January 4, 2026

Springs Rescue Mission is our January Monthly Mission. Springs Rescue Mission uses a holistic approach to overcoming homeless.
Understanding homelessness begins with understanding the complex causes and challenges that men and women face and dispelling the myths that we encounter.
Their holistic approach focuses on three pillars of life: housing,health and work. They believe that this approach gives guests the skills, knowledge and abilities they need to be active members of their communities.
They want more for their guests lives than just survival. We want them to truly thrive. In this effort, they hope to remind their guests of their inherent human dignity- that they are created in the image of God who loves them.
They offer clothing, breakfast and dinner, hygiene, housing, linens, household items and job training.

January 4, 2026, 9:30 am Worship Service

Gathering

Prelude
Cynthia Hibbetts

Welcome
Rev. David Petty

Call to Worship
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Leader: As we step into a new calendar year, God meets us again, ready to love us through fears and failings. God meets us again, sharing love into our lives.

People: The light still shines, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Leader: We gather with signs of our faith before us. These symbols point our way toward Christ.

People: We remember the story, and we find our place in it.

Leader: So come, let us worship the God who makes the invisible...visible.

ALL: This is the Day that the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

*Worship Hymn
The First Noel
UMH #245
WORDS: Trad. English carol (Luke 2:8-14; Mt. 2:1-12)
 
1. The first Noel
the angel did say
was to certain
poor shepherds
in fields as they lay;
 
in fields where they
lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night
that was so deep.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
2. They looked up
and saw a star
shining in the east,
beyond them far;
 
and to the earth
it gave great light,
and so it continued
both day and night.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
3. And by the light
of that same star
three Wise Men came
from country far;
 
to seek for a king
was their intent,
and to follow the star
wherever it went.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
4. This star drew nigh
to the northwest,
o’er Bethlehem
it took its rest;
 
and there it did
both stop and stay,
right over the place
where Jesus lay.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.
 
5. Then entered in
those Wise Men three,
full reverently
upon the knee,
and offered there,
in his presence,
their gold and myrrh
and frankincense.
 
Refrain
Noel, Noel,
Noel, Noel,
born is the
King of Israel.

 Prayers
Rev. David Petty

Silent Prayer
 
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.
Lead us not
into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
 
For Thine is the Kingdom,
and the Power
and the Glory forever.
Amen

Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Rev. David Petty
 
*Doxology
Praise God from Who All Blessings Flow
UMH #94
 
Praise God, from whom
all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures
here below: Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Praise God, the source
of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ,
whose power uplifts!
 
Praise the Spirit,
Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!

A Word of Inspiration
Scripture Reading
John 1:1-18
CLM Twinkle Gordon

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

Prayer for Illumination

Leader: May the words of my mouth,
People: and the meditations of all of our hearts
All: be acceptable in your sight, O Lord our rock and our redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

Message
Why Symbols? God Made Visible
Rev. David Petty

*Closing Hymn/Song
 
*Closing Hymn
On This Day Earth Shall Ring
UMH #248
 
1. On this day
earth shall ring
with the song
children sing
to the Lord,
Christ our King,
 
born on earth
to save us;
him the Father
gave us.
 
Refrain
Id-e-o-o-o,
id-e-o-o-o,
ideo gloria
in excelsis Deo!
 
2. His the doom,
ours the mirth;
when he came
down to earth,
Bethlehem
saw his birth;
 
ox and ass
beside him
from the cold
would hide him.
 
Refrain
Id-e-o-o-o,
id-e-o-o-o,
ideo gloria
in excelsis Deo!
 
3. God’s bright star,
o’er his head,
Wise Men three
to him led;
kneel they low
by his bed,
 
lay their gifts
before him,
praise him and
adore him.
 
Refrain
Id-e-o-o-o,
id-e-o-o-o,
ideo gloria
in excelsis Deo!
 
4. On this day
angels sing;
with their song
earth shall ring,
praising Christ,
heaven’s King,
 
born on earth
to save us;
peace and love
he gave us.
 
Refrain
Id-e-o-o-o,
id-e-o-o-o,
ideo gloria
in excelsis Deo!

*Benediction
Rev. David Petty

*Postlude
Cynthia Hibbetts