Revealed to Us

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Words to Ponder:

In each of these moments of epiphany, we find that no one is able to see themselves as God sees them. Nathanael was merely hanging out under a fig tree. Samuel was just lying on the temple floor. Only God sees what greater things will come with these servants. Indeed, God searches us and knows us better than we know ourselves.

PRELUDE

LIGHTING OF CHRIST CANDLE

GREETINGS

CALL TO WORSHIP 

(inspired by 1 Samuel 3:1-10)

Leader:   Something made the hairs stand up on our necks. Was it you, O God?

Response: Was it you that we saw blowing over the water?

Leader: Was it you that we heard in those steps?

Response: Was it you that we felt in the beating of our own hearts?

Leader: Was it you that called our names?

Response: Come, O God. Come to search us. Come to know us again.

Leader: We were knit in your womb. We have tried to count your works.

Response: Come, O God, so that we can hear you calling our names. Here and now.

HYMN OF PRAISE:   

 “When Morning Gilds the Skies”

When morning gilds the skies, 

My heart awaking cries:

May Jesus Christ be praised! 

Alike at work and prayer,

To Jesus I repair; 

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? 

A solace here I find,

May Jesus Christ be praised! 

Or fades my earthly bliss?

My comfort still is this, 

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Ye nations of mankind, 

In this your concord find,   

May Jesus Christ be praised:  

Let all the earth around  

Ring joyous with the sound,  

May Jesus Christ be praised

Be this, while life is mine, 

My song of love divine:

May Jesus Christ be praised! 

Sing this eternal song

Through all the ages long:  

May Jesus Christ be praised!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy One, you have called us by name.

You will not let us lounge in bed.

You wake us up in the middle of the night to remember…

(in silence……remember God’s works.)    

You will not let us hide under the tree.

You summon us from the shade to be changed…

(in silence……. pray for those things that need to be changed.)  

You will not let us bury our secrets within the earth.

You unearth our fears and speak them aloud…

(in silence …. name your fears.)  

Forgive us, O God, when we cannot speak.

Reveal the words we need most.

In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

WORDS OF ASSURANCE 

(inspired by Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18)       

Our God knows you by name.

Our God knows what you fear.

For you are fearfully and wonderfully made.

In your name, God’s works are revealed again to us. Amen.

CHURCH CONCERNS    

PASTORAL PRAYER 

Response: 

“We Know The Lord Will Answer All Our Prayers” 

We know the Lord will answer all our prayers 

We know the Lord will answer all our prayers 

If we live a Holy life shone the wrong and do the right 

We know the Lord will answer all our prayers

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 

MESSAGE IN SONG             

WORD

CALL TO OFFERING

God knows you by name. God knows all that you can do.God appears in your works for justice.God is revealed in our hope for change.

Let us carry this spirit into our giving.

Let us praise God with our gifts of tithes and offerings.

OFFERTORY SONG          

GIVING OF TITHES PLEDGES & OTHER OFFERING                       

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

O God, you offer us wonderful gifts.

In these offerings, may we make for change that doesn’t yet exist.May we give it a name. May we move through our fears.May we dare to call this hope wonderful, in the hope of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.

HYMN OF DEDICATION:     

“Lord, Speak To Me, That I May Speak”              

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak In living echoes of Thy tone;

As Thou has sought, so let me seek Thine erring children lost and lone.

Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach  The precious things Thou dost impart;

And wing my words, that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart.

Oh, give Thine own sweet rest to me, That I may speak with soothing pow’r

A word in season, as from Thee, To weary ones in needful hour.

CLOSING PRAYER             

BENEDICTION

Send us, O God. Send us to search for your name.Send us to count your works. Send us to feel you calling our name.Send us, O God, into your dream.

First Sunday after Epiphany
Baptism of Christ

PRELUDE

GREETINGS

Call to Worship: Psalm 29
Leader: Give to our God, O heavenly beings, Give to our God glory and strength.
Response Give to our God a glorious name; worship our God in holy splendor.
Leader: The voice of our God is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
Response: The voice of our God is powerful;
the voice of our God is full of majesty.
Leader: The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Our God breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
Response God makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
Leader: The voice of our God flashes forth flames of fire.
Response: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; Our God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
Leader: The voice of our God causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in God’s temple all say, “Glory!”
Response: The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; Our God sits enthroned as ruler forever.
Leader: May our God give strength to the people! May the Lord bless the people with peace!

HYMN OF PRAISE:
“All Hail the Pow’r of Jesus’ Name!”
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
(Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!)2x

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
(Hail Him Who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!)2x

Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
(To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!)2x

INVOCATION
Creating, Calling, and Faithful God, we come to this time and place to be with you, to worship you, and to learn from you.May our time together be like your creation of light
in the darkness that you called good.
May it be that you would call us good
while we respond to your call
and as we listen to you. Amen.

CALL TO CONFESSION
People of God, we desire to be refreshed, renewed and changed. Let us listen again to God’s calling our names to encourage us and strengthen our resolve to be God’s people in faithfulness and peace-loving justice.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
O God, we hear your voice
and we see the way of Jesus set before us.
But it’s hard, dear God, to try again and again
to live up to our baptismal vows and maintain our resolve to be your people in the world.
In repentance we ask you to forgive us. Set us once again on a holy path that leads to you. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S CALL
Friends, God hears our prayers and sets before us the way of Jesus. God calls us and gives us enough grace and mercy to follow the way.
Thanks be to God.

CHURCH CONCERNS

PASTORAL PRAYER
Response:
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng,
We at His feet may fall!
(We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all!)2x

SCRIPTURE READING

ANTHEM

MESSAGE

Baptism and Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Introduction (Minister)
Our God created new life forms and brought them up from the waters of chaos, embraced them, and called them good. Jesus, baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptist, became living water for us and embraces all of us. Jesus embraces those who are poor, oppressed, marginalized and all others who come seeking. We follow Jesus with our Baptism, marking a starting place for new life and new ways of being. We join Jesus in love and service. Let us prepare our hearts and minds to see, feel, and hear again the vows of Baptism.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises
(from Book of Worship)

Minister: Do you renew and affirm the promises made at your Baptism?

Response: I do.

Minister: Do you recognize the call of God to be God’s people always?

Response: I do.

Minister: Do you embrace the way of Jesus in faith and ministry?

Response: I do

Minister: Do you accept the nurture of the Holy Spirit who renews your spirit each day?

Response: I do.

Minister: Do you accept and embrace others who seek a liberating faith in God?

Response: I do

Minister: In renewing your baptismal vows,
remember your Baptism as a mark of acceptance and welcome into the care of Christ’s church where you may begin again your Christian faith and life.

A Unison Prayer:
O God, we rejoice in your grace, given and received. We thank you that you claim us,
that you wash us, strengthen us, and guide us,
that you empower us to live a life worthy of our calling. In the way of Jesus, make us as water in a dry and thirsty world. Establish us to be places of refreshment.Root us and nurture us in love, that with all your people,
that we may rightly and justly serve you. Fill us with your fullnessthat our lives may overflow in service and love. Amen.

CALL TO OFFERING (Leader)
Let us now offer to God what are God’s:
our offerings of ourselves through the offerings of the substance and fruits of our labors.

DOXOLOGY

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Faithful God,
Bless us in our baptismal calling to be in ministry of showing hospitality to others.
We offer the gifts that we have been given
to be used not for conquest and dominance,
but for use in liberating the poor and hurting people who pray for our liberation as well as their own.Receive and multiply our gifts for life-giving ministry. Amen.

HYMN OF DEDICATION:
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer

CLOSING PRAYER

BENEDICTION
Thank you, God, for blessing us with memories of Jesus baptism and ours. Thank you for removing our reluctance, doubt, and fears,
for replacing them with courage and commission. We go forth with your calling, direction, and blessing. Amen.

PRELUDE

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE

GREETINGS

CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Dear God, open our ears to hear what You are saying to us today.
People: Open our eyes, to see where Jesus’ healing love is needed in our world.
Leader: Open our hands, to do Your work and help where help is needed.
People: Open our lips, to bring comfort, joy and laughter to Your people.
Leader: Open our minds, to hear new truths and how You work in our world.
People: Open our hearts, to love You, our neighbors and ourselves as You love us.
Leader: With our whole being open to the leading and the presence of God.

HYMN:
“Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee”

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.

INVOCATION: (Leader)
Almighty God,
who through the greatness of Your love
sent Your Son to suffer upon the cross for our sins; grant that we may have a Christ-like love for others and be able to bring them nearer to You. Help us also to be bound together into one common fellowship. Through the love of our Lord, and Savoir Jesus Christ. Amen.

CALL TO CONFESSION (Leader)
We have sinned against God and against each other and these sins caused broken relationship and fellowship. So in silence let us confess our sins and seek God’s mercy and forgiveness.

MOMENT OF SILENT CONFESSION

SONG OF CONFESSION:
“Search Me, O God” [HFG 425]
Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be some wicked ways in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.

THE PSALTER: Psalm 51:1-13
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless when you pass judgment.

5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

6 You desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON:
1 John 1: 8-9 (TLB)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth.

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he can be depended on to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. And it is perfectly proper for God to do this for us because Christ died to wash away our sins.

RESPONSE: “Search Me, O God”
I praise Thee Lord for cleansing me from sin
Fulfill Thy Word and make me pure within
Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.

CHURCH CONCERNS

CHURCH IN PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING:

MESSAGE:

THE CALL TO OFFERING: Hebrews 13:15-16
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Offering Of Lives, Tithes, Pledges
& Other Offerings

DOXOLOGY

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING: (All)
Holy God of mercy, redemption and grace, we bring our gifts and pray that you will dedicate them to your work of love and reconnection with all your children. These gifts seem small when balanced against what Christ has given us and what you continue to give us through the Holy Spirit. In our giving, may we grow
in gratitude, trust, and faithfulness. In the name of Christ, who gave all for us, we pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)

CLOSING HYMN:
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation;
enter ev’ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev’ry troubled breast.
Let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver,
let us all thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;
true and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

CLOSING PRAYER

BENEDICTION

PRELUDE

LIGHTING OF CHRIST CANDLE

GREETINGS

CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: When Jesus is born to Mary and Joseph,

Response: God is there.

Leader: When they present Jesus at the temple,

Response: God is there.

Leader: When Simeon holds Jesus in his arms,

Response: God is there.

Leader: When Anna recognizes Jesus as the answer to prayer,

Response: God is there

Leader: This very morning,

People: God is here.

Leader: In the future we cannot see,

Response: God is there. Let us worship God!

INVOCATION
O God, in the sweetness of the story we tell today, the encounter of old and young–Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to the elders–
We feel the movement of your Spirit making all things new. Awake us to your presence in this moment As we seek Christ in our midst: Let us recognize God-with-us, A light to the nations, your glory revealed. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen .

HYMN OF PRAISE: “Oh worship the King”
Oh worship the King, all glorious above;
oh gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love,
our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.

Oh tell of God’s might, oh sing of God’s grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is God’s path on the wings of the storm.

The earth, with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old,
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;
thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, De fender, Redeemer and Friend.

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,
while angels delight to hymn thee above,
thy ransomed creation, in glory ablaze,
in true adoration shall sing to thy praise.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Leader: Holy God, we know that you have been present to us throughout all of history, even throughout our own histories. We know you will be with us in our future. Yet often we don’t live as if we know that. As Simeon recognized in Jesus the salvation of his people, we recognize in Jesus’ Way our own wholeness and health, yet we often fail to follow. As Anna recognized in Jesus the redemption of her people, we recognize in Jesus God’s saving grace for us, yet we often fail to rejoice and to share this good news.

All: Forgive us, make us wise and joyful and strong so that we live in the understanding of your never ending love. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Minister)
The scriptures promise that God will make all things new. As God makes the year new, may we also be made new by God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus. Amen.

Response: “Thank you Lord”
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free

CHURCH CONCERNS

PASTORAL PRAYER
Response: “Hear Our Prayer O Lord”

SCRIPTURE READING

ANTHEM

MESSAGE

CALL TO OFFERING
God, you call us to give as we have received in this Christmas Season when you have shared your Child with us, help us to share our blessing with those in need.

OFFERING OF TITHES , PLEDGES AND OTHER OFFERING

OFFERTORY SONG

DEDICATION PRAYER (In unison)
God of Vision,
Take these offerings of money
and turn them into vision;
vision of all people fed,
vision of all people safe,
vision of all people housed,
vision of all people educated. Amen.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

INVITATION

HYMN OF PREPARATION:
“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” [HFJ 256]
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descending,
Our full homage to demand.

CONSECRATION OF THE ELEMENTS

SHARING

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

HYMN OF DEDICATION
“Count Your Blessings” [HFJ 221]
(EVERYBODY’S BIRTHDAY)

When upon life’s billows
you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged,
thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings,
name them one by one,
And it will surprise you
what the Lord hath done.

Refrain: Count your blessings,
name them one by one,
Count your blessings,
see what God hath done!
Count your blessings,
name them one by one,
And it will surprise you
what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened
with a load of care?
Does the cross seem
heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings,
every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing
as the days go by.

When you look at others
with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised
you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings.
Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven,
nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict
whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened,
God is over all;
Count your many blessings,
angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you
to your journey’s end.

CLOSING PRAYER

BENEDICTION
Send us into the world refreshed in hope,
Awake, alert, attuned to your presence
ready to join your work of blessing for all.
Amen.