“Keeping God Happy” “‘With what shall I come before the LORD . . .?’”

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Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

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Announcements

Members are encouraged to sign up for placing flowers/plants on the chancel mantle. Appropriate hanging baskets, house plants and garden flowers are welcome as well as florist arrangements.

The Ladies Bible Study will resume on February 14 from 9:30-11:00 AM in the Conference Room. The spring session will end on April 4.

Prayer Concerns: Fredrica Stell, Bob High, Grace Palmer; Rhonda Scott; Nancy Thurston; Rita & R. L. Lewis; Geraldine Becker Assisted Care: Kenneth Smith; Ellen Thurston; Charlene Hinnant; Anna Jane Collier Friends: Reta Hinson; Donna Parker; Carole Short; Mary Bair; Hollis Salyer; Joe Youngblood; Jean Turner; Ed Jackson; Shandell McPherson; Christy Stuckey; Mary Cherry; Billie Joe Conrad; Shari Dutton; Rex Ros; Brenda Walters; Hobert Wicker; David Gore; Daphne McLeod; Gail Moye; Melinda Powell; Jerome McPherson; Nancy Wilson; Pat Allen; Benny McBride; Shelby Hodge; Frank Youngblood; Barbara Shepherd; Annette Caldwell; Doris Hudlow, Beverly’s mother; Roger Kennedy; Jerry Ford.

*Please notify the church office if you would like to add someone to the prayer list, and then again when the name may be removed.

CHURCH CALENDAR:

  • Tuesday: NETworX of Hope, 5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday: Choir Rehearsal, 6:00 p.m.
  • Thursday: Chicks with Sticks, 10:30 a.m.
  • February 5: Scout Sunday
  • February 8: Session Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
  • February 12: Seniors Luncheon, After Worship

Worship Service

Call to Worship (from Psalm )15
One: O LORD, who may dwell on your holy hill?
Many: Those who walk blamelessly,
and do what is right,
One: and who speak truth from their heart;
Many: who do not slander with their tongue,
One: who stand by their oath even to their hurt.
Many: Those who do these things shall never be moved.

*Hymn of Praise 37
“Let All Things Now Living”

Call to Confession
Let us confess first in self-searching silence.

Prayer of Confession (as in Matthew 5:1-12)
One: Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Many: God, we seek instead to make ourselves important.
One: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Many: God, our bellies are full, yet we lack so much.
One: Blessed are the pure in heart.
Many: God, our loyalties divide us inside and out.
One: Jesus teaches us to trust God in all things.
Many: May we follow the light of Christ, in Jesus’ name; Amen.

Song of Assurance “You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy!” 437
You are the Lord, giver of mercy! You are the Christ, giver of mercy!
You are the Lord, giver of mercy! (twice)

Declaration of Forgiveness

*Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. Amen.

* Sharing the Peace of Christ

Proclaiming the Word

Time with the Children

Prayer for Understanding

Responsive Reading from Micah 6:6-8
One: With what shall I come before the LORD?
Many: Shall I come before God with burnt offerings?
One: Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rivers of oil?
Many: God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
One: and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice,
Many: and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Gospel Lesson Matthew 5:1-12
The Gospel of our Lord;
Praise be to you, O Christ!

Old Testament Lesson Micah 6:1-8

Sermon “Keeping God Happy”
“‘With what shall I come before the LORD . . .?’”
Rev. Dr. George Thompson, Ph.D.

Responding to the Word

* Affirmation of Faith The Confession of 1967, 9.35, 9.37
Wherever the church exists, its members are both gathered in corporate life and dispersed in society for the sake of mission in the world. … The church disperses to serve God wherever its members are, at work or play, in private or in the life of society. Their prayer and Bible study are part of the church’s worship and theological reflection. Their witness is the church’s evangelism. Their daily action in the world is the church in mission to the world. The quality of their relations with other persons is the measure of the church’s fidelity.

Giving Our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory DOUGLAS

* Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him, above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prayers of the People of God—Lord’s Prayer

* Hymn of Commitment “Lord, the Light of Your Love” 192

* Charge and Benediction

* Music in Preparation for Service

*You are invited to stand if you are able.

Today’s Scripture texts are lectionary lessons for Second Sunday after Epiphany.

Christmas Day Worship Service

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WELCOME!

We welcome you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! May today’s worship open you to God. Your entire family is welcome, but we do offer a nursery for children birth to 3 years of age, located in the education building behind the sanctuary.

Prayer Concerns:

Bob High, Grace Palmer; Rhonda Scott; Nancy Thurston; Rita & R. L. Lewis; Geraldine Becker Assisted Care: Kenneth Smith; Ellen Thurston; Charlene Hinnant; Anna Jane Collier Friends: Reta Hinson; Donna Parker; Carole Short; Mary Bair; Hollis Salyer; Joe Youngblood; Jean Turner; Ed Jackson; Shandell McPherson; Christy Stuckey; Mary Cherry; Billie Joe Conrad; Shari Dutton; Rex Ros; Brenda Walters; Hobert Wicker; David Gore; Daphne McLeod; Gail Moye; Melinda Powell; Jerome McPherson; Nancy Wilson; Pat Allen; Benny McBride; Shelby Hodge; Frank Youngblood; Barbara Shepherd; Annette Caldwell; The Family and Friends of Phyllis Farley. *Please notify the church office if you would like to add someone to the prayer list, and then again when the name may be removed.

CHURCH CALENDAR:

  • Tuesday: NETworX of Hope, 5:30 p.m. Children’s Team:1/1-Sally Medford
  • Thursday: Chicks with Sticks, 10:30 a.m.
  • Head Usher Dec: Fuller Royal
  • January 2: Evening Circle with Diane Scott, 7:00 pm
  • Head Usher Jan: Jim Brooks
  • January 3: Morning Circle, 11:00am

Worship Service

Gathering Around the Word

Before the service begins, quietly consider the printed prayers and Scriptures. During worship, let them help open you to God.

Welcome, Announcements, Joys and Concerns

Lighting the Candles

*Hymn of Praise Joy to the World, verses 1-3 134

Call to Confession Let us confess in self-searching silence.

Song of Assurance Joy to the World, verse 4 134

Declaration of Forgiveness

*Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

*Sharing the Peace of Christ
The Peace of Christ be with you all
And also with you!

Proclaiming the Word

Gospel Reading Luke 2:4-7, 11-14

The Gospel of our Lord, Thanks be to God!

Songs from the Congregation

Responding to the Word

*Affirmation of Faith – Apostles’ Creed 35
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Giving Our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory – Hymn Angels from the Realms of Glory Congregation 143, vs. 1,2,4

*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him, above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prayers of the People – The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

*Hymn of Commitment “O Come, All Ye Faithful” 133 vs. 1,4

*Charge and Benediction

*Benediction Response: “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” Congregation
Christmas isn’t Christmas ‘til it happens in your heart. Somewhere deep inside you is where Christmas really starts; So give your heart to Jesus, you’ll discover when you do that it’s Christmas, really Christmas, for you.