First United Methodist Church of Wilmington

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

January 5, 2003                                      10:15 a.m.

 

ORDER OF WORSHIP

 

As you prepare your hearts and your minds for worship, reflect on these words:

“A New Year has begun for us.  And even as we change our calendars, we note the changing of our lives.  The New Year brings with it new challenges.  May this year be a good year filled with God’s love and grace as it is made manifest in our lives.”

 

ENTRANCE

Prelude and Lighting of the Altar Candles                   Acolytes

 

*Processional Hymn No. 254        “We Three Kings”            

 

Introit No. 328    “Surely the Presence of the Lord”       Chancel Choir

 

Call to Worship:

Leader:  Good morning!

People:  Good morning!

Leader:  Blessings to God, who gives hope in the darkness of our lives.    

People:  Blessings to Jesus Christ, who reveals God’s love unto the world.         

Leader:  Blessings to the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be a light for others.

People:  Blessings, honor and glory to God, today and forever. Amen.                    

                 

Invocation   (Unison)

Everlasting God, the radiance of faithful souls, you brought the nations to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.  Fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all the nations; through Him who is the true light and the bright and morning star, even Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.  Amen.

CONFESSION AND AFFIRMATION

Silent Meditation

 

Call to Confession    (Pastor)

 If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Prayer of Confession       (Unison)

Almighty and most merciful God, you know the thoughts of our hearts.  We confess that we have sinned against you and done evil in your sight.  We have transgressed your holy laws.  We have disregarded your Word and Sacraments.  Forgive us, O Lord.  Give us grace and power to put away all hurtful things, that, being delivered from the bondage of sin, we may bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, and from henceforth may ever walk in your holy ways; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Assurance of Forgiveness    (Pastor)

The Lord God is merciful and gracious, endlessly patient, loving, and true, showing mercy to thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and granting pardon.  Amen.

 

*Gloria Patri                                                                        No. 70

 

Time With the Children

 

FRIENDSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP

Parish Life

 

Pastoral Prayer                                                         Choral Response                           

 

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

 

Offertory Invitation

“Let your light so shine before people, that they may see your good works and give glory to God who is in heaven.”     Matthew 5:16

     

Offertory

 

Offertory Music No. 640         “Take Our Bread”          Chancel Choir

 

*The Doxology                                                                        No. 95

 

*Offertory Prayer

 

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

 

Scripture                                                           Jeremiah 31:7-14

 

Anthem             “Here At Thy Table, Lord”             Chancel Choir

 

Meditation:       “A Joyful New Beginning”          Rev. Neil Platon     

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

The Great Thanksgiving

Leader:  The Lord be with you.

People:  And also with you.

Leader:  Lift up your hearts.   

People:  We lift them up to the Lord.          

Leader:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

Leader:  It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every-where to give thanks to you, almighty God, creator of heaven and earth.  You formed us in your image and breathed on us the breath of life.  When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.  You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought to us a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life.  And so with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn. 

 

People:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

 

Leader:  Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.  By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.  By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.  Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness in his marvelous light.  When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and the Holy Spirit. 

On the night in which he gave himself up for us He took bread, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:  “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:  “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgive- ness of sins.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

People:  Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

 

Leader:  Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ.  By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.  Through your Son Jesus Christ, with your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.

People:  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Leader:  And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:

People:  Our Father…..

 

Receiving the Sacrament

 

(During the receiving of Holy Communion, the congregation is invited to sing the following hymns)

 

Communion Hymns  

 

1.  No. 357  Verse 1 and 2......6.  No. 381  Verse 1

2.        No. 361  Verse 1…..………7.  No. 382  Verse 1

3.        No. 367  Verse 1……..……8.  No. 383  Verse 1

 

4.        No. 368  Verse 1 …….……9.  No. 397  Verse

5.        No. 377  Verse 1 …….…..10.  No. 399  Verse 1

 

Prayer After Communion     Unison

Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal kingdom.  Send us out in the power of the Holy Spirit to live and work in your praise and glory, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

SENDING FORTH 

          

Hymn No. 338        “Where He Leads Me”           (1^st – 3^rd Stanzas)

 

(Those who wish to rededicate themselves to God, or give thanks to God for His many blessings are invited to come forward by the second stanza of this hymn)

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving     (Pastor)

 

*Hymn No. 338        “Where He Leads Me”                4^th Stanza

 

*Benediction      (Pastor)

May Christ, the Son of God, be manifest to you that your lives may be a light to the world; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be with you and abide with you always.  Amen.

 

Benediction Response      “A Parting Prayer”       Chancel Choir

 

Carrying the Light Into the World

 

Postlude

* If you are able please stand

ASSISTING IN THE SERVICE

Liturgist:   Harold Cowan        Pianist:     Trini Yadao 

Acolytes:  Heather Cadlaon & Julie Viray

Ushers:  Augie Rojas   (Head Usher), Tony Villanueva, Roland Mangaoang, Vic Pasamonte and Romy Guerrero   

 

Ushers Next Week:  Harold Cowan   (Head Usher), Numeriano Pigao, Manny Rabara, Danny Dela Cruz and Kubing Millan

 

Communion Stewards:  Betty and Fred Slover  

Communion Servers:     Art Abella, Beth Fajardo, Aida Villanueva and James Davis   

                  Financial Report – December 29, 2002

                Regular Envelope Offering       $ 1,776.25

                Loose Offering                                 27.50

                Christmas                                         18.00

                Oil Royalties and Rental Fees          34.77

                All Sunday Schools                             7.00

                                T O T A L                 $ 1,863.52

Financial Secretary:  Rolando and Jane Mangaoang

 

Offering Steward Schedule

                January 5         Ora Cajigal and Jose Apuan

                January 12       Lucia Caparino

                January 19       Rodrigo and Abrandina Carlos

                January 26       Eleuteria and Gladys Castanieta

 

T O D A Y!

Pastor’s Forum – 9:30 to 10 am – Sanctuary – Sermon passage     

 

Sunday school for children – theme “Exploring Faith”

 

Sunday school for adults – Ilocano and English

 

SPPRC meeting following church service

Chair, Betty Tabios, Marie Dacio Pico, Jun DeVivar, Ruben Pascua, Lisa Nefulda, Beth Fajardo, Joe Jewell, Doris Kendrick, Barbara Paulson and Paul Cadlaon 

 

Choir Practice after church upstairs in choir room

 

HELP is needed to clean communion cups and plates.  Please see Betty Slover today.

 

The Dorothea Anderson Memorial is designated for new robes.  To date $2,420 has been donated.  Total cost will be $3,583.

 

Pastor Neil’s church office hours Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 - noon.

 

Young Adult and Youth Bible study - Friday

Young Adult at 7:30 pm      Youth at 8:30 pm

 

January 12 and 19

Finance Meeting for Charge Conference and 2003

Chair, Josie Dauz, Art Abella, Bert Ashe, Betty Tabios, Les Powell, Rolando Mangaoang and Pete Cabalse

 

 

 

January 26 – after church

Council Meeting for Charge Conference

Chair, Bert Ashe, Art Abella, Pete Cabalse, Rolando Mangaoang, Betty Tabios, Josie Dauz, Les Powell, Agnes Cadlaon, Mary Rasing, Mar Tacadena, Leofin Blanco, Flor Amor Viray and Ellie Quiming.

 

January 29 – Charge Conference

 

Caroling Donations Thanks

The following families’ support is gratefully acknowledged

Pigao, Tacadena, David, Viray, Kendrick, Abella, Gutierrez, L. Oliveros, Villanueva, Ashe, Cowan, Carlos, Dacio, Thorpiyil, Lucero, R. Pascua, Davis and Sunders.

 

Sunday Worship Attendance Report