St. Paul s United Church of Christ A welcoming Christ-centered community...
Second Sunday of Epiphany January 20 th, 2019 9:30 am Worship We re Glad You re Here! Welcome: No matter where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! More than words, this statement is a reflection of the truth that we are all here because of God s love, grace, and mercy. This is a community held together by the honesty of our shared brokenness and the healing we receive through Christ. Get Connected: Use the Connection Card, signup online for the weekly E-news or monthly Newsletter, like us on Facebook, give us a call, or send an email. It is our joy to journey with you! Restrooms: These are located on the basement level of the church. Either go through the double doors in the front of the sanctuary and turn right to go downstairs, or use the stairwell in the back of the sanctuary and then walk through the fellowship hall. Children: Children of all ages are welcome within the worship service, so that may grow in God s love. (We readily expect to hear their presence and recognize their occasional need for a break from the worship space.) Children s activity bags, for use during worship, are available by both entrances to the sanctuary. A nursery, located beyond the double doors in the front of the sanctuary, is also available for children up to 5 years old. Please see an usher for assistance. Cell Phones: Remember to silence them (and watch chimes) as we enter into worship Hearing amplification devices: These personal devices are available for your use. Directly connected into our sound system, they make it possible to hear those leading worship without amplifying background noises. Please see our sound person for assistance. Your presence is a blessing: Let us know how we might better journey with you. Today s Scripture Readings Isaiah 25:4-9 + Psalm 36:5-9 + Peter 1:3-9 + John 2:1-11 Minister All Members Pastor Rev. Joseph Motz Worship Steward Pat Babel Organist Grace Griffith Worship Leaders Acolyte Ethan Nuss Ushers Sherry Hunter & Anna Oister Nursery Jamie McGee & TBD Counters Barb Kerper & Eloise Stevens 300 West First Street, Birdsboro PA 19508 610-582-8461 + office@stpaulsbirdsboro.org + www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org Pastor s e-mail: pastormotz@stpaulsbirdsboro.org
Order of Worship Welcome & Announcements Prelude (Prayer: You are the God of celebration. In you is more than life. In you is joy and blessing and wonder and awe. Let my heart sing to you with the joy that you first breathed into all life.) (Please rise in body or in spirit) Call to Worship Leader: Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise! People: O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. Leader: God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. People: O God, we meditate on your unfailing love; the eternal providence of your merciful hand. Leader: As we have heard, so we have seen. People: In Christ is our salvation; the glory of God brought to earth that all may rejoice! Leader: Amen! Hymn: O Worship the King #14 Call to Confession (Please be seated) All: Corporate Confession God of birth, God of joy, God of life, we come to you as a people hungry for good news. We have been so dead to miracles that we have missed the world s rebirth. We have preoccupied ourselves with the demands of life and have overlooked the joy you offer us. We have been so concerned with making a living that we have missed the life you set among us.
Forgive us, gracious God. Open our eyes and our hearts to receive your gift; open our lips and hands to share it with all humanity that in Christ we may be a people of your joyful celebration. Through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Silent Confession (A time of personal prayer for God s healing and redeeming peace.) (The response is sung at least two times thru Join in singing as you are moved.) Songs and Prayers from Taizé #47, All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A-714498 Assurance of Grace Leader: It is for joy that we have been created, and in love you have been redeemed. You are the joy of God s heart. Thus in Christ we have each been redeemed. People: Praise to be God, for now and forevermore. Amen! Passing of the Peace Leader: The peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you. (After sharing Christ s Peace with others, please be seated.) (During the following hymn, children nursery/pre-k to 9 th grade are dismissed to participate in age specific Christian Education classes for the rest of worship. Parents/guardians of first time students are invited to follow children to their classroom in order to complete registration information before returning to worship. Following worship please pick-up children, 3 rd grade and younger.)
Hymn: Wonderful Words of Life #315 (verses 2&3) Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 25:4-9 (p. #1095) The vision of God s deliverance is filled with an abundance of the finest of foods. It is a proclamation of life over death in the most basic form. Psalm: Psalm 36:5-9 (p. #874) Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (p. #1886) Our salvation in Jesus is a point of great joy and rejoicing. Gospel Lesson: John 2:1-11 (p. #1648) As a wedding banquet enters its third day, and the wine gives out, Mary calls for Jesus to render an act that will allow the celebration to continue. Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Sermon Signs of What Is To Come (Please rise in body or in spirit) All: Statement of Faith Apostle s Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. Hymn: We Sing the Greatness of Our God #29 (Please be seated)
Receiving of Tithes and Offerings (We give as an act of worship, tangibly offering ourselves to God s service.) Offertory (Please rise in body or in spirit to sing glory to God) Prayers of the People (Believing in God s truth, we open ourselves as God s servants through prayer.) All: The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Commissioning Benediction Sending Hymn: How Great Thou Art #111
Postlude (As the acolyte carries the Light of Christ out into the world, so too are we to carry Christ s light from this sanctuary into the world, our communities, and our homes. May the presence of the Spirit go with you until we gather again in the shared joy of God s worship.) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Announcements Congratulations Janeen! - St. Paul's Minister of Christian Spirituality, Janeen Adil, was recently hired by the PSEC to facilitate a new Community of Practice. Typically formed to bring clergy together, a Community of Practice offers its participants a place for personal and ministerial growth. The Community of Practice that Janeen leads brings a unique focus: experiential spiritual practices and group spiritual direction. Her group of active pastors (from the Covenant and North Penn Assocs.) begins monthly meetings in January and will continue through the year. Why the Post-Its? In remembrance and celebration of Jesus baptism on Jan 13 th, we remembered the people and acts of God that have made a difference in our lives. Posting them to the baptismal font we proudly gave testimony that we are who we are because of the grace and love of others. Scout Sunday, Feb. 3 rd Celebrate with us as our Scout Troop 595 joins with us in worship giving highlights to their program while they serve as ushers, liturgists, and acolyte. Additionally plan to stay afterwards for a time of refreshments and conversation they will be providing for the entire congregation Mission Birdsboro 5K Race Mark your calendars now for the April 27 th - 5K and 1 mile fun run/walk hosted by St. Paul s to benefit the work of Mission Trip Birdsboro and the ministry of St. Paul s. The 1 mile fun run begins at 8:30am and the 5k starts at 9am, with the course running through the heart of Birdsboro. Registration information is available at stpaulsbirdsboro.org/mission5k.html. Mission Trip Birdsboro (updated info) The dates of July 17-21 st have been set for our 6 th annual local based, community mission trip. Applications for assistance will be available Feb. 8 th, with participant registrations opening March 17 th.if your background checks are more than 5 years old, or if you don t have any, now is a great time to apply for them. If you have any questions contact Dawn Fear or Pastor Joe.
Weather Cancellation Policy for Worship - Notice of cancellation, whenever possible, will be posted by Sunday morning at 7:30am on the website, Facebook page, church answering service message, and WFMZ 69news. Congregational Meeting - Sunday, February 10 th (Snow Date Feb. 24 th ) Continuing in our new structure of providing shorter and more regular congregational meetings, our next official meeting is scheduled to follow worship on February 10 th. The meeting topics are currently slated to include: Congregational Coaching Update, Capital Improvement Team Kickoff (with various draft proposals shared for an accessible bathroom), and the 2018 End of Year Financial Report. Proxy voting will be available again as this becomes a regular option for congregational meetings. Be sure to stay connected and to look for updates as we approach the meeting date.