Sunday January 26, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Worship and the Annual Meeting of the Congregation

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Arrival of the Queen of Sheba — George Frederic Handel
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“The leaders of the future are the learners, not the experts, of today.” — Tod Bolsinger, Canoeing the Mountains

Call to Worship
Jesus comes to proclaim good news to us all!
       Jesus releases those who are captive, gives sight to the blind, helps the oppressed, and declares the year of the Lord’s favor!
May we go and do likewise, offering hope to a hurting world.
       And may it all begin with our worship of God today!

Praise and Adoration

*Opening Hymn #757 — Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples — KINGSFOLD               
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, we are far from the people you have called us to be. We are mired in self-centeredness, seeing things only in terms of how they relate to us and our happiness. Turn our hearts, bent as they are towards ourselves, out to the world around us. Make us more concerned with others, with their welfare and happiness, leaving our own concerns to you, O God. Forgive us for our mistakes and make us anew in your image, we pray.  

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

Kyrie Eleison #578 — O Lord, Have Mercy — ORÉ PORIAJÚ VEREKÓ

Assurance of Pardon

*Gloria Patri (#581) — GLORIA PATRI (Greatorex)

*Welcome                
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for their time with Dr. Zieman.

Time for Young Disciples

Announcements

Reception of New Members — Amy Boesen — Co-Moderator of the Membership Committee
Joining today are Laura Duncan, Jordan Garry, Neil & Elissa Hamill, Rae Hale, and Judy Recer

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Anthem — Be Thou My Vision — arr. John Ferguson

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 4: 14-21 — page 835 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “God Comes Near” Jesus in Nazareth — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — 1 Timothy 3:16
“Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: Jesus was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.”  This is the story of our faith, and it fills us with hope.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

*Sanctus — Holy, Holy, God Almighty — DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — They’ll Know We Are Christians — arr. Mark Hayes

*Doxology (#607) — “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Christ, all people here below;
praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise Triune God, whom we adore.  Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
Holy God, we have received from your gracious hand abundance upon abundance, grace upon grace. Accept these offerings, we pray, bless them and multiply them, that through these gifts we might see your kingdom at work among us. We pray all these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation (see packet)
Elections 
Reports

*Hymn of Dedication #318 — In Christ There Is No East or West — ST. PETER

*Charge and Benediction                              

 Postlude — Finale from Sonate No. 3 — Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy