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Wherever and whenever we gather, we are the body of Christ… WE’RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE! Settle in and engage the spirit. Here is some helpful information-
Help us support our ministry - Give here Baptism of Christ Sunday January 12th, 2025 The Community Gathers… Welcome Opening Meditation Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, UCC Minister for Worship & Theology “The baptism of Jesus demonstrates abiding solidarity with humanity, particularly expressed in Luke’s account. Jesus is with everyone else who is being baptized that day. His presence as the intersection of human and divine does not become revealed until after the rite has concluded and all the people have been baptized. His humble approach to his ministry as well as his generosity in sharing his experiences and divine access are defined from the onset. Heaven opened for all of them just as John baptized all of them, including Jesus, the Messiah who will soon be revealed.” Prelude & Passing of the Peace Call to Worship One: Come, beloved of God, to remember who you are and whose you are. Many: God in Christ, has named us all “Beloved.” ONE: Yes, here and now, God’s heaven of love is being poured out anew. MANY: May this motion of the Holy One, shape our hearts and minds. ONE: May it brighten the Epiphany light in us and the whole creation. MANY: And may it shape our words and work into good news for the world! ONE: Holy One, awaken us again to Your outpouring Spirit of Love. Through this generous gift, stretch our souls wide and form us into channels of your healing grace. Gift us with an ability to recognize You in each other, all imprinted with Your beloved blessing. MANY: Clarify our intentions, purify our actions, fill our words with grace and our hearts with hope. Yes, soak our thinking, our praying, our hoping, our everything in You. Amen. Hymn “I Am the Light of the World” #584 Prayer of Transformation Loving God, let me enter again Your baptismal river of grace. Let it soak every stain attached to the fabric of my life and longings. Yes, Holy One, submerge me in You again and again and again. Cleanse every distracting impulse luring me away from You who are my heart’s deepest desire. Let no urgency be more important than Your forgiving love, always transforming. Today, help me choose you above every temptation that lures me to worship lesser things. By this of You, forgive me, renew me, and grant me the grace promised by You in Jesus Christ. Amen. Words of Assurance Before we thought to turn to God, God already turned toward us in love. The saturating grace of God is trustworthy and true. Our prayers of transformation have been met with God’s outpouring of forgiving love. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Hymn “Star Child” v. 1 Sing! Prayer and Praise Message for Younger Disciples (Kids, families, those young at heart, are encouraged to come forward to the steps to spend a few minutes together.) Hymn “Star Child” v. 5 Sing! Prayer and Praise  To Open to Wisdom… HEBREW SCRIPTURE Isaiah 43:1-7 But now thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight and honored and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, “Give them up,” and to the south, “Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” PSALM Psalm 29: The Voice of God in a Great Storm, A Psalm of David Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of their 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. The Lord 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 the temple all say, “Glory!” The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as sovereign forever. May the Lord give strength to the people! May the Lord bless the people with peace! GOSPEL Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Sermon The In Crowd Pastor Beth Rogers To Share of Ourselves… Prayers of the People We grieve with the families of… Blanche Fenner-passed away December 17th, Mike Thompson-former coworker of Carole Hoover, Nadine Krempa-husband passed away, Sandra Hennigan and family (neighbors of Donna Haase) daughter has passed away, Mark Lerchen We seek health and healing with… John Hoover-eye issues from previous surgery, Denice-dealing with illness, Ms. Jean-respiratory issue in nursing facility, Cassie, Lyndsay Moyer-recovering from knee surgery, Sue Manello-complications after medical procedure, Edythe Sonder–recovery from back surgery, Amy Williams-recovery from bowel surgery, Kelly K-breast cancer, We continue to pray with… Bob Brandis, Mary Lohr, Carol Ann Simpson, Jan Mindish, Becki, Pam, Dan Brouse, Nancy S., Deb, Debbie Husser, Hunter Leisey, Lynn W., John, Brad & Amy Epps, Tammy Smith We pray with...Calvin, those serving in the armed forces, those who work for peace Lord’s Prayer MANY: Our Creator/Mother/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. Announcing Missions & Ministry Centering on our Generosity The outpouring of God’s spirit described in the baptism of Jesus reminds us that God’s very nature is generous, self-giving love. It is the source of our deepest joy. When we open our hearts in generous giving, we give space for God’s love and joy to grow in us for the good of others. May our hearts be stretched wide by this motion of the Holy One, as we joyfully bring our gifts. Musical Reflection on our Gift Sung Response (Tune #780) Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise God all creatures here below Praise God for all that love has done Creator Christ and Spirit, One. Prayer of Dedication MANY: O Gracious God, we thank you for the invitation to grow through giving, made possible by Your outpouring spirit. May these gifts we bring be used to form ever-new blessings in this congregation and around the world. And may our lives be the instruments of love and joy you desire. Amen. To Join in Communion… Hymn “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” #1 Words of Institution Sharing of the Elements This is the bread of new life, This is the cup of a new covenant Prayer of Thanksgiving Rev. Susan A. Blain MANY: O Radiance from the center of life you invite us –to Joy, to Justice, to Community– You place your power at the service of Love, melting mountains of resistance. Open us to the wonder of your presence, bathe us in your renewing Mercy, encourage us to take risks of Hope, that we may grow into a people reflecting your image illumined by Grace rejoicing in Love building a world of Peace. We pray this in the Name of the one we call Wisdom. Amen To Extend Love to the World! Closing Hymn “In Christ There Is No East or West” # 394 Benediction Remember that your first name is Beloved, given to you by God before any other name. Remember also it is the name given to every human being. May this blessed gift and claim of God grow in your heart and mind. And may it flow through you as a blessing into the life of the world. Blessings on you, Beloved! Amen and Amen. Postlude Today In Worship Liturgist: Tech: Jess Fredlund Usher: Thelma & Bill Shumway, Rich Hebel Alcolyte: Tylah Peterson Altar flowers are placed in memory of parents Joan and John Horn by John Horn Communion Offering An additional opportunity to give throughout the year is through the Communion Envelopes included in the boxes of envelopes, and listed in the online accounts on our website. The Communion Offering is designated by the Gift Team Board to be given to other organizations. For many years, we have split this between 4 organizations. This year, to better serve these organizations with a larger gift, we have made a decision to split our offering between two organizations, Lancaster Seminary’s Pennsylvania Academy of Ministry and the United Church of Christ Homes. PAM offers ecumenical nondegree classes to prepare for ministry. For more information on PAM or on Lancaster Theological Seminary, check out: www.lancasterseminary.edu UCC Homes provides care and service to elders throughout south central Pennsylvania, with a full continuum of residential care For more information head over to: www.ucc-homes.org 
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