Worship Celebration
Worship Celebration
United Church of Hyde Park
January 13, 2019
Guiding Vision
“We are a diverse, Christ-centered people, learning together
and reaching out to serve the community in faith, hope, and love.”
Prelude “Come, Now is the Time to Worship”
Welcome
*Call to Worship
One: Like the soft whisper of a little child singing
to herself before anyone else in the house is awake,
All: ever so gently, God’s voice cradles us
with songs of wonder and awe.
One: With the persistence of teenagers and young adults, heady with the newfound freedom of questioning everything,
All: God’s voice rumbles like a river through our lives, sweeping away all the boundaries between us.
One: Like the grandpa who passes on the secret to his bread, like the nana who teaches her grandkids how to drive,
All: God’s voice is always reminding us that we are
precious, esteemed, beloved.
*Opening Hymn “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” VS: 1,3 & 6 # 138
Call to Reconciliation
One: Broken? God promises to make us whole. Lost? God promises to come and find us, gather us up, and bring us home. Confused about tomorrow? God promises our future is grounded in love. Let us confess that, though we have heard the promises over and over, we have trouble believing them, as we pray together saying,
Unison Prayer of Forgiveness
We know what it is like to be singed by the flames of our lives, Holy God. We look for ourselves in all the wrong places – success, power, adulation. We carve our names in the granite walls of work, hoping we will be remembered when we are gone. We have gone through the waters of baptism, but live as if they have not changed us.
We need to hear your sure word, ‘do not fear,’ Shaper of our lives. Our failures do not cause you to quit loving us, for you continue to claim us, gathering us up in your compassionate arms. In our baptism, we discover not the end, but the first step of our journey with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
One: God’s words of comfort and restoration are more powerful than any foolishness, any mistakes, any sins we commit. This is good news: we are God’s people!
All: Thanks be to God! By water and word, by the Spirit of God’s redeeming grace, we are marked and sealed as God’s beloved children. Amen.
*Passing the Peace
We invite the congregation to openly greet one another. Show a smile, shake a hand, give a hug. Let’s share God’s love with one another. During the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” please find your way back to your seat as we continue fellowship.
*Song of Response sung while on the way back to our seats
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #557 (1st verse)
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Moment as Children
Anthem “If Ye Love Me” Tallis
Prayer of Illumination
One: Almighty God, in you are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Open our eyes that we may see the wonders of your Word; and give us grace that we may clearly understand and freely choose the way of your wisdom; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
1st Scripture Reading Psalm 29, pew Bible p. 438
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
2nd Scripture Reading Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22, pew Bible p. 438
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Taking the Plunge” Rev. Charlene Hill
We Respond to God’s Call
*Hymn of Response “When Jesus Came to Jordan” # 252
Invitation to the Offering
You can now give to UCHP electronically 2 ways!
-Text 773-366-8247 the amount you would like to give and follow next steps.
-Visit the website http://uchpchicago.com and click on “Giving”
Offertory “Wade in the Water”
*Doxology
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” # 95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Congregants are invited to share requests for prayer.
After each the pastor will offer:
Pastor: Come Holy Spirit—
And the people respond:
People: Hear our prayer!
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (read together)
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 sins,
as we forgive those who sin 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.
*Closing Hymn “May You Run and Not be Weary” (insert)
*Benediction
Postlude
In Worship Today
Pastor: Rev. Charlene Hill
Director of Music – Organist: Joe Wilkins
Liturgist: Deborah Major
1st Scripture Reading, Psalm 29 (pew Bible p. 438)
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
worship the LORD in the splendor of his[a] holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion[b] like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks[c]
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
2nd Scripture Reading, Luke 3: 15-17, 21-22 (pew Bible p. 834)
15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”