HOPE CHURCH SEASON OF RECONCILIATION SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SUNDAY OBSERVANCE January 18, 2015 ~ 11:00 AM

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1 HOPE CHURCH SEASON OF RECONCILIATION SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. SUNDAY OBSERVANCE January 18, 2015 ~ 11:00 AM THE APPROACH TO GOD PRELUDE Harmony and Counterpoint in A Major There is a Balm in Gilead CALL TO WORSHIP Jesus, We Are Here 2 James Woodman Adolphus Hailstork JESUS, TAWA PANO VOTUM AND SENTENCES Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 Amen. Sisters and brothers, rejoice. We live sustained by God s presence and love. Thanks be to God. As we mourn the wounds of God s children, God weeps with us. As we give thanks for brothers and sisters who live in faith, God gives thanks with us. As we struggle for justice, God struggles with us. As we strive for peace, God strives with us. As we work to build the beloved community, God works with us. As we offer our gifts to all, God blesses us. Sisters and brothers, rejoice, sustained by God s presence and love we worship God. *PROCESSIONAL HYMN Purple #853 We Are Marching in the Light of God stanza 1 We are marching stanza 4 We are singing SALUTATION *Congregation standing as able Bold type indicates congregational response SIYAHAMBA

2 PRAYER OF CONFESSION I Want Jesus to Walk With Me WALK WITH ME copyright Words: African American spiritual, Music: Arr Nolan Williams Jr., 2000 GIA Music Publications. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A God of Justice, whenever we settle for the way things are instead of the way you would have them to be, forgive us. Whenever we are paralyzed by fear or limited in vision, increase our trust in you. Whenever we offer charity, but fail to work for justice, show us the more excellent way that your love requires. Whenever we tire of the struggle and tomorrow feels overwhelming, restore our hope. Whenever we forget those who have gone before us or act as if we were the first to follow in the Way, reveal to us our arrogance. Awaken us to the movement of your Spirit to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you. WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND GOD S GUIDE TO GRATEFUL LIVING *ACCLAMATION OF PRAISE Purple #749 Come! Live in the Light! WE ARE CALLED 3

3 *THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. WORD WITH THE CHILDREN Children in preschool through grade 5 leave for Children in Worship THE WORD OF GOD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Christ Be Our Light congregation will sing twice Words and music by Bernadette Farrell, copyright 1993, 2000 by B. Farrell. All rights reserved. Reprinted under LicenSingOnline # THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Samuel 3:1-20 p.215 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM 139 Purple #29 O God, You Search Me 4 O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME THE EPISTLE LESSON 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 p.929 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL LESSON John 1:43-51 p.862 This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON Tingling Ears PRAYER FOR BLESSING ~ silent meditation THE RESPONSE TO GOD *CONFESSION OF FAITH from the Belhar Confession 1986 We believe in the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who gathers, protects and cares for the Church

4 by Word and Spirit, as God has done since the beginning of the world and will do to the end. We believe in one holy, universal Christian Church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family. We believe that God has entrusted to the Church the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; that the Church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world; that the Church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker; that the Church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. We believe that the Church must witness against and strive against any form of injustice, so that justice may roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Jesus is Lord. To the one and only God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be the honor and the glory forever and ever. LIFE OF HOPE CALL TO PRAYER Purple #834 Precious Lord, Take My Hand congregation stanza 1 & 2 choir additional stanza 5 PRECIOUS LORD PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION A Litany for Martin Luther King Sunday Based on Psalm 89 and the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Rev. Dr. Bentley de Bardelaben Incline your ear, O God, and answer us, for we are poor, hungry, naked, homeless and sick. Preserve our lives, for we are devoted to you; save your servants who trust in you. Dr. King's work reminds us: church and state must work together for the common good; laws must establish justice for all, but hearts must change for the Beloved Community to flourish. We will do the work of justice for all; we will open our hearts to an ever-expanding vision of community. We will trust the Spirit of God to guide and move us between the present and the anticipated Realm of Justice.

5 You are our God; be gracious to your children, for we cry out to you all day long. Bring joy to the soul of your servants, for to you, O God, we lift up our soul. Dr. King's vision inspires us: "We are tied together in a single garment of destiny caught in an inescapable network of mutuality." We will work for a world where lives are enriched by difference; where people of different genders, races and sexual orientations work together in Shalom for the good of the whole. We will work for a nation where persons will be judged solely upon the content of their characters. For you, O God, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you. Give ear, O God, to the prayers of the marginalized; listen to our supplications. Dr. King's words challenge us: "...injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." We will listen to the cries of the poor; we will stand in solidarity with those who suffer oppression; we will take as our own the hopes of all who long for full human life; we will create in our midst the Beloved Community with room for all, justice for all, joy for all, Shalom for all. We will listen to the voice of the Christ, who stirs about liberating all minds, hearts and spirits. In our days of trouble we call on you, for you will answer us. There is none like you among the gods, O God, nor are there any works like yours to the ends of the earth. Teach us your way, O God, that we may walk in your truth. Dr. King's life inspires us: "I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land... I still believe that someday we shall overcome." 6

6 We will overcome because of our faith and trust in God. We will reach the goal laid before us without faltering. We will never give up our hope for equality with one another. We will live Dr. King's dream into our reality Local Church Ministries,Worship and Education Ministry Team, United Church of Christ. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved. OFFERING Please sign and pass the Fellowship Pad, and pass it back. Offertory Total Praise Richard Smallwood Lord, I will lift my eyes to the hills Knowing my help is coming from You Your peace You give me in time of the storm You are the source of my strength You are the strength of my life I lift my hands in total praise to You Amen *Doxology Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow 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. *or Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost, Amen. *Prayer of Dedication *RECESSIONAL HYMN Come, Let Us Dream OLD HUNDREDTH Come, let us dream God s dream again. Come, one and all, let us ascend the mountain top where those of old saw God s new day on earth unfold. The lame shall walk, the blind shall see, the doors swing wide, all prisoners free, the lowly raised, the proud brought low. This is God s dream: let justice flow. When hatred ends and war shall cease, so all may dwell in deepest peace, then be assured the time is near when perfect love casts out all fear. Words: John Middleton, Music: traditional English melody. Text: 2004 John Middleton. Published by The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, PO Box , Nashville TN Website *BENEDICTION POSTLUDE Toccata on the Spiritual "Great Day" A. Hailstork 7