Opening Prayer
Gary United Methodist Church
O God, we rejoice in your grace, given and received. We thank you that you claim us, wash us, strengthen us, guide us, and that you empower us to live a life worthy of our calling. In the way of Jesus, make us as water in a dry and thirsty world. Establish us to be places of refreshment. Root us and nurture us in love, that with all your people, we may rightly and justly serve you. Fill us with your fullness that our lives may overflow in service and love. Amen.
Epiphany Sunday January 7, 2018 9:00 & 11:00 AM *Please stand as you are able. Congregation reads bold print. Congregational song books are the hard cover Hymnal and the smaller flexible book, The Faith We Sing, both found in the pew racks.
Scripture Lesson
Prelude (9:00)
I Know that My Redeemer Lives
*Hymn
Mark 1:1–11
Invitation Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Pew Bible p. 836 Confession and Pardon
Thanks be to God!
I know that my Redeemer lives, Glory, Hallelujah! What comfort this sweet sentence gives, Glory, Hallelujah!
(11:00)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God Altar Bells
ELLACOMBE arr. Kimberly Morton
Sermon
*Call to Worship We gather in the name of the living Christ to worship God.
252
“The Beginning”
Rev. Dr. Chris Pierson
Pastoral Prayer
Surely, God is in this place and calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.
The living Christ is with us. Praise the Lord!
Dedication of Our Tithes and Offerings 152
(9:00) During the hymn, children Preschool 3’s–Grade 3 are invited to come forward to proceed with their leaders to the lower level for Kids’ Church. Children will return to the Sanctuary during the hymn prior to Communion. (11:00) Children are invited to worship with their families during this service. Children’s bulletins and activity bags are available from the ushers. Childcare is available for newborn–2 yrs. from 8:45 a.m.–12 p.m. on the lower level.
(9:00) (11:00)
The Great Thanksgiving
13
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
The congregation is invited to sing the communion hymns or to meditate silently.
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
That we may share God’s love and life, may we be renewed in the refreshing Spirit of the living Christ.
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion Hymns
Lord’s Prayer
God’s love is for you and for all people everywhere.
I Sing the Almighty Power of God
When Jesus Came to Jordan
Human Trafficking Presentation Karen Schultz City Director, Refuge for Women - Chicago
Mission and Ministry at Gary Church
*Hymn
*Hymn of Faith
608
(9:00) During the hymn, children Preschool 3’s–Grade 3 will return to the Sanctuary to join their families.
This is the word of the Lord.
based on ANTIOCH Dale Wood
This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now
599 606 420 613
Be Thou My Vision
451
*Benediction
I Sing the Mighty Power of God ELLACOMBE Altar Bells arr. Kimberly Morton I Need Thee Every Hour
*Hymn
Break Thou the Bread of Life Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine Breathe on Me, Breath of God O Thou Who This Mysterious Bread
Robert Lowry arr. Emma Lou Diemer
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; every hour I need Thee; oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. ~ By Annie S. Hawks and her pastor, hymn writer Robert Lowry, who composed the music and wrote the text for the refrain
*Postlude
OLD HUNDREDTH
arr. David N. Johnson
Welcome Guests! We are delighted you have joined us for worship. We invite you to complete the Welcome Card in the pew pocket and stop by the Welcome Desk on the main level outside the west Sanctuary entrance to receive a gift and more information about our ministries. Hearing aid devices are available (including the neck loop for telecoil programs). Large print song sheets are also available. Please see an usher for assistance.
Congregational Care Please remember these individuals and families in your prayers this week. Jan Adair, Meridith Brand, Charlie Castino, Jim & Carol Eaton, Anna Gorski, Barbara Heeley, Pat Hill, Judy Jay, Rod Irey, Ivan Kane, Lola Lehman, Mary Louise Lewis, Chris Loken, Dan Meeks, Lenna Siens, Roger & Jan Sutfin, Ruth Tremper, Jim Trieschmann, James & Helen Wernicke, Jack & Shirley Williamson Our Sympathy to
Next Week’s Lectionary Readings
Chuck & Marge Armstrong on the death of Chuck’s brother-in-law, Barry Brown, on Jan. 1
We invite you to include the lectionary readings in your devotion times. Readings for next week are 1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20), Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18, 1 Corinthians 6:12–20, and John 1:43–51.
Today's Altar Flowers are given by
Today at Gary Church Adult Ministries at 10:00 a.m. Human Sex Trafficking: Cultural Vulnerabilities In the Chapel Karen M. Schultz, City Director for Refuge for Women-Chicago, returns to Gary. Building upon last year’s class on human trafficking, she will discuss these topics: social media—traffickers’ new hunting grounds; pornification of culture—the link between porn and trafficking; and vulnerabilities of being a teen. Please join her to raise awareness of this dark industry that abuses and exploits women of all ages, as well as to learn more about the work of Refuge for Women. Christmas Sharing Follow-Up Meeting In the Anderson Room All are welcome to come share your thoughts on Christmas Sharing 2017 and suggestions for 2018.
Gary Kids & Gary Youth 9:00 a.m. Kids’ Church
Ed Ewoldt in memory of Nancy Ewoldt
Serving Today 9:00 a.m. Service Greeters Gene & Deb Green, Dan & June Hurd, Rona Purpura Welcome Desk Michelle Younkin, Jeff Mousseau, Dan & June Hurd Acolytes Ella Rodriguez, Sarah Rodriguez Ushers Chuck Miller, Paul Calderwood, Sam Calderwood, Joe Davisson, David Plate, Dick Raber, Lisa Rozwat 11:00 a.m. Service Greeters Brooks & Sharon Harder, Allene Harding, Kay Bertholdt Welcome Desk Dick & Nancy Seloover Acolytes Gray Cicmanec, Danny Janiak Ushers Bob Hawkins, Bill Austin, Michael Graves, Doug & Tammy Halenza, George King Sound Technicians: Kevin Carlson, Phil Johnson, Alyn Mann, Dave Mann, Tony Venezia Musician: Dr. Tony Payne (organ/piano), Sharon Schmidt (Altar Bells), Anthony Quaranta (9:00 cantor), Cindi Copeland (11:00 cantor)
Preschool 3’s–4’s meet in the Preschool Room on the lower level Kindergarten–Grade 3 meet in the Lower Level Lobby 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Preschool 3’s–4’s meet in the Preschool Room Kindergarten–Grade 5 meet in Gamon Hall Grades 6–7 meet in the Heritage Room Grades 9–12 meet in the Sr. High Room
Next Sunday at 10 a.m. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: American Prophet Jan. 14 in the Anderson Room Rev. Richard Mosley, Jr. will lead the class in an exploration of Dr. King's philosophy of non-violence. Participants are encouraged to read The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. edited by Clayborne Carson and may also wish to view “Eyes on the Prize” on YouTube. The Power of the Psalms Jan. 14, 21, and 28, in the Chapel Join Dr. C. Hassell Bullock to look at the Palms from three perspectives: (1) a mirror—we will read them and see our own image in the mirror; (2) a garden—we will explore their varieties that enable us to pray when we are joyful, hopeful, depressed, angry, cynical, and so forth; (3) an emotive power—we will entertain their potential power to draw from our souls what we are otherwise incapable of generating or articulating on our own. Dr. Bullock has served as pastor and professor, and retired in 2009 from Wheaton College as the Franklin S. Dyrness Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies.
Staff Ministry Team: Rev. Dr. Chris Pierson, Rev. Brian Felker Jones, Rev. Bruce Anderson, Jennifer Whiting, Carey Bebar, Kim Austin, Alexa Isaac, Becky Lemna, Pam Keller, Shelley Bornstein, Rebecca Roell, Dave Brewer, Deb Hafner, Mike Capra
Mission Statement Grow in faith, knowledge, and understanding of Christ as Lord and Savior Serve our community and the world by sharing time, gifts, talents Nurture one another through worship, fellowship, love Demonstrate our discipleship to Christ Proclaim God's grace and Good News
Gary United Methodist Church — Affiliated with Winfield Community United Methodist Church —
224 N. Main, Wheaton, IL 60187 Phone: (630) 668-3100 / Fax: (630) 668-8279 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.garychurch.org
