Virtual Worship Service Sunday January 3, 2021

Order of Worship Prelude: ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime – V. Earle Copes Welcome Call to Worship Hymn: ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime (UMH 244 alt.) Setting by Robert Hobby Confession, Pardon, and Assurance The Peace Psalm 72: With humble justice clad and crowned - Brian Wren Litany of Thanksgiving Time with Young Disciples Hymn: He is born (UMH 228 alt.) Setting by Donna Schultz Prayers of the People The Lord’s Prayer Gospel Acclamation: Angels we have heard on high (UMH 238 Refrain) Scripture: Matthew 2:1-15 Gospel Acclamation Sermon “In the time of King Herod … was born.” Anthem: The Three Kings – Austin Lovelace A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition (UMH 607) Hymn: Carry the flame (Refrain) Offertory Prayer Presentation Hymn: As with gladness those of old Invitation to Community Invitation to Christian Education and Small Groups Hymn: From a distant home (UMH 243) Setting by Brian Schoettler Benediction Postlude: Simple gifts – arr. Eric Pryzby

All music used with permission: license #A-726329 One License.net. This document includes today’s scripture, hymns, and Music Note.

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*Archival footage from 1/6/2019 Worship Leadership for Jan. 3 Preacher: Rev. Grace Imathiu Liturgist: Rev. Bonny Roth Time with Young Disciples: Colin McDonald Scripture Reader: Anna Ter Molen and Mueller/Stephan family Invitation to Community: Mary Taylor-Johnson Invitation to Christian Education: Mitchell Jackson Minister of Music & Organist: Brian Schoettler Music Assistant: Cody Michael Bradley Virtual Choir Oboe: Celia C. String Quartet: Rachel Peters, Cheryl Haack, Ye Jin Goo, Caroline Paulsen Saxophone Ensemble (archival): Eric Pryzby, Slyvia Espitia, Amy Niemira, Laura Pryzby, Frank Rose, Brian Schoettler

The flowers on the altar are given by Kathleen & Bob Dove in loving memory of their daughter Karen Dove Cabral.

Matthew 2:1-15 (NRSV)

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, , and . And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition (UMH #607)

I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O Glorious and blessed God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Music Note

Today we observe the Feast of the Epiphany since it falls mid-week on January 6. Instead of singing the traditional hymn We three kings, we’ll sing music about the from other traditions. Our entrance hymn, ‘Twas in the moon of wintertime, is also known as the Huron carol and was written by Jean de Brébeuf who paired it with a French noël. The hymn is first heard in our prelude as a set of variations by V. Earle Copes, a Methodist church musician who wrote the tune to Georgia Harkness’ Hope of the world. Our sung setting is by Robert Hobby who uses three verses of the carol. We then sing the French carol He is born in a setting by Donna Gartman Schultz which adds a part for oboe, an instrument referenced in the carol’s refrain. These oboes and bagpipes are the instruments of the shepherds of our story. Finally, we sing From a distant home – a traditional Puerto Rican carol which utilizes an underlying habanera/tango rhythm – reminiscent of Epiphany parades and street festivals popular in Latin America. My arrangement features string quartet and adds an improvised piano part. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned his poem, The Three Kings, in 1877 and it is adapted for our anthem today and set to music by Dr. Austin Lovelace, former First Church Minister of Music & Organist. The melody bears a striking similarity to that of The first Noel and is heard in a canon in the minor mode on the middle stanza. The Magi’s names, Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, are not mentioned in scripture but come from a sixth-century manuscript. Worship concludes with an encore presentation of the Shaker tune Simple Gifts arranged by First Church’s Eric Pryzby.

Brian Schoettler, DMA Minister of Music & Organist

He is born IL EST N

R 1 % α 1 œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Hœe is born the di - viœne Christ child! Play the o- boe and bag-pipes mer-rœi-lœy.

œ % α œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ Hœe is born the di - viœne Christ child! Sing we all, of the Sav-ior mild!

A

∀ % 3 œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ A œ - , œ œ - œ œ œ - ˙; A - , - , ,

∀ % œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ A œ , œ - œ - œ, œ - œ ˙; S - , ' - ,

∀ − % œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ S - L, Ι œ - œ - . A - - , C , - K.

TEXT: W C D (1837-1898), . MUSIC: C K (1786-1872) DIX, 7.7.7.7.77 F

1 − ι % α 3 − ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 1. From a dis - tant hom− e the Sav - ior we come seek - ing, 2. Glow-ing gold I bring the new - born babe so ho - ly, 3. Frank - in - cense I bring the child of God's own choos-ing, 4. Bit - ter myrrh have I to give the in - fant Je - sus,

% α ‰ œ œ œ ι œ œ œ us-ing as oœur guœid− e thœe star so briœght - lœy beam - inœg. to-ken of his power to reign a - bove in glo - ry. to-ken of our prayers to heav - en ev - er ris - ing. to-ken of the pain that he will bear to save us.

R − ι % α ‰ œ œ µœ ∀œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ∀œ Love-ly east - ern star that tells us of God's morn - ing,

œ œ− % α ‰ ∀œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ heav-en's won - drous light, OΙ nev - er cease thy shin - inœg!

œ− ι œ % α ‰ œ œ µœ ∀œ œ œ œ œ œ ∀œ Glo-ry in the high - est to the Son of Heav - en,

œ œ− % α ‰ ∀œ œ œ œ œ œ − and up-on the earth bΙe peace and joœy tœo a˙ll. ˙

WORDS: Puerto Rican carol; trans. by George K. Evans 12.12 with Refrain MUSIC: Puerto Rican carol ISLA DEL ENCANTO Translation 1963, 1980 Walter Ehret and George K. Evans, by permission of Walton Music Corp.