Rev Ed Sunday-Winters – Service
Hal Parker – Musical Director
Priscilla Bonney-Smith – Flowers
Sunday Service
Epiphany
January 5, 2025
10:00am
Scripture Matthew 2:1-12 – Isaiah 43:16-21
Sermon The Road isn’t Straight Ed Sunday-Winters
*Hymn: #161 (Songs of Spirit) O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
*Hymn: #326 (Songs of Spirit) Beneath the Forms of Outward Rite
*Hymn: #160 (Songs of Spirit) Go, Tell It on the Mountain
Prelude: solo piano
Welcome & Announcements
Call to worship:
One: How did you get here?
Left side of the room: I walked, eyes looking up, following the star.
Right side of the room: I ran, lunging for a love that is bigger than me.
Left side of the room: I tumbled and fell, tender step after tender step.
Right side of the room: I ambled like a river, caught up in God’s flow.
All: I crawled, kissing the earth below me.
One: Tell me again. How did you get here?
All: I am here by God’s grace and love’s pull.
One: Welcome home.
This is God’s house.
There is room for you here.
All: Let us worship our gracious God.
Opening Prayer
*Gloria Patri #36
Glory be to the Creator, and to the Christ and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the
beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Hymn: #161 (Songs of Spirit) O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of new beginnings,
We admit that we often follow the well-worn path,
simply because others have been there before.
Sometimes this is holy and humble,
but there are days when a new path needs to be tread.
On those new-beginning days, O God,
give us the courage to follow your star.
Give us the courage to go home by another way.
Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction
for the sake of justice, love, and neighbor.
For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow.
Amen.
Assurance of pardon
Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12 & Isaiah 43:16-21
Anthem: “Invitation to the Table” by Mary Kay Beall
Sermon: “The Road isn’t Straight” by Ed Sunday-Winters
A Time of Silence
Offertory:
*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.
*Unison Prayer of Dedication
Holy God, may our giving today be a way of leaving your fingerprints on the world,
a way you being Immanuel with our neighbors in need, near and far. Amen
Communion, See Insert
* Hymn: #326 (Songs of Spirit) Beneath the Forms of Outward Rite
Prayers of the People and 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.
*Hymn: #160 (Songs of Spirit) Go, Tell It on the Mountain
*Benediction
*Musical Benediction
Songs of Spirit: #349 Go in Peace
Go in peace and the peace of God
be with you this day.
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you al-ways.
Cel-e-brate and share the joy! Cel-e-brate new life!
Go in peace and the peace of God be with you always.
Postlude: "I Saw Three Ships" solo organ