ORDER OF WORSHIP January 6th, 2019 ~Epiphany~ Please sign and pass the Friendship Book ( pew pad ) where you can also record any prayer requests. Our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the Living God as we worship together. We invite you to focus your heart and mind in worship. * indicates please stand as you are able. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Jason Stuart PRELUDE What Star Is This Organ Lani Smith CALL TO WORSHIP We meet to worship God and to remember, tell, and show God s love. Like a bright star in the night sky, the life of Christ lights up the whole world. The star of hope shines on, and no darkness will overcome it. The light of Christ shows us who we are and what we can be, where we have been and where we should go. Let us walk in the light and give thanks to God. Jason Stuart Brian Wren. Copyright 1993 by Hope Publishing Company *SONGS OF WORSHIP HERE I AM TO WORSHIP (VERSE 1) Light of the world You stepped down into darkness Opened my eyes let me see Beauty that made This heart adore you Hope of a life spent with you (CHORUS) So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down Here I am to say that you re my God And you re altogether lovely Altogether worthy Altogether wonderful to me (VERSE 2) King of all days Oh so highly exalted Glorious in heaven above Humbly you came To the earth you created All for love's sake became poor (REPEAT CHORUS) (BRIDGE) And I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross And I'll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross (REPEAT CHORUS) CCLI Song No. 3266032 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Tim Hughes For use solely in accordance with the SongSelect Advanced Terms of Agreement. All rights Reserved. www.songtouch.com CCLI License No. 296507 AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD (Hymn #181) (VERSE 1) As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold; as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright, so, most gracious Lord, may we evermore be led to thee. (VERSE 2) As with joyful steps they sped to that lowly manger bed, there to bend the knee before him whom heaven and earth adore, so, may we with willing feet ever seek the mercy seat. (VERSE 3) As they offered gifts most rare at that manger rude and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heavenly King. (VERSE 4) Holy Jesus, every day keep us in the narrow way; and when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last where they need no star to guide, where no clouds thy glory hide. Call to Confession Judy Palpant 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 Holy and Loving God, when your light shines, nothing is hidden; and when your light shines on us, there is joy in seeing and discomfort in being seen. Help us, by your love, to bear the light of your truth and your integrity, your forgiveness and your faithfulness. Bring us out of hiding, that we may become children of light, through Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Amen. Brian Wren. Copyright 1993 by Hope Publishing Company [Silent Prayer] 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. from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2015 SONG OF WORSHIP: I M FOREVER GRATEFUL (VERSE) PLEASE REMAIN SEATED
You did not wait for me To draw near to You But You clothed Yourself With frail humanity You did not wait for me To cry out to You But You let me hear Your voice calling me (CHORUS) And I'm forever grateful to You I'm forever grateful For the cross I'm forever grateful to You That You came To seek and save the lost CCLI Song No. 24047 1985 Sovereign Grace Praise (Admin. by Sovereign Grace Ministries) Mark Altrogge For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License No. 296507 PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Peter Blank OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS Judy Palpant Invitation to the Offering So here s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2015 *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offering Prayer As you received the tears of Mary Magdalene, the hospitality of Zacchaeus, and small coins from the widow, accept our earthly gifts and make them holy. Give us your heavenly food, and make us worthy to be your servants. Amen. Please Remain Seated while the ushers pass the offering plates The children are excused at this time to attend Junior Chapel. OFFERTORY Elevation Organ Theodore Dubois READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Camille Troxel Luke 19:1-10 (ESV) He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today. 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold. 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. MESSAGE Andre Lewis Living Between the Advents
*SONG OF WORSHIP: GREAT GOD, YOUR LOVE HAS CALLED US (Hymn #779) (VERSE 1) Great God, your love has called us here as we, by love, for love were made. Your living likeness still we bear, though marred, dishonored, disobeyed. We come, with all our heart and mind your call to hear, your love to find. (VERSE 2) Great God, in Christ you call our name and then receive us as your own, not through some merit, right or claim, but by your gracious love alone. We strain to glimpse your mercy seat and find you kneeling at our feet. (VERSE 3) Then take the towel, and break the bread, and humble us, and call us friends. Suffer and serve till all are fed, and show how grandly love intends to work till all creation sings, to fill all worlds, to crown all things. (VERSE 4) Great God, in Christ you set us free your life to live, your joy to share. Give us your Spirit's liberty to turn from guilt and dull despair and offer all that faith can do while love is making all things new. SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION Rev. Peter Blank
Christ becomes a part of our flesh through Holy Communion. The Lord s Supper is not an end in itself. It always points beyond itself to celebrate God s grace and covenant faithfulness. This does not mean the physical aspects of the celebration are incidental or unimportant. The Lord s Supper should be a celebration fitting to the abundant grace of God offered in Christ. Invitation to the Lord s Supper Breaking of the Bread & Pouring of the Cup Sharing the Body and Blood of Christ *CLOSING SONG It is the custom at Knox, in celebration of Holy Communion, to hold hands and form a circle around the sanctuary to sing our closing song BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS (Hymn #708) Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. BENEDICTION Andre Lewis POSTLUDE On This Glad Day Organ Domenico Scarlatti Elder Tom Tiffany is available for prayer after the service. In the pulpit today: Andre Lewis is a native of Spokane and moved back to Spokane four years ago after ministry to college students in Boulder, Colorado and Columbia, South Carolina. He attended Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis where he received a master s in divinity. After seminary the Lewis family planted a church in Redmond, Washington serving for over a decade to Microsoft executives. He is now the Executive Director of Spokane Youth for Christ which works with marginalized youth living in Spokane's most under resourced communities. Today s Lectionary Readings Isaiah 60:1 6 Ephesians 3:1 12
Psalm 72:1 7, 10 14 Matthew 2:1 12 Reflection In Epiphany when the magi make their great journey to see the Christ Child, we see Jesus drawing all creation to the divine life revealed in him, and we see the realization of God s dream of reconciled creation. In our own way, we are each endowed by the Spirit with unique and precious gifts for sharing God s healing love in a good but often divided world. What spiritual practices do you engage in that allow you to stay peaceful, courteous, and develop a respectful regard for difference? How do you stay present and create openness for finding, revealing, and activating God s reconciling love in the world? Household Prayer: Morning Glorious God, each day provides opportunity to awaken to the radiance of your presence, and to welcome your blessing into my life. How often I forget that I am your home! Help me to draw more closely to you, that I may manifest your love more deeply in the world. May every bright place and darkened corner grow ever more luminous as I bear your light this day. Amen. Household Prayer: Evening Holy Jesus, I thank you for sharing your life with me today. As darkness comes and blankets the earth, be with all who suffer from sickness, hunger, or lack of shelter. Kindle in them the warmth of your presence, and surround them with your steadfast care. I am grateful for the blessings of this day. And in the light of your love I rest this night. Amen. The Morning & Evening Household Prayers and Questions for Reflection from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2015