January 1, 2023 By a Different Road

January 1, 2023
 
Greeting
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
Prelude
Stephanie Shorden

*Call to Worship        
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
Leader: A new day has dawned, a new year begun
People: O Lord, call us so we may hear Your voice
Leader: The world turns to hopes and dreams of the future
People: O Lord, keep us in Your ways and on Your path
Leader: We enter this new year with hope and excitement
People: O Lord, remind us that You lead us
O Lord, guide us as we look to You and worship You.
Leader: This is the day, the Week, the Month, and the Year that the Lord has made.
People: We shall rejoice and be glad in it!
 
*Gathering Song       
We Three Kings
v. 1, 2, 5 UMH #254
WORDS: John H. Hopkins, Jr. 1857 (Mt. 2:1-12)
 
1. We three kings
of Orient are;
bearing gifts we
traverse afar,
field and fountain,
moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
 
Refrain
O star of wonder,
star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading,
still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
 
2. Born a King
on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring
to crown him again,
King forever,
ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
 
Refrain
O star of wonder,
star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading,
still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
 
5. Glorious now
behold him arise;
King and God
and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through
the earth and skies.
 
Refrain
O star of wonder,
star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading,
still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
 
Mystery Box               
 
Invitation to Prayer               
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
Anyone wishing to come forward to the Communion Railing to pray or light a prayer candle may do so.
 
Prayer Song    
Into My Heart            
v. 1 TFWS#2160
WORDS: Harry D. Clarke, st. 2 anon.
MUSIC: Harry D. Clarke © 1924, renewed 1952 Hope Publishing Co.
 
1. Into my heart,
into my heart,
come into my heart,
Lord Jesus;
come in today,
come in to stay;
come into my heart,
Lord Jesus.
 
Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer          
Pastor Donnie Sturgill
 
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 to 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.
 
Prayer Response        
Into My Heart            
v. 2 TFWS#2160
WORDS: Harry D. Clarke, st. 2 anon.
MUSIC: Harry D. Clarke © 1924, renewed 1952 Hope Publishing Co.

2. Out of my heart,
out of my heart,
shine out of my heart,
Lord Jesus;
shine out today,
shine out alway;
shine out of my heart,
Lord Jesus.
 
Invitation to Offering
CLM Twinkle Gordon

Offertory        
Now Let Us All Praise God and Sing 
by Gordon Young      
Sanctuary Choir

Prayer of Thanks & Dedication                  
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*Doxology    
Praise God from Whom 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!
 
Scripture Reading     
Matthew 2:11-12         
CLM Twinkle Gordon
 
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
 
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         
The Real Gifts of Christmas ~ By a Different Road  
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Communion Hymn  
One Bread, One Body           
UMH #620
WORDS: John B. Foley, 1978 (1 Cor. 10:16-17; Gal. 3:28; 1 Cor. 12)
© 1978, 1989 John B. Foley and North American Liturgy Resources

Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
1. Gentile or Jew,
servant or free,
woman or man,
no more.
 
Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing
which we bless.
And we, though many
throughout the earth,
we are one body
in this one Lord.
 
Communion
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

*Sending Hymn      
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice     
UMH #224
 WORDS: 14th cent. Latin; trans. by John Mason Neale, 1855
 
1. Good Christian
friends, rejoice
with heart and
soul and voice;
give ye heed
to what we say:
News, news!
Jesus Christ is
born today!
Ox and ass
before him bow,
and he is in
the manger now.
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today!
 
2. Good Christian
friends, rejoice
with heart and
soul and voice;
now ye hear
of endless bliss:
News, news!
Jesus Christ was
born for this!
He hath opened
heaven’s door,
and ye are blest
forevermore.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!
 
3. Good Christian
friends, rejoice
with heart and
soul and voice;
now ye need
not fear the grave:
News, news!
Jesus Christ was
born to save!
Calls you one
and calls you all
to gain his
everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save!
 
Announcements        
 
Benediction               
Pastor Donnie Sturgill

Postlude                    
Stephanie Shorden