Sunday, January 19, 2020

In Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“We must work unceasingly to uplift this nation that we love to a higher destiny,
to a higher plateau of compassion, to a more noble expression of humanness”
– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Prelude – Incipiens (Gregorian)

Welcome and Announcements John Strawbridge

L: Welcome to this service of worship. We gather as a community of love in remembrance of a dreamer, a person of great faith and determination, a courageous witness for justice. We have come to honor the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister who preached, taught, and embodied the philosophy of nonviolent direct action in order to mobilize organized resistance to the segregation, systemic racism, and gnawing poverty of his day. So, too, we are here to be inspired and encouraged so we might take on the mantle of justice and peace in our time, the work for which he lived and died.

Choral Introit – O, Rise and Shine (Spiritual, arr. Moore)

O, rise and shine and sing of His glory in the name of the Lord!

* Call to Worship

When fear is holding you back,
Come and see, and follow Christ.
When despair has brought you down,
Lift up your head, and follow Christ.
When all seems lost and the world is too harsh,
Take his hand, and follow Christ.
In this time of worship
Let us follow Jesus, and know that Jesus is with us.
Christ has come before us, Christ is with us, and Christ will come again. Amen.

* Opening Hymn – Marching to Zion UMH 733

1. Come, we that love the Lord, and let our joys be known; join in a song with sweet accord, join in a song with sweet accord and thus surround the throne, and thus surround the throne. (Thus surround the throne, and thus surround the throne.) We’re marching to Zion, (We’re marching to Zion,) beautiful, beautiful Zion; we’re marching upward to Zion, (Zion, Zion, the) the beautiful city of God.

2. Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God; but children of the heavenly King, but children of the heavenly King may speak their joys abroad, may speak their joys abroad. (Speak their joys abroad, may speak their joys abroad.) We’re marching to Zion, (We’re marching to Zion,) beautiful, beautiful Zion; we’re marching upward to Zion, (Zion, Zion, the) the beautiful city of God.

3. The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets before we reach the heavenly fields, before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets, or walk the golden streets. (Walk the golden streets, to walk the golden streets.) We’re marching to Zion, (We’re marching to Zion,) beautiful, beautiful Zion; we’re marching upward to Zion, (Zion, Zion, the) the beautiful city of God.

4. Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry; we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground, we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground, to fairer worlds on high, to fairer worlds on high. (Fairer worlds on high, to fairer worlds on high.) We’re marching to Zion, (We’re marching to Zion,) beautiful, beautiful Zion; we’re marching upward to Zion, (Zion, Zion, the) the beautiful city of God.

Prayer of Invocation (All)

Most wonderful God, most faithful Friend, please remove from us the incessant chatter of the world, and open our ears to the still small voice of your Spirit as you witness to the truth of Christ Jesus. Enable us to hear clearly, to understand profoundly, to respond freely, to serve lovingly and to worship delightedly. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Sharing Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Children’s Moments

Anthem – You Are the Christ (Larson)

You said “Come, follow!” and I quickly came;
It seemed so compelling when you called my name.
Now I’ve seen wonders I don’t understand.
Teacher, I know you are more than a man.

Can it be true? Can it be real?
I can’t explain, but before you I kneel:
You are the Christ.
You are the One sent from heaven; you are God’s Son.

I’ve seen the lame walk, the blind gain their sight.
You speak with the power that pierces the night.
I walked on the water when you called to me:
Are you the One I believe you to be?
I know from the steps of faith together we have trod

That you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Old Testament Lesson – Isaiah 49:1-7   Laura Gamble, Liturgist

Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
But I said, “I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
and my reward with my God.”

Call to Confession Laura Gamble, Liturgist

L: Dr. King once said, “Nothing is more tragic than to sleep through a revolution.” Truly, the work of justice begins with a proper recognition that injustice is real. Let us confess the stronghold of sin that would consume us. And let us be awakened by the movement of the spirit that gives us life. Let us pray:

Prayer of Confession (All) Laura Gamble, Liturgist

God of Justice, whenever we settle for the way things are instead of the way you would have them to be, forgive us. Whenever we are paralyzed by fear or limited in vision, increase our trust in you. Whenever we offer charity, but fail to work for justice, show us the more excellent way that your love requires.

Whenever we tire of the struggle and tomorrow feels overwhelming, restore our hope. Whenever we forget those who have gone before us or act is if we were the first to follow in the Way, allow us to recognize our arrogance. May the witness of our brother Martin encourage us to be dreamers for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

The Assurance of God’s Pardon Laura Gamble, Liturgist

L: If, by reflection, analysis, and prayer, we are freed to acknowledge the wrongs around us, the pain among us, the sin within us, and the work before us, God’s mission of peace with justice is being revealed in our midst. Always remember and never forget: Your burden has been lifted! The liberating love of God is at work within you! Amen.

* Hymn of Preparation – I Want Jesus to Walk with Me UMH 521

1. I want Jesus to walk with me. (Walk with me) I want Jesus to walk with me. (Walk with me) All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. (Walk with me)

2. In my trials, Lord, walk with me. (Walk with me) In my trials, Lord, walk with me. When my heart is almost breaking, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. (Walk with me)

3. When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me. (Walk with me) When I’m troubled, Lord, walk with me. (Walk with me) When my head is bowed in sorrow, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me. (Walk with me)

Gospel Lesson – John 1:29-42

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 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?” 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. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 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).

Sermon – “Called to Serve”   Rev. Debbie Scott

Invitation to Offering

Offertory – Nobody Knows the Trouble I See (Spiritual)

Nobody knows the trouble I see,
Nobody knows but Jesus;

Nobody knows the trouble I see,
Glory, Halleluja.

Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down,
Oh yes, Lord, sometimes I’m almost to the ground,
Oh, yes, Lord.

Although you see me going long so,
Oh, yes, Lord,

I have trials bars below,
Oh, yes, Lord

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

* Presentation of Offering – Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 95

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, yet heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Offering Prayer (All)

Gracious God, you create us and love us; you make us to live together in a community. We thank you for Martin Luther King, Jr. and all your children who have worked to build the beloved community where everyone is welcomed, all are valued, power is shared, privilege is no more, and all your children know wholeness and well-being. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

* Closing Hymn – Lift Every Voice and Sing   UMH 519

* Benediction

L: With the grace of God, may we go forth to welcome the stranger. With the compassion of Christ, may we serve those in need. And with the serenity of the Spirit, may we share the message of peace and justice among God’s people. Amen.

* Choral Response – Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (Sicilian Mariners)

Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing;
Fill our hearts with joy and peace.
Let us each, Your love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace.
O, refresh us, traveling through this wilderness.

* Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell

Postlude Allegro – Festivo (Barlow)