A New Beginning

Today’s guest speaker is Rev. Don Herschell.
 
All of the information normally found in our bulletin is below the video. Simply click on "Read More" to load the rest of the bulletin. You can use this to follow the service, as well as to pray our unison prayers. All joys and concerns that we know, as well as our continuing prayer list is within the Joys and Concerns. Announcements can be found at the bottom of this service.

Hymn: Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
 
Call to Worship
​​On that first day, when time began You gave birth to creation; light danced through the darkness; the waters of hope flowed free and clear. On that first day at the Jordan, when redemption began You spoke of life for all your children, as Your Child stepped into the waters of forgiveness, dancing in hope with his cousin, John. On this first day of the week, when we begin anew You call us to faithfulness, as we open our hearts to You, Your voice claiming us as Your own.

Prayer of Confession
We come as your baptized believers, O God, confessing our sins. You send forth Your Spirit, yet we do not respond to Your presence. You set us apart as water is poured over us, yet our behavior in faith does not match our unique status. Christ calls us to follow; yet we disobey His commandment. Evidence of Your goodness surrounds us, yet we ignore Your gracious ways. Have mercy upon us, and in Your love uphold us. Above all, teach us the meaning of repentance. Amen.

Time of Personal Reflection
 
Assurance of Pardon
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Jesus Christ, there is new life.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
 
Hymn: Come, Holy Spirit
 
Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
      who was conceived by the Holy Ghost
      and born of the virgin Mary.
      Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
      was crucified, dead and buried.
      On the third day he arose from the dead.
      He ascended into heaven
      and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
      From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the holy catholic church,
      the communion of saints,
      the forgiveness of sins,
      the resurrection of the body,
      and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
Children's Sermon
 
Prayer of Illumination
 
Scripture Lesson
​Old Testament lesson: Genesis 1:1-5
Gospel lesson: Mark 1:1-11

Genesis 1:1-5

​The Beginning

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Mark 1:1-11

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”--
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”

4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Sermon: A New Beginning
 
Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King
 
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give God thanks and praise
 
Church Joys and Concerns
If you have a joy or concern to share that is not listed below, and you feel comfortable doing so, you may share it in the comments.
 
Birthdays
Jan 14 Christine Welling, Mary Ann. Durila, Barb O’Hara, Lawson Phillips

Anniversaries
Jan 14 Kevin and Cathy Moore

Session and Trustees will meet tomorrow evening at 7:00 PM.
Annual Congregational Meeting will be immediately after the Worship Service on January 31, 2021.

​This week we added prayers for Gavin and Tracy Baker (Frank Baker’s Son) in England as they both have COVID - 19. David Riggs had surgery on Thursday to remove a tumor from his brain. Prayers have gone out for them all.

Continued prayers for Roma Grose, Ruth Hampe, Susan Schively, Jimmy Davis, Judy Donaldson, Margo Johnson, Melissa Pedigo, Aaron Blake, Lisa Phillips, Mickey Gubitti, Chip Rogers, Dixie Avoila, Dennis McWreath, Chuck Warlow, Chuck Dicks, Randy Moore, Margaret Knabenshue, Janet Schively, Mary Ann Durila, Patty Nagey, Dr. Craig Fox, Karen Eisiminger, Kelley Gump, Mary Ann McFeeley, Ed Horne, Donna West, June and Keith McGill, Dianna Donaldson, Chuck Montecello, April Hincy, Glenn Miles, Dave Cummings, Ken Jackson, Doug Ward, Mark Knabenshue, Rick McFeeley, Deron Wood, Susan Alberti, Bryan Dunn, Dana Wilson, Marge McWreath, Marlene Huffman, Debbie Kelley, and Tim Knabenshue.

Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer
 
Hymn: This is My Father's World
 
Charge and Benediction

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We're so glad that you decided to join us today! If you need anything during this time, please contact a session member, or send an email to the church. If you have prayer requests or announcements, please contact Linda Miller. If you need food from our food pantry, please contact Becky Phillips.