Sunday, January 9, 2022
Worship Service Outline - EPIPHANY
Rev. Jan Bihl (leading) | Nathan Mah (guest musician)
VU refers to the Voices United Hardcover Hymn Book located in pew rack. MV refers to the More Voices softcover, ring bound, song book.
Opening Music for Meditation - Instrumental: We Three Kings; VU#89 From a Distant Home; VU#91 The First Nowell
As we gather for worship, we acknowledge that Como Lake United Church resides on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem pronounced kwee-kwet-lum) First Nation. May we work to learn and build right relationship now and into the future.
The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Call to Worship Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God! God heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. And prepares rain for the earth and makes grass grow on the hills. We learn more of God through the stories of Jesus. Who teaches us about love, justice, mercy and compassion. May we be given the courage and inspiration to practice such things. Today and every day in the year to come. Amen.
*Hymn: VU#79 Arise, Your Light Is Come
Lighting the Christ Candle
Affirmation of Faith – A New Creed (VU#918)
We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. ~The United Church of Canada, General Council 1968, alt.
Hymn: VU#82 A Light is Gleaming (Refrain - vs. 1,2 - Refrain - vs. 3-4 - Refrain)
Prayer
Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2: 1-12
Sermon: Rev. Jan Bihl
*Hymn: VU#288 Great is Thy Faithfulness
This is a time to dedicate your offering and/or light a prayer candle from home.
Prayers for Community and the World
We gather our prayers today for our families, our community, and our world...praying (VU#914)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil, for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen
*Concluding Hymn: VU#87 I Am the Light of the World (Jesus’ words - John 8:12)
Sending Forth and Blessing, Amen.
Music for Sending Forth Instrumental
Copyright Information
We Three Kings Text: 88 44 6 with refrain; based on Matthew 2:1-11; John H. Hopkins, Jr., 1820-1891, alt. Music: Carols, Hymns, and Songs, 1863; John H. Hopkins, Jr.; arr. © 2013, Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. All rights reserved. Contributors: Tom Booth One License #A716697
VU#89 From a Distant Home Words: Spanish trad. Puerto Rican carol, trans. George K. Evans 1963 ©1963 1980 Walter Ebret & George K. Evans. Walton Music Corp. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License #A716697
VU#91 The First Nowell Words: English traditional carol, ca. 17th century, alt. Public Domain
VU#79 Arise, Your Light Is Come Words: Ruth Duck 1974 ©1992 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License #A716697
VU#82 A Light is Gleaming Words: Linnea Good 1992 ©1992 Borealis Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License #A716697
VU#288 Great is Thy Faithfulness Words: Thomas O. Chisolm 1923 alt.; Music: William M. Runyan 1923. Words and music copyright © 1923, renewal 1951 Hope Publishing Company. Used by permission. One License #A-716697
VU#914 The Lord’s Prayer Adpt. from a chant by R. Langdon. Public domain.
VU#87 I Am the Light of the World Words: Jim Strathdee 1967 ©1969 Desert Flower Music. All rights reserved. Used with permission. One License #A716697
ANOTHER ROAD
Having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Matthew 2.12
God, give me the courage of another road.
Give me the peace to accept new things, to go new ways, to embrace the unfamiliar.
Give me the grace to be changed.
You who create each moment, create me anew today.
Let each breath be a rebirth.
Be my star, and lead me.
Awaken me to your calling and to my going.
I let go of my attachment to knowing the way and my fear of not knowing.
Let me know nothing,
and only listen, depending entirely on you, trusting that in all that changes you are present,
steadfast and devoted.
Walk with me, God, on this new road.
Steve Garnaas-Holmes Unfolding Light www.unfoldinglight.net
