Zion United Church Of Christ

Arendtsville, Pennsylvania

"Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action"

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Baptism of Christ

Consistory Installation

Communion

Visitors:  Welcome to our church.  Please sign our guest book!  If you do not have a church home, we pray that you will find one with us.  We have large-print bulletins available, as well as hearing assistance devices.  Please ask an usher if you require either of these.  Restrooms are located in the church school building.  Go through the door next to the choir loft, and straight ahead.  We also have restrooms downstairs in Fellowship Hall.  Again, exit through the door next to the choir loft, turn left down the hall, and go down the steps. 

We Gather To Worship

Prelude

Announcements

Chime Interlude

*Call To Worship

Leader:    Come beloved, seekers of God’s wonders. . .

People:    We come to the river – the sparkling river.

Leader:    Come beloved seekers of God’s creative spirit. . .

People:    We come to the river – the buoyant river.

Leader:    Come beloved, seekers of God’s assurance. . .

People:    We come to the river – the cleansing river.

Leader:    Come beloved, seekers of God’s nurture and care. . .

People:    We come to the river – the healing river.

Leader:    Come beloved, seekers of God’s abiding presence. . .

People:    We come to the river – the refreshing river.

*Hymn:       “Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove” ……………………….#298

*Opening Prayer  (We light the Christ Candle.)

Leader:    Source of Life, we stand on the shoreline of faith waiting to wade into the waters of your love.  Encourage us into the ebb and flow of life in you.  Amen.           

*Response:  “O Love, How Deep, How Broad”………………………..#193, V6

Prayer Of Confession

Leader:    Creator God, you have fashioned and formed us in your image, calling us by name: 

People:    beloved, beloved, beloved. . .

Leader:    You fire us in a shining glaze that reflects your tender loving care, refining us into a burnished vessel for your Spirit.

People:    We confess that we do not always see ourselves as worthy of your attention and that at times we fail to turn to you when you call us by name:  beloved, beloved, beloved. . .

Leader:    We ask that you pour out your love upon us, a refreshing, cleansing rain calling out all that is lustrous, is Christ in us, shining into our world.

All:          Amen.  (A time for silent prayers of confession; Music:  “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise.”)

Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness

Leader:    But now thus says God who created us, who formed us:   “Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”  Sisters and brothers, created and formed, redeemed and called by name:  beloved. . . beloved. . . beloved.   We are God’s beloved, for we see God’s love reflected in ourselves and in one another.

People:    Thanks be to God.

Affirmation:    “Christ Is the World’s Light”.………………#90, V1

We Hear The Word

Reading Of The Scripture:   Isaiah 43: 1-7

Anthem:       “Fall on Me” ……………………………Williams/Nolan

Reading Of The Gospel:    Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22

Message For This Day                                         

We Respond To God

*Hymn:  “You Walk Along Our Shoreline”…………….(insert)

Pastoral Prayers And 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 sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.)

Installation Of New Consistory Members

(Robert, Annette, and Jay)

(We say farewell and thanks to off-going members:  Eddie, John, and Dave.)

Introduction

Pastor:     Affirmation of ministry is the act whereby a local church of the United Church of Christ recognizes the diverse gifts of its members…in the life of the world.  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.

People:    There are different ways of serving but the same God is served.

Pastor:     There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives the ability to each of us for our particular service.

People:    The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.

Pastor:     Christ is a single body, which has many parts.

People:    It is still one body even though it is made up of different parts.

Pastor:     If one part of the body suffers, all the other parts suffer with it; if one part is praised, all the other parts share its happiness.

People:    All of us are Christ’s body, and each one is a part of it.

Covenant (Consistory members will affirm their commitment to serve)

Pastor:     (to the congregation):  Members of this household of faith…Will those who are able rise and witness to the commitment we now make?

People:    We gather in celebration of the joy that is ours to be partners with you in the service of Jesus Christ.  We promise to love you, honor your leadership and assist you that together we may be a faithful church of Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Declaration & Greeting of Christian Love

Consistory President:   In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of the people of Zion United Church of Christ, I rejoice to announce that you are installed as members of Consistory.  In accordance with the faith and order of this church, I extend to you the hand of Christian love.

People:    Thanks be to God!

Our Offering

Offertory

*Doxology:  “Praise God from Whom All Blessings”.................... #809

*Prayer Of Dedication

Leader:    To the north, to the south, to the west, to the east, we pray:  for all that is possible, wonderful, and joyful as we seek and serve Christ, God’s beloved, in all places and all people.

People:    May God be well pleased.  Amen.    

*Invitation To Christ’s Table (We practice open-communion, which includes non-members and children.  Parents:  please note that we no longer commune children in the nursery.  During the offertory, they will be invited to rejoin their families in the pews.  If children remain in the nursery, only the adult attendant will receive communion in the nursery.)

*The Great Thanksgiving

Pastor:     The Lord be with you.

People:     And also with you.

Pastor:     Lift up your hearts.

People:    We lift them to the Lord.

Pastor:     Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:    It is right to give God thanks and praise.

               (congregation may be seated)

Pastor:     Thanks and praise, glory and honor are rightly yours, Creator God.  Your steadfast love endures forever and ever.  And so we praise you with the faithful of every time and place, gathered in word and spirit with choirs of angels and the whole creation in the eternal hymn:

ALL:       Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest!

Pastor:     In the fullness of time, you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ, to be for us the way, the truth, and the life.  We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion, Jesus took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to the disciples, saying:  “This is my body which is broken for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, Jesus also took the cup, after supper, saying:  “This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Blessing Of The Elements

The Sharing Of The Elements

(The pastor says “The Bread of Heaven” as a sign to take the bread, and “The Cup of Blessing” as a sign to drink from the cups.)  (Please note the grape juice is in the outer ring and the wine is in the inner ring.  The round wafers are gluten-free.  Please hold each element so we may eat and drink together.)

*Prayer Of Thanksgiving

ALL:       Gracious God, we praise, worship and adore you for the food received
at your table.  You have sent your Holy Spirit among us to make our meal at this table a memorial of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We go from here, strengthened, refreshed, and empowered by your Spirit to make our living and working, our loving and doing and thinking, a true and joyful ministry in your name.  Amen.

*Closing Hymn:  “We Bless the Name of Christ the Lord” ………#761

* Pastoral Benediction

*Choral Benediction:  “Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts”…….#121, V 1, 5

*Chime Meditation

Postlude

January’s Proverb: 

Better the poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool.          Proverbs  19: 1

The Veterans’ Team meets today following worship.

The Christian Ed Steering Team scheduled for today has been cancelled.  It is rescheduled for February 21 at 11:15 a.m.

Be An Involved Disciple Of Jesus.  During the children’s Sunday School 10:15 a.m. gathering time, volunteers are requested to briefly discuss with the children ways they follow Jesus and what it means to them to be Jesus’ follower.  If you would like to participate, please contact Jessica.  Children are always excited to welcome special guests!

Our Next Community Night At Hoss’s Steak And Seahouse, in Gettysburg, will be tomorrow, Monday, January 11, from noon until 8.  Hope to see everyone there!

The Visitation Committee is in need of additional volunteers for 2010.  Please join our group by volunteering from one to twelve months either individually or with a partner.  For additional information, contact Linda.

The Book Discussion Group will meet on Thursday, February 4, 7:00 p.m. at  Zion House.  The book being discussed is The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  The setting is in Mississippi in 1962.  Three unforgettable women come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk.  And why?  Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times.  And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

The Food Pantry item for January is juice boxes.

Offering Boxes For 2010 are now available at the rear of the sanctuary.  If you cannot locate yours, please contact Laurie. 

Thanks To The Following For Volunteering As Teachers And Shepherds for the month of December:  Pastor Kim, Betsy, Dusty, Beth, Jay, and Penny.  And as always, thanks to our year- round teachers Ken, Liz, Mandy, and Kendra.

The Sunday School Rotational Model Needs You!   We appreciate our volunteers and would love to have you join us.  We still need a volunteer for games' leader for April.  Clipboard is on the credenza or see Jessica. Thank you!

When Paying For Altar Flowers, please give payment to the altar guild representative for that month.

Children’s Activity Bags are located under the credenza at the rear of the church.

Zion’s Current Confirmation Class is composed of Koby, Taylor, Mitchell, Kayla, Joel, Amber, and Samantha.

Inclement Weather Policy.  If snow or ice force cancellation of Sunday services, here’s how to get the word on whether or not worship services will be held:  call the church at 677-8319 and listen to the answering machine message. The message will be updated to tell you if services have been cancelled due to inclement weather; tune in to WGET; check the church web site:  www.zionuccarendtsville.org; or contact a Consistory member.

2010 Greeters Needed for Feb. 14, 17, 21; Mar.  7.

2010 Scripture Setting Sponsors Needed for January and February.

2010 Nursery Attendants for all Sundays.

Pastoral Relations Committee Members

Robert, Wayne, Lydia, and Donna

Prayers Of The People:  You are invited to offer any prayers you wish by writing them on the PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE paper located at the rear of the sanctuary.  Please share both joys and concerns.  Also, if you would like to share a prayer out loud during the pastoral prayers you are invited to do so during the interval provided.

Consistory

                                                              Term Length

Anthony     President                                             2011

Wayne       Mission                                                2011

Eddie         Property                                              2010

Minda        Vice-Pres., Christian Ed., Worship       2011

John           Personnel, Website                              2010

Fred          Stewardship                                         2012

Donna        Fellowship                                           2012

Jeffrey        Secretary, Finance                               2012

Dave          Membership Chair                               2010

Coming Up Next Week:

Jan. 10     Veterans’ Team Mtg                         10:15 am

Jan. 11     Community Night at Hoss’s              Gettysburg        12 noon—8 pm

Jan. 12     Men’s Fellowship                             Apple Bin         9:00 am

Jan. 13     Choir Practice                                  Sanctuary         7:30 pm

Looking Forward:

Jan. 26     Consistory Mtg                                 Zion Hse          7:00 pm

Jan. 31     Confirmation class                                                    11:15 am

Feb. 4      Book Group                                     Zion Hse          7:00 pm

Feb. 5-7  Confirmand trip to Philadelphia