Service for the Worship of God
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Prelude
Procession of the Three Kings (Improvisation)
—Steven Seigart (b. 1990)
Welcome
Rev. Katherine A. Stanford
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us worship God!
Preparing to Hear God’s Word
Call to Worship
The Chipman Family
Arise and shine, your light has come!
The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
The light of Christ illumines our way.
Let us walk in the light of God!
HYMN 749
Come! Live in the Light! (We Are Called)
we are called
1. Come! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God.
Refrain
We are called to act with justice;
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
2. Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless
so hatred and violence will be no more.
Refrain
3. Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of the great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we’ll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love.
Refrain
Prayer of Confession
Rev. Ann Herlin
God of grace, you shine your light upon us with your glory, yet we hide our faces from your light. You speak to us about a holy mystery, yet we do not listen to your word. Forgive us, we pray. Grant us the wisdom to know and proclaim the gift of Christ to the world. Hear now the prayers we bring to you in silence …
Assurance of Pardon
God’s Word to Us
Anthem
Mid-winter
—Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)
Performed by the Meeting House Virtual Choir
Dr. Keith Wright, flute
Gréta Ásgeirsson, harp
Text by Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
Found at #144 in Glory to God
Scripture Lesson
Mrs. Noelle Castin
Scripture Lesson
Rev. Katherine A. Stanford
Time with Children
The Edwards Family
Sermon
Rev. Katherine A. Stanford
“May God Be With Everyone Everywhere!”
Our Response to God
Affirmation of Faith
Mrs. Noelle Castin
Adapted from A Declaration of Faith (1977)
We worship God in the world by standing before the Lord on behalf of all people. We serve humankind by discerning what God is doing in the world and joining God in that work. We find guidance in what God has done in the past and in what God promises for the future as witnessed to in the scriptures. We affirm that God is at work now, especially in events and movements that advance justice, compassion, and peace.
Invitation to Discipleship
Rev. Ann Herlin
Presentation of Our Tithes and Offerings
Prayer of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN 134
Joy to the World (verses 1, 2 and 4)
antioch
1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her king;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
2. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
4. He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Charge and Benediction
Rev. Katherine A. Stanford
Choral Response
Amen
—Wendy Matney
Performed by the Meeting House Virtual Choir
Postlude
In dir ist Freude, BWV 615 (“In you is joy”)
—J.S. Bach (1685–1750)