January 1, 2023

We welcome all who worship here this morning!

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                                      “Toccata on Joy to the World”                             Martin Setchell

                                                                                                                                                        Bryan Babcock, organ        

WELCOME                                                                                       Rev. Dr.  Mary Shields     

CALL TO WORSHIP 

One: We are gathered here this morning, tired from the last few weeks.

All:    We are here this morning wondering how Christmas has again passed without peace in our lives

    One:   We are here to renew and draw strength.
All:    We are here because there is no place more fitting that we could be. Let us Worship God!                                                                                                                               

*HYMN No. 133                                   “O, Come, All Ye Faithful”                                 ADESTES FIDELES

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                           Ed  Kinschner         

O God, in this season it is too tempting to want to pretend all is well, to convince ourselves that our lives are as pretty as packages neatly wrapped.  Some of us ignore the pain and hurt of the world, assuming it doesn’t fit in this season.  Others of us see the pain and imagine that it diminishes the true meaning of this season.  Forgive us, O God, for in doing these things we fail to experience fully the power of your presence among us, a presence that does not deny our pain, but breaks through it to show your peace in the midst of any storm. Hear our prayers in the silence…

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON                                                                               

God’s love for us is stronger than anything we face.  Nothing we do will ever change God’s ability to break in and love us, even in the midst of our sin. In Jesus Christ, the one who was and is the presence of peace in the midst of anguish .

All:  We are forgiven

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE #113            “Angels We Have Heard on High” (refrain only)

*PASSING OF THE PEACE                                       

         One:   The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

All:      And also with you.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD                         

ANTHEM                              “A New Year Carol”                                           Benjamin Britten

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 63.7-9

Psalm 148 read responsively

All-Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights!                               

One-All who are faithful, Praise God! All who try to love God offer your praises!                                                         

All-Praise God, sun and moon; praise God, all you shining stars!                                                                                 

One-Let all praise the name of the Lord, for at God’s command all were created.                                                             

All-Praise God all creatures small and big who live in the oceans and waters.                                                 

One-Fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command!                                                                            

All-Hills, valleys, and mountains, fruit and flowering trees, weeds and vines.                                                          

ne-Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!                                                                                             

All-People with power and people with no power, all are God’s children.                                                             

One-All ages and all people are God’s children.                                                                                                                                  

All-Let all praise the name of the Lord, for God’s name alone is exalted; God’s glory is above earth and heaven.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE                                                                                 Dorothy Kyle

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:13-23                                                                                            

SERMON                                      “Detours”                                                      Rev. Dr.  Mary Shields

HYMN   see insert                                               “Coventry Carol”

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison)

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition,  Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil,  delivering us from death to life eternal. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURH  

THE LORD’S PRAYER   from the New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.

CALL TO OFFERING

OFFERTORY                        “Go Tell It On the Mountain”                  arr. Howard Helvey

                                                           Joan Krause, soloist; Bryan Babcock, keyboard                                              

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE 144            “In the Bleak Midwinter” (verse 4)                                                   CRANHAM

*HYMN NO. 134                        “Joy to the World”                                                    ANTIOCH

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE                                   “Song for a New Year”                                         Gilbert M. Martin