The Congregations of
St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port
Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office:
625-2229, Fax 625-3597,
e-mail:
stmarks1@eastlink.ca
Presbytery
Website: inverguyunited.ca
Ministers:
The Whole People of God
Nan
Corrigan D. M.
Minister
of Music: Al Fougere
January 4th, 2015
2nd
of Christmas-Sunday Closest to Epiphany
Announcements The Work of
Church and Community
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Greeting
One: The peace of Christ be
with you. All: And with your spirit
*Introit Il est né (chorus
only) VU 50
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
jouez, hautbois, résonnez,
musettes;
il est né, le divin Enfant;
chantons tous son avènement.
He is born, little Child divine;
play on the reeds while the lutes
are strumming.
He is born, little Child divine;
join the song to announce the
day.
The Christ candle in Advent
wreath is lit
*Call
to Worship (adapted from Isaiah 60:1-6)
One: Arise, Jerusalem, and shine like
the sun; the glory of God is shining on you!
All: Other nations will be covered
by darkness, but on you the light of the Lord will shine; the
brightness of God’s presence will be with you.
One: Nations will be drawn to your
light, and rulers to the dawning of your new day.
All: Look around you and see what is
happening: your people are gathering to come home!
One: You will see this and be filled
with joy; you will tremble with excitement.
All: People will come from
everywhere, bringing gold and incense. They will tell the good news
of what our God has done!
*Opening
Prayer
Loving God, you have come
into our world to shine a light of hope into our lives, to bring
warmth into the cold of winter. Help us to welcome your light: to be
enlightened by it, and to live in it each day. In this new year,
enable us to be beacons of your light, shining forth with the light
of new life in all we say and do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
*Hymn Arise,
Your Light Is Come VU
79
Prayer
for Wholeness
Holy light of God, shine on us.
Sing: Arise, your light is come!
The mountains burst in song!
Words of Assurance
All: The gifts
of the star-child are healing of heart,
courage in the
struggle for justice and peace,
the abiding
presence of the Spirit in suffering and joy,
and
power to live life anew. Thanks be to God!
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Psalm
72 God’s
anointed defends the poor. pts.1, 2
VU 790
Ephesians
3:1-12 Boldness and confidence through
faith
*Hymn Go,
Tell It on the Mountain VU
43
Opening the Word & Lord’s Prayer
The Gospel
Acclamation
Matthew 2:1–12
The visit of the Magi.
One:
The gospel of Jesus
Christ. All: Praise to
you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Opening the Word 2
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
*Hymn There’s a Star…Rise Up Shepherd and Follow VU
70
Minute for Mission
Offering Our Gifts to God
*Offering Prayer
As the Magi brought gifts to
honour the Christ child, so we bring our gifts – large and small –
as an offering to God, asking God to take all that we have and are
and use it as God sees fit. Amen.
Prayers
of Thanksgiving and Intercession
God, in your love,
hear our prayer.
WE GO TO SERVE GOD
*Hymn The First
Nowell VU
91
*
Sending Out & Blessing
Let us go forth
in the light of God’s star,
committed to a
journey of faith and courage.
All: We go
forth with the light of Christ in our hearts.
We
are eager to learn the mystery of all we are meant to do and be.
One: Let us live
in tenderness toward all people.
All: We will
share the gifts we have received.
One: May the
blessings of God,
Creator, Christ
and Spirit,
be with us now
and all our days.
*Choral Amen
