East Jordan UMC » 2009 » January

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4th Sunday After the Epiphany

10:30 a.m., February 1, 2009

 

 Liturgist:  Cheri Book

                                                             

PRAISE SONGS  

 *CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: In the midst of our confusion
P: Be our vision, O Lord.
L: When we feel that we have lost our way
P: Be our vision, O Lord.(Remove the dark cover from the cross.)L: When we look around and wonder if we can make it, if the pressures and problems are going to overcome us

 

P: Be our vision, O Lord.
L: Open our eyes to see you.
P: Open our ears to hear your Good News.(Remove the gray cover from the cross.)L: Open our hearts to your healing love.
P: Open our lives to all the possibilities of mercy and justice.

 

(Remove the brown cover from the cross.)L: Be our vision, O Lord.
P: Be our vision forever, we pray. Amen.

 

 

*OPENING HYMN: No.454 “Open My Eyes, That I May See”

  

Opening PRayer                                    Liturgist                                  

 

Sharing Joys and Concerns

 

Silent prayer and pastoral prayer

 

Scripture: I Corinthians 8:1-13

                                    

*Hymn: No.381 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

 

Children’s moment                               Kevin Deets

 

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:16-20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

Sermon   Can We Be a Private Christian?       Pastor Cha                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   OFFERTORY         

*OFfERING No.  95 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER

 

COMMUNION: UMH p.12, 14

 

*Closing Hymn: No.557 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

 

*Benediction

 

 

Sermon Outline

We, the church, are to be a nurturing community of faith in which the members are equipped and empowered to be faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and be sent out to work for the transformation of the world. Upon the mission task of our Church, there have been some obstacles upon the matter, such as its increasing individualistic culture- being a Christian is an individual matter and not necessarily bound to life with others. Quite a good number of people say they do not attend the church, the community of faith, but declare themselves Christians.

The question then comes; can we be a private Christian?

   3rd Sunday After the Epiphany

 10:30 a.m., January 25, 2009

 

                                                   

 PRELUDE  “

 

 *CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: For God alone, we are still; we wait in silence,
P: for our hope is from him. 

L: He alone is our rock and our salvation, 

P: our fortress; we shall not be shaken.
L: On God rests our deliverance and our honor;  

P: Our mighty rock, our refuge is in God.   

L: Trust in him at all times, O people; 

P: Pour out your heart before him; 

All: God is a refuge for us. Amen.

*OPENING HYMN: No.577 “God of Grace and God of Glory”

  

Opening PRayer 

O God, just as we look into a mirror to see any soiled spots on our face, so let us look to you in order to understand the things that we have done amiss. We are like a reed shaken in the wind; we are inexpressibly weak. Leave us not to ourselves, but dwell in our hearts and guide our thoughts and actions. Amen.

 

Silent prayer

 

Prayer of Illumination                                                                            L: Seek the Lord who now is present, call upon the Lord, who is near,
P: let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; 

 L: let them return, that the Lord may have mercy on them; that our God may abundantly pardon.                                                                          

P: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
L: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

P: so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 

Sharing Joys and Concerns

 

pastoral prayer

 

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31                  Caroline Straw                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                    

*Hymn: No.348 “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling”

 

Children’s moment                                        Jay Book                                                                                                                                     

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                                  EJ  Choir                                                                                                                                           

 

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:14-20                    

                                               

Sermon                                                     Pastor Cha 

OFFERTORY         “

*OFfERING

No.  95 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” /OFFERTORY PRAYER

 

*Closing Hymn: No.396 “O Jesus, I Have Promised”

 

*Benediction

 

 

 

 

2nd Sunday After the Epiphany

10:30 a.m., January 18, 2009

 

  PRELUDE    .

*CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: Listen! God is calling you today!
P: Lord, help us hear your voice in our hearts.
L: Place your trust in God’s eternal love.
P: Lord, let us trust you in all our ways.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord!
P: Open our hearts, O Lord, to hear your voice and follow you. Amen.

*OPENING HYMN: No.454 “Open My Eyes, That I May See”

  

Sharing Joys and Concerns

 

Opening PRayer 

God of grace and glory, we thank you that you judge us not by the perfection of our actions, but by our readiness to live boldly by faith. Help us, as individuals and as a congregation, to trust you and follow where you lead, that in Christ your name may be glorified in all the earth. Amen.

 

Silent prayer and pastoral prayer

 

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

 

*Hymn: No.419 “I Am Thine, O Lord”

 

Children’s moment                                                                                                                                      

 

Congregation’s favorIte hymn singing

 

SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 3:1-10                    

                                               

Sermon                                              Pastor Cha 

                                                                                                                                                             

AN ORDER of RECOGNition of leaders in the church:

 

Pastor: Dear friends, you have called by God and chosen by the people of God for leadership in the church. This ministry is a blessing and a serious responsibility. It recognizes your special gifts and calls you to work among us and for us. In love we thank you for accepting your obligation and challenge you to offer your best to the Lord, to this people, and to our ministry in the world. Live a life in Christ and make him known in your witness and your work.

Today we recognize our church leaders.

Do you this day acknowledge yourself a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ?

Leaders: I do.

Pastor: Will you devote yourself to the service of God in the world?
Leaders: I will.

Pastor: Will you so live that you enable this church to be a people of love and peace?

Leaders: I will.

Pastor: Will you do all in your power to be responsible to the task for which you have been chosen?
Leaders: I will.

Pastor: Let us pray.

Almighty God, pour out your blessings upon these your servants who have been given particular ministries in your church. Grant them grace to give themselves wholeheartedly in your service. Keep before them the example of our Lord, who did not think first of himself, but gave himself for us all. Let them share his ministry and consecration, that they may enter into his joy. Guide them in their work. Reward their faithfulness with the knowledge that through them your purposes are accomplished; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Pastor addresses the congregation:

Dear friends, rejoice that God provides laborers for the vineyards. Will you do all you can to assist and encourage them in the responsibilities to which they have been called, giving them your cooperation, your counsel, and your prayers?

All: We will.

 

Hymn: No.338 “Where He Leads Me” (verses 1 and 4)

 

OFFERTORY     

 

*OFfERING No.  95 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” /OFFERTORY PRAYER

 

*Closing Hymn: No.593 “Here I Am, Lord”

 

*Benediction

 

Baptism of the Lord Sunday

10:30 a.m., January 11, 2009

 

Liturgist: Janice Deets

                                                            

PRELUDE    

 

 *CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: This is a day of new beginnings.
P: This is a time to remember how Jesus’ ministry began.
L: From the moment of his Baptism by John
P: Jesus understood his call from God.
L: Lord, open our hearts and spirits to hear your call to us.
P: Give us wisdom and courage to follow you always. Amen.

 

*OPENING HYMN: No.347 “Spirit Song”

  

Sharing Joys and Concerns

 

Opening PRayer (UMH 253)

 Father in heaven, at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Grant that all who are baptized into his name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, One God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 

Silent prayer and pastoral prayer

 

Scripture: Acts 19:1-7                                    Betty Bellows                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                    

*Hymn: No.393 “Spirit of the Living God”

 

Children’s moment                                           Jay Book                                                                                           

 

SPECIAL MUSIC                                              Daytona Geesey                                                 

 

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1:4-11                    

                                               

Sermon                                                             Pastor Cha                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

ReNewal of Baptismal Vows:

L: Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is appropriate on this day of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ that we remember and renew the vows once spoken at our baptisms — that time when we were washed of our sins and received the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Let us boldly make our confession of faith before God, renouncing the sinful life of godless men and women and embracing the godly life of the Spirit-filled Christian.

     I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

     Do you renounce all the devil and all the forces defy God?
P: I renounce them.

L: Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?
P: I renounce them.

L: Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?
P: I renounce them.

L: Do you believe in God the Father?
P: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

L: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
P: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;  he descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again;  he ascended into heaven,  he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

L: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
P: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

L: You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
P: I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

L: People of God, do you promise to support and pray for one another in your life in Christ?
P:  We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

L: Let us pray. We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give us new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life. Stir up in your people the gift of your Holy Spirit:  the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.
P: Amen

(You are invited to come forward to touch the water of the baptismal font for Baptism Renewal.)

 

OFFERTORY  “”                                    

  

*OFfERING No.  95 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” /OFFERTORY PRAYER

 

*Closing Hymn: No.334 “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”

 

*Benediction

 

 

Epiphany Sunday

10:30 a.m., January 4, 2009

Liturgist: John Stauter

PRELUDE “God Leads Us Along” arr. David H. Hegarty

*CALL TO WORSHIP

L: Today is Epiphany Sunday.
P: On this day we celebrate the coming of the Wise Ones to the home of Mary and Joseph, to see the child of prophecy who would change the world.
L: On this day, may the light of joy pierce the darkness in our world.
P: May the songs we sing bring hope to all people.
L: Today is a great day of rejoicing!
P: Let every day with our Lord be filled with joy! Amen.

*OPENING HYMN: No.220 “Angles from the Realms of Glory”

Sharing Joys and Concerns

Opening PRayer

O God, before you had formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are our God. You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. As we celebrate Epiphany Sunday, help us make journeys of faith, following your light. Keep our hearts and minds open to your presence and make us ready to proclaim your love and forgiveness. Amen.

.

Silent prayer and pastoral prayer

Scripture: Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Leigh Poole

*Hymn: No.219 “What Child is This”

Children’s moment Andy Bartelt

SPECIAL MUSIC All 4 You

SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-18 Lorena Conway, Andy Bartelt

Sermon Pastor Cha

OFFERTORY “Prayer” arr. Dennis Eliot

*OFfERING No. 95 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” /OFFERTORY PRAYER

*Closing Hymn: No.230 “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

*Benediction