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Zion United Church Of Christ
Arendtsville, Pennsylvania
"Embodying the Love of God in Word and Action"
Sunday, January 3, 2010
2nd Sunday after Christmas
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
One: Listen as wisdom gives praise, and tells of her glory in the midst of the people.
Two: I came forth like a word from the mouth of God. I covered the earth like a mist, I reigned in the heavenly places, and travelled through the deepest abyss. I held sway over all the earth and over every people and nation I ruled supreme. Then I was ready to settle down and I sought a resting place for my wisdom ways: Where shall I abide? Where shall my hope, peace, joy, and love remain? (We light the hope, peace, joy, love candles.)
One: Make your home among us, O Wisdom, and in God’s people come and live forever!
Two: Before time came into being I was created, and forever and ever I will live on. I will live and breathe among God’s people and my home will be on the earth for eternity.
One: Let us worship Wisdom born in us. (We light the Christ candle.)
*Hymn: “Wise Men, They Came to Look”........................ #186
*Opening Prayer
Leader: God is here! The Messiah has come! We open our eyes to see him and lift our hearts to worship him. We have come to exalt the name of Jesus, our Savior and King, and to bring glory to God the Father. In our worship we demonstrate the mind of Christ in declaring to God that he is the supreme authority in our lives. We bow before him in submission to our Lord and King.
People: Come, worship the Lord!
*Response: “O Love, How Deep, How Broad”……………….#193, V6
*Prayer Of Confession
Leader: O God, we need Christ to renew our commitment.
People: We confess that our lack of faith has made us fearful.
Leader: May your angels sing again to us of peace for body and soul.
People: We acknowledge that we have foolishly let our desires lead us astray.
Leader: May your star once more set our course firmly in your direction.
People: We have turned our faith into a lifeless ritual.
Leader: May your manger call us again to expressions of love and devotion.
People: We have carefully kept our gifts and have not freely given our goods and our hearts to you.
Leader: May the Magi show us the spirit of giving.
People: Lord, may your Spirit linger in our hearts and bring renewal in our lives. Amen. (A time for silent prayers of confession; Music: “O Sing A Song of Bethlehem.”)
Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness
Leader: O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tiding tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Affirmation: “O Come, Let Us Adore Him”. . . ………………#126, V4
We Hear The Word
Reading Of The Scripture: Jeremiah 31: 7-14
A Time For Children
Anthem: “I Wonder as I Wander”
Reading Of The Gospel: John 1: (1-9), 10-18
Message For This Day
We Respond To God
*Statement Of Faith (From Song of Hope, a United Church of Canada statement of faith.)
Leader: God is Holy Mystery, beyond complete knowledge, above perfect description. Yet, in love, the one eternal God seeks relationship. . . We find God made known in Jesus of Nazareth, and so we sing of God the Christ, the Holy One embodied. We sing of Jesus, a Jew, born to a woman in poverty in a time of social upheaval and political oppression. He knew human joy and sorrow. So filled with the Holy Spirit was he that in him people experienced the presence of God among them. We sing praise to God incarnate.
People: Jesus announced the coming of God’s reign—a commonwealth not of domination but of peace, justice, and reconciliation. He healed the sick and fed the hungry. He forgave sins and freed those held captive by all manner of demonic powers. He crossed barriers of race, class, culture, and gender. He preached and practiced unconditional love—love of God, love of neighbour, love of friend, love of enemy—and he commanded his followers to love on another as he had loved them.
*Hymn: “Brightest and Best of the Stars”…………………#182
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.)
Our Offering
Offertory
*Doxology: “Praise God from Whom All Blessings”………#809
*Prayer Of Dedication
*Closing Hymn: “As With Gladness Men of Old”... …………#181
*Blessing
Leader: We have been filled with the loving presence of God’s Word, enabling us to shine out as reflections of God’s love. Let us go forth singing the good news: Wisdom has made a home within us and we have become children of God. Thanks be to God.
*Choral Benediction: “Emmanuel, Emmanuel”……………. #140
*Chime Meditation
Postlude
*Where noted, please stand if able.
January’s Proverb:
Better the poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool. Proverbs 19: 1
Thank You to all who contributed to the Christmas Fund Special Mission Offering. Total gifts: $742.
A Veterans’ Team Meeting will follow worship on January 10.
Zion was chosen as a winner of the Arendtsville Lions Club’s Christmas decoration awards. There are first and second place winners in each of four categories. Zion received first place in the best religious category. The $50 received will be used toward the Walter Reed gift cards.
Offering Boxes For 2010 are now available at the rear of the sanctuary. If you cannot locate yours, please contact Laurie.
Our Next Community Night At Hoss’s Steak And Seahouse, in Gettysburg, will be on Monday, January 11, from noon until 8. Hope to see everyone there!
The Christian Ed Steering Team scheduled for January 10 has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled for February, date to be determined.
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!
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.
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.
Thanks To All The Children who pulled off a great Christmas Pageant despite scheduling changes and lack of practice. A special thank you to Arlo for his musical direction, as well as Mandy, Heather, Kendra, Jill and Meagan for their assistance.
Annual Report Information from committees, ministries, and Sunday School is now due.
The Food Pantry item for January is juice boxes.
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.
The Sunday School Rotational Model Needs You! We need to fill the rotations of teachers and shepherds for January through May. We still need a games leader for April. Please sign on the credenza clipboard or see Jessica.
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.
Please check the Member Directory in the Narthex to see if your information is current. You may desire to add or remove your e-mail address. You may write your changes in the directory, complete a “Change to Information in Church Directory” form (located inside the notebook cover), call the office or send an e-mail to
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.
2010 Greeters Needed for Feb. 14, 17, 21; Mar. 7
2010 Scripture Setting Sponsors Needed for all Sundays.
2010 Nursery Attendants for all Sundays.
(Scripture Setting Sponsorship is $10 per Sunday. Please place your remittance designated for Scripture Settings in the offering plate.)
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.
Please Tell Us. Is someone you love hospitalized? Does someone need a visit from the pastor or the visitation team? Do you have a birth, marriage, death or other information you'd like to include in the newsletter or bulletin? Please tell us! Our church office counts on you to keep us informed. Give us a call at the office at 677-8319. Hospital visitors for this month are listed with the lay ministers in this bulletin and in the monthly newsletters.
If You Have A Need For Prayer, please remember that we have a prayer chain available. Please call Liz; she will activate the chain for you. You may also submit a prayer request to the Prayer Center on our Web site. It is located under “Connect.” Our Lord teaches us in Matthew Chapter 18: 19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
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. 6 Choir Practice Sanctuary 7:30 pm
Jan. 7 Mission Mtg Zion Hse 7:00 pm
Jan. 9 Consistory Retreat Zion Hse
Looking Forward:
Jan. 10 Communion; consistory installation Sanctuary 9:00 am
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. 26 Consistory Mtg Zion Hse 7:00 pm
Jan. 31 Confirmation class 11:15 am
Feb. 4 Book Group Zion Hse 7:00 pm |
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