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4th Sunday after Epiphany
02/01/2025 - 10:30 pm
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MINUTE FOR MISSION “Winter Nights” George Anich
CENTERING MUSIC “Legenden def Leidenschaft” James Horner
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP
At the opening of this day we gather to worship God:
God of creation, hear our prayers.
We offer to God our tiredness and our expectancy;
We rejoice in the God who welcomes us just as we are.
Here and now we might entertain angels unaware;
Here and now we can meet Christ in one another.
*HYMN Unusual Kindness
Kindle a fire, build a fire, in the hearts of people, young and old.
Kindle a fire, build a fire, it’s getting darker it’s getting cold!
Don’t just stay there but show them you care, don’t just stay there but go out and share – don’t just stay there but go out and serve the people of the world.
And the people of the world may one day sing out with joy
about the love they have been shown in Jesus’ name.
They showed us unusual kindness. They showed us they really cared.
They showed us unusual kindness every time and everywhere.
They showed us unusual kindness.
They gave us a helping hand.
They showed us unusual kindness in each and every land.
We don’t deserve this song Kyrie eleison, our love is not that strong.
Kyrie eleison.
Help us to rise beyond Kyrie elision
Beyond words to let the fire of your love change our hearts
Kindle a fire, build a fire, in the hearts of people, Young and old
Kindle a fire build a fire, it’s getting darker, it’s getting cold!
Don’t just stay there but show them you care – don’t just stay there
But go out and share, don’t just stay there but go out and serve
The people of the world In His love we were immersed.
In His grace we found our strength, in His mercy we have found the source of power
He showed us unusual kindness
He showed us He really cared
He showed us unusual kindness every time and every where
That we may show unusual kindness and give a helping hand
To show unusual kindness in each and every land.
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
IN the light of your love O God, we acknowledge the many things on our minds, and the concerns that we carry with us.
(silence)
Free us from the grip of busyness and worry; help us to put any anxiety into your hands.
(silence)
Enable us to be open to the healing and humor and hope of the coming week. And while we are here, we commit to your care those we name in our hearts.
(silence)
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL #155 Raise a Song of Gladness
Raise a song of Gladness, peoples of the earth.
Christ has come, bringing peace, joy to every heart.
Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!
Alleluia, alleluia, joy to every heart!
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
God hears our prayers and is always there to help us to be more fully present with God and with one another. Thanks be to God!
Amen.
*PASSING THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Leader: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)
ANTHEM “Order My Steps” by Glenn Burleigh
MOMENT FOR CHILDREN
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS John 3:1-21 & Micah 6:8
RESPONSE
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON Why Are They So MEAN?! Pastor Barbara
MOMENT FOR QUIET REFLECTION
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God whose breath fills all the earth
Whose love reveals our sacred worth
Whose Spirit forms one family
Whose grace brings peace and harmony. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
All that we have and all that we are God’s gifts to us. So here we return a token of our wealth asking that it and all we possess be used to God’s glory.
Blessed be God for ever. Amen.
*HYMN OF REFLECTION #769 For Everyone Born
For everyone born, a place at the table,
For everyone born, clean water and bread,
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
For everyone born, a star overhead,
Refrain:
And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy,
Compassion and peace: yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy!
For woman and man, a place at the table,
Revising the roles, deciding the share,
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
For woman and man, a system that’s fair,
For young and for old, a place at the table,
A voice to be heard, a part in the song,
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
For young and for old, the right to belong,
For just and unjust, a place at the table,
Abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
For just and unjust, a new way to live,
For everyone born, a place at the table,
To live without fear, and simply to be,
To work, to speak out,
To witness and worship,
For everyone born, the right to be free.
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
One: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE: SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
Here at Clayton Valley we practice open communion, and all believers are welcome. We do not use alcohol so that all may come to the table of our Lord.
Each row will be directed by an usher to come to the front of the sanctuary by way of the center aisle. Please tear a piece of bread from the loaf. When offered the cup, dip your bread into the cup. After receiving the bread and the cup, you may respond, “Amen”. Return to your seat by way of the side aisle.
COMMUNION PRAYER
*CLOSING HYMN #754 Help Us Accept Each Other
Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted, and meant to love and live.
Teach us, o Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life
We struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
To love them as we find them, or as they may become.
Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
To practice your acceptance until we know by heart
The table of forgiveness, and laughter’s healing art.
Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need,
Who hunger for acceptance, for justice and for bread,
We need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:
Renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us; make us one!
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE “Almighty Father, Strong to Save”