Below is the service I ha · Web view2021/01/03  · The word seemed to sing. "Messiah!" He spoke of how the rabbis say the Messiah's coming will be a bright day and what a great

2

Below is the service I have created for this Sunday. I hope this is something you can use for personal/family worship. We are all worshiping together, no matter where we are. If you are joining us online for this service then you may want to have this resource with you so you have the words to the responses and hymns at your fingertips in case you can’t see the screen.

Rev. Mary-Jane

The words provided for the hymns are done with permission under One License # A-727596.

NEWCASTLE UNITED CHURCH

January 3, 2021 10:30 a.m.

Celebrating Epiphany

“As followers of Christ, we are called to be a worshipping and learning, receiving and giving community of faith, hope and love.” – Newcastle United Church Mission Statement

Surely God is in this place. Help me notice.

We Approach God

Welcome

Lighting the Christ Candle

We have welcomed the Christ child. Now we celebrate that the Light of the World has come. We light this candle to remember Christ, the Light of the World.

A Time of Centring – “A Light Is Gleaming” # 81 (chorus)

(Words and music Copyright 1992 Borealis Music)

A light is gleaming, spreading its arms throughout the night, living in the light.

Come share its gladness, God’s radiant love is burning bright, living in the light.

Call to Worship (Responsive)

Light shines in shadowed places.

Hope abounds where once there was fear.

God’s Chosen One is born into our hearts.We honour Jesus with gifts of devotion, love, and commitment.

We worship with gladdened hearts.

(written by Laura Turnbull, Gathering, A/C/E 2020-21, p. 41. Used with permission.)

Hymn of Praise “Arise, Your Light Is Come”# 79

(words copyright 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc.)

Arise, your light is come! The Spirit’s call obey;

show forth the glory of your God, which shines on you to day.

Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door;

proclaim the captive’s liberty, good tidings to the poor.

Arise, your light is come! All you in sorrow born,

bind up the broken-hearted ones and comfort those who mourn.

Arise, your lights is come! The mountains burst in song!

Rise up like eagles on the wing; God’s power will make us strong.

Prayer of Approach (Unison)

Radiant God, light for all people and all places, by the guidance of a star you led the Magi to worship the Christ Child. By the light of faith lead us to worship you in peace and love, and guide us in your way. We pray in the name of Christ, light of the world. Amen.

(written by Joan McMurtry, found in ‘Shine on, Star of Bethlehem’, p. 223)

We Hear God’s Word

Hymn “What Child Is This” # 74

What child is this who laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch ae keeping?

This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing;

haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. R

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, one and all, to own him.

The King of Kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone him. R

A Time To Be Children

“Do you see that?” Melchoir yelled across the room to his companions.

“See what?” Balthazar replied, almost jumping off his stool.

“There, in the sky. That new star,” Mechoir exclaimed. “Right over there.” He pointed with outstretched arm.

“Yes, I see it,” Kaspar joyfully said. “It is a new star.”

“Yes, I see it now, too,” Balthazar yelled with delight.

“You know what that means,” Melchoir told them. “It means a new king has been born.”

“A new king. How exciting!” Kaspar said.

“Hey, I have an idea: let’s follow the star and see where it leads us,” Melchoir suggested.

“But where do you think it would take us?” Balthazar asked. He wasn’t so sure.

“I don’t know,” Melchoir said, “but does it really matter? Wherever it leads us will be worth the journey.”

“Ah, I don’t know,” Balthazar protested. “It could be a long, cold, tiresome journey. There could be storms and bandits and wild animals.”

“Yes, but there could also be beautiful cities and palaces and a new king. Yes, a new king!” Kaspar exclaimed. He was also getting excited about the possibilities.

“But what, what if we get lost, or run out of food, or our camels run away?” Balthazar continued to protest.

“Balthazar, Balthazar,” Melchoir said, trying to calm his fears. “We won’t get lost, because we will keep our eyes on the star and it will lead us. We will take plenty of food for the journey. And we’ll even take extra camels in case we lose some. And besides all of that, the Creator of the world will protect us.”

Kaspar agreed.

“You know,” the wise old Balthazar explained, “good things almost always require hard work and sacrifice. And it is important that we search for the truth until we find it. And when God sends us a star to follow, when God sends us a sign, we need to follow it.”

After much preparation and planning, that is just what Melchoir, Kaspar, and Balthazar did. They set out on a long, hard journey. They went in search of the truth. They followed the star, the sign, that God gave them. And finally – at last! – they came to where the star rested and they found what they were looking for: the newborn King of the world. And their lives were changed forever.

(from ‘The Talking Stick’ by Randy Hammer, p. 59. Used with permission.)

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 that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Ministry of Music – “Shine, Jesus Shine” (Trio – Moe & Shirley Schroter & Brian Reid)

Isaiah 60:1-6 Your light has come.

Matthew 2:1-12 The visit of the magi.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn “The First Nowell” # 91 (v. 1,3,5,6)

The first Nowell the angel did say

was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;

in fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep

on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

born is the King of Israel.

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. R

Then entered in those wise men three,

full reverently upon their knee,

and offered there in his presence

their gold and myrrh and frankincense. R

Then let us all with one accord

sing praises to our heavenly Lord,

that hath made heaven and earth of nought,

and with his blood our life hath bough. R

Message

We imagine the three wise men coming to the

manger only moments after Jesus is born. That is how most Christian artists portray their arrival. And that is how we depict it in manger scenes and nativity plays. And that’s good, because the arrival of the kings demonstrates the truth that Jesus was born the King of Kings.

But some Bible scholars believe that the Wise Men may have arrived up to two years after Jesus' birth. They point to the fact that Matthew says they entered a "house" not a stable to see Jesus. Also, Herod ordered all the boys two and under killed because of the time of the star's appearing. Herod obviously believed that Jesus had been born, possibly as much as two years before.

What follows is a story based partially on that scholarly opinion. This story is also based partially on what the Bible says. But much of it is from imagination of the events in a way that might help us better connect with them. It is a story designed to help us see the light of Christ's arrival in a new way.

Once upon a time there was a boy named Matt. He was no different from other boys his age in his day. Every day Matt did his chores: milk the goats, get the water, sweep the roof. And on the Sabbath, the one break in his uneventful life, he would go to the synagogue. Matt was not old enough to join the men, but he was old enough to stand with his mother and intently listen to the men discuss the Torah and the prophets. Matt hoped for the day when he too would stand before the people and read the sacred books, and speak of Moses and the commandments and David and the Messiah.

One morning Matthew awoke. It was the Sabbath! Today there would be no goats except maybe the goat God gave Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac. Today there would be no carrying water, but maybe he would hear of water gushing from a rock in the desert. Today there would be no roof to sweep, but maybe he would hear of the roof where Daniel prayed to God.

Matt excitedly dressed, and the family went to the synagogue. As they approached the synagogue they separated. Matt's father went into the inner room where the men read the holy books and Matt went with his mother to stand outside the latticework wall that separated the women and children from the men. Matt pulled his mother up close to the lattice wall so he could hear the Scriptures read.

The rabbi was away so a carpenter read the Scripture. Matt had seen him before but didn't know him well. He looked over at the carpenter's family: a young woman with a small boy clinging to her robe. The face of Mary, the carpenter's wife, seemed to beam with pride as she watched her husband. Her glow seemed to engulf the young boy toddling at her feet.

The carpenter opened the Isaiah scroll and read, "Arise shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." "Arise shine!"

The words echoed in Matt's head. God says, "Arise shine!" How like the Sabbath that was. A day when one would arise and shine. A day that one wakes up happy.

Matt had been so intent on these two words that he missed the rest of the reading. Joseph rolled up the scroll and sat down. Then he spoke in slow measured words. It was obvious he was not used to doing this. He was not the Rabbi, but Matt listened anyway. Joseph spoke of the Messiah.

The word seemed to sing. "Messiah!" He spoke of how the rabbis say the Messiah's coming will be a bright day and what a great event it would be.

Then Joseph said, "But." The word echoed. After a long nervous pause he continued, "Maybe the Messiah's coming will not be such a big event. Maybe he will come quietly." There was some mumbling among the men. "Maybe some will miss his coming." The mumbling grew. Matt noticed that Joseph was looking toward his wife. But Joseph was not looking at Mary. He was smiling and staring at the boy toddling at her feet.

The Sabbath came and went. Sunday morning arrived. There would be no arising and shining today. There would be no goats caught in thickets or water gushing from rocks or prophesies about Messiah. It was milk the goats, fetch the water, sweep the roof. The water was first. So, Matt took the large jars and made his way to the well outside of town.

He slowly lowered the bucket into the well to draw the water. Matt didn't hear the camels approach. He wouldn't have known they were there if he hadn't overheard the word "Messiah." He quickly turned and saw three finely dressed men on camels. They were speaking Greek or something, but he picked out a few words like, "Messiah," "Bethlehem," and "Herod."

Matt noticed that they were looking off to the horizon. Then one of the men pointed as he spoke and Matt turned to look. A light. Like a star! But it was daylight. Stars don't shine in the daylight. It moved for a moment, but then it stopped. Right over the carpenter's house? He had never seen anything like it. A star in the daylight!

"Boy!" The harsh voice brought him out of a daze. One of the servants was standing over him. "When the Magi speaks, you answer him." One of the men on the camels brushed off the servant with the wave of his hand. "Don't yell at the boy. He is just amazed by the light. Tell me boy do you see that light?" He spoke with an exotic foreign accent. "Yes sir! I've never seen anything like it!" The Magi smiled. "We have been following that star a long way and it has finally stopped. Can you tell us whose house that is?"

"Yes sir! I think it is the house of the carpenter, Joseph." The three men mumbled among themselves and looked a little bewildered. "Boy, could you take us there to this Joseph the carpenter's house?" "Yes sir!"

When they arrived at the house the doorway was quickly filled with Magi and servants. Matt ran around to the side to watch through the window. The three men brought presents to give to Joseph and Mary. No, they were giving them to the baby? He heard the men speak, but this time in Hebrew. Hebrew, like in the synagogue, but spoken with Gentile accents. "Gold to crown the King of kings." "Frankincense, to worship the Son of God." "Myrrh to anoint the Lamb of God."

How like the Sabbath this was. Watching through the latticework. Listening to the sacred language spoken. Words like "Messiah" and "Lord" heard through a window. And talk of sacrificial lambs and worship.

Matt slowly wandered back to the well as he thought of these things. "The King of Kings." "Messiah!" Could it be that the Messiah spoken of by the prophets had come? Could it be that he had seen the Messiah, the anointed one of God, play at the carpenter's shop around the corner and in the synagogue down the street? Joseph had said the Messiah might come quietly, and that some would miss him. But the child looked so ordinary.

Maybe God is in the ordinary. In the Sundays and Mondays as well as the Sabbaths and holy days. Maybe God is in the milking of the goat, the fetching of water, the sweeping of the roof and in the language of every day life. Matt looked up at the light of the star. Why had he not seen it before? How could he miss a star so bright unless he had never looked? Was it there all along just like the carpenter’s child?

When Matt arrived at the well the jars were full of water. Matt didn't remember filling them. He tasted the water and it was sweet like wine. He took the jars and, despite their weight, his steps were lighter than before.

Like his steps on the way to the Synagogue on the Sabbath. And he thought of Kings and gifts and of the Messiah. It was just like the Sabbath all over again. "Arise shine; for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." Even when the Sabbath was over!

Matthew, or Matt, was right. God is in the ordinary, the everyday. We arise and shine looking for God on Sunday morning. We expect to see the glory and light on God in special days like Christmas and Easter.

But God is really there all along in the average work of everyday. God is in Mondays and Tuesdays and ordinary days just as much in the holidays or Holy days. The problem is we just aren't looking. That is why we don't see it.

Once the excitement of shepherds and angels are over there are few who can still see the glory of God shining from heaven. When the singing of heavenly choirs has finished there are few who can still hear the voice of God. We close our eyes in spiritual sleep when the Christmas Sabbath is over and we can't see the glory of God in our midst revealed in the Christ child.

Keep your eyes open this year. Even after Christmas is over look for God's glory. It is there like the star and the Christ child in that story. But only the truly wise are able to point it out. "Arise and Shine for your light has come." Look! A star! A light from heaven! Look!

We Respond To God’s Word

Ministry of Music – “I Am The Light Of The World”

(Trio – Moe & Shirley Schroter & Brian Reid)

Offering Invitation

We come with the work of our hands and hearts. We may not bring gold, frankincense or myrrh, but we bring devotion, dedication and service. We celebrate what we have received and we offer ourselves to God…

The Offertory

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;

if I were a wise man, I would do my part;

yet what I can I give him – give my heart. (#55 v.4)

Dedication Prayer (Unison)

As the Magi offered their gifts to the Christ Child, so we offer our gifts to you, O God. May your blessing increase the work they can do. Amen.

Prayers of the People

O God, the Bible tells us no person can look on you, but we have seen your glory shining forth from a manger; as a bright star in our sky.

In all the ways that the life of Jesus echoes our own, we see You:

In the face of an Infant suckling at mother’s breast;

In the big questions that one Youth puts to Jerusalem teachers;

In the telling of parables that cracked open closed minds.

In all the ways Jesus showed us how to love others:

In the honour of children and the respect for outcast women;

In healing of the deaf, the blind, the lame and the leper;

In the anger that cleansed a temple but sealed the young man’s fate;

In the promise to be with us to the end of time.

We have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus the Christ. With joy and thanksgiving we seek to live the way of Love.

We long for, and pray for, the light of God in Christ Jesus to drive back the darkness of human error, misery and evil.

Where people are lost and jaded in contemporary consumerism, where addiction to alcohol, other drugs, and gambling is causing ruin, we pray for the hope of epiphany

Where dictators rule without mercy or wisdom, where democracies are manipulated by the rich and powerful,

we pray for the justice of epiphany.

Where youth see no prospect in the future and so contemplate suicide, where the long-term unemployed exist without hope, we pray for the light of epiphany.

Where the church dodges its evangelical mission, where the church evades its social and political responsibility, we pray for the truth of epiphany.

Where the terminally ill face death fearfully, where people without purpose face life despairingly, we pray for the love of epiphany.

Where there is either joy or sorrow, where our hearts reach out and lift up, we pray for the light of epiphany to glow… (I usually allow 30 seconds of silence here)

Most holy Friend, to you all souls are precious; please take from our eyes the scales of prejudice or indifference, that we may increasingly share your awareness of the neglected and abused people, and do all we can to make your love real to them. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

(Inspired by and adapted from Bruce Prewer. Used with permission.)

Closing Hymn “As With Gladness” # 81 (v.1,2,3,5)

As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold,

as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright,

as, most gracious Lord, may we evermore your splendour see.

As with joyful steps they sped, to that lowly manger bed,

there to bend the knee before Christ, whom heaven and earth adore;

so may we with eager pace ever seek your throne of grace.

As they offered gifts most rare at that manger crude and bare,

so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy,

all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to you, our heavenly King.

In the heavenly country bright none shall need created light;

you its light, its joy, its crown, you its sun which goes not down;

there for ever may we sing hallelujah to our King.

Commissioning and Benediction

As you resume your journey through life in faith,

carry this time of Epiphany

and the epiphanies of this time with you,

sharing the light of Christ with family, friends,

strangers, neighbours everywhere.

And the grace of Christ attend you,

the love of God surround,

the Holy Spirit keep each one of you

now and always. Amen.

(written by George Allen, Gathering A/C/E 2020-21, p. 42. Used with permission.)

Sung Blessing “Go Now In Peace”

(Copyright 1988 by Harold Flammer Music, a Division of Shawnee Press, Inc.)

Go now in peace. Never be afraid.God will go with you each hour of every day. Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.Know God will guide you in all you do.Go now in love, and show you believe.Reach out to others so all the world can see.God will be there watching from above.Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.

And online we end together (wait for folks to get their mics unmuted)

And the people say:

Hallelujah and Amen!

Our Life & Work

Please note: Rev. Mary-Jane will be on vacation from Dec. 26-Jan. 3. Should you have a pastoral emergency during that time, please contact your Elder or call the church office (905-987-4515) for coverage information.

Thank you to Marie Narini, Susan Pascoe, Brian Reid, Shirley Schroter & Moe Schroter for helping with this morning’s service.

Our church YouTube channel, is where you can find recordings of weekly worship services and Music to Wash Dishes By. Here is the link - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpPUnPABHPlOJzAJ7uXvHoA

Bible Study –

Our weekly, Wednesday morning online Bible Study will return on January 6th. If you would like to join in, please e-mail the church office and we will send you the link: [email protected]

From the Stewards:

2021 Church Envelopes – we’re doing things a little differently just now. If you did not have envelopes in 2020 and would like a set for 2021, please contact me (below). If you are in Newcastle, I can drop off OR if you wish to pick up, I am in the office Friday mornings from 9AM-11AM and can leave your box for you to pick up from the Emily St. entrance. Please e-mail me: [email protected] if you want to pick up. – Thanks, Lorna

Annual Report – with apologies because we just entered a new year - would the chairs of each committee please prepare and submit your 2020 report to Lorna not later than Friday, January 22, 2021. Please send to: [email protected] . Thank you.

Thank you from Don and Gwen Holmes to those who donated in memory of Jean Holmes.

Newcastle United Church