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United |
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Phone 775-5362 ·
Fax 775-6475 |
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January 6, 2008 ·
Epiphany of the Lord |
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Sunday Worship at 11:00 a.m. |
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PRELUDE |
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BRINGING IN THE LIGHT
OF CHRIST by
the Acolytes |
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WELCOME AND PARISH
NOTES |
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CLIP BOARD MINISTRY
FOR FEBRUARY |
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GATHERING WORDS AND SONG (2173) |
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*HYMN OF PRAISE #249 |
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“There’s
a Song in the Air” |
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*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST |
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PRAYER HYMN #2193 |
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“Lord,
Listen to Your Children Praying” Sing Twice |
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UNISON PRAYER OF
CONFESSION |
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Ever-patient God, we
are a people who live in thick darkness. We stumble around bombarded by news
of war and poverty, famine and genocide, injustice and oppression. The maelstrom of
things and issues and people of the dark, can
overwhelm and paralyze us. Help us to be people of the light, shining your
light of righteousness, peace and joy into all the dark places of our lives
and world. Unlock the mystery and glory of the child born in Let the light break
into our lives and our world, and transform us into people of the light. Amen |
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WORDS OF PROMISE |
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As certain as the
dawn follows the night, so is the promise of God’s forgiveness and love for
us all. Arise and Shine. Follow the star. Find the light of the world born in
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PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE |
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CHORAL ANTHEM Chancel
Choir |
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“African Star
Carol” Arr. Michael Barrett |
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Drummer:
Paul Wightman · Soloist: Jessica Weaver |
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Come to the Light
that gleams with glory. Follow the
star that gleams with hope. Come and be part of
the shining story. We are music of the
Morning Star. |
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CHILDREN’S TIME |
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SCRIPTURE |
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Ephesians
3:1-12 · Matthew 2:1-12 |
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MESSAGE Pastor
Tom Ball |
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“The
Re-Solution” |
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OFFERTORY INVITATION |
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PRESENTING OUR GIFTS
TO GOD |
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OFFERTORY |
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*EPIPHANY DOXOLOGY Tune:
Old 100th |
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O God, may we who
bear your name |
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by gentle love your
graced proclaim |
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Christ’s gift of
peace on earth declare |
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and your anointing
Spirit share. Amen. |
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*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison) |
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God of light and
promise, we bring our gifts to further your work in a dark world. May they bring your light to those
overwhelmed by darkness, pain and loneliness. Accept these gifts of money and time,
indeed, the gift of our very selves.
Let them shine for all to see, and be brought into the sphere of your
love and righteousness. Amen. |
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SACRAMENT OF HOLY
COMMUNION |
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Invitation to the
Table |
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A Great Prayer of
Thanksgiving for Epiphany |
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Pastor: People of Advent: the Lord be
with you! Many: And
also with you! Pastor: People of Christmas,
lift up your hearts. Many: We lift our hearts overwhelmed
with grace to the One who was born for us. Pastor: People of the Star,
offer your songs of joy and thanksgiving to God. Many: We will sing our praises to the One who has
revealed glory and hope in the Babe of Bethlehem. Pastor: God of shining glory, You poured your light
upon us that the whole world might come to
you and live in joy. Yet we choose the shadows, hiding your Good News and hoarding it. With the rising of
Christ’s star, You call us, like the Magi, to seek you anew and worship you. The angels
caroled glory to you in the highest heavens and peace to all people on earth, and we join with them and
with all people to praise your holy
name: Many: Holy Lord, God of endless love,
heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The
angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is One who was born that we might have life. Glory to
God and on earth peace to all people. Pastor: Holy God, as the travelers with their
treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the
depth of his love for us. For Jesus
showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for
us. On
that night when he gave himself up for us, as he sat at the table and broke
bread with his friends, he
said: “Take and eat; this is my body
which is broken for you. Remember me each time you do
this.” After they had eaten, Jesus took the cup, and said: “Remember me as you drink from this, for it
is my life, poured out for you -
the beginning of a new relationship with God.” Holy God of stars and sinners,
send down your Spirit of hope upon
those gathered around this Table, and on the gifts
of the bread and the cup, that they might make us your faithful and loving children. Feed us with the bread of hope, that
when we leave, we will travel another road,
to defend the weak, to speak for the voiceless, to assist those cast aside. Refresh us with the sweet nectar of grace, so
we, overwhelmed with joy, would go forth
to enter the houses of the strangers in our midst; to enter the despair of
the lonely and forgotten; to enter the
hearts of everyone we meet. And when eternity's time begins and we are gathered around your Table, with friends
and family we l oved,
with all our sisters and brothers of grace, we will lift our songs of glad
joy to you, God in Community, Holy in
One. Amen. |
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The Lord’s Prayer #895 |
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Breaking the Bread |
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Giving the Bread and
the Cup |
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Holy Communion will
be served by intinction. |
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Please come by the
center aisle and return by the side aisle. |
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Prayer of Thanks for
Christ’s Presence (In unison) Eternal God, thank
you for coming to us afresh in the gifts of bread and wine. Renew in us your gifts that the gold of our
potential, the incense of our prayer and aspirations, the myrrh of healing
will continue to feed and nourish us as we journey with Christ through this
new year. Amen. |
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*CLOSING HYMN #254 |
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“We
Three Kings” |
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*COMMISSION AND BLESSING |
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*POSTLUDE |
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Linens
urgently needed: Many recent requests for linens have drastically reduced the
supply at First Christian’s linen pantry. If you have good useable linens you
no longer need and would like to give them to a needy family, they can be
dropped off at First Christian Church of Cadillac, located just north of
Meijer on Bus. 131 on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 9:00 to Noon or you
may contact Kathy at 775-6487. Thanks so much! |
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Sunday
Volunteer Ministry, January 13 |
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Acolyte:
8:30 a.m. - Amanda Anderson |
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11:00
a.m. - Drew and Lucas Marion |
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Nursery:
Gary and |
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Sermontime: Clara Handy |
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Coffee
Hour: Open |
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Greeters
and Ushers 8:30 - Pending |
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Greeters
11:00 - Pending |
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Ushers
11:00 - Pending |
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Opportunities for
Ministry This Week . . . |
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Sunday,
January 6 - Epiphany of the Lord Holy
Communion Served At Both Services Coffee
Hour follows each worship service 8:30
a.m. - Sunday Worship 9:30
a.m. - Sunday School 9:30
a.m. - Bell Choir Practice |
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Monday,
January 7 |
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7:00
p.m. - Education Committee meets |
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Tuesday,
January 8 |
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7:00
p.m. - Administrative Council meets |
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Wednesday,
January 9 |
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7:30
p.m. - Chancel Choir practice |
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Thursday,
January 10 |
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7:00 a.m.- Promise
Keepers |
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Saturday,
January 12 |
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11:00
a.m. - Funeral for Helen Noaker |
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Sunday,
January 13 - First Sunday After Epiphany Coffee
Hour follows each worship service 8:30
a.m. - Sunday Worship 9:30
a.m. - Sunday School 11:00
a.m. - Sunday Worship |
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Next
Sunday, January 13, at 5:00 p.m., an informational meeting will be held for
all Senior High Youth, parents and chaperones interested in the June 27 -
July 2 - Mission Trip to Eagle Ranch in Tennessee. Please bring your
$25 deposit at that time. Call Debbie Pant if you are interested but unable
to attend. |
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Wexford–Missaukee
Prayer Breakfast will be held Tuesday, January 22 at 7:00 a.m. at the |
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The 2008
Flower Calendar is available in the hallway by the Church Office. You may
sign up for flowers in memory or in honor of a person or special occasion.
The flowers are $15. |
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If you
are leaving for a warmer climate, please notify the Church Office at
775-5362 with your leaving and returning date and forwarding instructions.
Thanks so much. |
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Have
you been a victim of sexual abuse? There is a way out of your pain. A ten
week Sexual Abuse Support Group will begin Thursday, January 17
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church. (Please note that this is a recent
change from the date printed in the newsletter.) All meetings are
confidential and free. For registration and more information, call Shirley
Petersen. This support group is open to everyone. Please share this
information freely. You never know who is suffering with a secret painful
past. Let the healing begin! |
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Your 2008 Offering
Envelopes are in the mail and should arrive soon. If you have any
questions or concerns, please feel free to call our church Financial Secretary,
Dan Kinney or email him. Thank you! |
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Today’s Worship Ministry . . |
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Liturgist:
Judy Coffey |
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Pianist:
Darlene Ressler |
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Acolytes:
8:30 a.m. - Amanda Anderson |
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11:00
a.m. - Caleb Mitchell and Collin Hinkston |
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Nursery:
Jackie Bailey |
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Sermontime: Darlene Fowler |
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Coffee
Hour: Inga Fuller and Team |
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Join us
for an Epiphany Festival this morning at the Coffee Hours immediately
following worship. There will be a special King’s Cake and prizes during the
fellowship time. |
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The Equal
Exchange Coffee (decaf and regular) & Tea Sale will be held
TODAY following both worship services. |
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On
Sunday, January 20, Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton will be the speaker of
the morning at both the 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. worship services. The Bishop
indicated that he wanted to preach at a church on each of the Districts and
our church was chosen. Come, hear and meet our Resident Bishop - he is a
dynamic speaker! A Special Coffee Hour following each service will be served
in the Bishop’s honor. |
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Thank you for sharing a poinsettia(s)
with us to help create a beautiful setting for our Christmas services. If you
have not picked your plant up as yet, please take it with you this morning.
We have protective sleeves available so the plant will not get chilled
outdoors. |