Order of Worship
Second Sunday after Christmas/Epiphany/Sacrament of Holy Communion
January 3, 2021
Organ Prelude
Call to Worship
One: Praise God, the Creator, who made the heavens and the earth!
All: We celebrate in awe of God’s beautiful creation.
One: Praise God, the Redeemer, who came in flesh to live among us!
All: We gather in awe of God’s coming to us.
One: Praise God, the Spirit, who fills us with hope!
All: We follow in awe, sustained for the journey.
One: Praise God, one in three, and three in one!
All: We worship in awe of God’s merciful love.
Opening Prayer
Triune God of love and light,
dwell among us as we gather to worship you. (Light candle.)
Shine your light into our life. (Light candle.)
Fill our hearts with your overflowing love. (Light candle.)
Accept our offering of prayer and praise. (Light candle.)
May we truly see you in this place. (Light candle.)
Amen.
Prayer of confession
Merciful God, through your Son, Jesus, we have become your children.
Too often we reject this identity;
we turn away from the parental guidance you offer and the unconditional love you have for us.
Rather than trusting you,
we follow our ideas and plans.
Instead of caring for all of your children,
we seek our advancement instead.
Forgive us, O God.
Help us to trust and to return to your loving arms. Amen.
Words of affirmation
One: The Word became flesh and lived among us, and from his fullness, we have received grace upon grace. Through Jesus the Christ, we are forgiven and freed.
All: The true light, which enlightens everyone, has come into the world. Through him, may we find peace.
Storytelling
Sharing of Scripture Matthew 2:1-12
Message in Music
Message “Ah ha” Rev. Laura McLeod
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Prayer of Dedication
Gracious God, you love abundantly and provide generously. In gratitude, we give our gifts back to you. May these offerings – our time, money, energy, and prayers – nurture and support your children, and represent to all what a joy it is to be counted among your family. Use us, and these gifts, to your glory. Amen.
A Time of Prayer
Preparation for Prayer
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Abundant God,
we come to you today as grateful people.
We thank you for calling us your children, and for loving us as our parent.
You fill us with hope.
Today we pray for your children, our family, and we ask that your healing touch, your unbounded peace, and your astonishing love be made
known.
With gratitude, we lift into the light our mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, those whom we have known since birth, and all
who have been parental figures to us.
With thanksgiving, we lift into the light our sisters and brothers; siblings and friends who have loved us, cared for us, and helped us become
the people we are today.
With concern, we lift into the light those members of our family who are hurting;
those who are living with illness and disease; those who are in pain in mind, body, or spirit.
With awe, we lift into the light those family members who have answered your call to serve your children and accepted the path of ministry
and discipleship.
With humility, we lift ourselves into the light:
for the places where we fall short;
for the relationships we have not nurtured;
for the areas in our own lives that need healing.
With desperation, we lift into the light our siblings around the world;
your children who are suffering needlessly under pain of war, poverty and disease, oppression and persecution, injustice and terror, natural
and human-caused disaster.
With hope, we lift into the light the youngest members of our family.
With peace, we lift into the light the oldest members of our family.
With confidence and trust, we pray to you, O God.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray saying, Our Father…Amen.
Bless
Go in peace!
You are loved by God and one another
Spread the light
and share God’s story
because you are loved
and you are enough.
Amen!
Organ Postlude
Sharing of Scripture Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 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.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘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.’”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 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.” 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. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.