Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Welcome And Opening Prayer
Prelude Afton Water Aaron David Miller
Responsive Call to Worship
One: May the star of Jesus our Savior shine brightly over you and within you and over all the nations of the Earth. May you live in his light and may his presence be with you always.
All: And also with you.
Scripture Lesson (Unison) Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Hymn “In the Bleak Midwinter”
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.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him,
nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
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.
Call to Confession
Confession of Sin
God of Light and Water and Bread, you reach out to us in so many ways and yet, at times, we wonder where you are. You are in the midst. Our minds can be focused on light and water and bread, things we need to survive, but we focus on the need and not on the blessing, not on the presence, not on the Creator of all that we see, touch, taste, smell, and hear. Give us eyes that see you; ears, that hear you; minds, that open to you; hearts, that fill with your love; hands, that share your blessings—through bread, water, light, and words of life. In your name, we pray… (Let us continue, personalizing this prayer for ourselves, in silent prayer.)
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Prayer for Illumination in Unison
Lord of Light, you offer us treasures of wisdom and insight. We offer our open hearts and minds to receive your gifts. Fill us with faith, understanding, and a joyous desire to bring your words to life in the world. Amen.
First Scripture Reading (In Unison) Isaiah 43:1-3a
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.
Second 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 the 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.”
Sermon Light, Water, and Bread Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn Red 768* “I Come With Joy”
I come with joy to meet my Lord,
forgiven, loved and free,
in awe and wonder to recall,
his life laid down for me,
his life laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread,
in Christ’s communion bread.
As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
The love that made us, makes us one,
and strangers now are friends,
and strangers now are friends.
And thus with joy we meet our Lord.
his presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known;
we see and praise him here,
we see and praise him here.
Together met, together bound,
we’ll go our different ways
and as his people in the world,
we’ll live and speak his praise,
we’ll live and speak his praise.
Affirmation of Faith from The Larger Catechism
Q: Where do the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper agree?
A: The sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper agree, in that the author of both is God; the spiritual part of both is Christ and his benefits; both are seals of the same covenant, are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel and by none other; and to be continued in the church of Christ until his second coming.
Offertory Beach Spring Janet Linker
Doxology
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Hymn Green 237* “Crashing Waters at Creation”
Crashing waters at creation,
ordered by the Spirit’s breath,
first to witness day’s beginning
from the brightness of night’s death.
Parting water stood and trembled
as the captives passed on through,
washing off the chains of bondage,
channel to a life made new.
Cleansing water once at Jordan
closed around the one foretold,
opened to reveal the glory
ever new and ever old.
Living water, never ending,
quench the thirst and flood the soul.
Wellspring, source of life eternal,
drench our dryness, make us whole.
Benediction
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