WELCOME TO WORSHIP
CANTICLE Love Is Little — Ron Barnett Love is little, love is low, love will make our spirits grow. Grow in peace, grow in light, love will do the thing that’s right.
BENEDICTION
†
BENEDICTION RESPONSE The Lord Bless You and Keep You — John Rutter The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Amen. (Numbers 6: 24-26)
†
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
The prelude signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED SCRIPTURE — Hebrews 10:24-25 This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Your Best Life: Community”
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE GREETING INTROIT
Ubi caritas — Ola Gjeilo Where charity and love are, God is there. The love of Christ has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice in him and be glad.
OPENING PRAYER Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.
†
HYMN OF PROCESSION #369 Blessed Assurance — ASSURANCE
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether — Harold W. Friedell Draw us in the Spirit’s tether; for when humbly, in thy name, two or three are met together, Thou art in the midst of them: Alleluya! Alleluya! Touch we now thy garment’s hem. As the brethren used to gather In the name of Christ to sup, then with thanks to God the Father break the bread and bless the cup, Alleluya! Alleluya! So knit thou our friendship up. All our meals and all our living make us sacraments of thee, that be caring, helping, giving, we may true disciples be. Alleluya! Alleluya! We will serve thee faithfully. DOXOLOGY #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
†
†
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare:
†
We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good. We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen. GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father — GREATOREX 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.
†
CONFIRMATION BLESSING
Thank you for joining us in worship today.
(Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY • JANUARY 14, 2024 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
POSTLUDE
†
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Receive these gifts, O Lord. May they be magnified by your Holy Spirit to teach your children about your love, to show the world your grace, to bring healing to the broken hearted, to comfort the grieving, to embrace the needy, and to praise your name. We offer ourselves as instruments of your peace to the world. We offer our talents, our time, and our gifts to you. Use us as you will. Deploy us for your benevolence. Transform our hearts as we transform the world. We pray this in your Holy name. Amen.
†
HYMN
SERMON NOTES
___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III, Senior Minister
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
LITURGIST The Reverend Meg Peters, Assoc. Minister
#557 Blest Be the Tie That Binds — DENNIS
MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir
†
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of the United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
CRUCIFER Jack Ward TORCHBEARERS Thomas Saxon Sloan Clark FLOWERS The Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of Nash E. Hardy, Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. Reginald E. Parsons by Judy Hardy and family, and also in loving memory of William E. Caldwell by Mrs. William E. Caldwell.
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.