Shining Hope by Lauren Wright Pittman

First Congregational Church of

Evanston
United Church of Christ
An Open and Affirming Church
Founded 1869
Sunday, January 8th 2023 | 10 o’clock in the morning
First Sunday after Epiphany
 ORDER OF WORSHIP
Responses in italics may be spoken out loud.
Please stand as you are able at places marked by an asterisk (*).

Prelude Meditation on “Lead, Kindly Light” Murray C. Bradshaw

Introit Gloria Franz Joseph Haydn

arr. Patrick M. Liebergen

Words of Welcome Doug Irwin

*Call to Worship
Light shines through the darkness of the world! Can you see it? Can you feel it?
We open our eyes and perceive the light of Christ alive in this place and
time.
There’s a star beckoning us to follow.
We will see where it leads us today in worship.
Like the magi before us, let us worship Jesus, the 151-we
King ofthree
kings.
kings-327.mus, Page 1
We sing our praise and give thanks to God for the blessing of this time.
Amen. JESUS CHRIST: BIRTH

*Opening Hymn151WeWe Three

Three Kings
Kings of Orient of
AreOrient
#151 Are
# j j
& 68 œœ œœ œœ œj # œœ œœ œœ œ . œœ œœ œœ œj # œœ œœ œœ œ .
J J
1 We three kings of O - ri - ent are; bear - ing gifts we tra -verse a - far,
2 Born a King on Beth-le - hem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him a - gain,
3 Frank - in - cense to of - fer have I; in - cense owns a de - i - ty nigh;
4 Myrrh is mine; its bit - ter per - fume breathes a life of gath-er - ing gloom;

? # 68 œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ ..
5 Glo - rious now be - hold him a - rise, King and God and Sac - ri - fice:

J J J J
# j œ œj œ œj œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ # œœj ˙ .
& œœ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
field and foun-tain, moor and moun - tain, fol - low - ing yon - der star.
King for - ev - er, ceas - ing nev - er o - ver us all to reign.
prayer and prais- ing glad - ly rais - ing, wor - ship - ing God Most High.
sor - rowing, sigh - ing, bleed - ing, dy - ing, sealed in the stone - cold tomb.

œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œ œ ˙ .
Al - le - lu - ia! Al - le - lu - ia! sounds through the earth and skies.

? # œœ œœ œ œ œ œJ œ
J J œJ ˙ .

# j j
& œ˙ .. œ . œœ œœ œœ œj œœ œœj œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œj œœ œœj œœ ..
Refrain

œ œ
 œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œ ˙ .
? # œœ œœ
J
œ œ
J J œJ ˙ .

# j j
& œ˙ .. œ . œœ œœ œœ œj œœ œj œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œj œœ œj œœ ..
Refrain

œ œ œ œ

. œ . œœ œœ œœ œj œ œ œœ .. œœ œœ œœ œj œ œ œœ ..
O star of won - der, star of night, star with roy - al beau - ty bright,

œ
? # ˙. J J œ œJ œ . J J œ œJ œ .

# j j œ j j j
œ
& œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œ œ j œœ œj œ .
œœ œ œ.
œ œ œ œ œ œ
? # œœ œœ œ œJ œ œJ œ œJ œœ œœJ œœ œj œœ œœ œœ ..
west - ward lead - ing, still pro - ceed - ing, guide us to thy per - fect light!

J J J œ.
*Prayer of Confession
Although Christians had begun by the 2nd century to speak of these visitors from eastern countries
(Matthew 2:1–12) as “kings,” perhaps because of passages like Psalm 72:10 and Isaiah 60:3, it is more
Lord of _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
living
accuratelight,
to think ofwe
them hear
as magi orthe story
astrologers, of the
the scholars Magi
of their day. and tie it together with our

warm Christmas celebration.

TEXT and MUSIC: John It feels comfortable to us. Break
Henry Hopkins Jr., 1857, alt. KINGS OFthose
ORIENT bonds of
8.8.8.6 with refrain
comfort and help us to realize the risk of witness and discipleship for those
who follow your light. Shine brightly in us and through us. Forgive the ways
we lose sight of your kin-dom. Give us vision of what you would have us be
and do in the Light of Your Love. AMEN.

*Words of Grace and Mercy

From generation to generation, God’s love overcomes human sinfulness. God is
committed to fresh starts and new creations. This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*Prayer Response
(Hymn 327, stanza 3)
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; eternal truth attends thy word:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

First Scripture Matthew 2:1-12 Doug Irwin

Children’s Message Sarah Petersen

*Greeting of Peace

Announcements

Anthem What Is This Lovely Fragrance? arr. Healey Willan

Hannah Little, soloist

What is this lovely fragrance wafting like to the scents of flowers in spring!
Shepherd, O tell us, whence such beauty, hear you not heavenly caroling? What
is this lovely fragrance wafting like to the scents of flowers in spring. What is
this light so fair, so tender breaking upon our wondering eyes? Never the
morning star so radiant followed his course o'er eastern skies. What is this light
so fair, so tender, breaking upon our wondering eyes? Shepherds, O haste with
eager footsteps seek the Savior, born today. Low at His feet we lay our treasure,
heart's adoration, love for aye. Shepherds, O haste with eager footsteps seek the
Savior, born today.
827-o morning star-328.mus, Page 1
Sermon Scripture Isaiah 60:1-5

Sermon “Where Is the Wonder?”

LIVING AND DYING IN CHRIST Rev. Jason W. Coulter
827 OOMorning
Morning Star,Star, How Fair and
#827 Bright
##
*Hymn How Fair and Bright

& œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œœ œ œœ œ œ
œ œ
1 O Morn - ing Star, how fair and bright! You shine with
2 Lord, when you look on us in love, at once there

œ œœ œ
3 What joy to know, when life is past, the Lord we

œ
? # # œœ œœ œ œ œœ # œ œœ œ œœ # œœ œ œ œœ

## œ œ œ œœ # œœ œ œ œ œ ˙
& œ œ œœ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙
God’s own truth and light, a - glow with grace and mer - cy!
falls from God a - bove a ray of pur - est plea - sure.

œ œ œ œ
œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ . œj˙˙
love is first and last, the end and the be - gin - ning!

? # # œœ # œœ œœ œœ œ œœ
œ ˙

##
& œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ
œœ œ œ œ œ
 œ œ œ œ œ j
? # # œœ # œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ . œ ˙˙
˙

##
& œ œ œ œœ œ
œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ
œ
œœ œ œ œœ œ
Of Ja - cob’s line, King Da - vid’s son, our Lord and Sav - ior,
Your word and Spir - it, flesh and blood re - fresh our souls with

œ œ œœ œœ œœ # œœ œœ
He will one day, O glo - rious grace, trans - port us to that

? # # œœ œœ œ œ œœ # œ œœ œ œœ # œœ œ
œ star-328.mus,
œ morning
827-o Page 2

LIVING AND DYING IN CHRIST

#
& # œœ # œœ œœ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ ˙˙ ˙˙
you have won our hearts to serve you on - ly! Low - ly,
heaven - ly food. You are our dear - est trea - sure! Let your

œ œ œ œ
hap - py place be - yond all tears and sin - ning! A - men!

? # # œœ œ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ . œj˙˙ ˙ ˙˙
This “Queen of Chorales” (see no. 349 for the “King”) is often associated with Epiphany because of the star

˙ ˙
imagery, but the text is really addressed to Christ as the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16), who guides and
sustains us in this life and is our hope for the life to come.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Philipp Nicolai, 1597; trans. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978 WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET
MUSIC: Philipp Nicolai, 1599; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1740 Irregular 

##
Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (admin. Augsburg Fortress)

& ˙˙ ˙˙ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœ # œœ œœ œœ œ
6/7/13 ho - ly! Great and glo - rious, all vic - to - rious, rich in
mer - cy warm and cheer us! O draw near us! For you

œ
? # # ˙ ˙˙ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œ œœ œ œ œ
A - men! Come, Lord Je - sus! Crown of glad - ness! We are

˙ œ

## œ œ œ
& ˙œ œ ˙˙ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ ˙œ œ ˙
˙
bless - ing! Rule and might o’er all pos - sess - ing!
teach us God’s own love through you has reached us.

œ œ œœ
yearn - ing for the day of your re - turn - ing.

œœ
? # # œ œ œ œ ˙˙ œœ # œ # œ œ œ œœ˙
œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ ˙˙
Invitation to Offering There’s a Star in the East arr. Karl Osterland

*Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, Triune whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
God, for the blessings of food and shelter, for the presence of family and
friends, for the gift of church and community, we give you our thanks. We
bless these offerings to your service in the name of the one who served all of
humanity, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Service of Holy Communion

At First Congregational Church of Evanston, all people, and we mean, ALL PEOPLE, are
welcome at Christ’s table. At the pastor’s call, you are invited to come forward to receive the
elements of the Lord’s Supper. In the communion plate, you will find bread and gluten-free
wafers. In the trays, you will find small glasses of wine in the outer ring, and grape juice in the
inner rings. We also have small communion kits for those who prefer them. Regardless of how
you receive this meal, know that God blesses your presence at Christ’s table!

Invitation …. Jesus Christ, who has sat at our tables, now invites us to be guests at
his.

Congregational Prayer
O God, how wonderful is the work of your hands! Through your son, Jesus,
you came to us and entered this world, that we might more fully know you and
your love. Jesus healed the sick, though he himself would suffer; he offered
life to sinners, though death would hunt him down. But with a love stronger
than death, he rose on Easter morning to give the gift of life to all who call on
his holy name. Bless his holy name and bless these gifts which we are about
to receive.

Words of Institution …This is my body, broken for you…This is my blood, shed for
you…

Congregational Response
Holy, holy, holy -- God of love and majesty
The whole universe speaks of your glory -- O God Most High.
Pastoral Prayer of Thanksgiving

Call to the Supper The gifts of God for the people of God. Come for all things are
ready.

Congregational Prayer of Thanksgiving

Gracious God, in deep gratitude for this meal, for this moment, and for your
Son Jesus, we give thanks to you. Take us out to live as changed people,
because we have shared the living bread, drank from the cup of blessing, and
can no longer remain the same. Make us instruments of your love so that we
may we live our lives to your glory, both as inhabitants of earth and citizens of
the commonwealth of heaven. Amen.

Prayers of the People - Pastoral Prayer - Silent Prayer

Prayer of Our Savior

Our Creator, 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the
744-arise kingdom,
745-now andPage
746-send.mus, the1power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSION

*Closing Hymn 744 Arise,Arise, YourIsLight

Your Light Come!Is Come!
#744
b
& b 44 œ œ œ œ œœ ˙˙ .. œœ œœ œ œœ œœ n œœ ˙ .
1 A - rise, your light is come! The Spir - it’s call o - bey;
2 A - rise, your light is come! Fling wide the pris - on door;
3 A - rise, your light is come! All you in sor - row born,

? b b 44 œ œ œ ˙. œ œœ œ œ œ œ ˙˙ ..
4 A - rise, your light is come! The moun - tains burst in song!

œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ
b œ
& b œœ œœ œœ œ œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œœ œœ œœ ˙ .
˙.
show forth the glo - ry of your God, which shines on you to - day.
pro - claim the cap - tives’ lib - er - ty, good ti - dings to the poor.
bind up the bro - ken - heart - ed ones and com - fort those who mourn.

œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œœ œœ ˙ .
Rise up like ea - gles on the wing; God’s power will make us strong.

? b b œœ œ œ œœ œœ œ n œ œ œ œ ˙.
Echoing imagery from Isaiah 61:1–2 and other passages, this text was created as an inclusive-language
alternative to an older hymn using this late 19th-century tune. Because it is a song of encouragement rather
than a song of praise, it is not directed to God but to people.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TEXT: Ruth Duck, 1974 FESTAL SONG
MUSIC: William H. Walter, 1894 SM
Text © 1992 GIA Publications, Inc. (this tune in a lower key, 815)
*Benediction and Blessing

Choral Response God Be With You Dale Wood

Postlude In dir ist Freude (In Thee is Gladness) J.S. Bach

Sunday Morning Service Roles

Deacons: Lay Reader: iPad/Tech Support:
- Laima Day - Doug Irwin - Julie Captain
- Doug Smith
- Bob Krause
Zoom/Livestream Fellowship: Sunday School
Support: - Board of - Sarah Petersen
- Sarah Pressly Deacons - Dona Nunn
Want to volunteer and get more involved in Sunday services? See the sign-up sheet in
the back of the sanctuary or contact Mahdia at mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org

Worship Credits and Sources:

Cover art used with permission of the artist, Lauren Wright Pittman "After a long journey, the star hovers, suspended over the wise men’s
destination. Shining Hope images the joy of this moment and reminds us to revel in wonder of the journey itself." visit http://www.lewpstudio.com

Call to Worship and prayers from Abingdon Worship Annual

Music Permissions Meditation on "Lead, Kindly Light." Music: John Bacchus Dykes. Setting: Murray C. Bradshaw. © 2006, Wayne Leupold
Editions, Inc. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. Joyfully Sing to God Forever
(Gloria). Music: Franz Joseph Haydn. Words: Patrick M. Liebergen (ASCAP). Setting: Patrick M. Liebergen (ASCAP). © 2014, Candelaworks
Music (ASCAP), a division of Jubilate Music Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-
735926. All rights reserved. We Three Kings of Orient Are. Words and Music: John Henry Hopkins Jr., 1857, alt. Public Domain. From All That
Dwell Below the Skies. Music: Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1623, alt.; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906; Words: Stanzas 1, 3, Issac Watts, 1719.
Public Domain. What Is This Lovely Fragrance? Music: Old French Carol. Setting: Healey Willan. © 1941, Oxford University Press. All rights
reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright. Music: Philipp
Nicolai, 1599; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1740; Words: Philipp Nicolai, 1597; trans. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978. © 1978, Lutheran Book of
Worship (admin. Augsburg Fortress). All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights
reserved. Rise Up, Shepherd: There's a Star in the East. Music: African American Spiritual. Setting: Karl Osterland. © 1998, Augsburg Fortress. All
rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. Music: Genevan Psalter, 1551; Words: Thomas Ken, 1695, 1709. Public Domain. Arise, Your Light Is
Come! Music: William H. Walter, 1894; Words: Ruth Duck, 1974. © 1992, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted and Podcast with
permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All rights reserved. God Be With You. Music: American Folk Hymn; Words: Jeremiah Eames Rankin,
alt.; Dale Wood; Setting: Dale Wood. © 1973, The Sacred Music Press. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-
735926. All rights reserved. In dir ist Freude. Music: Johann Sebastian Bach. Public Domain.
Setting: Charles Callahan. © 1996, Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Podcast with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-735926. All
rights reserved.
Welcome to First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

We are glad you chose to be with us on this Sunday morning!

And we want you to know that no matter who you are, or where
you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Childcare is provided in the downstairs nursery for infants and

children to age 5. The space at the back of the Sanctuary
available for our families. Children K-6 are invited to Sunday School in the Church
House after the Children’s Message.

Please sign the Attendance Pads in the pews. We invite our visitors to include your
name, address and email so that we might acknowledge your visit with a card. All are
welcome to join us after services in the narthex or outside for refreshments and
conversation.

Babies and Toddlers: Little ones enrich our community and add vibrancy
to our congregation. Please don't fret about coos or cries during the
service. All ages are welcome here. Visit our rocking chair area to find
books & coloring pages for use during the service, or drop off infants to 3
year-olds with our Nursery Supervisor.

Children: Young people are invited to come forward for the Children's Message during
worship. Afterwards, children in grades K-6th are welcome to walk with our teacher
team to our Sunday School classroom at the Church House, 1/2 block down Hinman
Ave. At the end of the service, leaders bring children back to the sanctuary to join their
families for fellowship time. Adult visitors are welcome to accompany their children to
Sunday School. Connect with Sarah Petersen if you have any questions.

Use this QR Code to check out events and ongoing programming at

FCCE.
 WELCOME to First Congregational Church of Evanston

Mission Statement
We express God’s love in action, compassion, and justice.

Open and Affirming Statement

As an inclusive congregation, we welcome all faith experiences and family types; we
are an open and affirming community of faith who welcome and celebrate differences
of age, ability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and national
origin.

Immigrant Welcoming Statement

We commit to take actions consistent with the values and resources of our community
to oppose xenophobia and to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation and
the hardships such deportation will cause them and their families.

First Congregational Church of Evanston, UCC

Sanctuary: 1445 Hinman Avenue (at Grove Street)
Mailing address: 1417 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847-864-8332 | Email: info@firstchurchevanston.org
Website: www.firstchurchevanston.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/firstcongregationalchurchofevanston/
Instagram: @fcce.ucc

Church Staff
Rev. Jason W. Coulter, Senior Minister jason@firstchurchevanston.org | ext.21
Matthew Hogan, Music Director matthew@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 23
Sarah Petersen, Director of Learning & Outreach
spetersen@firstchurchevanston.org |ext. 24
Mahdia Lynn, Church Administrator mahdia@firstchurchevanston.org | ext. 22
Kelly Tran, Nursery Supervisor
Chris Krei and Nick Tucker, Members at Large
Julie Captain and Sarah Pressly, Co-Moderators

Chancel Choir Quartet

Christina Adams, soprano | Hannah Little, alto
Michael Brauer, tenor | Joseph Roberts, bass

To make a donation to First Congregational Church you may do so during

the offering, or you may make an electronic donation through the church
website by using this QR Code. Thank you for your generosity!