Join Us For Worship Sunday January 8th at 11 am

(Image: “Baptism of Jesus” Liz Valente, Brazil)

©Order of Worship for Sunday January 08, 2023

Epiphany

Baptism of the Lord

For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)

The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am.
Text for hymns are found below each hymn.  Click on the hymn highlighted text for music if shown.

Prelude: “We Three Kings”, Words and Music by J. Hopkins, Jr., 1857………………………………………Greg D.
 
Coming of the Light:…………………………………
 
Greetings:………………………………………Pastor Steven

Opening Prayer: …“The Wesley Covenant Prayer”…Chris M.
 
“I am no longer my own, but thine.  Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.  Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.  I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine.  So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”

Opening Hymns:“There’s a Song in the Air”  #249 UMH
Words: Josiah G. Holland, 1874 Music: Karl P. Harrington, 1904
 
1. There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
 
2. There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth,
For the virgin’s sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! The star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
 
3. In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
and that song from afar has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing
in the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!
 
4. We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song that
comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! We shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
and we greet in his cradle our Savior and King!
 
“Down to the River to Pray” #3164 W&S
Words and Music: Southern USA folk song
Transcription ©2011 Jackson Henry
 
1.As I went down to the river to pray,
studyin’ about that good ole way
and who shall wear the starry crown,
good Lord, show me the way.
 
O ∗sisters, let’s go down, let’s go down,
come on down. Come on, sisters,
Let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
 
∗2.brothers
 3.fathers
 4.mothers
 5.sinners
 
Psalter: Psalm 29 #761 UMH ……………….…..Chris M.
 
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.
The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, upon many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

The Lord makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;

the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forest bare;

and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.

May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
 
Announcements:…………………………………………..Lorri B.
 
Giving of our tithes and offerings …………..Lorri B.
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
 
Offertory:……“Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem”……………Choir
Words and Music: Adger M. Pace & R. Rischer Boyce
© 1940 James D. Vaughan Music Publisher
 
Offertory Response:…Offertory Response:  “The Doxology” #94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623;
Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
 
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God,
all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the
source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts!  Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Prayer After Receiving:…………………………Pastor Steven
 
Prayers of the People:…………………………..Pastor Steven
 
Hymn of Preparation: “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart” #500 UMH
Words: George Croly, 187 Music: Frederick C. Atkinson, 1870
 
1. Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
and make me love thee as I ought to love.
 
5. Teach me to love thee as thine angels love,
one holy passion filling all my frame;
the kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
my heart an altar, and thy love the flame.
 
Gospel Lesson:….Matthew 3:13-17……………Chris M.
 
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
 
And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
 
Sermon:……………………………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Anthem:  “Do You Hear What I Hear?”,Words and Music by R. Shayne, © 1962 by Jewel Music Publishing Co. Inc.…..Cullen W. Diane C.
 
Closing Hymn: “Oh, I Know the Lord’s Laid His
Hands on Me” #2139 TFWS
Words: African American  spiritual
Music: African American spiritual
 
Refrain
Oh, I know the Lord, I know the Lord,
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Oh, I know the Lord, I know the Lord,
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
 
1.Did ever you see the like before?
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
King Jesus preaching to the poor!
I know the Lord’s laid his hand on me.
Refrain
 
2.Oh, wasn’t that a happy day
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
when Jesus washed my sins away!
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Refrain
 
3.Some seek the Lord and don’t seek him right;
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
they fool all day and pray at night,
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Refrain
 
4.My Lord’s done just what he said;
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me;
he’s healed the sick and raised the dead;
I know the Lord’s laid his hands on me.
Refrain
 
Dismissal with blessing:……………………Pastor Steven
 
Postlude: “Water, River, Spirit, Grace”, Music by O. L. Harrison, © 1995, Chalice Press…………………………………….………Greg D.

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