A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS: We extend a warm welcome from Bethel Presbyterian Church! We invite you to participate in signing the Friendship Folders adding your name and address and if you desire a church newsletter or a pastoral call. When we pray the Lord s Prayer, we say sins sin against us rather than debts... or trespasses Prayer requests can be noted on the cards provided in the pew racks and placed in the offering plate.
The Service for the Lord s Day Bethel Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Epiphany/Communion Sunday January 6, 2019-11:00 AM * Indicates congregation standing if able. Parents with infants may remain seated. Congregational responses indicated in bold. Chiming of the Hour GATHERING AND GREETING OF GOD S PEOPLE Welcome and Announcements Please sign the Friendship Pad found in your pew, passing it down the pew then back. Prelude AS THE DEER / FAIREST LORD JESUS arr. Nystrom Call to Worship (L = Leader, P = People) L: Arise, shine; for your light has come. P: The glory of the Lord has risen upon us. L: Come, worship the Lord of glory. P: Proclaim God s praise among the nations. Prayer of Invocation God, you placed a star in the sky to draw wise folk to the place of Christ s nativity. There you revealed the mystery of your eternal purpose for all humanity: God made flesh, born of Mary, opening to all the world the promise you made to Abraham and Sarah. Empower your church to be as the light of the star, that we may draw the world to the glory of Christ, our Lord, through whom we pray. Amen. * Hymn No. 143 ANGELS, FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY REGENT SQUARE
* Call to Confession In the light of Christ, we see the shadows of our world and of our hearts. Trusting in God s grace, let us confess our sins before God and one another. * Prayer of Confession Merciful God, you have given light to the world in Jesus Christ, but we have preferred to live in darkness. Your justice protects the weak and the distressed, yet we seek the shelter of privilege and power. Your righteousness redeems the poor and the needy, yet we seek the status of wealth and possessions. Your peace upholds the oppressed and the defenseless, yet we seek the security of weapons and retribution. Forgive us our sins, and lead us to true repentance, that we may trust you in all things; (silent and personal confession) through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. * Sung Response No 575 LORD, HAVE MERCY UPON US KYRIE ELEISON Lord, have mer-cy up-on us; Christ, have mer-cy up-on us; Lord, have mer-cy up-on us. * Declaration of Forgiveness This is the good news: Christ is the light of the world, who grants forgiveness and healing of our sins. Thanks be to God. * Sung Response GLORY BE TO THE FATHER Avery & Marsh, 1967 Glo-ry be to the Fa-ther, and the Son, and the Ho-ly Ghost; As it was in the be-gin-ning, is now, and ev-er shall be, world with-out end. A-men. As it was in the be-gin-ning, is now, and ev-er shall be, world with-out end. A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men. A-men.
Children s Moment THE WORD Choral Anthem KNEELING AT THE MANGER by H. Beebe Prayer for Illumination Spirit of God, in the proclamation of your Word, reveal to us the hidden mystery of your love in Christ, and strengthen our faith that we may approach you with boldness. Amen. Responsive Readings from Scripture Wisdom Psalm 72:1-7 (Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King) L: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. P: May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. L: May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. P: May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. L: May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. P: In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. Readings from Scripture Prophet Isaiah 60:1-6 (The Ingathering of the Dispersed) Pg. 649 Gospel Matthew 2:1-18 (The Visit of the Wise Men) Pg. 1 Sermon: Arise and Shine RESPONSE TO THE WORD * Affirmation of Faith Apostle s Creed (Trad.) Hymnal pg. 35
* Hymn No. 153 IN BETHLEHEM A NEWBORN BOY IN BETHLEHEM THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Call to Offering God intends to unite all creation, so that all may share in the promises of God s new reign. Therefore with gratitude and joy, let us bring gifts, for we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in Christ. Offertory MEDITATION by Lanz * Hymn No. 606 PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW * Prayer of Dedication Glorious God, you led three magi to seek Jesus, your Holy Child, born of Mary. They knelt down at the infant s crib and offered him precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We, too, offer our gifts in gratitude, reverence, and thanksgiving for the birth of your child, whom you called to lead the world into fullness of life. Receive and bless this offering as a joyful sign of the boundless love and abundant life we are called to share in Christ. Amen. Invitation to the Lord s Table He was always the guest. In the homes of Peter and Jairus, Martha and Mary, Joanna and Susanna, he was always the guest. At the meal tables of the wealthy where he pled the case of the poor, he was always the guest. Upsetting polite company, befriending isolated people, welcoming the stranger, he was always the guest.
But here, at this table, he is the host. Those who wish to serve him must first be served by him, those who want to follow him must first be fed by him, those who would wash his feet must first let him make them clean. For this is the table where God intends us to be nourished; this is the time when Christ can make us new. So come, you who hunger and thirst for a deeper faith, for a better life, for a fairer world. Jesus Christ, who has sat at our tables, now invites us to be guests at his. Great Thanksgiving (L = Leader, P = People) L: The Lord be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift them up to the Lord. L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P: It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right and our joy, Creator God, to give you thanks and praise. For in the beginning you created the heavens and the earth. Out of the darkness and chaos, you brought light and order. You have given life to every living thing and made us in your image, male and female. Even when we turned away from you, loving darkness rather than light, you did not turn away from us. You sent prophets to show us the way. In the fullness of time, you sent your Son to be Immanuel, God with us. At his birth, the night sky lit up with heavenly host and a guiding star. Shepherds and magi found their way to you. Women and children, tax collectors and lepers continued to find their way to you. The darkness of Gethsemane, the cross, and the grave could not overcome you; for you are the light of the world, shining still.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. In this feast, make us one with you and with each other. Enflame us with your Spirit, that we may be united in ministry in every place. Send us, in your marvelous light, into the world, ready to serve others and work for peace. We pray in the triune name of God. Amen. The Lord s Prayer (sin / sin against us) Words of Institution Distribution of the Elements Prayer after Communion Let us pray. In gratitude, in deep gratitude for this moment, this meal, these people, we give ourselves to you. Take us out to live as changed people because we have shared the Living Bread and cannot remain the same. Ask much of us, expect much from us, enable much by us, encourage many through us. So Lord, may we live to your glory, both as inhabitants of the earth and citizens of the commonwealth of heaven. Amen. THE SENDING FORTH * Hymn No. 152 WHAT STAR IS THIS, WITH BEAMS SO BRIGHT
* Benediction Let us go forth rejoicing in the light of God s love. May the love of Christ that shines in you shine brightly in the world where you go. And the blessing of God, Divine Giver, Radiant Light, and Fountain of Life bless you and keep you always. * Sung Response No. 744 ARISE, YOUR LIGHT IS COME! A-rise your light is come! The Spir-it s call o-bey; show forth the glo-ry of your God, which shines on you to-day. * Postlude AMEN arr. Labenske