(Image: Adobe Stock# 794833912)

©Order of Worship for Sunday January 26, 2025

Third Sunday after Epiphany





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

Prelude            Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me.          Greg
Words by A. Toplaydy, Music by T. Hastings, Public Domain
 
Coming of the Light
 
Greetings:                                               Pastor Steven
 
Announcements:                                             Lorri B.
 
Call to Worship:                                               Lorri B.
 
Children of God, we gather to worship, to sing and proclaim with joy the good works God is doing in our midst.
We gather to worship, as is our custom.
 
We also gather today to pray for our families, our community, and our world. To name the challenges that press in around us, to lament the suffering in our world, to declare our trust in God in the midst of hardship.
We gather to worship, as is our custom.
 
We, like those in Nazareth, gather to hear and receive the Word of God proclaimed among us. To encounter the life-giving message of God’s love redeems us to be bearers of love and freedom in this world.
We gather to worship, as is our custom.
 
Children of God, listen. Pay attention. Ready your hearts. God is here. Jesus has come among us. The Spirit brings the Word to life in our midst. Are you ready?
We gather to worship, as is our custom. Thanks be to God! Amen.
 
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, August 2024.
 
Opening Prayer:                                              Lorri B.
 
We thank you, O God, for calling us into your church to be your people. “We have gathered, God of grace and wisdom, because we have heard your call. You have reached out to us in Jesus Christ; you have touched us with your Spirit, and we have turned toward you, seeking to love as we have been loved. We call upon your holy name: empower us to worship and serve you, walking gently on this earth, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Opening Hymns:      “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”                                       UMH #57
 
1       O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
         the glories of my God and King,
         the triumphs of his grace!
 
2       My gracious Master and my God,
         assist me to proclaim,
         to spread thro’ all the earth abroad
         the honors of your name.

3       Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
         that bids our sorrows cease,
         ’tis music in the sinner’s ears,
         ’tis life and health and peace.
 
 
4       He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
         he sets the prisoner free;
         his blood can make the foulest clean;
         his blood availed for me.
 
5       To God all glory, praise, and love
         be now and ever given
         by saints below and saints above,
         the Church in earth and heaven.

“There Is A Balm in Gilead”                      #375 UMH
 
Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul.
 
1       Sometimes I feel discouraged
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again. [Refrain]
 
2       Don’t ever be discouraged,
For Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge,
He’ll ne’er refuse to lend. [Refrain]
 
3       If you cannot preach like Peter,
If you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus
and say, “He died for all!” [Refrain]
 
Passing of the Peace:                            Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father#71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.


Giving of our tithes and offerings        Pastor Steven
AUMC Giving Link: https://afumc.com/give/

Offertory     From A Distance                     Greg Dixon
Lyrics and Music by Julie Gold,  (c) 1987 Wing and Wheel Music (BMI)
 
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
 
Anthem:           Cornerstone                          Melanie B.
(C) 1976 by Heart Warming Music

Gospel Lesson:         Luke 4: 14 – 21                   Lorri B. 

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
 
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
 because he has anointed me
 to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
 and recovery of sight to the blind,
 to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
 
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
        
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is”           #2119 TFWS
Stephen R. Adams 1973 Pilot Point Music
 
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace;
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love.
There is comfort in life’s darkest hour;
There is light and life,
There is help and power in the Spirit,
In the Spirit of the Lord
 
Sermon:      “The Year of Celebration?”    Pastor Steven
 
Closing Hymn:   “Oh, I Know the Lord’s Laid His Hand on Me”                 #2139 TFWS
Words and Music: Afro-American spiritual
Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
 
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:                                                         Greg D.


For Online Giving, follow this link Avent Ferry Give .  You can also mail checks to Avent Ferry UMC, 2700 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606.

For additional AFUMC Announcements: See your AFUMC Announcements E-mail or Click Announcements Here

Follow us on Instagram @aventferryumc and Twitter #aventferryumc

Sunday January 26th Worship Service