Welcome & Announcements

Moment for Justice

Prelude     “Star Medley”    arr. Marilynn Ham

Call to Worship:
In the dark of morning, the stars still shine.
In the depth of winter, the birds still climb.
At the start of the year, tender and new, God is here. God is near.
Do not rest in your fear. God is here.
So like the stars and the birds, Let us worship holy God.

**Hymn       #143  “Angels from the Realms of Glory”

**Call to Confession

**Prayer of Confession
Ever-loving God, we long for Christmas to usher in a season of peace and joy. However, we know that is not how the world works. Even just days after Christmas, we find ourselves face to face with fear once again. So today we pray—forgive us when we allow fear to stop us in our tracks. Forgive us when our own fear prevents us from following your call. Forgive us when fear is louder than love. Show us how to turn our fear into action. Show us how to live like the magi who searched for you in a fearful world. With hope we pray, amen.

**Words of Forgiveness
Family of Faith, whether you are brave and courageous or fearful and timid, God’s love for you knows no end. So join me in these words of forgiveness: Whether fear inspires us to action, or stops us dead in our tracks, God’s love for us is boundless. We are seen. We are surrounded with grace. We are sent to serve. Thanks be to God! Amen.

**Affirmation of Faith
We have seen the valley. We have seen a sky without stars. We have seen the longest night, and still we believe. We believe in a with-us God. We believe in the hope of tomorrow. We believe that good news is louder than fear. We believe this good news is for all people. So even when our knees shake, even when our voice trembles, even when fear is all around us, we will hold onto that good news. We will reach for each other. We will look for God in our midst. We will sing songs of joy. We will proclaim: Unto us, love is born. We have seen the longest night, and we have seen unimaginable love. So still, we believe. Amen.

Time with Young Disciples

Receiving Our Star Gifts

Litany of Acceptance:
O God, we acknowledge that we are not always ready for your best gifts.
At times, we turn aside, stumble over, or even reject experiences in our human adventure,
which we understand to have been precious gifts encountered along life’s pathways.
Today, as every day of our lives, we have received another gift from You: a quality of life,
a spiritual value, a dimension of being.
We receive from You, with thanksgiving. We pray that your Spirit will enable us to make it our very own. Please God, help us to be ever open to receive your best gifts.

Anthem     "Bethlehem Procession”     Grace Notes Choir; Brent & Miles Deaton, percussion

Scripture Reading       Matthew 2: 1-12

Message       Rev. Dr. Joanne Sizoo

Communion
Invitation to the Table – Prayers of the People with 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.  Amen.

Words of Institution - Sharing the Bread and Cup – Prayer

**Hymn       #110   “Love Has Come"

**Benediction

**Choral Response
Glorious now behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice: Alleluia! Alleluia! sounds through the earth and skies. O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!

Postlude

**congregation standing in body or spirit
congregational responses in bold

lyrics printed with permission under One License #A-737483 and CCLI License #2545718
worship liturgy written by Rev. Sarah (Are) Speed | A Sanctified Art | sanctifiedart.org