“The church must know and understand that there is a struggle going on, choices must be made, and neutrality is not possible.” Allan Boesak We are glad you are here this morning to take a step towards encountering God and belonging in our community of imper- fect people. We’re all at different places in our relationship with God. You might have heard a lot about God or be explor- ing who He is for the first time. At New Song, we are all seeking transformation in our lives by the grace of God. May this morning be good for your soul! Epiphany January 10, 2021 The season of Epiphany bridges the gap between Christmas and Lent. Our word epiphany come from a Greek word meaning “manifestation or appearance”; thus, this season finds its focus in the incarnation, God’s revealing himself as the light of the world in the person of Jesus. The appropriate moods of Epiphany are joy and wonder as we contemplate the glory of God, not just in the birth but also in the life and ministry of Jesus. Advent | Christmas | Epiphany | Lent | Easter | Pentecost | Ordinary CALL TO WORSHIP: PSALM 149:1-5 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre! For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds. SONG: WE THREE KINGS Verse 1 Verse 3 We three kings of Orient are Frankincense to offer have I Bearing gifts we traverse afar Incense owns a Deity nigh Field and fountain, moor and mountain Prayer and praising, all men raising Following yonder star Worship Him, God Most High Chorus Verse 4 O, star of wonder, star of night Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Star with royal beauty bright Breathes of life of gathering gloom Westward leading, still proceeding Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying Guide us to thy Perfect Light Sealed in the stone-cold tomb Verse 2 Verse 5 Born a King on Bethlehemʼs plain Glorious now, behold Him arise Gold I bring to crown Him again King and God and Sacrifice King forever, ceasing never Alleluia, Alleluia Over us all to reign Earth to heavʼn replies PRAYER OF REPENTANCE God of all goodness, we come to you this morning with hearts that are slow to learn and slow to trust. In the midst of the ups and downs of life, we struggle to be grateful, and we struggle to come to you in prayer. Our problems are more than we know how to handle, but we often try to handle them on our own. Holy Spirit, tune our hearts to see you as our Helper every hour of our lives. Lord Jesus, forgive us for forgetting you, and remind us how you remember us. In your gracious name we pray, Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON: ROMANS 5:6-8 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. NEW SONG NEWS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OFFERING We want to be a generous community. In response to the grace we’ve received, we seek to give cheerfully, diligently, proportionately, and sacrificially (2 Cor 8:1-15). You can give online at https:// newsong.churchcenter.com/giving. God of all grace, make us a people full of grace. Because of your generosity to us, we seek to be generous with all that we have. Take these gifts, and use them for the spreading of your grace in the world. Amen. SONG: WHAT CHILD IS THIS? Verse 1 Verse 3 What Child is this, who laid to rest So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh On Maryʼs lap is sleeping? Come peasant king to own Him Whom angels greet with anthems sweet The King of kings salvation brings While shepherds watch are keeping? Let loving hearts enthrone Him Raise, raise a song on high This, this is Christ the King The virgin sings her lullaby Whom shepherds guard and angels sing Joy, joy for Christ is born Haste, haste to bring Him laud The Babe, the Son of Mary The Babe, the Son of Mary Verse 2 Why lies He in such mean estate Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear, for sinners here The silent Word is pleading Nails, spear shall pierce Him through The cross be borne for me, for you Hail, hail the Word made flesh The Babe, the Son of Mary SERMON: TIMES OF TROUBLE - NEHEMIAH 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” 4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king. SONG: ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY Verse 1 Chorus Angels from the realms of glory Emmanuel, Emmanuel Wing your flight o’er all the earth You are the God who saves us Ye who sang creation’s story Worthy of all our praises Now proclaim Messiah’s birth Emmanuel, Emmanuel Come and worship Come have Your way among us Come and worship We welcome You here, Lord Jesus Worship Christ the newborn King Come have Your way among us We welcome You here, Lord Jesus Verse 2 Shepherds in the field abiding Bridge Watching o’er your flocks by night Come and worship God with us is now residing Worship Christ the newborn King Yonder shines the infant light God is with us Come and worship Even now His love is here Come and worship His love is here Worship Christ the newborn King BENEDICTION Pastor: Robert Binion, [email protected], 404-513-5761 New Song Presbyterian is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America www.newsong.org .