ST. JOHN S UNITED CHURCH

Transcription

1 Epiphany Sunday January 6, 2019 ST. JOHN S UNITED CHURCH WELCOME! A warm welcome is extended to all. The feast of Epiphany today brings the Christmas season to an end. To mark the day, here s a litany called The Work of Christmas composed by Howard Thurman, an African-American theologian, educator, and civil rights leader. When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart. The poem The Work of Christmas is from Howard Thurman s The Mood of Christmas and Other Celebrations

2 FROM NOTICES, UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS Check our website at for bulletin, calendar, and more. Jan. 6 Worship Sun. 11:00 a.m. - Epiphany Sunday - No Sunday School Jan. 8 Tues. 6:00 p.m. Christian Development Committee (Owen Fraser Hall) Jan. 8 Tues. 7:00 p.m. Worship & Music Committee (monthly-owen Fraser Hall) Jan. 9 Wed. 6:00 p.m. Tidewater Area Council, Girl Guides (Owen Fraser Hall) Jan. 10 Thur. 7:00 p.m. Choir (Fellowship Room/Sanctuary) Jan. 13 Sun. 11:00 a.m. Jan. 14 Mon. Jan. 14 Mon. 7:15 p.m. Worship and Sunday School - Communion Deadline for submissions to the 2018 Annual Report the Church Office Pathfinders, Girl Guides of Canada (weekly-social Hall) OFFERING FROM December 30 & 31, 2018 Local) $2, (46) Easter $20.00 Mission & Service $ (15) Thanksgiving $20.00 Christmas $ Initial Offering $5.00 Anniversary $20.00 Karing Kitchen (forward) $80.00 Anniversary-History Book $20.00 Grocery Cards $ Plate Loose $24.10 To date - as of November 30: Revenue $211, Expenses $236, Thank you for your generous and continued support! SOBEYS & SUPERSTORE GIFT CARDS are sold each Sunday at the sales table in the Owen Fraser Hall after Worship during fellowship and coffee time or at the Church Office on weekdays during office hours. We make 4% on every card sold. ~ Your support is needed & appreciated Year-to-date sales: $27, Profit: $1, M&S UPDATE: Goal 2018: $23, Givings 2018 to date: $25, (108%) 2

3 The CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE would like to send along a special "THANK YOU" to all of the volunteers who lent a hand in the nursery, the Sunday school or with the Christmas practise and pageant during the month of December, especially: Bonnie Appleby, Peter Appleby, Carla Bellefleur, Dr. Robert Berger, Owen Brinson, Becky Campbell, Darren Campbell, Luiz de Jesus, Nancy Fox, Marlene Godfrey, Bob Hebert, Juli Lackie, Joanie Lockhart, Lori-Ann MacKay, Barb McLaughlin, Stacey McQueen, John Patterson, Laura Petersen, Elsa Sage and Don Sage. The PASTORAL CARE & MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE would like to THANK those who delivered Christmas poinsettia plants: Pat Arsenault, Carolyn Beers, Aaron Billard, Shirley Brown, Sonja Buck, Kimberley Buck de Jesus, Roberta Bunker, Elaine Cooling, David & Peggy Fraser, Pat Gillespie, Marcia Hicks, Carol & Allie Holdsworth, Joan Hudson, Jennifer Johnston, Sue Leighton, Shirley Lutes, Ralph & Lois MacDonald, Doug & June MacEachern, Scott MacNairn, Mona Miller, Phyllis Perry, Trudy Richards, Elsa Sage, Ann Smith, and Barbara Tait. Thanks to everyone who assisted in any way to bring Christmas cheer to our shut -ins OFFERING & PAR ENVELOPES are located in the Owen Fraser Hall. Please do not use your 2019 envelopes until the New Year. If you presently do not use offering envelopes and would like a box, please contact the Church Office. NEW CENTURY, NEW FUTURE A new book of our history, New Century, New Future is now on sale for $10.00 each. This book continues from our history book, A Monument to Faith and reminds us that by keeping alive the spirit and vision of who we are, we have been shaped by the people and events from our past 180 years. Books will be for sale in the Owen Fraser Hall following Worship and at the church office. This new book makes a great Christmas present. CHURCH SNOW STORM POLICY In the event of a snow storm on a Sunday morning, the decision to cancel will be made by 9:00 a.m. by the Minister, the Chair of Worship & Music, and the Council Chair. Check the following places to see if the church is closed: 1. Church office telephone listen to the message 2. Church Facebook group at 3. Local radio stations 4. CBC storm centre at or search Moncton Cancellations 3

4 DID YOU KNOW? The church offers a hearing loop system for anyone who would like to enhance their listening experience during the Sunday morning service. Please feel free to speak to one of the volunteers on the sound board on Sunday morning SERMONS - Printed copies of the sermons are available by and at our main entrances. Please contact the church office if you want to be added to the list. BULLETINS are available on our website and by ; check the bulletin online at: If you would like to receive a copy of the bulletin by prior to Sunday Worship (Fridays), please your request to church office at sjuc@nb.aibn.com. NEWS FROM THE PEWS - We invite you to share news of special events, memories, newspaper clippings of our church family for all to enjoy. You may leave your "clippings" in the box on the table below the bulletin board in the Owen Fraser Hall. Your participation is appreciated. Thank you. ST. JOHN S UNITED CHURCH CARES... To notify the Minister of personal concerns, anxieties, illnesses, hospitalizations or deaths, to pass along a prayer request, or to arrange homebound communion, contact Rev. Aaron Billard at or sjucrev@gmail.com This week, as part of our ecumenical prayers, WE PRAY for the congregation of the The Journey Church-Allison Campus, their pastors, and their ministry STEWARDSHIP SECOND Stewardship is ascribing to God the glory of God s creation of the heavens and the earth. Announcements from other United Churches, Fundy-St. Lawrence Dawning Waters (formerly Chignecto Presbytery, Maritime Conference, Region 14) and the Community are located on the bulletin boards located at the Alma St. entrance and outside the Church Office. 4

5 WORSHIP (The congregation is invited to join in responses printed in bold) Children are asked to remain with their parents throughout the service. The Nursery is available for parental use. PRELUDE FROM HEAVEN ABOVE TO EARTH I COME M. Burkhart QUIET PRELUDE ON MAGI / CARAVAN OF THE THREE KINGS Jones / Purvis WE GATHER IN THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP Arise; shine, for your light has come! We are called out of our darkness into light. Lift up your eyes and look around. We rejoice in the gift of light. Come let us worship the God of light and joy and peace. We come to kneel before the Christ Child, the light incarnate. HYMN # 96 WILL YOU COME AND SEE THE LIGHT (KELVINGROVE) PRAYER OF APPROACH The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray: God of promise and light, open our eyes this morning, that we may see your light in the darkness. Open our hearts, that we may perceive your promises of justice and righteousness fulfilled in the babe of Bethlehem. May we, like the Magi, have a star to guide us on our journey quest to find the one who will truly set us free. May this time of worship bring us closer to you, that the good news of the birth of light and love will transform our lives. (This we pray as he taught us to pray, saying, Our Father ) 5

6 PRAYER OF CONFESSION O gracious and loving God, we come to you recognizing the wonders of life that you have given us. As winter falls around us, we pray that you will warm our hearts to your will and guidance in all of life, that we may truly live as your baptized people, continually working for the reign of your kingdom on earth. Hear our prayers, O God, this day for all who are absent from us. Hear our concerns and hopes for them and all your people. Touch their lives with your grace that they may find healing, and peace, and love. May your Spirit touch us to ever reach out to them and to those around us that all may feel your generous love in their lives. ASSURANCE OF PARDON The light and the darkness are the same to God. May we continue to see the beauty of creation and work for God s peace throughout the world. We are a forgiven people. Amen. SCRIPTURE LESSONS WE REFLECT UPON OUR COMMON STORY Isaiah 60:1 6 Arise, shine; for your light has come. Psalm 72:1 7, (VU p. 790 Parts One and Two) God s anointed defends the poor. Matthew 2:1 12 The visit of the magi. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 6

7 HYMN WE THREE KINGS (KINGS OF ORIENT) SERMON 1. We three kings of Orient are; Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. o Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. 2. Born a King on Bethlehem s plain Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign. Refrain 3. Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, voices raising, Worshiping God on high. Refrain 4. Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorr wing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone cold tomb. Refrain 5. Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, Earth to the Heavens replies. Refrain WE RESPOND TO GOD S LOVE OFFERING / ANTHEM ARISE, SHINE R. Lau OFFERTORY # 55, Verse 4 IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER (CRANHAM) What can I give him? Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him -- give my heart. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 7

8 HYMN # 81 AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD (DIX) BENEDICTION POSTLUDE HOW BRIGHTLY SHINES THE MORNING STAR R. Hobby You are invited to join us in the Owen Fraser Hall after Worship for a time of fellowship and refreshments. Today s Team Greeters & Ushers: South Door Alma St. North Door Victoria St. Greet: Karen & Terry Teed Greet: Phyllis Perry Offering: Karen & Terry Teed Offering: Phyllis Perry, Lyn Young Scripture Reader: n/a Tellers: Sheri Brooks, Lyn Young Elevator: Pat Arsenault Sound Board: Don Sage Grocery Card Sales: Kimberley Buck de Jesus CHURCH MINISTRY PERSONNEL AND STAFF Rev. Aaron Billard, Minister sjucrev@gmail.com Karen Geldart, Office Administrator sjuc@nb.aibn.com Mike Day, Music Director Pat Arsenault, Custodian Elsa Sage, Bookkeeping Services Bruce Lawson, Property Manager Rev. Dr. Douglas MacEachern Minister Emeritus dougjune@nb.sympatico.ca St. John s United Church 75 Alma Street, Moncton, NB E1C 4Y3 T: E: sjuc@nb.aibn.com W: FB: St. John s United Church, United Church of Canada Office Hours: M-F, 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 8