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SERVICE OF WORSHIP January 4, 2009 · 10:00 AM · Holy Communion PRELUDE “In the Bleak Midwinter” arr. Rawsthorne Leader: Arise, shine; for your light has come, People: And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Leader: Nations shall come to your light People: And rulers to the brightness of your rising. All: Eternal
God, by a star you led magi *HYMN “All Beautiful the March of Days” No. 292 *CALL TO CONFESSION Leader: Tony Kimball *UNISON PRAYER OF CORPORATE CONFESSION God of glory, You sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor; In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, *SILENT PRAYER OF PERSONAL CONFESSION *PASSING THE PEACE *GLORIA PATRI No. 579 OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 31:7-14 For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, "Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel." See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock." For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him. They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord. ANTHEM "Morning Star" arr Bolt EPISTLE READING Ephesians 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. GOSPEL READING John 1:10-18 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ") From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known. CHILDREN’S
(4 yr old to 1st Grade
invited to go upstairs to an Activity Period in room 203. Children leave
through front exits) SERMON “Turning the Page" *HYMN “O Word of God Incarnate” No. 327 Apostles’ Creed, Ecumenical Version (p. 14 in front of
Hymnal) *DOXOLOGY No. 592 OFFERTORY “Stille Nacht" arr. Warren PRESENTATION OF OFFERINGS SACRAMENT OF THE
LORD’S SUPPER Invitation To
The Table Sharing Joys
And Concerns Prayers Of
Thanksgiving And Intercession The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to
the Lord our God. It is right to
give our thanks and praise. (Prayer concludes
with the Lord’s Prayer) Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth
as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we
forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver
us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and
forever. Amen. Words Of
Institution Communion Of
The People *HYMN “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” No. 514 *BENEDICTION – concluding with Pastor: Let all the people say, People: Thanks be to God! Amen. POSTLUDE “I Saw Three Ships” arr Proulx. |