AFFIRMATION FOR THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY
We believe in God, the creator of all things, the giver of life and breath.
We believe in Jesus Christ, born Emmanuel, God with us.
He was baptized by John and anointed the most beloved Son of God.
Jesus sought to heal humanity by taking our brokenness upon himself.
Suffering for us, he was crucified, died and was buried.
We believe God raised Jesus from the dead for the sake of all people,
and the promise of eternal life.
We believe the risen Lord will come again, one day.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the inspiring counselor of truth breathed into us and poured out upon us; sent to guide our lives.
We believe in the church, Christ’s body at work in the world.
We believe God is leading us into a new day, ever onward toward the Kingdom of God.
Thanks be to God! Amen. CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O most Gracious and Merciful God, today we focus our attention on a day 30 years after Jesus’ birth. It was the day of his calling when he took a very intentional step toward self-discovery, by partaking in John’s baptism to wash away sins. Often we have tended to think of Jesus as one who knew what direction his life would take from the moment of he took his first human breath. But then, we realize that like us, he had to learn how to crawl, walk, and run just as he had to learn how to get up again after falling down. His divinity was not some kind of special immunity protecting him from sorrow, or disappointment, anxiety or distress. Recognizing that his human experience was fraught with the same stresses and strains, along with moments of doubt and uncertainty, strengthens our resolve, and shores us up along our own spiritual journey. Help us dearest Lord to walk in his footsteps for they are the footsteps of promises fulfilled. We give you thanks and praise in the name of the Christ. Amen. INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Are you superstitious, believing that if you miss a step in a certain ritual whether it is a pre-game ritual, a pre-getting out of bed ritual, a getting dressed ritual, or a pre-coffee ritual, your entire day may well be thrown off kilter. I learned a great deal last Saturday about football game rituals, and was very glad I had the necessary cap to participate in the cap waving ritual. Someone else must have fouled up a ritual, because our team ended up losing the game. Our traditional worship service contains rituals that, if changed or even tweaked a bit can, and have upset people’s sense of spiritual balance. The tradition of giving financial support to the church has not changed, but because we live in an era when few people carry cash or checks anymore, the ways for giving must be updated and adapted to the times. So soon PSUMC will have an app for that. Until then the ushers will come forward to collect the offering.
A CHRISTMASTIDE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in GOD, the divine beginner and imaginative creator of all things
good and precious.
The earth and all the creatures who dwell upon it are GOD’S labor of love,
and we are the appointed stewards.
We believe GOD so loved us that in time GOD came to us in human form; born as we are,
an infant boy, tiny and helpless, our Emmanuel.
We believe in the healing and redeeming power of JESUS’ name, and claim him as our SAVIOR.
We believe he claimed us when he gave his life for us on a cross.
We believe that GOD would not forsake or abandon the Son and Beloved One.
In fact, we believe GOD raised JESUS from the dead, inviting us all to embrace
the promise of eternal life in Christ.
We believe in the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, who is always with us, helping us to walk the path of righteousness and genuineness.
As Christ’s body in the world, we believe, no matter what happens in the world, we are to love one another as GOD has loved us, in Christ JESUS our LORD. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O, most gracious and eternal God, today we look back on the year 2017, and how we lived each day of life granted us. Some days we recall with a smile, and others not so much. We have said good-bye to loved ones and dear friends; we have embraced new friends who have desired to serve you as a part of this body of Christ. As the new year unfolds, dear Lord, may the Holy Spirit be at work in us, stirring us to be models of discipleship, empowered by the hope that will build our future, the peace that reigns in our hearts, the joy we have in our work, and the love we bear for each other. Looking back, we have accomplished much in the last decade, but we are not finished by any stretch of the imagination. There are so many people who long for assurances that all will be well. Help us lead them in the path of faith, the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen. INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Tomorrow begins the new year. Some of us are still amazed that we are now 18 years into the new millennium, ever closer to those Stardates logged by Captain Kirk some 50 years ago aboard the Starship Enterprise. “Another year come and gone” said my 30-something exterminator, somewhat matter-of-factly. Because we cannot pause time, or cause it to move more slowly, our time together, years, months, hours, minutes, even seconds must be counted as precious, and worthy of our full attention. If your time spent worshipping or serving God in this church nourishes your soul, then we are on the right course. To quote Mr. Spock, surely we will “live long and prosper” with your continued commitment of financial support.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Gracious and Merciful God, we have come to give thanks for the gift of the Christ child. Your love and graciousness to humankind shines on his tiny face as we kneel to adore him. It is hard to fathom that the baby, so delicate and vulnerable, will one day be the Lord of all the nations, the good shepherd who will lead us in right paths. Even if our steps falter along the way, he will stop to help us stand tall again. Jesus is our Emmanuel, your very presence with us, O God. Indeed as our savior, redeemer and Lord, he will give us the courage to press on to the goal following the commandment to love one another as the Christ loved us, no matter what others may say. In him dwells the promise of all things possible, and we are the guardians of his truth because he dwells within us. Our Loving Father in heaven, holy is your name. May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today the food that we need, and forgive us our sin, as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the time of trial, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen. BRINGING OUR GIFTS
As God has given us the gift of the Christ Child, so too we honor God by giving generously to help others. Our church’s mission is to work toward the healing of our broken world. We begin by shining Christ’s light in the darkness — a beacon of warmth and welcome. Your gift this evening goes to the support of our outreach and caring ministries. Let our generosity proclaim God’s profound message of goodwill, hope, peace, joy and love to all. UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous God, giver of the greatest gift of all; bless our offerings to your service. May they help to transform lives and brighten the hearts of those to whom we minister here in this community and around the world. All glory be to God this night and on earth peace to all. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.
CHRISTMAS EVE HOMILY (Manuscript)
There are lots of remarkable and important babies born in scripture.
Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac, was born when the couple were well past Medicare age, according to the story. Isaac was their miracle child God promised Sarah and Abraham.
Isaac grew up and married Rebekah who gave birth to twin sons Esau and Jacob. The brothers had a contentious relationship as siblings often do. Like the famous back and forth between the Smother’s brothers, Mom always liked Jacob best. Even with all of the inheritance nonsense between them, when Jacob the man had his famous wrestling match with the mysterious night-time stranger-- who turned out to be God-- he was renamed Israel, and that name was then bestowed upon an entire nation of people.
Jacob’s 12 sons became the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph, the youngest son, and Dad’s favorite, attested to the day he received that “amazing technicolor dream-coat,” was sold into slavery by his brothers, ended up in Egypt, became an advisor to the Pharaoh, and later saved the nation of Israel, and his entire family from starvation.
Jochebed gave birth to Moses, and to save him from being slaughtered along with all the other Jewish boy babies, she set him adrift on the Nile River praying that someone would rescue him. Lucky for him, (or was it luck) the daughter of the Pharaoh saved him and raised him as a prince. Moses could have lived the life of an Egyptian Prince forever, but God, who apparently had a different plan in mind, made Moses the designated rescuer of his people. In the greatest escape in history, Moses lead Israelites away from their centuries of slavery in Egypt toward the promised land.
Hannah prayed for years that she and her husband Elkanah could have a child. In her prayers she promised that if God gave her that longed-for child she would give the child into God’s service. She gave birth to Samuel and, as promised, give him into the care of Eli to raise the boy as a Nazarite priest.
Samuel, the Priest, was then called by God to anoint the very first Kings of Israel. He anointed Saul the first king, and then David, the youngest son of Jethro, who became the greatest and most beloved King of Israel.
David and Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon, who grew up and was known as the wisest of Israel’s Kings and perhaps the last great King of Israel.
Biblical babies born in the pages of scripture, were all miracles of God in their own way.
Why, then, is the entire Advent season of the church the period of waiting, yet again, for the birth of a savior? What is it about the birth of Jesus that finds us anticipating, reveling, hungering year after year to celebrate his birthday? Is the church just gifted at marketing? What makes the birth of Jesus God’s greatest Coup de Coeur?
For many it is definitely the baby thing, but it is only when we truly take time to ponder the enduring gift of the Christ child, that we begin to comprehend the nature of God’s goodwill toward humankind. Maybe it’s the music. We are anxious to sing songs that tell the story of Jesus’ birth, but all too often when the season is over, we leave the newborn babe in the manger, until next Christmas. God’ asks that we fall to our knees beside the manger and embrace this holy child; that we follow him as he grows to manhood to that day when he will discover God’s will for him. It is through Jesus that God’s writes his story upon our hearts.
You have heard the terms coup d’etat which, translated from the French, “is a sudden and decisive action in politics, especially one resulting in a change of government illegally or by force.” A coup de gras refers to the “deathblow delivered to end the misery of a mortally wounded victim.”
Because so many of us melt when we look into the face of a new born baby, confronted by its absolute purity and innocence, we can begin to comprehend introducing the messiah as infant. And yet God’s story tells us that this baby when grown will give his life for ours. This revelation may bring tears to our eyes as we come to terms with what God has done and will do for us.
Christmas Eve is God’s Coup de Couer, God’s decisive triumphant win over the human heart. It is just the first win, for God’s hope is that we will then dare to continue on the triumphant path of discipleship. If you haven’t made worship a habit for years except on Christmas and perhaps Easter, let this Christmas Eve be a true and new beginning for you. May it be a new beginning for each one of us, “men and women, all persuasions, old and young, each a gift of God’s creation, each a love song to be sung.”
One Good Christmas is all we really need for God to start writing that wondrous story on our hearts. Let this be that Christmas. Amen.
AN ADVENT AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe God created, the heavens, the earth, and all the creatures that dwell upon it.
We believe God creates new beginnings.
We believe that God is never far away. God is ever-present, ever-vigilant and has been active in our lives throughout history.
We believe God is merciful and forgiving. God came to us in the person of Jesus to be a light for those trapped in darkness, and to preach Good News to those longing for
understanding and relief.
We believe God promises good. God promised us a savior, Jesus the Christ. And when his saving act was to die for our sakes, God raised him from the dead.
We believe God’s pursuit of the human heart and soul is persistent, for the Holy Spirit seeks us out to embrace us with the message of forgiveness, hope, peace, joy, and love.
We believe that as the church, Christ’s body in the world, we are called to wear and carry the Spirit’s message out into the world.
A new beginning is today. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Awesome and Glorious God, it is only when we truly take time to ponder the enduring gift of the Christ child, that we begin to comprehend the nature of your goodwill toward all. We are anxious to sing all about it and tell the story of Jesus’ birth, but all to often we leave the newborn babe in the manger, until next Christmas. Let us dare not only to embrace this holy child, but follow him into manhood to the day when he will discover your will for him. For, it is through him that you will write your story upon our hearts. Lead us Lord on the triumphant path of discipleship. Let this Christmastide be a true and new beginning for each one of us, “men and women, all persuasions, old and young, each a gift in your creation, each a love song to be sung.” All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen. INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
Today we remember and celebrate God’s incredible gift, presented to humankind with no strings attached. The church endures to tell God’s story generation to generation, in order that it may be written upon our hearts. Your gifts help this church continue to share the story of God’s goodwill, love and grace not only in what we say, but in what we do to serve the community around us.
AN ADVENT AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe God created, the heavens, the earth, and all the creatures that dwell upon it.
We believe God creates new beginnings.
We believe that God is never far away. God is ever-present, ever-vigilant and has been active in our lives throughout history.
We believe God is merciful and forgiving. God came to us in the person of Jesus to be a light for those trapped in darkness, and to preach Good News to those longing for
understanding and relief.
We believe God promises good. God promised us a savior, Jesus the Christ. And when his saving act was to die for our sakes, God raised him from the dead.
We believe God’s pursuit of the human heart and soul is persistent, for the Holy Spirit seeks us out to embrace us with the message of forgiveness, hope, peace, joy, and love.
We believe that as the church, Christ’s body in the world, we are called to wear and carry the Spirit’s message out into the world.
A new beginning is today. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
O, Most faithful and loving God, we are grateful for the laughter and joy that rings through the yuletide season. Perhaps it is the anticipation of being with loved ones and family members that fills us with joy. Or, it just might be our delight in wearing jingley-sparkly garments as if we were the heralds of all good things to come. December arrives and we can’t wait one minute longer to sing our favorite Christmas carols knowing that the time allotted to sing them seems to wane ever so quickly. It is easy to become overwhelmed when we get caught up in all of the falderal, along with the expectations we place upon ourselves. Remind us, O LORD, to take a moment to escape the busyness, to ponder your goodwill and embrace your promise of peace. All this we pray in the name of the Christ child, Jesus, who crowns the season. Amen. INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The Psalmist writes about the Israelites in exile sowing seeds for the harvest through their tears and sadness. For there to be a yield, seeds must be sown. The sowers must remain faithful to the process of preparation, sowing, watching and caring for the seedlings, finally reaping the harvest in season. We have learned from scripture that the human heart is like the soil into which seeds of justice, righteousness, kindness, love and mercy are sown. In the fullness of time the human heart will produce it’s crop in abundance and God will rejoice. Until that time, the church must be at work preparing the soil and sowing the seeds of justice, righteousness, kindness, love and mercy. Without your support the process could founder.
AN ADVENT AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe God created, the heavens, the earth, and all the creatures that dwell upon it.
God creates new beginnings.
We believe that God is never far away. God is ever-present, ever-vigilant and has been active in our lives throughout history.
We believe God is merciful and forgiving. God came to us in the person of Jesus to be a light for those trapped in darkness, and to preach Good News to those longing for
understanding and relief.
We believe God promises good. God promised us a savior, and when his saving act was to die for our sakes, having promised that we would never be alone, God raised Jesus up from death.
We believe God’s pursuit of the human heart and soul is persistent, for the Holy Spirit seeks us out to embrace us with the message of forgiveness, hope, peace, joy, and love.
We believe that as the church, Christ’s body in the world, we are called to wear and carry the Spirit’s message out into the world.
A new beginning is today. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious and Loving God, we sing your praises today and give you thanks, because it is the right and good thing for us to do. We must confess our distress over the great loss of land, life and property occurring all around us, during the past months and weeks; whether by hurricane winds, overwhelming floods, raging fires or human folly. Like the Israelites in the time of the exile, your people are in need of your comfort, and assurance of relief and recovery. We pray that you will bring peace to the “elements in commotion,” for the sake of your creation and your people. Could it be your will that we should be holding our breath in anticipation and preparation of the next trial? Our heads are spinning from the overwhelming need of our fellows. Give us direction we ask you, in the name of the Christ. Amen. INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
At the workshop I attended in Arizona last week, we clergy were asked to decide which stage in the congregational life cycle described our current setting— in other words what is going on by choosing: Vision, Relationships, Program, or Management as the focus of the congregation. Vision is the focus at the congregation’s birth (Vrpm). Vision and Relationships (VRpm) are the focus in the congregation’s infancy. Vision and Program in it’s childhood; Vision, Relationships, and Program (VRPm) in its adolescence, and all 4 (VRPM) when the congregation arrives at adulthood. As a congregation ages and declines, vision, relationship and program drop off until management predominates —vrpM. I will confess I was drawn to join the relationships group, but then thought of the programs we have added in the past 5 years, realizing that the ministries and programs we have undertaken have strengthened our relationships and in turn this community of the faithful.. As we seek to balance the budget money to support these programs has been reduced, but we would do ourselves growth-harm if we do not find a way to support them and shore them up once again. I have some ideas, how about you?
N ADVENT AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe God created, the heavens, the earth, and all the creatures that dwell upon it.
God creates new beginnings.
We believe that God is never far away. God is ever-present, ever-vigilant and has been active in our lives throughout history.
We believe God is merciful and forgiving. God came to us in the person of Jesus to be a light for those trapped in darkness, and to preach Good News to those longing for
understanding and relief.
We believe God promises good. God promised us a savior, and when his saving act was to die for our sakes, having promised that we would never be alone, God raised Jesus up from death.
We believe God’s pursuit of the human heart and soul is persistent, for the Holy Spirit seeks us out to embrace us with the message of forgiveness, hope, peace, joy, and love.
We believe that as the church, Christ’s body in the world, we are called to wear and carry the Spirit’s message out into the world.
A new beginning is today. Amen. CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious God, as we enter the season of Advent, which marks the new year of the church, guide us through each new beginning, both as individuals and as members of this community of faith. For those joining the body today, this may be a new beginning. Nevertheless, let us learn from their experience. Fill each one of us with Advent Hope, remembering that you are the God of promises fulfilled. Let us not be nervous-nellies thinking about the future. Let us be bold in our confidence, and unwavering in our trust, believing that you have already provided for our needs. We are your people looking forward to continued growth, in our leadership skills, our outreach ministries and our personal spirituality. We shall live in Hope daily offering our prayers of thanks and praise in the name of the Christ. Amen. INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
The origin of the word Hope is unclear. The Etymology dictionary even suggests that hope might be born of hop. The Old English hopian means to have the theological virtue of Hope; to have trust and confidence that something is or will be so. The difference between hope and hop in Old English is a single letter. The word hoppian means to spring to leap, to dance. I don’t think it too farfetched for Christians to spring, leap or dance into hopefulness. In this Advent season, cultivate the theological virtue of hope. Make that proverbial leap of faith, and put your whole trust and confidence in God, who makes all things new.
