WELCOME TO WORSHIP
BENEDICTION
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 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, forever. Amen.
BENEDICTION RESPONSE The Lord Bless You and Keep You — John Rutter The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Amen. (Numbers 6: 24-26)
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POSTLUDE
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(Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY • JANUARY 21, 2024 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS The prelude signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
Please stand as you are able
SCRIPTURE — 2 Peter 1:5-7 This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
PRELUDE GREETING INTROIT
CANTICLE I’ll Make the Difference — Moses Hogan I’m the one who can make the difference, yes, I will make the difference; against all odds I can live to share my love with others. Yes, I will make the difference, I can make it! Take my hand as we make this journey across the land. I had the courage to keep goin’ on. I had the faith when all hope was gone. I had the strength to keep holding on.
For Everyone Born — arr. Tom Trenney 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. 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 and joy!
OPENING PRAYER Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #66 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven — LAUDA ANIMA
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare:
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We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good. We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen. GLORIA PATRI #71 Glory Be to the Father — GREATOREX 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.
SERMON — “Your Best Life: Random Acts of Kindness”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY The Servant Song — David Schwoebel If anyone would be first, they shall be the last; be the servant of all. We are travelers on a journey, fellow pilgrims on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. Sister, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant, too. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you; I will share your joy and sorrow ‘till we’ve seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony, born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony. DOXOLOGY #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Thank you for joining us in worship today. SERMON NOTES
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Gracious God, giver of all gifts. We give you thanks for the blessings which you have given to us. Receive these gifts from the labor of our hands. May they be pleasing in your sight. Bless them and the ministries this offering will support. May they give hope, may they give comfort, may they bring peace, may they show your love to the world. We pray this in the name Christ the Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever more. Amen.
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PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III, Senior Minister LITURGIST The Reverend Meg Peters, Assoc. Minister MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir
CRUCIFER Charlie Zaks TORCHBEARERS Stella Jane Pierce Thomas Pierce FLOWERS The Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of their parents, Dr. Kenneth and Mary Jean Carlson, and James and Margaret Ketchie, by Ken & Melanie K. Carlson.
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
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HYMN
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#463 Lord, Speak to Me — CANONBURY
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.