JANUARY 19, 2025 10:30 AM
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE Mary Lee Farris, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 36)
Leader: Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
PEOPLE: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the
great deep;
Leader: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of
your wings.
PEOPLE: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the
river of your delights.
Leader: For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
PEOPLE: O continue your steadfast love to those who know you and your salvation to the
upright of heart!
INVOCATION
We gather in your sight Dear Lord, to proclaim our devotion to your will and our happiness at the
endless love and grace you bestow upon us. As we hear the good news of the Gospel, may we
take it into our lives with new awareness and dedication.
This we pray in the name of our Savior, Amen.
**OPENING HYMN “Open My Eyes, That I May See” Red #557
CALL TO CONFESSION
We humans are so proud of ourselves and our accomplishments, but they pale in comparison to
God’s accomplishments in creation and in his love for all. Let us come together in prayer.
PRAYER OF UNDERSTANDING
Gracious Creator, your wisdom and guidance show us a way to faith even as we struggle to
understand the broad dimensions of your love and the complexities of our own lives. Help us to see a clear path to faith, a brighter way, through the example of Jesus. This we pray in his name. Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Gospel means good news, and through that Good News, we are forgiven. Amen.
**GLORIA PATRI (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -- APOSTLES CREED (As adapted by John Redman)
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was born of a young peasant woman, trained as a carpenter, and baptized by His cousin John. He taught many, He healed many, and He angered many. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He defeated death and He offers us grace and love in the name of God the Father Almighty; from that time through all time to come. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit; the universal Church of Christ; the Communion of sharing our gifts with others; the forgiveness of our sins; the Grace of God’s love, and that each soul may have life everlasting. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” Red # 95
SOLO “Free at Last” from BIG RIVER, sung by Nick Butler, baritone.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Prepare our hearts, O God, to accept your Word. Silence in us any voices but your own, so that we may hear your Word and also live it; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 62: 1-5 Theresa Cotanche
NEW TESTAMENT READING 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11
GOSPEL READING: John 2: 1-11
SERMON MESSAGE: Some of My Favorite Things John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORDS PRAYER
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:
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.
TITHES and OFFERINGS:
It is right to share our abundance with those who have less or need more. May what we offer here help to be the answer of the prayers of others in the name of Jesus, Amen.
OFFERTORY “My Lord! What a Morning”
**DOXOLOGY Traditional
** PRAYER OF THANKS
Gracious God, accept our gifts that they may be used wisely in your service for those who hunger, or thirst, or merely seek a greater understanding of your love. This we gratefully pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
HYMN OF PARTING “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing” Red #834
RESPONSIVE BENEDICTION
Leader: Go in the love of God, whose promises are never broken.
PEOPLE: We go in the light of Christ, whose love transforms us.
Leader: Go in the power of the Holy Spirit, who sustains and encourages us.
PEOPLE: We go now into the world as witnesses of God’s love, light, and power. Amen
POSTLUDE “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Candles in Our Worship Service A bit of History: The seven-light candelabra are symbolic of the seven days of the week, meaning we ‘worship’ God every day, not just on Sunday. The two altar candles symbolize that Jesus is both God and Man, and the Christ candle is symbolic of Christ being the Light of the World.
The Christ candle is lit first and extinguished last. The ushers leave its light with the other candles during worship, and when extinguished after worship, the ushers carry the light out into the world.
The reason the Christ candle is larger and placed by the pulpit, is that in the past, it also provided light for reading!
Blessings! JTR
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John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954