January 1 2017 Welcome to OPC Chimes Welcome

January 1, 2017 Welcome to OPC

Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “The Little Drummer Boy” Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Come, let us gather to recount the Lord’s faithfulness. ALL: We will sing praises to the Lord because of all the Lord has done for us.

L: God has claimed us, even in our distress, as God’s own people. ALL: God lifts us and carries us in all our times. Praise be to our Savior!

*HYMN #41 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 1 O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him, born the King of angels!

*HYMN #41 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 1 O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

*HYMN #41 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 2 Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory given; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

*HYMN #41 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 2 O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

*HYMN #41 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 3 Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation! Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest!

*HYMN #41 “O Come, All Ye Faithful” v. 3 O come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) All wise and compassionate God, you dared to create the world as a part of yourself.

You breathed into life your very spirit of creativity. You risked giving us the freedom to love you or not, and abilities to create or to destroy.

We confess our complicity in the world’s suffering. Yet you have given us an irrepressible cry forgiveness and redemption. Your abounding mercy and grace

Jesus Christ, who lived our life, who died for our sins, and who now reigns with you as savior and redeemer of the world. Amen.

(silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*GLORIA PATRI #579 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrews 2: 10 -18

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. ’ And again, ‘I will put my trust in him. ’ And again, ‘Here am I and the children whom god has given me. ’ Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood,

he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.

For it is clear that he did not comp to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest

in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 2: 13 -23

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. ’

Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,

‘Out of Egypt I have called my son. ’ When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed al the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under,

according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more. ’ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,

‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead. ’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.

There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean. ’

L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Fear and Faith” John Goehle, preaching

*HYMN #27 “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” v. 1 Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger; There He lay, the undefiled, to the world a stranger.

*HYMN #27 “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” v. 1 Such a babe in such a place, can He be the Savior? Ask the saved of all the race who have found His favor.

*HYMN #27 “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” v. 2 Angels sang about His birth, wise men sought and found Him; Heaven’s star shone brightly forth, glory all around Him.

*HYMN #27 “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” v. 2 Shepherds saw the wondrous sight, heard the angels singing; All the plains were lit that night, all the hills were ringing.

*HYMN #27 “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” v. 3 Gentle Mary laid her child lowly in a manger; He is still the undefiled, but no more a stranger.

*HYMN #27 “Gentle Mary Laid Her Child” v. 3 Son of God, of humble birth, beautiful the story; Praise His name in all the earth, hail the King of glory!

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “We Three Kings of Orient Are”

*DOXOLOGY #592 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.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) At the birth of the baby Jesus, magi came from distant lands to present gifts in praise and honor of the Prince of Peace.

Their gifts honored Jesus’ royalty, divinity, and future sacrifice of himself for our redemption. So may our lives and our gifts represent an offering of ourselves to honor

your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with all that we are and all that we have. Empower and multiply what we give to further Christ’s reign of peace. Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER All who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to participate in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Table. With parental permission, baptized children are welcome to partake in the Sacrament as well.

*INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE L: This is the joyful feast of the people of God. P: People will come from the East and West, and from North and South, and sit at the table in the household of God.

*HYMN #513 “Let Us Break Bread Together” v. 1 Let us break bread together on our knees (on our knees)

*HYMN #513 “Let Us Break Bread Together” v. 1 When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me (on me).

*THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING L: May God the Creator, God the Redeemer, God the Healer be with you. P: And also with you. L: The Lord be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts! P: We lift them to the Lord!

L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P: It is right to give our thanks and praise. L: It is indeed right to give you thanks and praise, Peace-filled God, for into this troubled world you break forth with the Light of New Creation. Though we choose to embrace

the darkness of sin, still you come to us with good news of your expected angels and even your own Child Jesus. Therefore with Mary and Elizabeth and all the other hosts of heaven, we stand in awe before you to join their chorus of praise: P: Holy, holy Lord, God of love and hope, heaven and earth are full of your glory and love.

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. L: At just the right time you came among us, a child leading in The Way, the Truth, the Life. In fulfillment of your promises, you laid the Bread of Life in a feeding trough. In Jesus, born

of Mary, you filled the hungry and broken with good things. As the lamb you were nailed upon a cross, then raised up upon your throne of resurrection triumph over death. You lead all who follow you with faith’s song throughout the ages: P: We remember Christ’s death; We remember Christ’s resurrection;

We remember Christ will come again in glory. L: We give you thanks, O Holy Spirit, for making life hope-full with possibility. Come now to overshadow us with your power that in the breaking of this bread and in the drinking of this cup we may recognize your presence with a joyful “Thanks. ”

God of Peace, let your Holy Spirit move in power and love over us and over these earthly gifts of bread and win. By our sharing of them may we experience the mystery of the true communion of the body and blood of Christ, and may we be strengthened to carry his healing to all who are in need.

The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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. 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.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP Distribution of the Bread (bread is gluten free) (to symbolize our common experience of God’s grace, please retain the bread until all have been served).

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP Distribution of the Cup (to symbolize our individual experience of God’s grace, please drink the cup as it is served).

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION All: We bless you, O God, for the gifts of bread and cup, for sustaining us in hope, every day of our lives.

We pray for your strength to prepare us now for your service as we offer to you lives of witness and worship in the world you have made. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

THE APOSTLES’ CREED who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

THE APOSTLES’ CREED he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,

THE APOSTLES’ CREED and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;

THE APOSTLES’ CREED the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” v. 1 Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” v. 1 While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night, behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” v. 1 Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” v. 2 The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! above the earth, rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” Chorus Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

*BENEDICTION

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” v. 3 Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born, and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.

*HYMN #29 “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” v. 3 Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Postlude “Good Christian Men Rejoice”