January 3rd bulletin

 

Marshall Presbyterian Church

January 3, 2020, 2^nd Sunday of Christmas

Carol Ann West, Pianist

Rev. Cathy Chang, Guest Minister

Alex and Carol Brown, Liturgists

 

ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME

 

wELCOME

* CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 147 and John 1)

One: Praise the Lord, O people!

All:   For God strengthens the weak and blesses the children.

One: God grants peace and gives abundance for all.

All:  God has created all things through the Word, and
         sustains the goodness of creation.

 

* Opening Prayer

 

* HYMN       Christmas carol – Congregation’s choice

 

CALL TO CONFESSION

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

O God, you create and sustain all things by your Word. Your love is manifest throughout your good creation. Indeed, your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, so that we might see, hear and know you in ways never before possible. But we do not always trust in that revelation and in your sustaining power. We sometimes doubt that your abundant love will overcome hatred in our world. Forgive our disbelief. Have mercy upon us for our failure to abide in Christ and to walk in his light. Amen.

 

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

 

ALL: Hear the good news: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth, and from that fullness we have all received grace upon grace. And to all who receive this good news, who believe in Jesus’ name, God grants power to become children of God — power to participate in God’s own life. Bear that family resemblance into the life of the world, for we are forgiven and restored to walk in the light, set on right paths of justice and peace. Amen.

 

* Gloria Patri

 

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.

 

* PASSING THE PEACE

 

SPECIAL MUSIC:   Congregation’s choice

 

HEARING AND RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

 

prayer for illumination

 

THE Scriptures

 

Gospel:                   John 1:1-18                      See Bulletin

Old Testament:     Jeremiah 31:7-14           Listen

 

One:    The Word of God for the people of God!

All:      Thanks be to God!

 

 

Message:                  A See-Through Life                 Rev. Cathy Chang

 

 

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from Confession of Belhar)

We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; We believe that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. We believe that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world. Jesus is Lord. To the one and only God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be the honor and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

* HYMN       Christmas Carol – Congregation’s choice

 

SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS            (See bulletin insert)

Prayers of the People and Lord’s prayer (The

Lord’s Prayer is located at the bottom of page 35 in the

purple hymnal)

 

Sharing the Gifts of God  

  Offertory

*Doxology (ca. 1500s)

  Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

  Praise him all creatures here below;

  Praise him above, ye heavenly host;

  Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

 

* Prayer of dedication And thanksgiving

 

O God, receive the gifts we offer in gratitude for abundant gifts that we have received from you, and now return to you to further your work in the world. Amen.

 

GOING FORTH IN GOD’S NAME

 

* HYMN       Christmas carol – Congregation’s choice!

 

*INVITATION

*CHARGE

*BENEDICTION

 

 

 

 

John 1:1-18 (New Revised Standard Version)

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

 

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

 

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.