Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
All Glory Be to God on High
Paul Manz
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Lord we come in this new year with hearts and minds open to the possibilities that are before us. Help us to put away the last year as we walk into 2021 with hope and expectation. Be with us as we open this year in praise and worship for you, with you, and with one another. Amen.
Opening Hymn — #254 We Three Kings (v. 1, 2, 4)
1. We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain moor and mountain
Following yonder star
Refrain
O star of wonder star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading still proceeding
Guide us to Thy perfect light
2. Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again
King forever ceasing never
Over us all to reign
Refrain
4. Myrrh is mine its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing sighing bleeding dying
Sealed in the stone cold tomb
Refrain
We Three Kings (Kings Of Orient)
John Henry Hopkins Jr.
Public Domain
Scripture Reading — Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 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.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘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.’”
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 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.” 9 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. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 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, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Children’s Time with Ms Becky
Announcements, Joys and Concerns, and Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
O Star-flinging God,
whose light dances across eternity,
dazzle us into your presence
this new year.
Open our hearts to the mystery of your love.
Awaken us to your presence,
knit to the ordinary.
Reveal to us what is possible, but not yet present.
Heal us, that we might be healers.
Reconcile us to you and to ourselves,
that our living might be reconciling.
Stop us often, we pray
with news that is good
with hope that holds
with truth that transforms with a Word
tailored to this trail we’re on.
May the word of your grace guide our steps
like the sun by day
and the north star by night,
as we travel into the gift of a new year. Amen.
— written by Glenn Mitchell
Offering Introduction
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Offertory — Aaron Blake
Aaron Blake, featured artist, is a Metropolitan Opera tenor and appears courtesy of the Los Cancioneros Master Chorale.
Ave Maria
Franz Schubert
Used by Permission. Public Domain.
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
Holy God and Parent of us all: we have moved through this season of family and Christmas joy, and we are reminded that beyond our earthly families, you have adopted us into your redeemed family. Through the saving, redeeming work of the Incarnation, we have become heirs, and our redemption is the magnificent gift of salvation. We give our gifts, but we give ourselves as the only fitting response to your adoption of us, your rebellious children. Lead us in your way into this new year. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
What Gift Shall We Bring?
Closing Hymn — #383 This Is the Day of New Beginnings (v. 1, 3, 5)
1. This is a day of new beginnings
Time to remember and move on
Time to believe what love is bringing
Laying to rest the pain that’s gone
3. Then let us with the Spirit’s daring
Step from the past and leave behind
Our disappointment guilt and grieving
Seeking new paths and sure to find
5. In faith we’ll gather ’round the table
To taste and share what love can do
This is a day of new beginnings
Our God is making all things new
This Is A Day Of New Beginnings (Beginnings)
Brian Arthur Wren | Carlton Raymond Young
© 1983, 1987 Hope Publishing Company
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051
Communion Blessing and Benediction
May the path
that Christ walks
to bring justice
upon the earth,
to bring light
to those who sit
in darkness,
to bring out those
who live in bondage,
to bring new things
to all creation:
may this path
run through our life.
May we be
the road Christ takes.
–written by Jan L. Richardson
Postlude – Hani
Noel
Louis-Claude Daquin
Public Domain