28 Jan. 2007 Bulletin

4th Sunday of Epiphany

The flowers gracing the altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of my uncle, Henry Zeltman and friend, Leif K. Olsen by Lucille L. James.

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "More Love to Thee"

Welcome

Call to Worship: Psalm 119
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path!
HOW SWEET ARE WORDS TO MY TASTE, SWEETER THAN HONEY TO MY MOUTH!
The Lord exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
YOUR FAITHFULNESS ENDURES TO ALL GENERATIONS!

*Hymn 92 "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"

Let us be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: from the book of Nehemiah:
O LORD GOD OF HEAVEN, THE GREAT AND AWESOME GOD WHO KEEPS COVENANT AND STEADFAST LOVE WITH THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; WE HAVE OFFENDED YOU DEEPLY, FAILING TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS, THE STATUES AND THE ORDINANCES THAT YOU COMMANDED YOUR SERVANT MOSES. LET YOUR EAR BE ATTENTIVE AND YOUR EYES OPEN TO HEAR THE PRAYER OF YOUR SERVANTS WHO DELIGHT IN REVERING YOUR NAME. GRANT US MERCY!

Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance and the Summary of God's Law (Mark 12:29b-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem "My Jesus, I Love Thee" A. Gordon

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Psalm 71:1-19

*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements
Children's Moment
Hymn 42 "Seek Ye First"

Scripture Lessons:
Jewish Scriptures: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
The Celtic Allelulia!
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
Sermon "Namaan and the Unnamed: What they have in Common"

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*Hymn 423 "There Is a Balm in Gilead"
*The Offering, Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

A Time of Giving Thanks & Praise
The Prayer of the People & the Lord’s Prayer
*Hymn 76 "O For a Thousand Tongues"
*Benediction
*Response to the Benediction
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

21 Jan. 2007 Bulletin

3rd Sunday of Epiphany

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Welcome & Call to Worship: Isaiah 60
Arise, shine! For your light has come!
THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS RISEN UPON US!
For darkness covered the earth,
AND THICK DARKNESS THE PEOPLES;
But the Lord will arise upon you.
AND GOD'S GLORY WILL APPEAR OVER US.
Nations shall come to your light,
AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR DAWN.
Lift up your eyes, look around;
THEY ALL GATHER TOGETHER, THEY ALL COME TO GOD!

*Hymn "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light"

Let us be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: Psalm 119:145-147; 129-131, 133
WITH MY WHOLE HEART I CRY; ANSWER ME, O LORD. I WILL KEEP YOUR STATUES. I CRY TO YOU; SAVE ME, THAT I MAY OBSERVE YOUR DECREES. I RISE BEFORE DAWN AND CRY FOR HELP; I PUT MY HOPE IN YOUR WORDS. YOUR DECREES ARE WONDERFUL; THEREFORE MY SOUL KEEPS THEM. THE UNFOLDING OF YOUR WORDS GIVES LIGHT; IT IMPARTS UNDERSTANDING TO THE SIMPLE. WITH OPEN MOUTH I PANT, BECAUSE I LONG FOR YOUR COMMANDMENTS. KEEP MY STEPS STEADY ACCORDING TO YOUR PROMISE.

Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance & the Summary of God's Law (Mark 12:29b-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem "In My Heart There Rings a Melody" E. Roth

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Psalm 19:1-14

*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements
*Hymn "Lord I Want to Be a Christian"

Scripture Lessons:
Jewish Scriptures: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
The Celtic Allelulia!
Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
Sermon

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*Hymn BB 390 "I Will Choose Christ"
*The Apostles Creed
*The Offering, Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

A Time of Giving Thanks & Praise
The Prayer of the People & the Lord's Prayer
*Hymn "Lift High the Cross"
*Benediction
*Response to the Benediction
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

Congregational meeting and Consistory immediately following service! Please stay!

The flowers gracing the sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of our beloved parents Josephine & Henry and loved ones by the Safay Family.

7 Jan. 2007 Bulletin

The Baptism of Jesus & Celebration of Communion

The flowers gracing the altar are given to the glory of God and in memory of loved ones, in gratitude for a new year and to celebrate Rose Lood's 70^th year of service to New Utrecht Church.

OUR APPROACH TO GOD
Prelude
Introit "Come Holy Spirit, Dove Divine" H. Smith

Welcome

Call to Worship: St. Ephraem, 4^th century
The sun conquers and the steps by which it approaches its zenith show forth a mystery.
LO! IT IS TWELVE DAYS SINCE HE BEGAN TO MOUNT UPWARD AND TODAY IS THE THIRTEENTH DAY.
It is the perfect symbol of the Son and his twelve apostles.
THE DARKNESS OF WINTER IS CONQUERED, TO SHOW THAT SATAN IS CONQUERED.
The sun conquers so that all may know:
THAT THE ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD TRIUMPHS OVER ALL.

*Hymn 131 "Angels from the Realms of Glory"

Let us be before our God in silence.

Unison Prayer: Wisdom 12:12a, 13, 15, 16, 18
WHO WILL SAY, LORD, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" FOR THERE IS NOT ANY GOD BESIDES YOU WHOSE CARE IS FOR ALL PEOPLE...YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS AND YOU RULE ALL THINGS RIGHTEOUSLY...YOUR STRENGTH IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS...AND ALTHOUGH YOU ARE SOVEREIGN IN STRENGTH, YOU JUDGE WITH MILDNESS, AND WITH GREAT FORBEARANCE YOU GOVERN US.

Kyrie (sung)
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US.
LORD, HAVE MERCY ON US.

A Word of Assurance: Isaiah 62:1-5 and the Summary of God's Law (Mark 12:29b-31)
This is the first commandment:
HEAR O ISRAEL,
THE LORD OUR GOD,
THE LORD IS ONE!
THEREFORE YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR SOUL,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND,
AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.
This is the second commandment:
YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
There is no greater commandment than these.

Anthem "Another Year is Dawning" S. Wesley

THE WORD OF GOD
*Responsive Reading: Psalm 29

*Gloria Patri (Hymn No. 623)
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!

The Greeting of Peace
Announcements
Children's Moment

Scripture Lessons:
Jewish Scriptures: Isaiah 43:1-7
Epistle: Acts 8:14-17
The Celtic Allelulia!
Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Communion Meditation

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
*The Offering
*Doxology (625) and Prayer
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW;
PRAISE GOD ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW;
PRAISE GOD ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOSTS;
PRAISE FATHER (CREATOR), SON (CHRIST) AND HOLY GHOST. AMEN.

The Invitation to the Table
Hymn 140 "A Communion Hymn" vs. 2-5
The Breaking of the Bread
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
*Hymn "When Jesus Came to Jordan"
*Benediction
*Response to the Benediction
Postlude

*Please stand if you are able.

The Eucharist * The Sacrament of the Table * The Lord's Supper

THE MEANING OF THE SACRAMENT
Beloved in the Lord Jesus, the meal which we are about to celebrate is a feast of remembrance of communion and hope,
WE REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS SENT INTO THE WORLD TO ASSUME OUR FLESH AND BLOOD, THE FRAILTIES OF OUR NATURE, THE SUFFERING OF OUR LIVES: TO BECOME GOD WITH US; THAT WE MIGHT BE REDEEMED.
We come to have communion with this same Christ who has promised to be with us even to the end of the world.
WE COME IN HOPE, BELIEVING THAT THIS BREAD AND THIS CUP ARE A PLEDGE AND A FORETASTE OF THE FEAST OF LOVE OF WHICH WE SHALL PARTAKE WHEN HIS REIGN IS FULLY COME.

THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink.
I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU WELCOMED ME, I WAS NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME.
I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
HERE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE, LET ALL WHO HUNGER COME AND EAT.
Here is the fruit of the vine, pressed and poured out for us.
LET ALL WHO THIRST COME AND DRINK.

The Preparation of the Bread and Cup
The Lord be with you.
AND ALSO WITH YOU.
Lift up your hearts!
WE LIFT THEM UP TO THE LORD.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE!

Holy and right it is to give you thanks and praise at all times and in all places, O God our Creator. Source of all life and goodness, You created heaven with all its hosts and the earth with all its plenty. You have given us life and being and preserve us by Your providence. With your whole church on earth and with all the company of heaven we proclaim Your glory:

Spanish
¡Santo, santo, santo, mi corazón te adora!
Mi corazón te sabe decir: santo eres Señor.

English
Holy, holy, holy, my heart, my heart adores you!
My heary pours out my praise to you; you are holy, Lord.

In the beginning, Your spirit moved over the face of the earth, giving birth to the fullness of creation, earth and sky, mountain and river, tall grain and good fruit, all creatures great and small.

YOU FASHIONED US FROM THE EARTH AS A POTTER MOLDS HIS CLAY. YOU GAVE US PARADISE AND WHEN WE WALKED AWAY, YOU PURSUED US, WITH YOUR PROPHETS AND TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL. WHEN WE WERE ENSLAVED OR ENSLAVED OURSELVES, YOU BROKE FREE OUR FETTERS, YOU LED US OUT OF BONDAGE. WHEN WE HUNGERED IN OUR JOURNEY, YOU FED US MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS, A PORTION SUFFICIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW, OF WHICH WE PARTAKE IN TODAY.

You sealed a covenant to bind us together. You commanded the people to feed the poor, to welcome the stranger, to care for the widow and orphan. You came to us as Elijah the prophet to herald the coming of the Messiah. Elijah came as a stranger who hungered for bread.

IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME, GOD SENT THE ONE WHOM WE CALL JESUS. SON OF MARY AND SON OF JOSEPH: ALSO CALLED SON OF GOD. A CARPENTER BY TRADE, HE WAS BAPTIZED IN HIS ADULT YEARS AT THE RIVER JORDAN BY THE ONE NAMED JOHN.

The spirit of the Lord came upon Jesus because he was chosen by God to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberation to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed and to announce a year of favor of the Lord.

JESUS TAUGHT IN THE SYNAGOGUE. HE PREACHED TO THE PEOPLE. HE PROCLAIMED THE COMING OF GOD'S REIGN. JESUS HEALED THE SICK. JESUS FED THE HUNGRY AND SHARED TABLE FELLOWSHIP WITH PROSTITUTES AND TAX COLLECTORS AND OTHER OUTCASTS: A GROUP OF WOMEN FOLLOWED HIM. JESUS CONFRONTED EVIL AND WAS ARRESTED FOR TREASON BY THE ROMAN OCCUPIERS. HE WAS BEATEN, HUMILIATED, RECEIVED A MOCKERY OF A TRIAL AND WAS EXECUTED BY CRUCIFIXION ON A CROSS.

We acknowledge our trust in a God who so loved Jesus, that God raised Jesus from the dead. We wait in joyful hope for his return and for the fullness of the reign of righteousness which Jesus proclaimed. Strengthened by Jesus' mission and message, united with Christ in his suffering and death, and trusting in the power of God to triumph over all evil, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Refrain: Marty Haugen
We remember how you loved us to your death,
and still we celebrate, for you are with us here;
And we believe that we will see you when you come,
in your glory, Lord,
we remember,
we celebrate,
we believe.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray, that the bread which we break and the cup which we bless may be for us the communion of the body and blood of Christ. Grant that, being joined together in Christ, we may be the gift of Christ for one another, light for the darkness of this world, manna in the wilderness, bread for the journey of our lives.

AND AS THIS GRAIN HAS BEEN GATHERED FROM MANY FIELDS INTO ONE BREAD AND THIS FRUIT FROM MANY HILLS INTO ONE CUP, GRANT, O LORD, THAT ALL YOUR PEOPLE MAY SOON BE GATHERED AS ONE FROM THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

The Breaking of the Bread

(We invite you to hold the bread and the cup until we have all received so that we may eat as one body.)

The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.
The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.

Receive then this Jesus the Bread of Life. Receive the cup of Christ's suffering and our salvation.

The Thanksgiving Prayer
And so we remember, this Jesus, born homeless, in a stable, a poor peasant and itinerant preacher who proclaimed God's reign, who raised up the poor and outcast and who suffered and was executed by being nailed to a cross. By whose great love, God raised up on the third day.

WE WORK TODAY IN PREPARATION FOR HIS RETURN, WHEN WE WILL GREET CHRIST FACE TO FACE, WHEN JUSTICE WILL FLOW LIKE WATER FROM THE MOUNTAIN; WHEN NO ONE WILL GO HUNGRY, WHEN ALL PEOPLE WILL BE GATHERED AROUND THE TABLE AND GOD'S HOUSE MADE FULL. UNTIL THAT DAY, GIVE US GRACE, LORD, THAT IN EVERYTHING WE YIELD OURSELVES, OUR WILL AND OUR WORK AS A THANKS OFFERING TO YOU.

The minister raises the prayers of the people now, followed by 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 DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.