WELCOME TO WORSHIP
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. BAPTISM
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY • JANUARY 29, 2023 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS 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. †
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
Partita on ‘Christe, der du bist Tag und Licht’ — Georg Böhm
GREETING INTROIT
All that Hath Life and Breath — René Clausen All that hath life and breath, praise ye the Lord. Shout to the Lord, Alleluia! Praise him, laud him, Alleluia!
CALL TO WORSHIP Creator God, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief. Shine into the hearts of all your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of Christ our Lord. Amen.
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #101 From All That Dwell Below the Skies — DUKE STREET
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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:
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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.
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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.
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Receive these offerings, O Lord. We give you thanks for the blessings which you have bestowed upon us. We pray these gifts, the employment of our talents, the labor of our hands, the prayers of our hearts, and the witness of our lives will show the world the magnitude of your love and grace. Let us put you first in our lives. Use us this week to build your Kingdom. We ask this in the name of Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever more. Amen.
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#191 Jesus Loves Me — JESUS LOVES ME
BAPTISMAL RESPONSE With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround Marshall with a community of love and forgiveness, that he may grow in his service to others. We will pray for him, that he may be a true disciple who walks in the way that leads to life.
(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.)
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD HYMN
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BENEDICTION
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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)
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WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED CANTICLE Look at the World — John Rutter Look at the world, everything all around us, look at the world and marvel every day. Look at the world, so many joys and wonders, so many miracles along our way. Praise to thee O Lord for all creation. Give us thankful hearts that we may see all the gifts we share and every blessing. All things come of thee. Look at the earth, bringing forth fruit and flowers. Look at the sky, the sunshine and the rain. Look at the hills, look at the trees and mountains, valley and flowing river, field and plain. Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer bringing the harvest before the winter’s cold. Everything grows, everything has a season till it is gathered to the father’s fold. Every good gift, all that we need and cherish comes from the Lord in token of his love. We are his hands, stewards of all his bounty, his is the earth and his the heavens above.
#568 Christ for the World We Sing — ITALIAN HYMN
POSTLUDE
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Thank you for joining us in worship today.
SCRIPTURE — Matthew 5:21-37 (pew Bible New Testament page 5) This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “The Greater Good”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY The Servant Song — David Schwoebel If anyone would be first, they shall be the last; be the servant of all. We are travelers on a journey, fellow pilgrims on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christlight for you in the nighttime of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. Sister, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you; I will share your joy and sorrow ‘till we’ve seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony, born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III Senior Minister LITURGIST The Reverend Susannah Pittman, Assoc. Minister
MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir CRUCIFER Jay Dunnagan TORCHBEARERS Sally Dunnagan Meg Gilliam
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.