Welcome to Bethlehem United Church of Christ January 27, 2019 Third Sunday after Epiphany
First time guests, welcome! We are so glad that you are worshiping with us this morning. Please sign our guest book in the Narthex and identify yourself to one of our ushers or Welcome Team members to receive a delicious gift. We invite everyone to write their prayer requests and/or praise reports on the cards in the pews. They will be collected during the Hymn of Gathering and read aloud during our Prayers of the Church. These may be edited for privacy concerns. A comfortable space for families is available under the balcony. All are invited to stand for sections marked with a cross ( ); however, some may choose to remain seated. Congregational responses are in bold. FLOWERS The flowers today are in memory of Kellie Goforth s January birthday, with love from the Goforth family Mom, Dad, and brothers Rob and Ron. CHURCH LIFE Birthday greetings to Harriett Holzapfel, who will be 91 on January 30. Jan Leonard is at St. Joseph hospital. John and Jane Schneider are home from the hospital. ATTENDANCE LAST SUNDAY 8:30 = 9 10:00 = 70 Our Mission To worship God, to learn and live the Word of God, to engage in Christian fellowship and service, to invite others to join us on our faith journey in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Order of Worship January 27, 2019 Third Sunday after Epiphany Chapel Sanctuary 8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. RINGING OF THE BELLS PRELUDE Prelude and Fugue in A-flat J.S. Bach WELCOME AND SHARING PARISH LIFE RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP One: This day is holy to our Wise God! All: We gather to listen for God s word, to discern God s will, to worship with God s people. One: All: One: All: One: All: This day is holy to our Joyful God! We are members of Christ s body, Christ s family, Christ s church. This day is holy to our Powerful God! The Spirit of God is upon us, and we have been anointed to bring good news to all. This day is holy to our Sweet God! May the words in our mouths and the thoughts in our hearts delight you, O God. Let us worship our Holy God! HYMN OF GATHERING #618 How Firm a Foundation The Member Care Team will collect prayer requests and praise reports during this hymn.
UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION You gather us from our separate lives, Great God, to hear your word and respond to your revealing. You have appointed us for the work of your church. We seek your guidance, your wisdom, your way. Help us to perceive and understand your law, and then to follow you faithfully as your people. Bind us together with you in worship, and transform us from distinct persons into the Body of Christ, alive with your Spirit in this place. UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION We confess to you, Gracious God, that too often we look on your law as a burden, not a gift; an inconvenience, not a blessing. Rather than seeing your love revealed, we feel our own guilt magnified. Instead of rejoicing in your good news, we focus on our own shortcomings. Turn us around, Redeemer, and do not let our fears have dominion over us. Enlighten us, so that our words and deeds may be acceptable to you. Amen. (let us observe a few moments of silence to breathe and reflect) WORDS OF FORGIVENESS In spite of our individual inadequacies, God has called us together to be Christ s Body, and each one of us is indispensable. God re-members us, giving each of us distinct gifts, equipping each of us to provide guidance and accountability for one another, that we all may become more faithful followers of Christ. We are all greater as one Body than any single member of us could be on our own. THE PRAYER OF OUR SAVIOR (please say in the way most familiar to you) 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 [sins/trespasses], as we forgive our debtors [those who sin/trespass against us]. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. PASSING OF THE PEACE One: Jesus said, Peace I leave you, a peace the world cannot give. Peace always be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us offer one another a sign of Christ s peace.
SONG OF PRAISE #35 Gloria Patri Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. 10:00 LEARNING WITH OUR CHILDREN Children through sixth grade are invited to leave for Sunday school at this time. First-floor rooms are open for infants 1st-graders. Older children meet in the basement-level classroom. ANTHEM We Are One Jeeva Sam SCRIPTURE READINGS 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a 12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. 14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 15 If the foot says, I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand, that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, I am not part of the body because I am not an eye, would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? 18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, I don t need you. The head can t say to the feet, I don t need you. 22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. 23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, 24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all
have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. Luke 4:14-21 14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord s favor has come. 20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21 Then he began to speak to them. The Scripture you ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day! One: All: The Word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God! SERMON Staying on Message Pastor John 8:30 COLLECTION OF OFFERING AND PRAYER REQUESTS 10:00 HYMN #70 God of the Sparrow God of the Whale PASTORAL PRAYER & PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH 10:00 INVITATION TO GIVE We all can and must! contribute in some way to the Body of Christ and the work of Christ s church. Paul reminds us that we are the Body of Christ and individually members of it. We are asked to share this Body with God s world. Each part has something to contribute to the whole. Let us be faithful to God and to this Body as we share what we can this morning. 10:00 OFFERTORY Song of Assurance Arnold B. Sherman Handbell Choir
10:00 DOXOLOGY #46 Praise God the source of life and breath; Praise Christ, now born to conquer death; Praise Holy Spirit s mystery: One God, pure grace, who sets us free. Amen. 10:00 UNISON PRAYER OF DEDICATION Bless, O Lord, these gifts and offerings, that they may be a sign of our intent to serve you. Use them and us to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, and bring wholeness and healing to all who are hurting and oppressed. If one of your people suffers, we all suffer; but if one of your people is honored, we all rejoice together, in your name. Amen. HYMN OF PARTING #501 There Is a Balm in Gilead BENEDICTION Go your way, united in Christ as one Body and rejoicing in the fulfillment of God s word among you. We do not all have the same gifts, but we are blessed to be able to share what we have with one another and with all creation. May the joy of the Lord be your strength this day and every day. Amen. SUNG BENEDICTION May the Peace of God Be Your Peace Neil McLaren POSTLUDE Pasticcio Jean Langlais Please join us for our Sunday morning Coffee Connections today: in the Schmale Lounge after 8:30 worship in the Sanctuary after 10:00 worship, followed by the Congregational Meeting
HELPING IN THE SERVICES TODAY Pastor: Rev. John L. Kennedy Minister of Spiritual Growth and Development: Lily Tinker Fortel Director of Music: Thomas Burton Organist: Gail Jennings Director of Handbells: Jim Rowan 10:00 Bell Ringer Matt Perros Liturgist Laura Seyfried Coffee Connection Servers 8:30 Schmale Lounge: Mike Ehnis, Harriette Ehnis 10:00 Gymnasium: Patti Judson, Chuck Judson 10:00 Sound Technician Gary Rogers Office Volunteer Harriette Ehnis 10:00 Educational Building Greeter Barb Marshall Building Opener/Closer Mike Ehnis/Tom Ziesemer Ushers 8:30 Mike Ehnis, Harriette Ehnis 10:00 Pat Huibregtse, Dennis Huibregtse, Chuck Hookham, Steve Darr Holy Gifts for a Holy Day was written by the Rev. Mary Nelson Abbott. Copyright 2018 Justice and Local Church Ministries, Faith INFO Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.