For Reflection
“The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.” James L. Kraft (Kraft Foods)
The Prelude
The Welcome, News and Announcements Rev. John Kotun
The Moment for Stewardship Pam Postle
The Stewardship Recitation and Hymn #733 “We Are One In Mission”
1We all are one in mission,
We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united
By Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission
Compels us from above
To plan and work together
That all may know Christ’s love.
2 We all are called for service
To witness in God’s name;
Our ministries are different,
Our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others
With God’s surprising grace
So ev’ry folk and nation
May feel God’s warm embrace.
3 Now let us be united
And let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel
For God’s redeeming word.
We all are one in mission,
We all are one in call,
Our varied gifts united
By Christ, the Lord of all.
The Introit
The Responsive Call to Worship Psalm 121
Leader: I lift up my eyes to the hills—
People: From where will my help come?
Leader: My help comes from the Lord,
People: Who made heaven and earth.
Leader: He will not let your foot be moved;
People: He who keeps you will not slumber.
Leader: He who keeps Israel
People: Will neither slumber nor sleep.
Leader: The Lord is your keeper;
People: The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
Leader: So that the sun shall not strike you by day,
People: Nor the moon by night.
Leader: The Lord will keep you from all evil;
People: God will keep your life.
Leader: The Lord will keep
People: Your going out and your coming in
Leader: From this time on and forevermore.
The Carol
(Please feel free to recite, hum or simply listen but do not sing)
The Unison Prayer of Confession _____________
Sovereign of sovereigns, you alone possess immortality. We are dazzled by your glory. The life you have given and give to all living things is marvelous. To live in your presence is a great honor. To have inherited the faith of Jesus and the Apostles is a priceless heritage. The more we live, the more we express our thanks by making a faithful confession in the presence of these witnesses, building community as best we are able. We pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to boldly pray:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done, thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
THE CAROL #144, “In the Bleak Midwinter”
(Please feel free to recite, hum or simply listen but do not sing)
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan.
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give my heart.
We Proclaim God’s Word
The Scripture Reading
Prayer of Illumination
The Meditation Rev. John Kotun
We Respond to God’s Word
The Offertory
The Doxology
(Please feel free to recite, hum or simply listen but do not sing)
The Unison Prayer of Dedication
As the parents of Jesus brought sacrifices to honor you, O God, we would give our best for the witness and outreach of your church. May you be honored in all our actions, not just these gifts. May our daily work praise you, our family life glorify you, and all our thoughts reflect your will for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Invitation to the Table
The Hymn, “Let Us Break Bread Together”
(Please feel free to recite, hum or simply listen but do not sing)
1 Let us break bread together on our knees;
let us break bread together on our knees.
Refrain:
When I fall on my knees
with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.
2 Let us drink wine together on our knees;
let us drink wine together on our knees. [Refrain]
3 Let us praise God together on our knees;
let us praise God together on our knees. [Refrain]
The Prayer on the Occasion of the Lord’s Supper
Minister: The Lord be with you.
All: And also be with you.
Minister: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Minister: Holy God, father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, with joy we praise
you and give thanks to your name. You commanded light to shine out of darkness. You made us in your image- To live with one another in love. Through the ages you promised yourself in covenant. You called for justice in the cry of the prophets. Through long generations you have been faithful and kind to all your creation, including the children.
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Minister: Remembering all your mighty and merciful acts, we break bread and share one cup, giving thanks for your saving love and Jesus Christ. As you raised our Lord from death and call us with him from death to life, we give ourselves to you to live for him and joy and grateful praise.
According to God‘s Commandments:
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine. Pour out your Holy Spirit on those gifts that the people bring from home. Make them to be for us the body and blood of Christ that we may be the body of Christ for the world. Through Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. All glory and honor are yours, Almighty God, forever and ever. Amen.
Through the words of the prophets you promised redemption for your people, and gave hope for the day when justice shall roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Sharing of the Bread and Cup
The Bread: On the night of his arrest, Jesus Christ took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “This is my body broken for you.”
The Cup: According to scripture, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus Christ took the cup and said, “This is the new covenant, my blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you drink of it, do so in remembrance of me.”
The Silent, Intercessory and Pastoral Prayer
We Go Forth in God’s Name
The Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
**The Sending Hymn #747, “The Lord Now Sends Us Forth”
The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give,
to make of all the earth a better place to live.
The angels are not sent into our world of pain
to do what we were meant to do in Jesus’ name;
that falls to you and me and all who are made free,
Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today.
The Postlude
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Attributions
Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Fresh Winds of the Spirit, Book 2 by Lavon Bayler, Pilgrim Press, C. 1992.
Many Thanks to today’s co-officiant and preacher, the Rev. John Kotun. John has made a generous donation to the food bank in lieu of the ordinary honorarium.
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