Sunday January 5, 2025 - Bulletin
January 5, 2025
Second Sunday of Christmastide
CHIMING THE HOUR
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF APPROACH
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 72)
One: Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son.
All: May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.
One: May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness. May he live while the sun endures and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
All: May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.
One: May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts. May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.
All: May prayer be made for him continually and blessings invoked for him all day long.
One: Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth.
All: Amen and Amen.
*HYMN # 63 “As with Gladness Men of Old”
CALL TO CONFESSION
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just. He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON)
Heavenly Father, in the midst of the turmoil of the world you offer us peace through knowing your Son. Forgive us when we reject that gift and then complain that we have no peace. You offer us wisdom through your Word. Forgive us when we reject that gift and then complain we do not understand the world around us. Teach us to hunger for your Word, so that we might come to better understand our obligations in serving you. In this New Year, help to center ourselves on coming to truly accept your Son into our hearts. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
GLORIA PATRI # 579
PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us share signs of peace with one another.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 60:1-6
EPISTLE LESSON Ephesians 3:1-12 Rev Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
MUSICAL OFFERING
NEW TESTAMENT READING Matthew 2:1-12
Rev Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
SERMON “Eureka!”
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN # 507 I Come with Joy
CELEBRATION OF EUCHARIST
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
This is the joyful feast of the people of God! People will come from north and south and from east and west to sit at table in the kingdom of God.
According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with his disciples, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. This is the Lord’s Table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast that he has prepared.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
L: The Lord be with you.
A: And also with you.
L: Lift up your hearts.
A: We lift them to the Lord.
L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
A: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
L: We glorify your name and lift our voices in joyful praise. Praise to you, O God, for all your works. You created the world and called it good and made us in your image to live together in love. You made a covenant with us, and even when we turned from you, you remained ever faithful. Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:
A: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
L: Thank you, O God, for sending us your Son. He lived among us and told your story. He healed the sick and welcomed sinners. He shared our pain and died our death, then rose to new life that we might live, and all creation be restored.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ and that we may be his body for the world. By your Spirit unite us with Christ and one another until we feast with him and with all your saints in your eternal realm of justice and peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
L: Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament,
A: united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal realm.
L: Send us out in the power of your Spirit
A: to live and work to your praise and glory, For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. Let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth. Let us offer them with joy in our hearts and a deep sense of gratitude.
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON)
God of Mercy and of Light, wise men of old gifted your Son with gold, frankincense and myrrh. These gifts symbolized his position as King and High Priest; they spoke to his being anointed as the Messiah and they pointed to his sacrificial death. May the gifts we offer today also reflect the Glory of your Son to the world. May they be used in a way which is pleasing to him, and may they be used to build up your Kingdom here on earth. Amen.
*HYMN # 66 “ We Three Kings of Orient Are
CHARGE
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE