Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

January 8, 2023

Facebook Live: @christpc

Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
First Sunday After Epiphany
January 8, 2023 10:00AM
* Please stand if you are able.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Opening Prayer
Call to Worship
One: We are called to serve in the name of Jesus, God’s beloved Son,
All: God calls us by name because we are beloved.
One: God calls us to be a light to the nations.
We All: Wait for God’s teaching and to learn justice.
One: We are witnesses to God’s goodness and grace who claims and loves us.
All: God’s name be praised! Today and evermore.

Invocation
One: God of Life and all Creation, you formed the heavens and stretched them over us; you
spread out the earth and made it fruitful. From your glory, you came to us in Jesus, your
Son, to touch the earth with healing and hope. We praise you for life and all the gifts you
have given us in Christ and in creation. In the strength of the Spirit, we come to renew
our commitment to you, to serve in the name of Christ Jesus, who is one with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God now and always.
All: May you help us to bear the spirit of your presence through Jesus, the Christ. In
Whose name we pray, Amen.

*Hymn
God of Grace and God of Glory
God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church's story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
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 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
Cure thy children's warring madness;
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom's goal,
lest we miss thy kingdom's goal.
Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore.
Let the gift of thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, in baptism you promise us forgiveness and new life. We confess that we
often prefer our old and familiar ways. Have mercy when we resist the new
opportunities you set before us. You empower us to abandon biased judgement of
others and forgive one another as you forgive us. Have mercy upon us, O God, and
guide us to live with more grace and compassion through Christ our Lord.

Silent Confession

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Assurance of Pardon
One: O God of love, hear us as we confess and pray for your forgiveness. Give to us your
grace and restore to us your love that is forgiveness and grace. Amen.

*Affirmation of Faith 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

I believe that love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or
rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice
in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things. I believe that love never ends. And now faith, hope, and love
abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. AMEN.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Old Testament
Isaiah 42:1,4-9
Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit
upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. 4 He will not grow faint or be crushed until
he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 5 Thus says
God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth
and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk
in it: 6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and
kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, 7 to open the
eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit
in darkness. 8 I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to
idols. 9 See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they
spring forth, I tell you of them.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Isa 63:1,4–9). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Reading from the New Testament

Acts 10:34-38
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in
every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know
the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of
all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that
John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power;

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how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was
with him.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Acts 10:34–38). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Family Choir
Spirit Song
O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love.
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
O let him have the things that hold you, and his Spirit like a dove
will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Refrain
Jesus O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
Jesus O Jesus, come and fill Your lambs
O come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy.
Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.
O give him all your tears and sadness;
give him all your years of pain, and you'll enter into life in Jesus name.
refrain

Reading from the Gospel

Matthew 3:13-17
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would
have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But
Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all
righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came
up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my
Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 3:13–17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

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Special Music
This Amazing Love
Solo – Susan Taylor

Sermon Rev. Bill Cowfer

“Baptized and Anointed as Saints”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Invitation to Giving
Doxology
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.

Prayer of Dedication
Hymn
Baptized in Water

Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit,

cleansed by the blood of Christ our King;
heirs of salvation, trusting the promise,
faithfully now God's praises we sing.
Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit,
dead in the tomb with Christ our King;
one with his rising, freed and forgiven,
thankfully now God's praises we sing.
Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit,
marked with the sign of Christ our King;
born of the Spirit, we are God's children;
joyfully now God's praises we sing.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer
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 GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
Called as partners in Christ's service,
called to ministries of grace,
we respond with deep commitment
fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing,
side by side and friend with friend,
equal partners in our caring
to fulfil God's chosen end.
Christ's example, Christ's inspiring,
Christ's clear call to work and worth,
let us follow, never faltering,
reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer,
all God's people, young and old,
blending human skills together
gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus new patterns for Christ's mission,
in a small or global sense,
help us bear each other's burdens,
breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision,
words of challenge, said with care,
bring new power and strength for action,
make us colleagues, free and fair.
So God grant us for tomorrow
ways to order human life
that surround each person's sorrow
with a calm that conquers strife.
Make us partners in our living,
our compassion to increase,
messengers of faith, thus giving
hope and confidence and peace.

Benediction
Postlude
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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us for coffee fellowship today in Narthex E after worship.
Church Office Hours
The office volunteers are available to assist you in the office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday 9 AM to 11:30 AM or by an appointment.
Wednesday Night Dinner
The menu this week is salad, baked chicken, rice pilaf, mixed vegies, and apple cake. Dinners
are available for delivery or in person at 5:15 PM on Wednesdays. Please call the church
office at 727-584-8695 or June at 727-409-4199 to make a reservation for dining in person or
meal delivery.
Neighborhood Ministries
Please help us keep the pantry full as our community continues to struggle with hunger. Food
items can be dropped off on Sunday mornings prior to service and placed in the wheeled
grocery cart or at the church office. The Neighborhood Meals continue to provide bagged
meals on Tuesdays at 5PM in front of the church.
Ways to support your church in tithes and offerings from home
1. Online at www.largocpc.org
2. Through Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement App on Apple or Android devices
3. Mail a gift directly to the church or drop in office mail slot
4. Use the bill pay option through your bank
5. Scan the QR code to the right using your phone

CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Phone: 727-584-8695 • Fax: 727-585-1079 • 3115 Dryer Ave, Largo FL 33770
www.LargoCPC.org • email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9 AM – 11:30 AM or by appointment.
Face covering coverings remain optional for personal use.

Secretary Sarah Reeves email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com

Director of Music Steven Radeck email: StevenRadeck@gmail.com
Custodian June Sanchez email: JuBug616@aol.com
All songs used by permission CCLI #863215 and streaming CPSL 139714, Expiration date 7/31/2023
Video and audio equipment are used for the livestreaming
8 & recording of the worship service.
By participating in this service, you consent to being recorded for this purpose.