Home Worship for Sunday, December 26 2021

Our Home Worship service is much like our in-person service. As you prayerfully journey through Home Worship, we hope it is meaningful for you. 


Staying home is a form of loving your neighbor. You may be staying home for your own health but in reality you then become less of a carrier to others that you might come in contact with. If you are not comfortable attending socially distanced activities, please stay home and stay in touch! We hope you will feel close to God who is near even if we are far apart. May God Bless you and Keep you.

Prelude: We Have Heard the Joyful Sound

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Call to Worship:
God In This Season

God in this season

suspended between hope and fulfillment,

let us never forget what you have done.

May we be overwhelmed by your mercy,

which flows in wave after wave.

May we be honest about the darkness within us,

and perceptive of the light around us.

May we make straight the path for the Lord,

that together we may see God’s glory revealed.

UMH #254 The First Noel - The Story of Christmas

Verse 1

The first Noel the angel did say

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay

In fields where they lay keeping their sheep

On a cold winter's night that was so deep


Chorus

Noel Noel Noel Noel

Born is the King of Israel


Verse 2

They looked up and saw a star

Shining in the east beyond them far

And to the earth it gave great light

And so it continued both day and night


Verse 3

And by the light of that same star

Three wise men came from country far

To seek for a king was their intent

And to follow the star wherever it went


Verse 4

This star drew nigh to the northwest

O'er Bethlehem it took its rest

And there it did both stop and stay

Right over the place where Jesus lay


Verse 5

Then entered in those wise men three

Full reverently upon the knee

And offered there in his presence

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense


CCLI Song # 31047 © Words: Public Domain. Music: Public Domain. All rights reserved. CCLI License # 625707.

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Epiphany Litany UMH #255

O God, you made of one blood all nations, and, by a star in the East, revealed to all peoples him whose name is Emmanuel. Enable us who know your presence with us, so to proclaim his unsearchable riches that all may come to his light and bow before the brightness of his rising who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

A Prayer For Life To Fill The Void

(Inspired by Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2)


A prayer that reverberates throughout time

for a child

for a partner

for a friend

A prayer that is at once lost and found

A grief exposed for the healing balm

A prayer that grows in the crevice of despair

pushing past the boundaries

bursting forth in new life

A prayer for life to fill the void


Written by Katherine Hawker, Liturgies Outside, http://liturgyoutside.net. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-1-samuel-1-2.html.

Scripture: Luke 2:25-32 (CEB)

Simeon’s response to Jesus

25 A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He was righteous and devout. He eagerly anticipated the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 The Holy Spirit revealed to him that he wouldn’t die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple area. Meanwhile, Jesus’ parents brought the child to the temple so that they could do what was customary under the Law. 28 Simeon took Jesus in his arms and praised God. He said,


29 “Now, master, let your servant go in peace according to your word,

30     because my eyes have seen your salvation.

31 You prepared this salvation in the presence of all peoples.

32 It’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles

    and a glory for your people Israel.”


Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Message: "Sharing Gifts"

Pastor Emily Denmark-McGee

We Make the Road By Walking Series. 


This sermon is about inter religious dialogue, and commonalities throughout differing religious traditions. There is more “us” in communities of faith than “them”.

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We Three Kings Of Orient Are - Oceanview Worship

Verse 1

We three kings of Orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain moor and mountain

Following yonder star


Chorus

O star of wonder star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading still proceeding

Guide us to Thy perfect light


Verse 2

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain

Gold I bring to crown Him again

King forever ceasing never

Over us all to reign


CCLI Song # 38002 John Henry Hopkins Jr. © Words: Public Domain. Music: Public Domain. All rights reserved. CCLI License # 625707

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A Blessing Prayer

At the right time, you sent your Son into the world. Many sought after the Messiah then, and we continue to do so today. As we search, help us to realize more diligent than our search, God searches us out to bless us through the abundance of God’s grace. Amen.