of the Church The Pastoral Prayer The Receiving of Our Gifts The Offertory Jo Prater, Moderator Precious Lord, Take My Hand Chancel Choir Thomas A. Dorsey Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light; take my hand precious Lord, lead me home. When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near; When my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call; Hold my hand lest I fall; take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. t The Doxology OLD HUNDREDTH t The Presentation of Our Gifts t The Prayer of Thanksgiving THE SERVICE OF DISCIPLESHIP t The Processional Hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing 8 LIFT EVERY VOICE

10 t The Benediction The Closing of the Lectern Bible The Extinguishing of the Altar Candles The Music for Organ t Those who are able are invited to stand. The Worship of God concludes with The Music for Organ. We invite you to be seated and reflect on today s service, preparing to process into the world, sharing the love of Jesus and the "extravagant welcome" of SouthShore United Church of Christ with everyone you meet. The congregation processes into the world to share the love of Christ and the "extravagant welcome" of SouthShore United Church of Christ with all persons everywhere. The color for the Season after Pentecost is Green, symbolizing the growth and development of the Church. Various symbols of the Trinity, such as the Trefoil and Triangle designs used in our sanctuary, remind us of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the Triune nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Parent, Child, Advocate and Comforter; Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. 9

11 Worship Notes: The theme for today's worship service is Our Calling. * Scripture readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) unless otherwise noted. Music Copyright Information: You, O Lord, Have Searched Me and Known Me from The Psalter for Christian Worship, Witherspoon Press. Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us. Text 1974 and 1992, Presbyterian Publishing/Westminster John Knox/Geneva Press. Be Thou My Vision. Music Harmonized 1927 from the Revised Church Hymnary. Used y persmission of Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A All rights reserved. CCLI License # An Invitation to Our Guests: Please join us for refreshments at Coffee Hour in Hospitality Hall following Morning Worship. SUNDAY ~ JANUARY 14, 2018 LITURGIST ~ Mark Vietzke LECTOR ~ Marianne Strehar GOSPELER ~ Timothy W. Shirley ORGANIST ~ Ryan Hebert HOSTS ~ Betsy Hinderliter, Coordinator Patty Brandt Karl Buffington Jeanne Domonkos Don Hinderliter Larry Piechoski Bob Reter DEACONS ~ Marcia Crispino, Chair USHERS ~ Jeff Williams, Captain Verna Barnett Patty Brandt Judy Clapp Don Hinderliter SOUND AND LIGHTING ~ Patrick Czeck MLK, Jr. HOLIDAY ~ CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Training.. Richardson RM 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Training.. Richardson RM 10:00 a.m. ~ Emmaus Group Chapel 7:00 p.m. ~ Band Rehearsal... Hospitality Hall 2:30 p.m. ~ College Board MTG.. Conference RM NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Training.. Richardson RM 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Training.. Richardson RM 2:30 p.m. ~ Trustees Rose RM WEDNESDAY ~ January 17, :30 a.m. ~ W. F. Southwest Region MTG Hospitality H 9:00 a.m. ~ Chancel Choir Sanctuary 9:00 a.m. ~ AARP Tax Training.. Richardson RM 12:00 N ~ SSSO Dress Rehearsal..... Sanctuary 9:00 a.m. ~ Prayer Group Chapel 7:00 p.m. ~ SSSO Rehearsal Sanctuary WEEKLLY CALENDAR MONDAY ~ January 15, 2018 THURSDAY ~ January 18, 2018 TUESDAY ~ January 16, 2018 FRIDAY ~ January 19, 2018 I SATURDAY ~ January 20, 2018 SUNDAY ~ JANUARY 21, :30 a.m. ~ Chapel Communion Chapel 10:00 a.m. ~ Morning Worship Sanctuary

12 JANUARY 7, 2018: ATTENDANCE ~ 109 FAITH GIVING ~ $8,437 DECEMBER 24, 2017: FAITH GIVING ~ $4,704 ALTAR FLOWERS Given By Beverly Bassette ~ In Memory of Her Mother's Birthday Annual Meeting: January 28, 2018 Hospitality Hall following morning worship. CONTRIBUTION ENVELOPES STILL AVAILABLE The 2018 contribution envelope boxes are located in Hospitality Hall on the large table by the light booth. PLEASE REMEMBER: IF YOU REQUESTED A POWER CHURCH NUMBER YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE BOXED ENVELOPES. If anyone wishes to have boxed envelopes instead, please contact Jo Winslow in the church office ( ). Rev. Dr. Timothy W. Shirley, Senior Minister Dr. Ryan Hebert, Organist Mrs. Jo Prater, Moderator Dr. Jo-Anne Winslow, Administrative Secretary 1501 La Jolla Avenue ~ Sun City Center, Florida Phone: (813) Fax: (813) Dr. Shirley timwshirley@gmail.com Mrs. Prater southshoreucc@aol.com Church uccscc1@gmail.com Church Website: Church College communitychurchcollege@gmail.com. Church College Website: January 14, 2018