January 2 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

 

Epiphany Sunday / Second Sunday of Christmas

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Arise! Shine! Your light has come; and the Lord’s glory has shone upon you.” —Isaiah 60:1

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude... Christopher Wahl

*Call to Worship (inspired by Isaiah 60:1-3) ... Joey Vander Vorste

People of God, arise, shine, for your light has come! The light of Christ has come into the world. Immanuel. God with us. So, arise, shine, for your light has come! And we will follow the light—when it shines brightly in the night sky and when it glows dimly on the horizon. We will follow the light–when it leads down familiar paths to expected destinations or when the road is unfamiliar and the star rests above a dubious-looking

home. We will lift up our eyes and look around. And when we see the Christ child, may our hearts be overwhelmed with joy. When we are in the presence of Immanuel, may our knees bend in worship. When our journey brings us, finally, to the heart of God, may our hands open in generous sharing; may our mouths open in generous praise.

—Joanna Harader, http://spaciousfaith.com

*Hymn... ““We Three Kings” (UMH #254)

Prayer Litany for Epiphany of the Lord Sunday... Joey Vander Vorste

We thank you God that you know what it is to be human, fragile and vulnerable, searching for ways to stay alive in dangerous and complicated times. We thank you that you know the struggles and temptations of living in darkness. And we thank you that you give light to the world. We confess that sometimes it’s easier to stay in the shadows, where things can stay hidden, where people can’t see our cracks and flaws. Cast your light on our darkness and forgive us, God of love. We confess that we have at times brought darkness into the world by our anger, our selfishness, our violence. Cast your light on our darkness and forgive us, God of love. We confess that we are sometimes skeptical of light and find it easier to trust its absence. Cast your light on our darkness and forgive us, God of love. And in this silence, bring the confessions that are on your heart and mind into the light of God’s love.

[Silence]

We know in faith that God restores and renews, and that our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

—Cheryl Lawrie, http://holdthisspace.org.au

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #95)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

First Lesson: Isaiah 60:1-6... Joey Vander Vorste

Special Music... Christopher Wahl

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12...Pastor Charles

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “The light has come”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer 

*Hymn... “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” (UMH #206)

*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles

*Postlude... Christopher Wahl