Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
á Hymn Shine Jesus Shine (ELW # 671)
Lord, the light of Your love is shining
in the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us,
set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Chorus Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory,
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire;
flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
Lord, I come to your awesome presence
from the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me. (chorus)
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
so our faces display your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, shine on me.(chorus)
á Confession and Forgiveness
P Let us come into the light of Christ,
confessing our need for God’s mercy.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P God of peace…
C we confess that we are not at peace—with others or with ourselves.
We bring to you all that tears us apart: discord in our families, violence in our world, our own conflicted hearts. In your mercy, mend us. Reconnect us to one another and to you. Let peace reign over all the earth, through the Prince of peace, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
P In the Word who has come to dwell with us,
God has given us grace upon grace:
forgiveness that is stronger than our sins,
love that can heal every broken heart.
Hear this word of God’s pardon and peace:
in the name of ☩ Jesus our Savior,
you are free from all your sins.
Rise, shine, for your light has come.
C Amen.
Hymn Arise, Your Light Has Come! (ELW #314)
1 Arise, your light has come!
The Spirit’s call obey;
show forth the glory of your God
which shines on you today.
2 Arise, your light has come!
Fling wide the prison door;
proclaim the captive’s liberty,
good tidings to the poor.
3 Arise, your light has come!
All you in sorrow born,
bind up the brokenhearted ones
and comfort those who mourn.
4 Arise, your light has come!
The mountains burst in song!
Rise up like eagles on the wing,
God’s pow’r will make us strong.
Greeting
P Beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray…
C God of all people, You called many by name, asking them to follow Jesus and obey. Call us by name, and help us to follow and obey. Amen.
Kids in the Kingdom
Responsive Reading Psalm 66:1-5
1 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth worships you;
they sing praises to you,
sing praises to your name.”
5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
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Gospel John 1:35–51
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 1st Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn Christ, Be Our Light (ELW #715)
1 Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Refrain
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.
3 Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed. Refrain
4 Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone. Refrain
5 Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
signs of your kingdom come. Refrain
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
Camp Creed
We believe in God above us, maker and sustainer of all life, of sun and moon, of water and earth, of male and female.
We believe in God beside us, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, born of a woman’s womb, servant of the poor. He was tortured and nailed to a tree. A man of sorrows, he died forsaken. He descended into the earth to the place of death. On the third day he rose from the tomb. He ascended into heaven to be everywhere present, and his kingdom will come on earth.
We believe in God within us, the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire, life-giving breath of the Church, spirit of healing and forgiveness, source of resurrection and of life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Prayer
P Let us pray,
C Good and loving God, we rejoice in the birth of Jesus, who came among the poor to bring the riches of your grace. As you have blessed us with your gifts, let them be blessing for others. With the trees of the field, with all earth and heaven, we shout for joy at the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of Bethlehem
During the prayers, there will be an opportunity for you to lift up a thanksgiving, a prayer concern, the name of someone on your mind today. All are encouraged to join in this time of public prayer.
L … Lord in your mercy …
C … Hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Words of Institution
á Lord’s Prayer
C 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 and ever. Amen.
L These are the gifts of God for the people of God
C Thanks be to God
Distribution of Holy Communion
We believe that Jesus is truly present in the elements of communion – and all are welcome to receive Jesus in this food and drink.
Communion in the Pews
Prepackaged communion will be available in pews and as you enter worship. Please open and receive this sacrament after the Words of Institution.
Communion at the Table
Those who wish to receive Holy Communion at the tables in front of the sanctuary will be invited to come forward using the pulpit side aisle, and return to their seat using the piano side aisle.
As you come forward, one at a time, there will be two tables prepared for you. Wafers will be placed on plates on the first table for you to pick up and receive the Body of Christ. Cups of wine or grape juice will be placed on the second table for you to receive the Blood of Christ. Cups can then be placed in a bin.
Children not communing may come forward for a blessing.
Communion Music
á Post Communion Prayer
P Let us pray…
C We give you thanks, O God,
that in this bread and cup of Christ’s very life,
you give us food for our journey.
As you led the magi by a star,
as you brought the holy family home again,
guide us on the way unfolding before us.
Wherever we go, may our lives proclaim
good news of great joy in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P May Christ, born into time to bring endless peace, guide your days and years in righteousness from this time onward and forevermore.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
Sending Hymn
We Are Marching in the Light of God (ELW #866)
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
Verse 2
We are dancing . . .
Verse 3
We are praying . . .
Verse 4
We are singing . . .
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Your light has come.
C Thanks be to God.