Our Life Together Welcome to Laurel Heights! LAUREL HEIGHTS Sunday, January 5 Sunday A registration book is located at the end of the pew. UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 8:30/11:00 *Worship - Sanctuary Please take a moment to sign your name as a way of helping us get connected. Epiphany Sunday 9:30 Fellowship Time (Epworth Class) - Dining Room If you are a newcomer to this congregation, 10:00 Youth Sunday school - 319 January 5, 2020 ▪ 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. 10:00 Sunday school you might find some of this information helpful:

10:00 Formation group - 317 Requesting Prayer Monday, January 6 You are welcome to share joys and concerns for prayer 10:00 Be Well, Live Well: Healthy Aging - 305 on one of the cards found in the pew rack. 7:00 AA Big Book study - 312 You can either place the completed card in the offering plate or hand it to an usher. 7:15 Disciple I bible study - 305 Tuesday, January 7 Sunday Morning Fellowship Time and 10:15 Somatics exercise class - 305 Sunday School Classes for All Ages Wednesday, January 8 Epiphany Feast and Celebration Fellowship Time: enjoy refreshments and conversation in an informal setting 9:00 Moving On exercise class - 312 from 9:30-10:00 a.m. in the Dining Room. 10:00 Super Adults Steering Committee meeting - 305 Sunday morning classes meet from 10:00-10:50 a.m.

10:00 My Healthy Child Class - 313 B Children and Youth 5:30 Epiphany Feast and Celebration - Gym At Laurel Heights we love children. We encourage you to bring your little ones Menu: Turkey, Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Rolls, with you to our child-friendly sanctuary for worship, where activities are available Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, Child appropriate menu will be available for their use. These can be found along the walls toward the back of the sanctuary. Suggested donation: Adult $7; Child $3.50 If you prefer, a loving nursery is available all morning in Room 116 7:00 Chancel Choir rehearsal - Choir Room for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. 7:00 AA- Monte Vista group - 305 For more information, contact Elizabeth Jackson at [email protected].

Thursday, January 9 Youth 6th through 12th grade, in addition to getting together for Sunday school, 9:00 Church Mice - Dining Room also meet periodically for special outings. Friday, January 10 9:00 Moving On exercise class - 312 More about Laurel Heights Sunday, January 12 For other questions you might have about Laurel Heights, ask around! 8:30/11:00 *Worship - Sanctuary You can also visit our website at www.laurelheights.org. 9:30 Fellowship Time (Fighting Lions of Zion) - Dining Room Our pastoral staff would welcome a visit with you as well. 10:00 Youth Sunday school - 319 10:00 Sunday school 10:00 Formation group - 317 1:00 Lively Spirits - 305 Mission and Ministry *Childcare available January 2020

Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM) is a

Epiphany Feast & Celebration San Antonio-based nonprofit providing services to 50,000 people annually. CAM Join us Wednesday evening for our Epiphany Feast and helps working poor families, children, elderly, homeless, veterans, etc., by Celebration at 5:30 pm in the gym. The celebration will include a providing food, clothing, and financial toast to a healthy, happy New Year with the spirit of Christ, assistance to help people through a crisis or avoid a more serious crisis. The traditions and legends of , traditions of Epiphany mission of CAM is to share the love of Christ by providing immediate assistance and encouragement to people in crisis. All are welcome. Welcome to Sunday Worship (blessing of the chalk and the story), and sharing of the Crown Cakes. This family-oriented occasion has become a LHUMC Volunteer Day As we gather, we celebrate the unique gifts God has given to all, not-to-be-missed special time for people of all ages. Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 8am-11am. believing that our many backgrounds and identities are essential For more information please contact Judy Davis, Missions chair to the shared offering we bring to God through Menu: at [email protected] worship, study, friendship, and serving. Turkey, Ham, Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes,

Rolls, Green Beans, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce *Child-friendly menu will be available Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. 227 West Woodlawn Avenue, San Antonio, Texas 78212 You can RSVP using the registration pad in your pew 210.733.7156 – www.LaurelHeights.org Wi-Fi: LHUMCGuest Password: openhearts or by calling the church office at (210) 733-7156. Facebook.com/LaurelHeightsUMC Podcast: Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher Gather to Worship PRAYER OF CONFESSION Sending Forth Merciful God, we confess that we are often daunted by the hardships, WELCOME obstacles, and discouragements of our world, such that we fail to notice * INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP the signs of your strong and silent work to heal the land and redeem the PRELUDE The March of the Wise Men H. Gaul world. God of new beginnings, lead us into this new year open to the hope *HYMN 117 O God, Our Help in Ages Past of the Epiphany, and ready to live our lives assured of your grace-filled *CALL TO WORSHIP Isaiah 9:2; 60:1 gifts of good news. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. * BENEDICTION Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of God has risen upon you. SILENT, PERSONAL CONFESSION * CHORAL RESPONSE (11:00) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sat in the shadow of death had light dawned. WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND PARDON POSTLUDE How Brightly Shines the Morning Star G. Miles Hear the good news; Christ was born to raise us from the earth; *HYMN 254 born to give us second birth. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Congregation sings verses 1 and 5 and each refrain In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God! Amen.  verse 2: (Tom Morton); verse 3: (Bill Myers); Liturgist Ronald Watson verse 4: Balthasar (Wayne Ehrisman) PRESENTING OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

Today’s Altar Flowers OPENING PRAYER OFFERTORY In loving memory of Barb Kurtz, New every morning is your love, O God of light, and new every year is your (8:30 What Child is This? Arr. P. Manz from her family. call and claim upon our lives. Stir up in us on this day, and in this new year,

a renewed desire to love and serve you, and a deepened devotion to share the (11:00) Brightest and Best P. Sjolund good news of your love and grace with all we meet, and to seek your new Prayers and Concerns Healing: Whit Birdsong, Patricia Carlson (Brenda Stewart), Estelle Hogan, creation in all that we say and do, beginning in this our of sharing Word and * OFFERTORY RESPONSE Hymnal 94 Cara and Aruna (Sue Hall), Marvin Huth, Annalynn Jackson, Irene Vaca, table. Through Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, we pray. Amen. Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Will Geerdes, Susan VanDeCar (Brenda Stewart), Jeff Hamlett (Mike McGlone),

Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Mike Burton (Bert and Janice Clayton), Dot Colfer (Jane Marrone), Thad Dorsey, Proclamation of God’s Word Praise God, the source of all our gifts! David Bebinger (Ann Wheeler), Gracie Huron, Doug Semmes, Lydia Powell, Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts! FIRST READING (p. 649 OT) Isaiah 60:1-6 Rev. Justin Jones (Leana Turbeville), Marjorie Parrigan, Mal Hierholzer, Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Diane Boehme, George Frame, Teresa Johnson (Shirley Carter and Marvin Huth),

SECOND READING (p. 181 NT) Ephesians 3:1-12 Vicki Ferguson. Thanksgiving and Communion God’s Presence: Those traveling to gather for the holiday season, homebound *PSALTER Psalm 72:1-14 Hymnal 795 Communion rail offerings will benefit Christian Assistance Ministry (CAM). members, the incarcerated, and women and men in our military.

Response 1 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Hymnal 20

Musical setting B * GOSPEL LESSON (p. 1 NT) Matthew 2:1-12 New Year, New Online Giving Platform! To donate online visit laurelheights.org/donate, things will look This is the Word of the Lord. THE LORD’S PRAYER Hymnal 895 different and you will be required to set up a new giving account. Thanks be to God. Amen. To use our text-to-give service, text “LHUMC” to 73256.

AGNUS DEI SERMON Nativity and thistles Rev. Paul Escamilla O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Response to the Word We’re growing a library! O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Remember to bring in your books by January 6, 2020. have mercy upon us. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Lord in your mercy, grant us thy peace. hear our prayer. Our Savior is born!

Let us continue with persistence Laurel Heights UMC CALL TO CONFESSION and joy as this new year journey 8,864.13 Let us confess our sins before God and one another. miles leads us the 5,593 miles back to San Antonio and into fuller awareness that God is with us. Bold print invites the congregation to read along. *Asterisk means we’re invited to stand in body or spirit.