Welcome to Worship
We gather to worship, we go out to serve.
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD
* Those who are able, please stand.
Tolling of the Bell
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Opening Prayer Gary Kollmann
Holy God, you sent your son to be the light of the world, so that all may know the brightness of your love. Fill us with your grace this day that we too may bear witness to his light and serve your coming reign. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prelude Christopher Bunch
*Call to Worship (Unison) Gary Kollmann
Sing a new song, a song of thanks and praise, for God has done wondrous deeds, and is great beyond compare!
*Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness #39
Prayer for New Beginnings (Unison) Gary Kollmann
For your blessing we thank you, God. Faith in you, increase it, we beg, so that we no longer doubt. Drive out all our miserliness, so that we do not refuse you anything. Increase our faith, for the sake of those without faith. Make us instruments, of your faith, for those with only a little. Fill our bodies with faith, our bodies that work for you all our days. Help us to avoid the enemies of our faith, or to overcome them. You are with us in confrontations; this we believe. In your hands we place ourselves and are secure. Make haste to enter our hearts; make haste. Masai people, Tanzania
*Passing of the Peace
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
*Congregational Response In My Life #468 v.1,4
In my life, Lord, be glorified; be glorified.
In my life, Lord, be glorified today,
In your world, Lord, be glorified; be glorified.
In your world, Lord, be glorified today.
HEARING THE WORD
Prayer for Illumination Gary Kollmann
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, open our ears to the truth
of your word, that the testimony of Christ may be strengthened among us and the glad news of deliverance revealed. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 49:1-7 Gary Kollmann
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.” And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Word in Music Christopher Bunch
Gospel Reading John 1:29-42
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Sermon Rev. Jeff Sockwell
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
*Hymn O God, Who Gives Us Life #53
*Affirmation of Faith (Unison) Brief Statement of Faith
Jesus broadened the definition of neighbor to include those ordinarily despised and excluded. His life in behalf of others led to persecution and death. He commanded his disciples to live the same way. We believe Christ gives us and demands of us lives that recognize all people in all cultures as our neighbors on this planet. Christ teaches us to go beyond legal requirements in serving and helping our neighbor, to treat our neighbor's needs as our own, to care passionately for the other's good, to share what we have. It is part of our discipline to live in simplicity, avoiding greed and luxury that threaten our neighbor's survival. We are obligated to speak the truth in love, to listen with patience and openness, to love our enemies, to accept the risk and pain which love involves.
Prayers of the People / 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, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Invitation to the Offering
Offering
Offertory
*Doxology #606
Prayer Of Dedication
WE GO OUT TO SERVE
*Hymn Will You Come and Follow Me #726
*Blessing
Go forth in peace for God in Christ has gifted you with speech and knowledge and every spiritual gift to love, enjoy, and serve God.
Postlude Christopher Bunch