January 1, 2023

Dec 30

First Sunday after Christmas

Enhance your online worship experience

Whether you’re a first-time online visitor or a life-long member, we welcome and celebrate the ways you enrich our collective worship of a scattered yet gathered Children of God. As we begin our service, we invite you to light a candle, just as we do in the prelude during our in-person worship. Our two altar candles symbolize that Christ was both a human being and God. A light being carried into the world shows that Jesus Christ is for all people - everywhere. Just as a the acolyte carries the lighted candlelight into the congregation, the light symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ preceding us into the world where we as the church are to serve.

Prelude

He Is Born While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks arr. James Koerts

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship

One: A new day has dawned, a new year begun
Many: O Lord, call us so we may hear Your voice
One: The world turns to hopes and dreams of the future
Many: O Lord, keep us in Your ways and on Your path
One: We enter this new year with hope and excitement
Many: O Lord, remind us that You lead us
O Lord, guide us as we look to You and worship You.
Amen. +

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon

The light and life of God are here with us now! Emmanuel, God is with us. Know that Christ came that we might move closer to the God who loves us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and made new.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God.

Carol

Angels from the Realms of Glory UMH# 220

Concerns & Prayers with The Lord’s Prayer

UMH# 895

Solo

What Child Is This arr. Beka Wilson
Danielle Fann, flute

A Reading from the Epistles

Hebrews 2:10-18

Sermon

He Is Likewise | Shasta Wilde

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom you wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings

Doxology UMH# 94

Carol

O Little Town of Bethlehem UMH# 230
Sung to the hymn tune FOREST GREEN

Dismissal with Blessing

Postlude

O Little Town of Bethlehem arr. James Koerts