Illuminating the world
Central Church of the Brethren Called to believe Connected in love Compelled to serve 416 Church Ave SW Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Roanoke, VA 24016 Worship 11:00 a.m. 540 342-0337 January 6, 2019 Epiphany Sunday Flood of Mercy Focus Statement: God s flood of light illumines the darkness. Like rain that waters the ground, the light of mercy shines on all people. Our job is to let it flow through us so everyone we meet will know God s good news. Ringing of the Chimes ^Gathering Carol O come, all ye faithful # 212 Welcome, Announcements & Joys/Concerns, followed by a time of preparation Prelude ^Responsive Call to Worship One Voice: Arise, shine: your light has come. Gathered Voices: God s glory has risen upon us. One Voice: Even if darkness should cover the earth, deep darkness covers all people, Gathered Voices: nothing can hide God s glorious light. Let us look to God and be radiant. Let us reflect the brightness of this dawning. ^Carol Bright and glorious is the sky # 219 ^Opening Prayer Children s Message Invitation to Tithes and Offerings Offertory Music ^Offering Response Praise God from whom # 119 ^Offering Prayer
Pastoral Prayer followed by Psalm 72:1-14 in Unison 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. May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more. May he have dominion from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight. Anthem We Shall Light a Thousand Candles David Rasbach We shall light a thousand candles, dispelling the night with a glorious morn; We shall sing a thousand carols proclaiming our wonderful Savior is born! Tell it far and tell it near, Speak of the love He gave us; Every nation needs to hear: Jesus was born to save us! God into the blinding night, Sing of this great salvation. Take the glorious Gospel light to every tongue and nation We shall all proclaim that our wonderful Savior is born! Scripture Reading Matthew 2:1-12 (p. 2 in the pew Bibles) Carol We Three Kings of Orient Are Red Hymnal # 141 Sermon The true king of the world Responding to God s Word through affirmation of faith in Unison We believe that light is stronger than darkness and that justice is stronger than wrong. God will tumble all dividing walls and bring great things from small beginnings.
Invitation for Anointing ^Carol As with gladness men of old # 218 ^Benediction in Unison This is the mystery revealed to us: We are members of the same body with all people; through Christ we are sharers in same promise and have access to the same God. ^Postlude
The flood of mercy is actually a flood - it washes over everything and everyone. We recognize what s been true all along: The world is bathed in God s mercy. We can rejoice in knowing that God loves and restores what God has made. Not all the world s people know this, though. Isaiah calls Israel to arise and shine; how might we too radiate the good news to everyone we meet? Paul s letter to the Ephesians lays out an amazing mission for the church: To make known the rich variety of God s wisdom to all, even the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This includes the announcement that the former status quo of Jew and Gentile is wiped out: we re all fellow heirs. While the distinction between Jew and Gentile isn t one we give much thought to anymore, it s worth pondering the truth that we re members of the same body as those we d consider least like us. Both personally and corporately, who are we being nudged to see as sharers in the promise of Christ Jesus? (Eph 3:6) What would it look like to act on that nudge? What attitudes, words, practices, and actions is God calling us towards? Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12 The covers for this Advent season were created by Fred Porter. In his creating mixed-media collages he realized that this is the first time in his artistic journey that he has created representational artwork from abstract pieces. Interestingly enough in this piece he merges the two styles into one cohesive image. This week we are encouraged to share the light that shines for all of God s creation. Dare we have the courage to the gift of light through the mercy that we have received with our neighbors?
Welcome to Central Church of the Brethren. We are glad that you are here on this day that the Lord has made. Our prayer is that whether this is your 1 st time or your 1,000 th time worshipping with us, that you feel welcome and know God s love. If this is your first time, we would like to get to know you. Please share your contact information on the colored paper you received. With love and God s peace - your friends at Central - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Attendance and Offering Last Week Sunday School: 16 Offering for 12/30/2018: $ 1,648.00 Worship Service: 44 Offerings thru 12/30/2018: $ 137,745.48 Needed for 2018 budget: $ 150,800.00 Volunteers This Week 1/6/2019: Worship Leader Kim Snow Children s Story Pastor Kevin Ushers Lloyd Enoch, Dean Reed, Karen & Jeff Chewning Audiovisual Team Luke Vilelle, MaryBeth Fisher Counters Harry Rhodes, Vicky Chapman Closer Wayne Chapman Child Care Karen Barnhart Volunteers Next Week 1/13/2019: Worship Leader Marilyn Lerch Children s Story Cheri Burton Ushers Wayne Chapman, Alyssa Porter, Christie & Paul Wray Audiovisual Team Joyce & David Childers Counters Nancy Reed, Lloyd Enoch Closer Harry Rhodes Child Care Pam Green CHURCH STAFF Ministers Every Member of the Church Pastor Kevin Kinsey Minister of Music Becky Rhodes Organist Bob Iseminger Youth Director Joy Murray Office Admin. Amy Vilelle (Office hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm)
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS Today Epiphany worship service with anointing Jan 8 6:30 pm FIA (Faith in Action) meets at the Hite s Jan 9 5:30 pm WNF fellowship meal and activities resume Jan 10 12 noon KIT Club meets for lunch at 419 West Jan 14 6:30 pm Ministry and Leadership Teams meet Jan 17 6 pm Youth work camp registration at Kinseys Jan 19 8 am Project WARM A Christmas letter from Judy Yingling is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. Registration for junior and senior high summer Workcamps opens at 8pm on Thursday, January 17. All youth should meet at the Kinsey s home at 6pm for dinner and discussion. The Roanoke Chapter of Project Linus meets about once a month at nearby First Christian Church to sew quilts and blankets for ill and traumatized children. Call the First Christian Church office at 342-5144 to learn about the next meeting. Children collect quarters during offering to support the Faith in Action group s ministries to families and Highland Park Elementary - $981 was collected last year. The annual "After the Holidays" Covenant group gathering will be held February 2 at 6:30 at the Hite's. Please bring a dish to share for dinner. Those who wish to participate in the "gift" exchange should bring one wrapped item per person. Beverages will be provided.
Weekly Prayer Concerns Ruth Michael, Marsha Stanley, Nyna Murray, Judith Deos, Paul Garst, Dottie Gottshall, Becky Jamison, Dean Reed, Garland & Betty Bowman, Bob Iseminger, Tom & Evelyn Huffman, Kin & Carolyn Otterman, Fred Porter, Karen Chewning, Frances Ward (Jackie Talevi s mother), Alan Malloy, Virginia Shutters (Rita Enoch s mother), and Rowan Price & family Pray for Paul J. Stover, Jr., pastor of the Christiansburg Church, for Todd A. Reed, pastor of the Poages Mill Church, and for Glenn D. Stevens, pastor of the Saunders Grove Church, all of whom began their new pastorates on January 1, 2019. Let us give glory to God for the manifold gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon Christ s church. The green candle on the organ burns in remembrance of the Christians in Nigeria experiencing religious persecution and civil instability. Especially pray for Aisha Lawan, who was kidnapped with other girls from Chibok in May 2014 and still has not returned home. If you would like to learn more about the Nigerian crisis, you can visit http://www.brethren.org/nigeriacrisis