Service for the Lord’s Day:   January 1, 2006  10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME                        

Worship begins with the prelude.  Please speak softly enough

to allow worshipers to pray and to prepare for time with God and God’s people.

 

PRELUDE                                       God Rest You Merry                                      arr. A. Page

CARILLON, WELCOME, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PRELUDE                                     Good King Wenceslas                                      arr. A. Page

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                        from Psalm 148:11-13, Call to Worship

                Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!

                 Young men and women alike, old and young together!

            Let us praise the name of God, whose name alone is exalted!

                 Praise the Lord!

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 66                                             We Three Kings of Orient Are                                                    

 

*CONFESSION FOR NEW YEAR’S DAY                                            Call to Worship

 

            Mighty God, through Jesus Christ you adopt us as your beloved children.

            But we have lived as those who belong to this world, not to you.

            We seek our fulfillment in material things;

            we despair in the face of the world’s problems;

we try to control our lives instead of committing them to you.

Free us from the slavery of our sin to the joyful inheritance of your love.

May the gift of Jesus Christ bring our hearts new life

            and through us fill the world with your love.

(time for silent, personal confession)  Amen.

 

*RESPONSE # 572                                                                       Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us

 

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE                                                                from Galatians 4:4b-7

                God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

in order to redeem those who were under the law;

   So that we might receive adoption as children.

And because we are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.

   So that we are no longer slaves, but children,

and if children also heirs, thank God!

               

*RESPONSE # 68 (Verse 4)                                  What Star Is This, With Beams So Bright

 

*THE PEACE

            The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

                 Peace be with you.

(worshipers exchange words and gestures of God’s peace)

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD  

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                         Luke 2:22—40 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                                            Gesu Bambino                                                   P. Yon                      

 

WORD WITH CHILDREN

 

LESSON FROM THE LETTER                                                      Galatians 4:4—7 (NRSV)

 

SERMON                                                                                                      “Angels on High”

                 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

AN OFFERING OF OURSELVES

            Call to Respond

            Offertory                                  Special Delivery                                    R. and C. Harris                      

            Prayer of Dedication

 

PRAYERS OF THANKS AND INTERCESSION, THE LORD’S PRAYER

        

DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN # 63                                                                              As with Gladness Men of Old

 

*CHARGE                                                                                                        on Galatians 4:7

            Go no longer a slave, but a child,

                 And if a child then also an heir, through God.

 

*BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                                      Brightest and Best                                             J. Rasley                     

 

*Congregation stands as able

Next Week’s Scriptures:  Gen. 1: 1-5; Ps. 29; Acts 19: 1-7; Mark 1: 4-11

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

 

Liturgists 

 Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl, Steve Hilditch

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Musical Leadership

Sarah Shaffer, Soloist & Director

Nancy Deeth, Organist

Greeters                    

Ed & Shirley Cotter, John Deeth, Steve & Linda McClanahan

 

 

NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 

VICTORY CELEBRATION ON COMPLETION OF CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

At 10:30 worship we gather at the Lord’s Table, the bread, marking a southern European tradition, is sugar cookie.  Following worship, we celebrate with refreshments in Narthex and Parlor, “put the roof on the church.  If you’ve not returned your card, please do so by the 4th of January, so that your gifts can be added to the report and to the 2006 operating budget Session will set before Sunday.