A Service for the Lord's Day
1st Sunday after Christmas
* Indicates that those who are able may stand.
January 1, 2012, 11:00 A.M.
Bold type is spoken by the people.
VOLUNTARY Das alte Jahr vergangen ist J.S. Bach
Paul Thurmond, Organist
The old year now has passed away. We thank you, O our God, today
That you have kept us through the year when danger and distress were near.
(Please sign and pass the registers)
*CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 34)
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
*OPENING HYMN NO. 554 Let All Things Now Living
Dear Abba God. We come to you confessing that we think it’s New Year’s Day. We forget that sacred time and secular time are not the same, and You remind us to have no quarrel with time. Yet we make our new year’s resolutions, forgetting the revolution in our hearts that makes each day new. Forgive us for living too far in the future or too mired in the past. Grant us the special blessing of being with you in the present presence of the eternal now. Remind us that we are your children and hear our cry. Forgive us our slavery to selfishness. Help us accept the grace of adoption as your children and the inheritance of your kingdom. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
*RESPONSE: HYMN NO. 572 Lord Have Mercy Upon Us
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON (from Psalm 34)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
*GLORIA PATRI, P. 579
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.
TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES
SCRIPTURE READING Romans 14:1-8 (p152) Rev. Pat Handlson, Liturgist
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SCRIPTURE READING Galatians 4:4-7 (p178)
SERMON Here We Are, Heirs We Are Andrew William Smith
*HYMN OF AFFIRMATION NO. 358 Help Us Accept Each Other
*GREETINGS (After an exchange of the Peace between the pastor and the congregation, we encourage you to greet one another. The Greetings will conclude with the first verse of “Blest Be the Tie” {Hymn No. 438})
The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
(A time of greeting)
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love:
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY Prelude, Op. 22, No. 1 Alexander Scriabin
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
THE COMMUNION PRAYER 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 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.
THE SANCTUS Holy, Holy, Holy LordHymnal, P. 581
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. Hosanna in the highest.
It is the practice of this congregation to partake individually of the bread and to hold the cup in order to partake of it as a community. By so doing, we affirm that Holy Communion has meaning to us both as individuals and as a community of believers.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
COMMUNION PRAYER
*CLOSING HYMN NO. 506 Deck Yourself, My Soul, with Gladness
*POSTLUDE Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing Alfred V. Fedak