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3rd Sunday after Epiphany
01/25/2025 - 10:30 pm
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CENTERING MUSIC “Be Still My Soul” Jean Sibelius
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP
In this place of welcome,
Doors are opened,
Lights shine from the windows;
And among companions
We light a candle in the name of Jesus
Who came to share our human lives:
A sign of love.
Glory be to God!
*HYMN #819 Be Still, My Soul
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide, who through all changes faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake to guide the future surely as the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the saves and winds still know his voice
who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord;
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
Loving God, here we are, your children, at the beginning of a week,
Some of us are uncertain of what lies ahead: and others are eager to explore.
Some of us have brought burdens we need to lay down;
Others are looking for challenges to take up.
Here we are, your children, with our unique stories, different needs, varied gifts.
Help us to learn here that we are loved and to celebrate the humanity we share. Amen.
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
God always welcomes us as we are, loving us as we grow and become, guiding us into the people God calls us to be. This is indeed Good News!
Thanks be to 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 “Peace I Ask of Thee, O River” by Gwyneth Walker
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Today’s Story “Work Day”
Cyndi Sneeringer & Joyclyn Van
Leader: And as we continue our worship…
Congregation: May God be with you there.
Children: May God be with you here.
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:
Romans 12; Like 6:37-42; John 8:1-11
RESPONSE
Reader: The Word 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 The Place We Can Be Ourselves Pastor Barbara Barkley
MOMENT FOR QUIET REFLECTION
*HYMN OF REFLECTION #435 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.
There’s a kindness in God’s justice, which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven.
There is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.
For the love of God is broader than the measures of the mind.
And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s Word,
and our lives reflect thanksgiving for the goodness of our Lord.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY “Alas and Did My Savior Bleed” Greg Thompson
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God whose breath fills all the earth
Whose love reveals our sacred worth
Whose Spirit forms one family
Whose grace brings peace and harmony. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
As we share this place and time,
May our life in community reflect the dance of the Trinity by which the world is blessed.
The blessing of God, our maker, Befriender, and Inspirer be with us all.
Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #658 God Is So Good
God is so good; God is so good;
God is so good; God’s so good to me.
God cares for me; God cares for me;
God cares for me; God’s so good to me.
God loves me so; God loves me so;
God loves me so; God’s so good to me.
God is so good; God is so good;
God is so good; God’s so good to me.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE “O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” Trad. Welsh Melody