Sunday Worship Bulletin - Fourth Church

Bulletins are posted on the day prior.

Sunday, January 11
9:30 a.m. Worship Service

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PRELUDE

O Perfect Love
Kevin Norris

Lauda Anima
K. Norris

INTROIT
Arise, Shine, for Thy Light Has Come
Kenneth Jennings

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: All who thirst, come to the water and drink deeply of these living streams.
All: Come, all who are weary; come, all who yearn for forgiveness.
One: Our gracious God beckons and blesses us. Let us give praise for new life in Christ!

HYMN
“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”

1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring; ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King.

2. Praise him for his grace and favor to his people in distress; praise him still the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless: Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness.

3. Fatherlike, he tends and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows; in his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows.

4. Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face. Sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Creator God, a voice from heaven told us Jesus is your beloved Son. But too often the voice we hear is that of our own needs and desires. Pour your baptismal waters over us again, cleansing us from our self-pity and arrogance. Wash away our jealousy and greed, Again let us receive the blessings offered in creation, in the birth and baptism of Jesus, and in the ministry of the saints of light. Amen.

DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.

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TIME WITH CHILDREN

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTHEM
“What Is This Lovely Fragrance?”
French, arr. Healey Willan

What is this lovely fragrance wafting like to the scents of flowers in spring! Shepherds, O tell us, whence such beauty, hear you not heavenly caroling? What is this lovely fragrance wafting like the scents of flowers in spring. What is this light so fair, so tender breaking upon our wondering eyes? Never the Morning Star so radiant followed his course o’er eastern skies. What is this light so fair, so tender, breaking upon our wondering eyes? Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps seek the Savior, born today. Low at his feet we lay our treasure, heart’s adoration, love for aye. Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps seek the Savior, born today.

FIRST LESSON
Psalm 29

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

One: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

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.

SECOND LESSON
Matthew 3:13–17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

One: The grass withers, and the flower fades,
All: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

SERMON
Camille Cook Howe

HYMN
“Baptized in Water”

1. Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, cleansed by the blood of Christ our King; heirs of salvation, trusting the promise, faithfully now God’s praises we sing.

2. Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, dead in the tomb with Christ our King; one with his rising, freed and forgiven,
thankfully now God’s praises we sing.

3. Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, marked with the sign of Christ our King; born of the Spirit, we are God’s children; joyfully now God’s praises we sing.

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. Amen.

OFFERING

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OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“The Blessed Son of God” (from Hodie)
Ralph Vaughan Williams
The blessed son of God only in a crib full poor did lie; with our poor flesh and our poor blood was clothed that everlasting good. Kyrie eleison. The Lord Christ Jesu, God’s son dear was a guest and a stranger here; us for to bring from misery that we might live eternally. Kyrie eleison. All this did he for us freely for to declare his great mercy; all Christendom be merry therefore and give him thanks for evermore. Kyrie eleison.

OFFERTORY RESPONSE

INVITATION

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We will lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy God, you have given us the gift of your grace that we might share with others the boundless riches of Christ
and the resources we hold in trust for you. Bless this offering to your purposes and receive our gratitude for your abundant love. Amen.

HYMN
“Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”

1. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

2. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

4. The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

5. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

CHORAL BENEDICTION

“Go Now in Peace”
Robert Lau

POSTLUDE
“Toccata”
Eugène Gigout

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