Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary as an in-person service and also live streamed at this link. Click on “live” for the live stream. Join us!
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Happy New Year
Epiphany Sunday
Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Laurie Gentry
Epiphany Stars
Call to Worship (from Isaiah 60)
One: Arise, shine; for your light has come,
All: and the glory of God has risen upon you.
One: For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
All: But the Spirit will arise upon you, and God’s glory will appear over you.
One: Nations shall come to your light, and leaders to the brightness of your dawn.
All: Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you;
One: your sons shall come from far away,
All: and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
One: Then you shall see and be radiant;
All: your heart shall thrill and rejoice.
Opening Hymn “Arise, Your Light is Come!” Hymnal #744
1) Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey;
show forth the glory of your God, which shines on you today.
2) Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door;
proclaim the captives’ liberty, good tidings to the poor.
3) Arise, your light is come! All you in sorrow born,
bind up the brokenhearted ones and comfort those who mourn.
4) Arise, your light is come! The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing; God’s power will make us strong.
First Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 (The Living Bible)
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.
At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors.[a] 4 He called a meeting of the Jewish religious leaders.
“Did the prophets tell us where the Messiah would be born?” he asked.
5 “Yes, in Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet Micah[b] wrote:
6 ‘O little town of Bethlehem, you are not just an unimportant Judean village, for a Governor shall rise from you to rule my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them, 8 “Go to Bethlehem and search for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too!”
9 After this interview the astrologers started out again. And look! The star appeared to them again, standing over Bethlehem.[c] 10 Their joy knew no bounds!
11 Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 But when they returned to their own land, they didn’t go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.
Second Reading: Gospel of Thomas - Logion 24
His students said to him, "Take us to the place where you are, since it is necessary that we seek for it."
Jesus replied, "Whoever has ears, let him hear.
Light shines forth from a being of light
and illuminates the whole cosmos.
The one who fails to become light
is a source of darkness."
Sermon “Do You See What I See?” Rev. Laura Collins
Joys and Concerns
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn and Offertory Hymnal #250
“In the Bulb There Is a Flower-Hymn of Promise”
1) In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
2) There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
3) In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Benediction
Discussion
Shalom (meaning - “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. ******************************
Please join us for our Potluck Meal following worship service.
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Calendar of Service -
January 11 - Rev. Tricia Lytle
January 18 - Rev. Dr. Steve Morgan
January 25 - TBD
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The next Meet and Eat will be on Wed., January 7, at 5:30 pm at Thai Lotus on Highway 81.
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A new group, Al-Anon, is now using the church building on Saturdays from 9:30-10:30. Volunteers have been asked to open and close the building for them.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list, contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com.
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Please remember to donate non-perishable food items to AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries). An extra item when you shop is a great help to others in our community.
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