Sunday, January 9, 2022
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
GATHERING MUSIC
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”
~ arr. Diane Bish, Michael Burkardt
PRELUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Shall We Gather at the River?”
~ arr. Dale Wood
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Pastor Jeffrey
THE SACRAMENT OF SILENCE
INSTRUMENTAL
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Holy, Holy, Holy”
– tune – “Nicea” ~ arr. Martha Sobaje
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Jeffrey
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Aki Okuno
L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P: And also with you.
L: Siblings in Christ, today we recall Jesus came to the waters of baptism. In baptism, our Creator claims us and frees us from the power of hatred and death, and we are joined to Christ and we are joined together in unity, recalling
P: There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.
L: In baptism, the Spirit of God anoints us for ministry and makes us signs of divine love.
P: Therefore, on this day, the whole church, the Body of Christ, remembers and celebrates in the name of the Triune God.
*OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Aki Okuno
Holy Maker of all that is and ever will be, in the beginning you breathed over the primal waters; speaking light into darkness, separating evening from morning, creating the first night and the first day. When Jesus rose from the waters of baptism, you spoke again, calling him your beloved. On this day of celebration and memory, wash us in your holy water and Spirit, that we may know ourselves as beloved children, ready to give of ourselves for the sake of the Gospel. Amen.
HYMN
Maggie Harris, Ruth Oveland, Tom Waldrop, John Palmer
“How Firm a Foundation” ~ UMH #529
CHILDREN DEPART FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
Aki Okuno
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Aki Okuno
Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
HYMN
Maggie Harris, Ruth Oveland, Tom Waldrop, John Palmer
“I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” ~ TFWS #2051
JOYS AND CONCERNS / THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor Jeffrey
SCRIPTURE READING
Aki Okuno
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
SERMON
Pastor Jeffrey
Filled With Expectation
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE WORD
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Aki Okuno
Named and claimed by God, we are called to embody God’s love and presence in the world. Our offering will enable this church to be the voice that speaks love, that speaks challenge, and that speaks grace to a world that so desperately needs to hear this radical, transforming message.
OFFERTORY
Dorothy Clapp, soprano
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Baby, What You Goin’ To Be?”
~ Natalie Sleeth
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH 95
HYMN
Maggie Harris, Ruth Oveland, Tom Waldrop, John Palmer
“O Spirit of the Living God” ~ UMH #539
BENEDICTION
Pastor Jeffrey
POSTLUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Holy, Holy, Holy”
– tune – “Nicea” ~ arr. Ellen Jane Lorenz, Martha Sobaje
* Stand as you are able