SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT: HOLY COMMUNION EPIPHANY OF THE LORD JANUARY 1, 2017 GATHERING AROUND THE WORD 11:00 AM RINGING OF THE BELL OPENING VOLUNTARY POÈME MYSTIQUE RICHARD PURVIS (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear) BRYAN LOHR, ORGAN WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you. CHORAL INTROIT A NEW YEAR CAROL BENJAMIN BRITTEN MIKAYLA AND ZACH DODGE Here we bring new water from the well so clear, For to worship God with this happy New Year. Refrain: Sing levy-dew, sing levy-dew, the water and the wine, The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine. Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe; Open you the West Door and turn the Old Year go. Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin; Open you the East Door and let the New Year in. * OPENING SENTENCES Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. The brightness of God’s light shines upon all the nations. All are welcomed to the brightness of God’s dawn. God gathers us from far away and carries us. With radiant eyes, with rejoicing hearts, we receive the abundance God gives. We respond in praise. With our gifts, with our very selves, we worship God. * HYMN #151 WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE “KINGS OF ORIENT” (We will only sing the refrain after verses 1 and 5.) CALL TO CONFESSION PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of justice, we confess that our actions are evil whenever we remain passive while others are oppressed; whenever we guard our own prosperity at the expense of those who are poor; or when we ignore the cries of those in need of help. Forgive us, we pray, for hiding in the darkness of this world more than loving the light of your righteousness made known to us in Jesus Christ. Judge us with mercy, we pray, and extend your grace to us. Strengthen our faithfulness to you and to all who are precious in your sight. We pray in the name of Christ, our Light... (Time for silent reflection and prayer) KYRIE ELEISON #576 LORD, HAVE MERCY “SINGAPURA” (Sing twice) Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy on us. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Friends, God is for us… declare the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free to live a new life in him. * RESPONSE #583 GLORY TO GOD “GLORIA” (TAIZÉ) (Sing twice) Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia! * PASSING OF THE PEACE The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. (Please greet one another with the peace of Christ.) PROCLAIMING THE WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION FIRST READING ISAIAH 60:1-6 PEW BIBLE, OT, P.649 ANTHEM ON THIS DAY GUSTAV HOLST THE SANCTUARY CHOIR On this day, earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our king, born on earth to save us, him the father gave us. Refrain: Ideo-o-o, ideo-o-o- Ideo, gloria in excelsis Deo! His the doom, ours the mirth; when he came down to earth Bethlehem saw his birth; ox and ass beside him from the cold would hide him. God’s bright star, o’er his head, wise men three to him led; Kneel they low by his bed, lay their gifts before him, praise him and adore him. On this day angels sing; with their song, earth shall ring, praising Christ, heaven’s king, born on earth to save us; Peace and joy he gave us. GOSPEL READING MATTHEW 2:1-12 PEW BIBLE, NT, P.1 SERMON REV. JUDY JOHNSON RESPONDING TO THE WORD * HYMN #152 WHAT STAR IS THIS, WITH BEAMS SO BRIGHT “PUER NOBIS NASCITUR” SEALING THE WORD: HOLY COMMUNION INVITATION TO OFFERING MUSICAL OFFERING IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER ARR. ROBERTA ROWLAND RAYBOLD BRYAN LOHR, ORGAN * DOXOLOGY #144 IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER “CRANHAM” What can I give him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what can I give him: Give my heart. * OFFERTORY PRAYER INVITATION TO THE TABLE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give you our thanks and praise, O God! You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. And so with the community of faith from every place and time – with those who know how deeply you love us, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God. Hosanna in the highest. You are holy, O God, and blessed is your son Jesus Christ, in whom you have revealed yourself, our light and salvation. You sent a star to guide wise men to where Christ was born; and your signs and witnesses in every age and throughout all the world have led your people from far places to your light. In his baptism and in his table fellowship, he took his place with sinners. In Christ, we have seen and heard the good news of God: the sick are healed, strangers are welcomed, the poor have hope, and the dead are raised to new life. We remember that on the night in which he gave himself up for us… WORDS OF INSTITUTION And now remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, We take from your creation this bread and this cup and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising, as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving, we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice, dedicated to your service. And we proclaim the great mystery of our faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us gathered here and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. By your Spirit, unite us with Christ and with your church in all the world. Help us to grow in faith and love, as your people in Christ. Strengthen our hearts and teach us patience as we watch and pray for the coming go the Lord. Through your son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty father, now and forever. Amen. And now with the confidence of children of God, we pray THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. BREAKING OF THE BREAD COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE (We will receive communion by intinction; as directed by the ushers, please come forward using the aisle closest to you, take a piece of bread from the basket, dip it into the cup, eat it and then return to your seat using the other aisle.) COMMUNION HYMN #314 LONGING FOR LIGHT, WE WAIT IN DARKNESS “CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT” PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Gracious God, you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life, and renewed us for your service. Help us who shared Christ’s body and received his cup, to be faithful disciples so that our living may be part of the life of your kingdom, and our love be your love reaching out into the life of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD * HYMN #150 AS WITH GLADNESS MEN OF OLD “DIX” * CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * SUNG BENEDICTION #306 BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS DENNIS Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. CLOSING VOLUNTARY CARAVAN OF THE THREE KINGS RICHARD PURVIS (We Three Kings) BRYAN LOHR, ORGAN * When this symbol precedes an element of the service, please rise in body or spirit. Please join in reading or singing those parts of the service printed in bold. THIS MORNING’S WORSHIP LEADERS Guest Preacher...................................................................................................................................................Rev. Judy Johnson Liturgist................................................................................................................................................................Ann Kellermeyer Director of Music Ministries.........................................................................................................................................Bryan Lohr Musicians.......................................................................................................................................................The Sanctuary Choir Sound Technician...................................................................................................................................................Joe Aurigemma Ushers.........................................................................................................................................................Paul and Barbara Aber WORSHIP & MUSIC NOTES Today we welcome back Rev. Judy Johnson as our Guest Preacher! Rev. Johnson is a retired United Methodist pastor currently serving the Presbytery of Baltimore as a staff coach for the Wild, Wild West Ministry Group (Western Maryland) to encourage the development of spiritual leaders and thriving, reconciling congregations.