1st Sunday of Epiphany
GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GREETING
So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed.
You will do well to be attentive to this, as to a lamp shining in the dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
PRELUDE Kathy Nash
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Christ is the light of our souls:
People: We rejoice in this light, great source of truth.
Leader: Christ is the light of our homes:
People: We rejoice in this light, great source of peace.
Leader: Christ is the light of the world:
People: We rejoice in this light, great source of hope.
Leader: Let us be Christ’s true lights, dispersing the darkness of evil, for His grace, His power, His peace are with us all.
* HYMN “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” UMH #89
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of the Bethlehem star, everyone is searching for Your light shining in the face of Christ. The Magi sought Christ simply to worship Him. But Herod sought to appease his jealous anger. We confess that our motives for seeking Jesus are not pure. We do not simply come to worship: we come to Christ, asking His benefits of reassurance, health, and wealth; asking Him to fulfill the hundred petitions for not-so-important requests that we heap before Him. But the Magi sought first the kingdom. Help us, God, to follow their example, putting our own need in perspective, worshiping the Christ in love, content to be in Your presence, and laying our gifts before You. Then may we journey, trusting that Your goodness and light will accompany us all the days of our life. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
TIME WITH YOUTH Janet Keffer
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Genesis 1:1-5
*HYMN “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” UMH #103
PRAYERS AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Eternal God: Through the study of Your word we have learned that in this mortal life we have the responsibility of caring for one another’s burdens.
This we seek to do in the presentation of our offerings. Particularly this day, and at Your table we present a communion gift to help meet the needs of both beloved friends and perfect strangers. May what we give be blessed by You, and bring blessings into the lives of those for whom it is given. We pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RECEIVING OUR OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING
*DOXOLOGY UMH #95
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE-JOYS AND CONCERNS Michael Keffer
ANTHEM “Open My Eyes That I May See” Haven UMC Choir
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON John 1:1-5; 8:12; 12:35-36; I John 1:5-7
THE MESSAGE “Today is Epiphany – Let There be Light” Janet Keffer
*HYMN “This Little Light of Mine” UMH #585
COMMUNION
CONFESSION AND PARDON UMH Page 12
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING UMH Page 13-15
THE LORD’S PRAYER
RECEIVING COMMUNION
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG: “He Lives” UMH #310
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives! He lives within my heart.
*BLESSING
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*Stand as you are able. The quiet room is available in the back of the sanctuary if needed.
Many Thanks to the Rev. Ed Womack for officiating at our Communion Service this morning.