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Christmas 2 / Epiphany
01/04/2025 - 10:30 pm
CENTERING MUSIC Amazing Grace John Newton
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP -
One: The magi came from many places, following a star.
People: We come to worship, and the star sheds light on our lives.
One: The magi brought gifts to offer the child.
People: We, too, bring gifts – ourselves, our hopes, our dreams.
One: Shepherds and magi – the meek and the mighty – all were welcome in Bethlehem.
People: We too come to Bethlehem and then return to our homes rejoicing.
*HYMN #150 Once in Royal David’s City vs. 1,2
Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild
Jesus Christ her little child
He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and meek and lowly
Lived on earth our Savior holy
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
One: The Light comes to the world:
People: Our eyes, long used to darkness,
Fatigued from long searching,
Blink and twitch.
We jerk away and do not answer.
One: The light comes to our lives:
People: Shuddering with the warmth,
Preferring loneliness to the pain of answering,
We jerk away and do not answer.
One: The Light comes to touch our bodies and our spirit-minds:
People: But we are lost in logic,
Living in our heads.
Our bodies give us away
To the truth of isolation.
One: Calling, calling our names,
The Light comes:
People: Preferring to hear it as
The ice-rattling branches of
Winter trees
We turn away,
Crouched against the wind,
And do not answer.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL #155 Raise a Song of Gladness
Raise a song of Gladness, peoples of the earth.
Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.
Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!
Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
We have seen the Light.
We have heard the call.
We will dance in the Light
With our God.
Amen.
*PASSING THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Leader: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
ANTHEM
MOMENT FOR CHILDREN
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done 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 Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS Psalm 66:1-5, Isaiah 49:1-7, John 1:35-51
RESPONSE
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON “Come and See” Sharing of Star Stories
Star Litany of Acceptance (attached at the end)
PASSING OUT OF EPIPHANY STARS WHILE WE SING:
Hymn #152 What Star Is This vs. 1,2,3
What star is this, with beams so bright, more lovely than the noonday light?
‘Tis sent to announce a newborn king, glad tidings of our God to bring.
‘Tis now fulfilled what God decreed, “From Jacob shall a star proceed.”
And lo! The eastern sages stand to read in heaven the Lord’s command.
While outward signs the star displays, an inward light the Lord conveys,
And urges them, with tender might, to seek the giver of the light.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY Come, Thou Long expected Jesus Charles Wesley
*ADVENT DOXOLOGY Tune: Infant Holy
Glory be to God, Creator; glory be to Christ the Son;
Glory be to Holy Spirit, glory to the Three-in-One.
Here we offer to you gladly all the gifts that you impart,
As we glory in your Presence, giving from a grateful heart.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
One: For the light, we give you thanks.
People: For all gifts, we give you thanks.
One: For the birth of Jesus, we give you thanks!
People: We give from our hearts, praying it will all be used for your glory. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE *HYMN OF RESPONSE #151 We Three Kings of Orient Are
We three kings of orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain
Moor and mountain
Following yonder star
[Chorus]
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign
Chorus
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a Deity nigh
Prayer and praising, gladly raising
Worshiping, God most high
Chorus
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
Myrrh is mine
Its bitter perfume
reathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in the stone cold tomb
Chorus
O star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
One: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE: SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
Here at Clayton Valley we practice open communion, and all believers are welcome. We do not use alcohol so that all may come to the table of our Lord.
Each row will be directed by an usher to come to the front of the sanctuary by way of the center aisle. Please tear a piece of bread from the loaf. When offered the cup, dip your bread into the cup. After receiving the bread and the cup, you may respond, “Amen”. Return to your seat by way of the side aisle.
COMMUNION PRAYER
*CLOSING HYMN #159 O Sing a song of Bethlehem vs. 1-3
O sing a song of Bethlehem of shepherds watching there
And of the news that came to them from angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today.
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth the angels sing always.
O sing a song of Nazareth of sunny days of joy;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath, and of the sinless boy.
For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow.
Now spreads the fame f his dear name on all the winds that blow.
O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill,
Of him who walked upon the sea and bade its waves be still.
For though, like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the master’s word, falls peace upon the soul.
*POSTLUDE Blessed Assurance Fannie Crosby
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION:
One: The Light has splintered our darkness.
God has called us to dance.
All: We go forth to answer with our lives
