Happy New Year!   

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link:  https://fb.me/e/41vZwBUOo?mibextid=RQdjqZ, hear it in the church parking lot at 107.1 FM, or join us in person. 

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Dear NACCP family,

The twelve days of Christmas continue on the calendar of the church, and on Sunday we will reflect on the continuing trouble experienced by Jesus and the Holy Family after his birth. As they became refugees, they reminded us of the presence of the Divine in the journey of the stranger.

I want to express appreciation to the many people who have worked hard to clean up and repair our facility after the great Christmas Eve flood.  And thank you to Tom for navigating our insurance claim.  We are all grateful for your care of our property.

Love and peace,

Keith

Gathering Music                         Polly Dunford              

Welcome and Announcements                                  Sharon Fowler

Call to Worship

One:  Let all of creation praise the name of the Divine!

Many:  The rhythms of life praise God through the markings of time.

One:  Let all of creation praise the name of the Divine Mystery!

Many:  The flowers, land, and trees praise the Divine Gardener through rest and renewal.

One:  Let all of creation praise the name of the Holy One!

Many:  Living creatures praise the Great Spirit through our breathing, living and being. Praise God!

Opening Hymn              “God We Praise You for the Morning”     Handout

        Words by Jim and Jean Strathdee; Music by Jim Strathdee

1)  God we praise you for the morning, Hope springs forth with each new day,

New beginnings, prayer and promise, Joy in work and in play.

2)  God we praise you for creation, Mountains, seas, and desert land.

Waking souls find joy and healing, In your bountiful hand.

3)  God we praise you for compassion, All the loving that you show.

Human touching, tears and laughter help your children to grow.

4)  God we praise you for your Spirit, Comforter and daily friend,

Restless searcher, gentle teacher, Strength and courage you send.

5)  God we praise you for the Savior, Come that we may know your ways.

In his loving, dying, rising Christ is Lord of our days.

6)  Alleluia, alleluia, Alleluia  Alleluia.  Alleluia, Alleluia!  Christ is Lord of our days.

Scripture Lesson  Matthew 2:13-23

Sermon “Refugee Jesus”           Dr. Keith Ray

Theme:  When we consider the whole of the Christmas story,

we are invited to open our lives to the “other” as we embrace

the great diversity of God’s human family.

                                     

Hymn       “Mary, Joseph! Take Young Jesus!”                             Handout

          Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette; Tune is Beach Spring

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn/ Offertory       “Who Sweep the Stable?                      Handout

Words by Shirley Erena Murray;  Music by Jim Strathdee

1)  Who sweep the stable when Christmas is over,

who clear the table, the crumbs of the meal?

Practical people, compassionate people,

people not proud to take basin and  kneel.

2)  Who take the load for the helpless and hurting,

who drive the road when the crisis is there?

People of spirit, compassionate people,

people with hands at the ready to care.

3)  Who are the first to bring calm into chaos,

who tend the worst and restore what is best?

Heart and soul people, compassionate people,

saviors and servants, humanity’s test.

4)  God give us eyes for the needs of our neighbor.

God make us wise to the actions that bless,

being your servants and taking directions,

gladly and instantly answering “Yes!”

Discussion

Benediction

Shalom   (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)

                          Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.

                            Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.

*********************************************************************************************** Calendar of Service  

January 8 - Keith Ray

Communion                 Congregational Meeting to present and elect new Elders and present 2023 Budget

Epiphany Stars

1st Sunday Potluck meal

Session meeting following worship service

January 15 - Lucy Youngblood; Installation of new Elders

January 22 - Keith Ray

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The next meeting of Anderson County Queer Support and Advocacy Group will be Thursday, January 5 at 7-8:30 PM.  This group will become the Anderson Chapter of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) as soon as their articles of incorporation are completed.  Read more at acadvocate22@gmail.com.  All are welcome.  

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Upcoming Red Cross Blood Drive - Those of you able to give blood, please put Thursday, January 19, from 1-6 PM.  Go to www.redcross.org to register. Click on “Give Blood”, then “Find a Blood Drive” and type in 29621 to go to the NACCP location.  Thanks for making a donation.

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If you missed the screening but still want to see the movie, we have another opportunity in Foothills:

Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, Clemson, is confirmed for our screening of

At the River: Struggle and Grace in the Segregated South for

Monday, February 6th, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the Fort Hill Sanctuary.

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Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology is presenting a Zoom Only event on February 12, 2023, at 3:00-4:15 PM.  Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, RN, MDiv will be the speaker.  Click here to register .

Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries of the UCC.  She is the former senior pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ, Florissant, Missouri and the leading voice of frontline spiritual leaders influential in leading prayer vigils and engaging in peaceful protests during the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri after the murder of Michael Brown in 2014.

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Remember in prayer: Glennie Burns; Bonnie Marsden; Mary Alice Mundy; Tawny Booth (friend of Vicki Conrad-Wright); Sharon Fowler; Jason Harding; Friends and Family of Doug Vaughan; Bruce Kalley and family; Tim and Michael Little-Bell and family; Linda McFall; Mike Johnston; Whitney and Taylor Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Steve Hallowell; Pat Weddle; Jackie Moore;; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine.