January 13 2019 Welcome to OPC Cambridge Chimes

January 13, 2019 Welcome to OPC

Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” ~arr. Hopson Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Sisters and Brothers, remember: our God is with us always and calls us each by name. P: Even when we pass through difficulties and stress,

L: We remember and recall: God is with us and calls us by name. P: Even when we are discouraged, angry, and feel lost and alone,

L: We must trust and remember that our God is with us, reaches out to us, and heals us. P: Blessed be our God who walks with us in the deepest love and strength.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 1 Here is the place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away, see in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 1 Gather us in – the lost and forsaken, gather us in – the blind and the lame; call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 2 We are the young – our lives are a myst’ry, we are the old – who yearn for your face, we have been sung throughout all of hist’ry, called to be light to the whole human race

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 2 Gather us in – the rich and the haughty, gather us in – the proud and the strong; give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 3 Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth, here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 3 Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you; nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 4 Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light-years away, but here in this place the new light is shining, now is the Kingdom, now is the day.

*HYMN #2236 “Gather Us In” v. 4 Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own; gather us in – all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Holy and merciful God, in our time of worship together we experience a connection with you and with our fellow believers. As we sit here, aware of your presence and

confident in your love, we recognize what you already know – we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, and in disregarding your love. As individuals, and as a community,

we are sorry for any words or actions that have weakened our witness of your love. Help us to live in your light and to walk in your ways. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: People of God, you are known and loved by the Creator. You are marked as God’s chosen ones to bring hope and peace to others. Be at peace and live in hope and know that in the light of Christ you are forgiven.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON P: Thanks be to God. Amen.

CHOIR ANTHEM “A Choral Benediction” ~Besig

Time With Young Christians

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: 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 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. ’

SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 42: 24 -25; 43: 1 -7

Who gave up Jacob to the spoiler, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey? So he poured upon him the heat of his anger and the fury of war; it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand;

it burned him, but he did not take it to heart. 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: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“I Will Be With You” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #211 “Lord, You Have Been…” v. 1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place, a refuge where our feet have trod. Before You placed all things in space, From everlasting You are God.

*HYMN #211 “Lord, You Have Been…” v. 2 Your words can turn us back to dust, Our lives are fragile, like a dream, As grass which spreads yet fades at dusk We’re born, we live, but pass unseen.

*HYMN #211 “Lord, You Have Been…” v. 3 Our years are but three-score and ten, With special health they reach fourscore. But still they’re filled with pain and sin, Soon gone, and then we live no more.

*HYMN #211 “Lord, You Have Been…” v. 4 So teach us how to count our days, That wisdom might fill all our time. Return, O Lord, accept our praise, That through our lives Your love may shine.

*HYMN #211 “Lord, You Have Been…” v. 5 Establish, Lord, the work we do, And through it make Your glory known, That praise may ever come to You, And unto all Your love be shown.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “It Is Well With My Soul” ~Whitsett

*DOXOLOGY #542, v. 4 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.

*Prayer of Dedication (unison) Gracious God, day by day we experience your wonderful love and gifts. Thank you. We give in response to your giving, and we do so with thankful hearts.

May today’s offering and all our thoughts, words, and actions touch the lives of others with your wonderful love.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PASTORAL PRAYER

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, 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.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 1 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 Join with all nature in manifold witness to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 2 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;

*HYMN #276 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” v. 3 All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

*BENEDICTION

Postlude “Tune for Trumpet” ~J. S. Bach