Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

Faithful God, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving, deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown toward us, your people. When we call out to you, you answer.  When we are exhausted, you give us the strength to go on. When we find ourselves in trouble, you  are there, standing beside us.  And so we come before you gratitude and praise, offering you theworship of our hearts and lives. Open our eyes to see and know you here among us; open our ears to recognize your voice. And then send us out from here, to live and work in the world as your faithful disciples. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     "Water Lilies”     Catherine Rollin     

Call to Worship 2

ONE: The invitation is given to every person by Jesus Christ:  “Come to me! Follow me! Be my disciples!”  We come to this place, to this time, at the invitation of Jesus Christ.  In the name of Christ,

ALL: we accept the invitation to discipleship.

ONE: In the name of Christ,

ALL: as his disciples, we worship and praise God.

ONE: In the midst of a world where cruelty abounds,

ALL: we proclaim the God of Compassion.

ONE: In the midst of despair that threatens to swallow up whole lives, whole peoples,

ALL: we proclaim the God of Hope.

ONE: In the midst of indifference and apathy,

ALL: we proclaim the God of Love.

ONE: Come, let us worship together

ALL: and share our witness of God's living presence in the world.

Hymn 755  Alleluia! Laud and Blessing

Prayer of Affirmation 3

Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Psalm 138 and Luke 5:1-11

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  "Yet..."   Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 170  Come to Me, O Weary Traveler

Invitation to the Offering

We are living, breathing messages of God's love for the world. This is our work of faith and our labor of love and our steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ. Like the earliest Christians, we are here in this place because of the commitment and faith and generosity of others who shared the good news of the gospel in their time. So we turn now, in our time, and share our faith and our commitment.  Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     “A Swan Song”     Clint Mansell, Adapted from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky

Prayer of Dedication

Let us pray: Generous God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have shown us what it means to love.  And you call us to follow your example—to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Continue to write your law of love on our hearts.  Give us an unwavering passion for justice, and a tenacious faith that will not rest until the hungry are fed, the oppressed find relief, and the outsider finds a welcome.  In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.   Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

The Sacrament of Holy Communion

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

LEADER: The Lord be with you

PEOPLE: And also with you

LEADER: Lift up your hearts

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord

LEADER: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

PEOPLE: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 769 For Everyone Born

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     “Purple Rain”          Prince Rogers Nelson

1 Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

2 http://www.onearthpeace.org

3 Colossians 1:15-20

Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

Compassionate God, we recognize that our world is a broken place, hurt by poverty, famine and disease. We admit that sometimes we make the world a broken place, tolerating prejudice, conflict and self-interest. We confess that our hearts also suffer with anger, resentment and jealousy. Renew us in Your love, O God, and heal us with the comfort of Your abundant love. Awaken us to the role we can play in healing Your creation. Strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit to hear Your word and move forward in faith. Amen.

Welcome

Introit    

Call to Worship 2

ONE: When we pass through the waters,

ALL: God is there with us.

ONE: When we suffer and feel hopeless,

ALL: God is there with us.

ONE: When we are joyful and celebratory,

ALL: God is there with us.

ONE: Whether we feel triumphant or defeated,

ALL: God is there with us, always.

ONE: Come, let us worship together with Emmanuel, God with us.

Hymn 409  God is Here!

Prayer of Affirmation 3

Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 17:5-10 and Luke 6:17-26

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  "Seen"  Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 172  Blest Are They

Invitation to the Offering

We are living, breathing messages of God's love for the world. This is our work of faith and our labor of love and our steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ. Like the earliest Christians, we are here in this place because of the commitment and faith and generosity of others who shared the good news of the gospel in their time. So we turn now, in our time, and share our faith and our commitment.  Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     “A Swan Song”     Clint Mansell, Adapted from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky

Prayer of Dedication 1

Benevolent God, you see those who are hungry, poor and marginalized, who too often we overlook. You recognize their humanity and their suffering, and promise to overthrow the rejection they encounter in our world. Help us be part of that transformation. Take our gifts to feed the hungry and sustain the poor. Multiply our gifts to erase the margins of our society, embracing us all in your inclusive love.  In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.  Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 247 Now the Green Blade Rises

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     

1 Gill Le Fevre

2 Rev. Mindi

3 Colossians 1:15-20

Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

God who made all things and is beyond our imagining, thank you for the gift of life, the gift of today, the gift of this space. Jesus Christ, who came into our world to be with us, thank you for your healing presence, your life, your friendship. Spirit of God, who animates us with the resurrection life of God, breathe on us, be in our midst, animate our worship. We're here. You're here. May that be enough, though we see dimly, though we know in part, though you are a mystery, we long for you, we look for you, we wait for you. Amen

Welcome

Introit  Clair de lune/Blessed Assurance     Debussy/Knapp, Arr. Kendall Lord  

Call to Worship

God alone is our refuge and hope, our shelter and protection. From our very first breath to our last, God's love and compassion never fails. So come, lift your voices in praise to God. Bear witness to God's acts of mercy and love. Proclaim God's glory to all who will listen. Let's worship God together.

Hymn 214     You Are My Refuge, Faithful God

Prayer of Affirmation 2

We share one faith, have one calling, are of one soul and one mind; have one God and Father, are filled with one Spirit, are baptized with one baptism, eat of one bread and drink of one cup, confess one Name, are obedient to one Lord, work for one cause, and share one hope. Together we come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ; are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity; know and bear one another's burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ that we need one another and up build one another, admonishing and comforting one another; that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness. Together we pray; together we serve God in this world.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Psalm 71:1-6 and Luke 4:21-30

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 183     Come to Me, O Weary Traveler

Invitation to the Offering 3

Generous God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have shown us what it means to love. And you call us to follow your example - to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Continue to write your law of love on our hearts. Give us an unwavering passion for justice, and a tenacious faith that will not rest until the hungry are fed, the oppressed find relief, and the outsider finds a welcome.  Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     Romance, Op. 10, No. 6          Sergei Rachmaninoff

Prayer of Dedication 4

May the offerings brought this day be used as seeds, planted faithfully and nurtured lovingly so that God's way may be realized anew in this world. Grant us the humility we need to plant and then tend your precious garden.  In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.   Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 813     God, My Help and Hiding Place

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude   “Bridge Over Troubled Water”     Paul Simon  

1 Grace Church in Ealing, London

2 Nolan Palsma

3 Christine Longhurst

4 Katherine Hawker

Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

Eternal God, whose signature we see, if we dare to look, in the creation of the universe, help us this hour to look and to listen for Your handwriting and Your voice in this place, among these people. Connect our temporary praise to Your timeless rhythms, Your ageless melodies, Your everlasting joyful noise. Guide us now to focus upon You, knowing that in You, our distractions become new possibilities for action. Breathe life into our singing, our praying, our speaking, our listening, our touching, that all these activities might become more than they are. In our worship we reach out to You, O God, knowing that You have already enfolded us in Your arms. In Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Welcome

Introit     “Polar”     Ola Gjeilo  

Call to Worship 2

The heavens are telling the glory of God. May our worship reflect God’s glory. The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. May we see each other as the handiwork of God. Let our prayer and praise, our singing and proclamation project the love of God. We commune with Christians around the world, with Christians throughout time. With Christians across geography and across time, let us worship!

Hymn 300  We Are One in the Spirit

Prayer of Affirmation 3

Your love, O God, is as immeasurable as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches higher than the clouds in the sky. Your justice is like the majestic mountains—firm and unshakeable, and your judgments are as deep as the ocean depths. And yet, in your greatness, you care for all of creation— people and animals alike. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds rest in your presence. We eat and are satisfied at Your table; we drink from the river of Your overflowing kindness. For You alone can quench our thirst; You alone can open our eyes and awaken our souls. May Your love continue to grow deeply in the lives of all who know You. May Your salvation come to all who follow in Your paths. Amen.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Psalm 19:1-4 and Luke 4:14-21

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 772     Live Into Hope

Invitation to the Offering  4

Jesus stood up, unrolled the scroll just as had Ezra, the priest-scribe, and announced to the assembly and to us that God is in our midst this day. Earth is holy now. Anoint our being and doings, touch all our days, with grace. Let us honor this world and its people. Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more

than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail. We want to recognize all of the

offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the

Church. Let us receive this morning’s offering.

Offertory     “A Swan Song”     Clint Mansell, Adapted from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky

Prayer of Dedication 5

Generous God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, you have shown us what it means to love. And you call us to follow Your example— to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Continue to write your law of love on our hearts. Give us an unwavering passion for justice and a tenacious faith that will not rest until the hungry are fed, the oppressed find relief, and the outsider finds a welcome.  In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 610     O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     “Larmes Glacées”     Maxence Cyrin

1 My Redeemer Lives website

2 Jesus Sets the Table, United Church of Christ

3 Inspiration from The Voice scripture translation

4 Anne Osdieck

5 Christine Longhurst, in Hunger for Justice: World Food Day 2016

Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

Lord, the eyes of all look to You in hope; and You give them what they need. You open Your hand and satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. We, too, turn to You again, longing to be filled— to eat of the Bread of Life, to drink from Your life-giving streams, to taste Your goodness and live. May the time we spend together in Your presence nourish our hearts and minds; may it strengthen our relationship with You, and renew our commitment to live in this world as Your faithful disciples. For You alone are God, the Source and Sustainer of life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Welcome

Introit    “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”     Thomas Dorsey, Arr. Brent Edstrom

Call to Worship 2

ONE: We come this day, Precious God, as people in need of your steadfast love:

ALL: with you is the fountain of life; in your Light we see light.

ONE: We gather this day, Water-changing God, as people looking for signs:

ALL: with you is the fountain of life; in your Light we see light.

ONE: We worship this day, Gifting God, as people who confess Jesus as our Lord:

ALL: with you is the fountain of life; in your Light we see light.

ONE: Whether we feel triumphant or defeated,

ALL: Let us worship God!

Hymn 749  Come! Live in the Light!

Prayer of Affirmation 3

Your love, O God, is as immeasurable as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches higher than the clouds in the sky. Your justice is like the majestic mountains—firm and unshakeable, and your judgments are as deep as the ocean depths. And yet, in your greatness, you care for all of creation— people and animals alike. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds rest in your presence. We eat and are satisfied at Your table; we drink from the river of Your overflowing kindness. For You alone can quench our thirst; You alone can open our eyes and awaken our souls. May Your love continue to grow deeply in the lives of all who know You. May Your salvation come to all who follow in Your paths.  Amen.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Psalm 36:5-10 and John 2:1-12

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 156  Sing of God Made Manifest

Invitation to the Offering

Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     “Wade in the Water”     Trad. Spiritual, Arr. Chris Nole

Prayer of Dedication 4

Let us pray: On our own what we have to give doesn't amount to much in the light of all you have given to us and in the face of so much need. Put together as a congregation, what we offer you here in love becomes more, not simply added together, but somehow multiplied in its usefulness. We ask you to bless our gifts and, with the addition of your blessing, just as it was with the loaves and fishes, there is enough for all.  In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.   Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 339   Lift Every Voice and Sing

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude         “Thank You for Being a Friend”     Andrew Gold, Arr. Mario Stallbaumer

1 Christine Longhurst, re: Worship

2 Thom Shuman

3 Inspiration comes from The Voice translation of scripture

4 Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Morning Reflection1

“You have come near, God-with-us.  Not only made your home among us, you have come to dwell within us making of our heart a habitat of divinity.

Christmas Bells

Opening Prayer 2

Beloved Jesus, may we have the faith and insight of the Wise Men, who, when faced with an ancient hope of a foreign people and the appearance of a remarkable star, grasped the connection, and went and followed that star. We stand now at the border of a new year, which is to us like an unknown country. We don't know what we will experience as we traverse it; we don't know what obstacles will lie across our path. Lead us, like the Wise Men, on a quest of faithfulness and worship, of hopefulness and giving, and always unto Yourself. Amen.

Welcome

Introit    

Call to Worship 3

O come let us worship and lift our hearts . . . not because the world is good and last week was awesome, but because the earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the God of the whole Earth. O come let us worship and raise our hands . . . not because our lives are all sweetness and light, but because even those who walk in darkness can see a great light, the Bright and Morning Star. O come let us worship and bow down . . . not because God gives us what we want, but because God gives us what we need – the holy child Jesus, God's Unspeakable Gift.

Hymn 145  What Child Is This

Prayer of Affirmation 4

At the dawn of a new year, we come to welcome hope for a new world. Let the darkness lift, to welcome a dawn of plenty, with enough for everyone and people ready to share. Let the day begin, with new energy for the struggle to protect our children and to care for the vulnerable. Let the light shine, to open a path to safety for all who are seeking home and longing for life. Let the sun rise  on new talks and new resolve  to end the bombing and the terror and to find solutions that will last. At the dawn of a new year we come to declare our hope and to welcome a new world.

Response Hymn 113

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 155

Raise a song of gladness, peoples of the earth.

Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!

Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-12

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  The Three Questions     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 150  As With Gladness

Invitation to the Offering

Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise.*  We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     

Prayer of Dedication

Let us pray: O Lord, giver of life and source of freedom, we know that all we have received is from your hand. You call us to be stewards of Your abundance, the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us. Help us to always use Your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Jesus Christ in our lives.* In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.   Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 151     We Three Kings

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     

1 Fragments of Your Ancient Name

2 Jeanie Gushee (1962–), Yours Is the Day, Lord, Yours Is the Night: A Morning and Evening Prayer Book

3 Leonard Sweet, Preach the Story

Archdiocese of Chicago

4 At the Dawn of a New Year, Susan Durber

All the music this morning comes from Black composers or from the African American Spiritual traditions, in keeping with the February celebration of Black History.

Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

Creator God, this is the day that you have made!  This is the day you have called Holy: Sabbath day, a rest day, a time-out, out of the world and into the presence of God: a day for rejoicing.  Make us glad this morning in the House of the Lord. Remove from us our distractions, our heart- worries, our to-dos and should-haves and all the constant stress & strain.  And in its place, O God, give us more of you. Here in your House, our hearts are filled with peace our mouths with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy.  Fill us to brimming and overflowing with the joy of the Lord: A good measure of God, pressed down, shaken together and running over.  We are glad, yes, we are glad indeed, to be together in the House of the Lord!

Welcome

Introit    ”Adoration”     Florence Price

Call to Worship 2

The words God speaks are the life and sustenance of all that exists. The life Jesus gives is the re-creation and renewed birth of all that is broken and worn. The Spirit's stirring in our souls is the inspiration for creativity, compassion, joy, and community. Life-giving, life-restoring, life-fulfilling God; may our whole lives be worship. In all things, may we seek to connect with and to reflect your love and your hope.

Hymn 408  There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Prayer of Affirmation 3

Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Genesis 45:3-11,15 and Luke 6:27-38

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Sermon:  "Why Are You Still Here?"  Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 52  When Israel Was in Egypt's Land

Invitation to the Offering

We are living, breathing messages of God's love for the world. This is our work of faith and our labor of love and our steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ. Like the earliest Christians, we are here in this place because of the commitment and faith and generosity of others who shared the good news of the gospel in their time. So we turn now, in our time, and share our faith and our commitment.  Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     “Dusk”     Nkeiru Okoye

Prayer of Dedication

Benevolent God, you see those who are hungry, poor and marginalized, who too often we overlook. You recognize their humanity and their suffering, and promise to overthrow the rejection they encounter in our world. Help us be part of that transformation. Take our gifts to feed the hungry and sustain the poor. Multiply our gifts to erase the margins of our society, embracing us all in your inclusive love.  In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.  Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 792  There Is a Balm in Gilead

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     “Sweet Mister Jelly Roll”     Valerie Capers

1 Literature & Liturgy

2 The Minor Keys

3 Colossians 1:15-20

Chimes

Opening Prayer 1

Holy One, we come before you, many of us feeling like we have climbed just a part of the mountain, and there is so much more of a climb left to even get to point to dream that we might be dazzled by what is Divine. Our loads are heavy, with worry, with regret, with fatigue, with illness, with despair for all in the world that is hurting, in danger, in bondage and more. We trudge ahead, following you, stumbling, hoping, praying... breathing hard, hearts pounding, and yes, even some of us are nimble and skipping. Lead us Lord, to the top of that mountain, where we might be dazzled by your Light, lifted by what is Divine, filled by the sheer delight of what is numinous and ethereal and grounded and real. We pray this, for ourselves, for one another, and for the worlds in which we live in. Amen.1

Welcome

Introit    Adagio in F Minor     Joseph Bolgne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Call to Worship 2

ONE: Beyond our busyness, above the cold winter floor there is a glory rising born of heaven and reaching out to each one of us

ALL: a light that shines through the clouds, an invitation seeking all of who we are that transfigures the world

ONE: that transforms darkness into hope, that brings life from a cross where old life ends and new life is born

ALL: In glory Jesus meets us here, raising us from depths of valley to the height of the mountain, carrying the weight of our humanity to the heights of heavens glory.

ONE: Let us worship from the mountain and hear again “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

Hymn 156  Sing of God, Made Manifest

Prayer of Affirmation 3

O Lord our God, you are great indeed, clothed in majesty and splendor, wrapped in light as with a robe.  In the solitude of a mountain height you revealed your glory in Jesus Christ even as he faced his crucifixion.  We praise you for this glimpse of the mystery of our redemption.  You loved the world so much that you sent your beloved Son to dwell with us.  He who bears your very image, the firstborn of all creation, through whom all things have been created, took our flesh and suffered death that we may be made whole.  By his death he conquered death, and by his rising he gives eternal life.  We praise you for your saving grace.  Transfigure us by your Spirit, and let your love shine in all we do and say that all the world may see the radiant light of God guiding all creation, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Response Hymn 616

Our God is an awesome God who reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love; our God is an awesome God!

Sharing the Peace

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 161

Come and join the song, women, children, men,

Jesus makes us free to live again! (repeat)

Scripture Readings: Exodus 34:29-35 and Luke 9:28-36

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem     "Cornerstone/How Great Thou Art"     arr. Hillside

Sermon:  "Next"  Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 189  O Wondrous Sight, O Vision Fair

Invitation to the Offering

Generous God, you hold nothing back when we call to you.  You offer us every good gift for our lives.  Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. We have a basket here on the table to receive your offerings now, or later this morning, and you are more than welcome to continue sending your offerings through the mail.  We want to recognize all of the offerings of time and energy and talent and money that are such an important part of being the Church. Let us receive this morning's offering.

Offertory     Be Thou My Vision     Trad. Irish, Arr. Marcia Wells

Prayer of Dedication

Let us dedicate these offerings to God's use, with prayer.  Loving God, these offerings we receive today are both material and non-material.  Some of our offerings are promises from us to you.  Take our offerings in whatever form they are, and turn them into something beautiful for someone in need.  Take our offerings and turn them into examples of your love.   In faith and gratitude we offer common things made miracles by your grace.   Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory.  Amen.

Prayers of the People

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, forever. Amen.

Hymn 452  Open the Eyes of My Heart

Announcements

Blessing

Closing Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Postlude     “Made New"     Meeker, Brewster, and Wedgeworth

1 rev karla

2 Rev. Rob Smith, Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church, Apple Valley, MN

3 Book of Common Worship, p.152