Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Welcome:
Gathering Music: This Time (by Rob Duquette) -Rob Duquette
Call To Worship:
L: I walked, eyes looking up, following the star.
R:: I ran, lunging for a love that is bigger than me.
L:: I tumbled and fell, tender step after tender step.
R: I ambled like a river, caught up in God’s flow.
L: I crawled, kissing the earth below me.
R: Tell me again. How did you get here?
All: I am here by God’s grace and love’s pull.
Leader: Welcome home.
Opening Hymn: We Three Kings of Orient Are #151 vs. 1-3
A Call for Reflection:
Friends, as we begin a new year, we are invited to reflect upon the past year and to consider the ways we may have fallen short, to recall relationships which may need healing and to invite God into that space as we ask forgiveness. (Pause) This allows us to begin again. For in this moment of prayer, we name our shortcomings and mistakes.
We receive God’s grace, and we start again. The slate is wiped clean. The prayer of confession is an act of beginning again and again and again. So join me in prayer. For even here, God is already doing something new. Let us begin again.
Let us pray:
God of new beginnings, We admit that we often follow the well-worn path, simply because others have been there before. Sometimes this is holy and humble, but there are days when a new path needs to be tread. On those new-beginning days, O God, give us the courage to follow your star. Give us the courage to go home by another way.
Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction for the sake of justice, love, and neighbor.
For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow. With hope in our hearts we wander, we travel. Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
Dear travelers, No matter the roads you’ve taken,
the steps you’ve made, or the paths you’ve traveled,
there is nowhere you could go that would land you outside of God’s love. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel: Regardless of the path we travel, of how lost we may get, or the twists and turns along the way, we do not walk alone. We are loved. We are forgiven. We have every chance to begin again.
Thanks be to God for a love like that!
Lord’s Prayer
Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21, Matthew 2:1-12 – Bruce Fenlason
Reflections: Following Our Star –Rev. Paula Norbert
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Words of Invitation The Bread and The Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Music: Meditative Instrumental ~ Rob Duquette
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People:
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: What A Wonderful World (by Louis Armstrong)
-Rob Duquette
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye
heavenly hosts. Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication:
Closing Hymn: Blest Be the Tie That Binds
Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
Blessing:
Postlude: Go In Peace…
With thanks to Michelle Currie, our Music Director, to Rob Duquette, our Musician today, and to our Reader and Deacons.
From Your Pastor: My great thanks for all of the beautiful cards and gifts I received from so many of you. I am deeply grateful for the generous Christmas Bonus, and I thank you for your kindness, love and support.