Welcome We are so glad you are here

Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

It is our hope that you will feel INVITED, WELCOMED, and LOVED as you worship with us.

Before the worship service begins, please turn off your cell phone. But before doing that, be sure to let folks know you’re here – check in at your favorite social media. Let’s share with our friends and neighbors where we are, and how glad we are to be here!

CALL TO REFLECTION PRELUDE – Pour Light Upon Us from Above George Oldroyd

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

HYMN O Worship the King, all Glorious Above! (verses 1, 2, 4, 5) # 476 in the Blue Hymnals

O worship the King, all glorious above! O gratefully sing God's power and God's love; Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space, His chariots of heaven the deep thunderclouds form, And bright is God's path on the wings of the storm.

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail; Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, Our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend.

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS – (IN UNISON) Adapted from a Source Unknown

Creator Spirit, who in the beginning hovered over the waters, who at Jesus’ baptism descended in the form of a dove, and who at Pentecost was poured out under the signs of fire and wind;

come to us, open our hearts and minds, so that we may hear the life-giving word and be renewed by your power, in the unity of the Father and the Son, now and forever. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENCE

Assurance of Forgiveness

*Great Is Thy Faithfulness (# 276, verse 2) Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning New mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

ANTHEM — Create in Me a Clean Heart Carl F. Mueller Westminster Choir

A TIME WITH THE

The News of the Community

Visitors, to First Church! Following worship, please join us on the patio for refreshments.

Wednesday, January 22 nd at 7: 00 p. m. , in the chapel. Our next book of the season is Where Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens.

called by the Session for January 26, 2020, immediately following worship.

Avoiding the Blindside Missing the Hits You Don’t See Coming Blindside One Cynicism Matthew 5: 3

Thanksgiving for the Word

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

SCRIPTURE READINGS — Matthew 5: 3 (New Testament, Page 4 in NRSV pew Bible)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Avoiding the Blindside Missing the Hits You Don’t See Coming Blindside One Cynicism Matthew 5: 3

* This We Believe (CONGREGATION READS WORDS IN BOLD) Hebrews 11: 1 The Message

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

*Hymn Live Into Hope # 332 in the Blue Hymnal

Live into hope of captives freed, of sight regained, the end of greed. The oppressed shall be the first to see The year of God's own jubilee!

Live into hope the blind shall see with insight and with clarity, Removing shades of pride and fear — A vision of our God brought near.

Live into hope of liberty, The right to speak, the right to be, The right to have one's daily bread, To hear God's word and thus be fed.

Live into hope of captives freed From chains of fear or want or greed. God now proclaims our full release To faith and hope and joy and peace.

The Prayers of the People

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.

Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer (Debtors version)

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. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Amen.

OFFERING OUR TITHES AND GIFTS (Visitors, in the pew rack you will find a Guest Information card. Please complete the card, then place it in the offering plate. )

OFFERTORY — To God Be the Glory arr. Frederick Swann

*THE RESPONSE OF PRAISE – DOXOLOGY (#592) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Offering of Prayer (in unison) Adapted from the worship of Christians in Syria and Iraq

O Christ, you humbled yourself and received baptism at the hands of your friend and cousin, John, showing us the way of humility; help us to follow you and never to be encumbered with pride.

O Christ by your humanity, you took our humanity into the cleansing waters; cleanse us with your grace, give us new birth, and lead us into life as sons and daughters of God.

O Christ by your baptism the material world became charged with your holiness; make us instruments of your transformation in this our world. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

*THE HYMN OF COMMITMENT – Be Thou My Vision # 339 in the Blue Hymnals

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art--- Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, Great God of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

* CHARGE AND BLESSING Congregational Response: God be with you till we meet again; Loving counsels guide, uphold you, With a Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.

Postlude — The Heavens Declare Robert Wetzler

MORE News of the Community

Grounds Work Day Saturday, January 18 th beginning at 9: 00 a. m. To offer your help, please contact Bob Roddy

Wednesday, January 22 nd at 7: 00 p. m. , in the chapel. Our next book of the season is Where Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens.

called by the Session for January 26, 2020, immediately following worship.

Monday, January 13 th, 9: 00 – Noon Friday, January 17 th, 9: 00 – Noon

Visitors, to First Church! Following worship, please join us on the patio for refreshments.