Christ’s Reformed Church – United Church of Christ

~ growing people of faith who live in Jesus, love one another and bear abundant fruit ~

“You and Your Church Family” emblem has grown out of the experience of the people of Christ’s
Church. This emblem, designed by Christ’s Church members, identifies persons at home, at work, and
at worship, drawn together by the eternal presence of God, symbolized by the background circle. As a
church family, we are actively “Serving, Worshiping, and Sharing.”

January 7, 2024
Epiphany

ANNOUNCEMENTS

WELCOME

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather in the Light
that was before, is now, and ever will be.
We seek the Light’s ancient wisdom.

We gather in the Light

that is God’s continuing gift.
We live into the Light’s new wisdom.

We gather in the Light

that is our own, emerging anew each day.
We seek to share this wisdom,
nurtured in the Light from Bethlehem’s cradle.

INVOCATION
God of Light and Love,
in this very moment the star still beckons.
Gather us and let the star call us to new ways
of healing and hope,
restoration and renewal,
as we discover again Christ’s call to discipleship. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE I Sing the Almighty Power of God (See Attached)

WORDS OF CONFESSION
Sometimes we feel lost and even consumed by darkness.
We wonder if we are loveable.
Our actions dim the value and worth of others, and ourselves.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Sometimes we feel lost in shadows of unclear choices.

Which way will lead to justice? To transformation? To peace?
We are afraid to risk a step out, unsure of the path.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
In Christ, God has given us a new Light,
kindling unconditional love for us,
and showing us a well-lit path
to wholeness and forgiveness;
to courage and clarity.
Thanks be to God.

PRAYER RESPONSE Sanctuary (See Below or Attached)

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy tried and true
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living Sanctuary for You

COMMISSIONING OF 2022 CONSISTORY

Scriptural and Ecclesiastical Authority

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit give them.
There are different ways of serving but the same God is served.

There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God give ability to each of us for our
particular service.
The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.

Christ is like a single body, which has many parts.

It is still one body even though it is made up of different parts.
Presentation of Consistory
Consistory Covenant

Congregational Covenant
Let us affirm our intention to live in covenant with them,
And witness to the commitment they now make:

We gather in celebration of the joy that is ours, to be partners with you in the service of Christ’s
church. We promise to honor your leadership and assist you in every way, so that together we may
be a faithful church that makes the love of God real in this congregation, and in Hagerstown.

Commissioning Prayer
Eternal God, you have called these people to serve this household of faith. Send your Holy Spirit
on them that they may serve with joy and faithfulness. Help them to be diligent in their duties
and steadfast in their leadership, yet also humble, gentle, and forgiving. Help them to put aside
their own perspectives, that they may better reflect Your will and Your love. We are united in
ministry in this congregation, community, and the world. Amen

In the name of Jesus Christ and on behalf of the people of Christ’s Reformed Church of the United
Church of Christ, I rejoice to announce that you are now installed as the new lay leadership of this body
of Christ. In accordance with the faith and order of this church, we extend to you the hand of Christian
love, fellowship, and peace.

Singing Blessed be the tie that binds (See attached)

OLDER TESTAMENT Isaiah 60 1-6

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
2 For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will arise upon

you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness
of your dawn. 4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your
sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms. 5 Then you
shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice,[a]
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise
of the LORD.

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 2: 1-15

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi[a] from the east came to
Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star
in the east[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened,
and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so
it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had
appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when
you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had
heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the
east,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had
stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary
his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they
offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return
to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take
the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to
search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph[h] got up, took the child and his mother by night,
and went to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been
spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

The word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God

SERMON Rev. Mary Jane Norville

*HYMN OF RESPONSE Angels From the Realms of Glory (See Attached)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and Psalm 29

HOLY COMMUNION

Invitation
Jesus said: I am the bread of life. You who come to me shall not hunger; you who believe in me shall
never thirst.
In the company with all who hunger for spiritual food, we come to this table to know the risen
Christ in the sharing of this life-giving bread.

Communion Prayer
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to God.
Let us give thanks to God Most High.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Eternal God, who has created the heavens and the earth, giving breath to every living thing, we thank
you for all the gifts of creation and for the gift of life itself. We thank you for making us in your own
image, for forgiving us when we act as though you have no claim on us, and for keeping us in your
steadfast care.
 We rejoice in Jesus Christ, the only one eternally begotten by you, who was born of your servant Mary
and shared the joys and sorrows of life as we know it.

We remember Christ’s death, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, and, in the beloved community of
your church, we await Christ’s return at the end of history.

We take courage from the abiding presence of your Holy Spirit in our midst.
We offer you our praise for women and men of faith in every age who stand as witnesses to your love
and justice. With all the prophets, martyrs, and saints, and all the company of heaven, we glorify you:

Singing: Holy, Holy, Holy TNCH 795

We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion, Jesus took bread, gave you thanks, broke the
bread, and gave it to the disciples, saying: “This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in
remembrance of me.”

In the same way, Jesus also took the cup, after supper, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my
blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
By eating this bread and drinking this cup, we proclaim Christ’s death, celebrate Christ’s resurrection,
and await Christ’s coming again.
Amen. Come, Christ Jesus!

Gracious God, we ask you to bless this bread and cup and all of us with the outpouring of your Holy
Spirit. Through this meal, make us the body of Christ, the church, your servant people, that we may be
salt, and light, and leaven for the furtherance of your will in all the world.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Sharing the Elements

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of
Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in
courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Singing The Lord’s Prayer (See Attached)

OFFERING

*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below
Praise God for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication for Offering

Loving God,
may these gifts reveal to us and to others
the Light that is Jesus.
And may this Light lead us on
into new and challenging ways of living and serving

*HYMN OF SENDING Guide Me Now O Great Jehovah (See Attached)

*BENEDICTION
Now go surrounded by Christ’s light,
and the blessing of God
Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit –
be with you now,
all those you pray for,
and all those you remember. Amen.

*BENEDICTION SONG Go Tell It On The Mountain (See Attached)

POSTLUDE

*Please stand if you would like.