First United Methodist Church Downtown January 2, 2022 - Epiphany Sunday

First United Methodist Church
          Downtown

       Epiphany Sunday

      January 2, 2022

Service of Morning Worship
                           January 2, 2022

 PRELUDE                     Shepherds                    Wilbur Held

 WELCOME

* HYMN OF PRAISE
  No. 237            Sing We Now of Christmas            FRENCH CAROL

* CALL TO WORSHIP                                       Psalm 147:1-5
     Leader: Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our
             God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

     People:    The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the
                outcasts of Israel.

     Leader:    He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

     People:    He determines the number of the stars; he gives
                to all of them their names.

* OPENING PRAYER

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                               Apostles’ Creed
        I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven
        and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord: who
        was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
        suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and
        buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended
        into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the
        Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the
        quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy
        catholic* church, the communion of saints, the
        forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the
        life everlasting. Amen.
                                                         *universal

* GLORIA PATRI                                             MEINEKE
   Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
       As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
                 World without end. Amen. Amen.

HYMN OF PREPARATION
 No. 243           From a Distant Home                    ISLA DEL ENCANTO

 PASTORAL 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. And lead us not
    into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the
          kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
                              Amen.

 OFFERTORY                                                    Ernst Pepping
             How Brightly Shines the Morning Star

           Offering boxes are available in the narthex and at the
                         west sanctuary entrance.

* DOXOLOGY                                                          Old 100th
         Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
           Praise Him, all creatures here below;
            Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
         Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 SCRIPTURE LESSON                            2 Chronicles 34:29-33, NRSV

 SPECIAL MUSIC             The Huron Carol                      Mark Hayes

 SERMON          The Three R’s: Rejoicing, Renewing, Refreshing
                         Notes at http://bible.com/events/48820282

 WESLEY COVEANT RENEWAL SERVICE

 HOLY COMMUNION

* HYMN OF DISCIPLESHIP
  No. 248        On This Day Earth Shall Ring             PERSONENT HODIE

* BENEDICTION

 POSTLUDE                     Prelude in C Major                           J.S. Bach

                        * Please stand as you are able.

                 The Altar flowers this morning are given by
              Joyce and Bill McKinney in honor of their children.

                LEADERS OF WORSHIP IN TODAY’S SERVICE

 Liturgist:         Holly Amoah-Mensah, Downtown Intern
 Musicians:         Glenna Metcalfe, Associate Director of Music/Organist
                    Brock Terry, Director of Music
 Preacher:          Todd Nelson, Senior Pastor

  All music in this service is licensed under CCLI Copyright #1354900, CCLI Streaming
     #CSPL162444, CCS Streaming & Copyright #14072 and One License A-723948.

Welcome to Downtown, one of 3 worshiping communities of First
 United Methodist Church Lexington. Whether this is your first Sunday
  here or your hundredth, it is no accident that we are here together
today. If you are visiting Lexington, we are so glad to be part of your
  time in the bluegrass. If you are new to the area and looking for a
church home, please let a greeter or member of staff know if you have
 questions. Our pastors would love the chance to have a conversation
                      and get to know you better.

                   Scan to connect with Downtown

200 West High Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
     downtownlex.org
      859-233-0545

INTRODUCTION

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Christian life is redeemed from sin and
consecrated to God. Through baptism, we have entered this life and have
been admitted into the new covenant of which Jesus Christ is the
Mediator. He sealed it with his own blood, that it might last for ever.
On the one side, God promises to give us new life in Christ, the Source and
Perfecter of our faith. On the other side, we are pledged to live no more
for ourselves but only for Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave himself for
us.
From time to time we renew our covenant with God, especially when we
reaffirm the Baptismal Covenant and gather at the Lord's table. Today we
meet as the generations before us have met, to renew the covenant that
binds us to God.
WESLEY'S COVENANT SERVICE

Commit yourselves to Christ as his servants that you may belong to him.
Christ has many ministries to be done. Some are more easy and
honorable, others are more difficult and even counter-cultural. Some are
suitable to our gifts and passions, others are contrary to both. In some we
may please Christ and please ourselves. But then there are other works
where we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
It is necessary, therefore, that we consider what it means to be a servant
of Christ.
Let me be your servant, under your command. I will no longer be my
own. I will give up myself to your will in all things.
Be satisfied that Christ shall give you your place and work.
Lord, make me what you will. I put myself fully into your hands: put me
to doing, put me to suffering, let me be employed for you, or laid aside
for you, let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me
have nothing. I freely and with a willing heart give it all to your pleasure
and disposal.
Christ will be the Savior of none but his servants. He is the source of all
salvation to those who obey. Christ will have no servants except by
consent; Christ will not accept anything except full consent to all that he
requires. Christ will be all in all, or he will be nothing. Confirm this by a
holy covenant.

To make this covenant a reality in your life, listen to these admonitions:

First, set apart some time, more than once, to be spent alone before the
Lord; in seeking earnestly God's special assistance and gracious
acceptance of you; in carefully thinking through all the conditions of the
covenant; in searching your hearts whether you have already freely given
your life to Christ. Consider what your sins are. Consider the laws of
Christ, how holy, strict, and spiritual they are, and whether you, after
having carefully considered them, are willing to choose them all. Be sure
you are clear in these matters, see that you do not lie to God and mislead
yourself.
Second, be serious and in a spirit of holy awe and reverence.
Third, claim God's covenant, rely upon God's promise of giving grace and
strength, so you can keep your promise. Trust not your own strength and
power.
Fourth, resolve to be faithful. You have given to the Lord your hearts, you
have opened your mouths to the Lord, and you have dedicated yourself to
God. With God's power, never go back.
And last, be then prepared to renew your covenant with the Lord. Fall
down on your knees, lift your hands toward heaven, open your hearts to
the Lord, as we pray:
                           COVENANT PRAYER

Before all heaven and earth, I acknowledge you as my Lord and Saviour.
I take you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for my portion, and vow to give
up myself, body and soul, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all
the days of my life.
I do here willingly put my life under your direction, to carry your burden.
All your laws are holy, just, and good. I therefore take them as the rule
for my words, thoughts, and actions, promising that I will strive to order
my whole life according to your direction, and not allow myself to
neglect anything I know to be my duty.
And let the covenant I have made on earth be ratified in heaven.
You are advised to make this covenant not only in your heart, but in word;
not only in word, but in writing. Therefore, with all reverence, lay the
service before the Lord as your act and deed. And when you have done
this, sign it. Then keep it as a reminder of the holy agreement between
God and you that you may remember it during doubts and temptations.

___________________________________
Name                                            Date

Activities based on Jeremiah 31:7-14, Ephesians 1:3-14, John 1:(1-9), 10-18.

Try to find the words from Ephesians in the word
search below. Words may go diagonal, up OR down
and forward OR backward.

  BLESSED          PRAISE          PLAN
  JESUS            GRACE           HEAVEN
  FOUNDATION       FORGIVENESS     EARTH
  HOLY             RICHES          HOPE
  LOVE             WISDOM          TRUTH
  ADOPTION         MYSTERY         GOSPEL

John describes Jesus as both the Word and the
greatest kind of Light—a Light no darkness could
overcome. What words or images would you use to
describe Jesus? Draw them here.

Suggested for use on January 2, 2022 based on the RCL.
Copyright ©️ 2022 Illustrated Ministry, LLC. All rights reserved. May be reproduced for
 congregational use provided each copy carries this notice. illustratedministry.com