where faith happens and love abounds January 14, 2018 Second Sunday after Christmas 10:00 am

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2 a United Church of Christ where faith happens and love abounds No matter who you are, or where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here. January 14, 2018 Second Sunday after Christmas 10:00 am Visitors and guests, welcome to the Church of the Palms, a United Church of Christ. You are encouraged to sign our Guest Book, located in the back of the sanctuary. If you would like to receive our newsletters and minister s weekly s, please include your address. Also, please check in on Facebook and let your family and friends know that you are at the Church of the Palms! And please join us after worship for conversation and refreshments in the Friendship Center. To Enhance Your Worship Experience Remember to silence your cell phones in the sanctuary. For those with hearing aids, there is a loop that encircles the sanctuary to help your hearing. For your comfort, there are back cushions for the pews available in the first pews as you come into the church or ask an usher. The area out front is reserved for handicap parking. To be hospitable to visitors, don t forget to wear your name tag! Special bulletins for children are available. See an usher to get one. If you do not wish to keep your bulletin, please place it in the recycle box at the exit to Friendship Center.

3 SERVICE OF THE WORD *Please stand in body or spirit. Words of Welcome and the Life of the Church Prelude Blessed Assurance arr. Whitsett Call To Worship Gathering Prayer One:: Something made the hairs stand up on our necks. Was it You, O God? All: Was it You that we saw blowing over the water? One:: Was it You that we heard moving through those feet? All: Was it You that we felt in the beating of our own hearts? One:: Was it You that called our names? All: Come, O God. Come to search us. Come to know us again. One:: We were knit in Your womb. We have tried to count Your works. All: Come, O God, so that we can hear You calling our names. Here and now. Amen. *Hymn I am Yours, O Lord #455 Invitation to the Children of the Church Sacrament of Baptism for Abigail Brooke Clary and Amelia Beth Clary Presentation, Narrative, Request Thanksgiving One: God is the heart of life. All: And we are the heartbeat. One: May our hearts be filled with thanks and praise and songs of joy. All: We rejoice in the miracle of life and delight in our participation. One: For us in Florida water is a precious commodity... Water is everything. Water is life. We claim the joy of water and the way it sustains and nourishes us. All: Let it flow and pour and sprinkle for all people. That all may know each day the gift of God in water. Prayer Please stand as you are able

4 *The Baptism *Blessing Song Jesus Loves Me # 327 Anthem The Lord's My Shepherd arr. Muller The Lord s my shepherd, I ll not want; He makes me down to lie. In pastures green; He leadeth me the quiet waters by. My soul He doth restore again; and me to walk doth make. Within the paths of righteousness, e en for His own Names sake. Yea, though I walk in death s dark vale, yet will I fear none ill. For thou art with me; and Thy rod and staff me comfort still. My table Thou hast furnished in presence of my foes; my head Thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me. And in God s house for evermore my dwelling place shall be. Litany of Dedication for Martin Luther King, Jr., Sunday One: All: One: All: One: All: One: In the beginning, God brought cosmos out of chaos and spoke humanity into being with the words: Let there be! O God, give us power to speak the words that will bring the positive possibilities of a new creation into existence. And after God spoke the universe and humanity into existence, God spoke again and said: It is good! It is very good! O God, give us power to speak the words that will celebrate and affirm the wondrous virtue of Your human and cosmic creation. And in the fullness of time, God spoke again, and this time the Word of God became flesh; and the living Logos made a tabernacle among us. O God, give us power to speak the words that will abide in the hearts and minds of all people; words that will call each of us into Your marvelous light. And at the Fifth General Synod of the United Church of Christ, God spoke to us through the prophet, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., saying: Although the Church has been called to combat social evils, it has often remained silent behind the anesthetizing security of stained-glass windows How often the Church has been an echo rather than a voice, a tail-light behind the Supreme Court and other secular agencies, rather than a headlight guiding men and women progressively and decisively to higher levels of understanding.

5 All: O God, we confess that our silence in the face of injustice is sin. Forgive us, and give us the power to speak the words that will challenge the systems of iniquitous inequity represented in the principalities and powers of this world and in spiritual wickedness in high places. One: And through the words of Christ, God spoke to us, saying: All: If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. One: And through the words of the Apostle Paul, God spoke to us, saying: All: For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. One: So we boldly and courageously speak the words: Let freedom ring! All: Let freedom ring! Our history and our destiny lie in our willingness to speak until the strongholds of prejudice and bigotry crumble before the new creations of justice and equality for All of God s children. One: We will not be silent. Let freedom ring until every shackle of racism, sexism, classism, militarism, nationalism and heterosexism is broken. Let freedom ring! All: We will not be silent: Let freedom ring! For the freedom of every human being, let freedom ring! For the salvation of the world, let freedom ring! For the glory of God, let freedom ring! Let freedom ring! Let freedom ring! All stand, join hands, and sing together *All (singing): We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome today. Oh deep in my heart, I do believe that we shall overcome today. We shall not be silent, we shall not be silent, we shall not be silent today. Oh deep in my heart, I do believe we shall not be silent today. We are not afraid, we are not afraid, we are not afraid today. Oh deep in my heart, I do believe, we are not afraid today. Mission Moment Coalition of Immokalee Workers Wesley Snedeker Offertory Sun of My Soul arr. Smith/Hustad *Doxology (feel free to sing the traditional words or the inclusive version below) #778 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.

6 Reading of Scripture Prayer for Understanding Old Testament 1 Samuel 3:1-10 OT p. 229 Gospel John 1:35-51 NT p. 80 Sermon What is Stirring Within? Prayer of Thanksgiving 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. *Hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing #593 *Benediction You are invited to exit quietly or remain seated during the musical postlude, to enjoy a last moment of worship. Postlude The Spacious Firmament arr. Innes <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Litany prepared by Dr. Kenneth L. Samuel, Pastor, Victory for the World UCC, Stone Mountain, Georgia. Participating in this Morning s Service The Reverend Brad S. Lutz, Designated Pastor The Reverend Linda J. Reilly, Liturgist Edward Krynicki, Music Director Elaine Reinhardt, Pianist Wesley Snedeker, Coalition of Immokalee Workers

7 THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH Congregational Conversations Two important opportunities are offered for you to review and discuss the proposed revised Constitution for Church of the Palms. Copies are available in the Friendship Center and the church office; available by upon request. Saturday, January 20 10:30 am - 12 noon Sunday, January 21 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, January 28 th 10 am Service of Morning Prayer 11:00 am Potluck Brunch (Please bring a brunch type dish to share. Beverages will be provided.) 11:45 am Annual Meeting 2018 Budget Proposed Constitution Annual Reports Beginning today, pick up your copies of the annual reports (including the 2018 Proposed Budget and the proposed Constitution). (Note: extra copies will not be available at the annual meeting) Food Pantry Please support CROS by contributing boxed or canned food. Your donations are welcomed and appreciated. This week they are specifically asking for Shelf-Stable Milk. Women s Fellowship Rummage Sale February 2 nd and 3 rd Start bringing in your treasures now! There will be someone here to let you in between 9 am and noon on weekdays (except tomorrow, January 15 th ).

8 WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF THE PALMS, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST As an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ, our goal is to extend to everyone an extravagant welcome in hopes that you will experience the abundant love of God here and be inspired to share that love with the world. Nursery: We offer childcare for infants and toddlers in the Education Building. Sunday School: Children start the service in the sanctuary. After a special conversation with them during the service, they may go to Children s Church in the Education Building if they choose. Prayer Requests: If you would like to include joys and concerns in our prayers, please write them on one of the Prayer Request forms and put it in the offering plate. Thank you. You may also contact the church office ( ). Today 11:00 am... Social Hour 6:00 pm th Step AA 7:30 pm... Ambassadors Church 11:30 am... Coalition of Immokalee Workers Daily 7:00 am... Breakfast Club Monday, January 15 th Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Office Closed 6:30 pm... Freedom from Alcohol Tuesday, January 16 th 10:30 am... Current Events 6:30 pm... Daily Grace Wednesday, January 17 th 7:30 pm... Gathering AA Thursday, January 18 th 10:00 pm... Prayer Ministry 10:30 pm... Bible Study 6:00 pm... Choir Practice 7:00 pm... Westside AA 7:30 pm... Naranon THIS WEEK AT CHURCH OF THE PALMS Church of the Palms 1960 N. Swinton Avenue Delray Beach, FL Churchofthepalms.net info@churchofthepalms.net Friday, January 19 th 1:00 pm... Bridge Club 6:00 pm... DAA 7:30 pm... Friday Night AA Saturday, January 20 th 9:00 am... Men s Breakfast at Ellie s 9:30 am... Handbell Practice 10:30 am.. Congregational Conversation (Constitution) 7:30 pm... Saturday Night AA Sunday, January 21 st 8:00 am... Breakfast Club 10:00 am... Ambassadors Church 10:00 am... Worship, Sunday School, and Nursery 11:30 am.. Congregational Conversation (Constitution) CHURCH OFFICE HOURS are Tuesday through Friday, 9 am 1 pm. PASTOR S HOURS this week are on Tuesday and Thursday. Please call first!