Estes Park United Methodist Church
December 27, 2020
First Sunday After Christmas Day
Order of Worship
Prelude – Joy
Greeting/Welcome
Call to Worship
Leader: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you!
People: We have received in faith that which you, of Lord, have promised!
Leader: Emmanuel: God with us, God in us, revealed to us.
People: Our souls rejoice in the salvation of the Lord.
Leader: The Lord will be our everlasting light and glory.
People: Praise and glory be to you, now and forevermore!
Opening Prayer (Unison)
All: Heavenly God, may our hallelujahs ring loud and true as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Let us rejoice knowing that he is truly Emmanuel, God with us. Our hearts are filled with joy knowing that we see your face in the precious baby Jesus. May our worship and praise be to your glory, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Amen.
Opening Hymn – There’s a Song in the Air
Prayer of Confession
Leader: On this the third day of Christmas, as another year draws to a close, we come together before God and with one another, confessing our sin.
All: Lord God of Christmas, we stand on the threshold of another year. We thank you for giving us another year of life. This has been a difficult year for us all. You have given us many gifts during the last year; and yet we realize that we have often failed to use those gifts or our lives as creatively and constructively as we might have.
Now give us the care to shape the moments of this next year into tender, gentle expressions of concern. May the year be fulfilled with achievements: wrongs corrected, friendships deepened, the disheartened encouraged. Help us to energize your love, even as you became love to us. For we ask these things in his name. Amen.
Silent Prayer
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: As Mary, Joseph and Jesus settled in Nazareth, help us, God, to let you take up residence in each one of our hearts. Forgive us our failures, our weaknesses, our fears and our doubts. In the name of the Christ child, the Prince of Peace, we are now made new and whole.
People: Thanks be to God! Amen!
Offering
Prayer of Blessing
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Lesson – Isaiah 9:1-7
Sermon – Bishop Karen Oliveto
Reception of New Members
Introduction of New Members
Pattie Klein – transfer of membership from St. Matthew’s UMC, Bowie, MD
Agnes Lantz – transfer of member from First UMC, Colorado Springs, CO
Pastor: As members of the Estes Park United Methodist Church, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? I will.
Members of this church, I commend Pattie and Agnes to your love and care. Do all within your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love.
People: We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and the Estes Park United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
Pastor: The God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory in Christ, establish you and strengthen you by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you may live in grace and peace.
Closing Hymn – Joy to the World!
Benediction
Service Participants:
Pastor: Rev. Ann Steiner Lantz
Liturgist: Cay Lacey
Director of Music: Jim Flanigan
Pianist: Nancy Gunter
Videographer: Jim Ecklund