Worshiping Together in Different Places–An online worship experience on the 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany (B)

  .

  .

  .

  .

  .

Seasonal Reflection        I Have a Dream        Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“When our days become dreary with low-hovering clouds of despair,
and when our nights become darker than a thousand midnights,
let us remember that there is a creative force in this universe,
working to pull down the gigantic mountains of evil,
a power that is able to make a way out of no way
and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

  .

  .

Welcome to Worship on Sunday, January 17, 2021.

During this time of worship you may wish to have a candle to light and to have bread and a beverage for communion — whatever you have available will be sufficient.

  .

Gathering Song        Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord        Todd Galberth – AbbaPraise

“To see you high and lifted up
Shining in the light of your glory
Pour out your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy“

  .

Acknowledgement of Land

(An act towards reconciliation)

  .

  .

GATHERING & EXPLORING

  .

  .

Set apart your worship space by lighting a candle along with the video clip.  The light of the candle symbolizes the presence of the Holy wherever we are.

You can find the lectionary readings for Sunday, January 17, 2021 here: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=61

  .

A prayer for our nation from Rev. Sandy Messick
Transitional Regional Minister,
Northern Lights Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

God of grace, peace, and love, pour your Spirit out upon our nation.
We need your healing.  We need your abundant grace and justice.
We need your fresh breath of inspiration, courage, and compassion.
For those who were injured, we pray for healing.
For lives lost, we pray for comfort for their families.
For those who stood in harm’s way, we give thanks.
We ask for wisdom and courage for our national and local leaders
as they seek to lead us forward.
As we have condemned violence arising alongside other protests,
so we condemn this violence and lament the destruction it has caused.
In this time of national reckoning, give us courage
to face the impacts of our decisions, actions, and inaction.
Help us not to be taken in by conspiracy theories
that seek to demonize the other and lead us astray.
Instead, help us to be truth-seekers even when that seeking leads us
to uncomfortable truths about ourselves and our own biases.
Help us to see ourselves as “one nation under God,”
even though at the moment we are fractured.
Help us to work for the peace and justice we long for
and to which you call us.  Instead of lamenting that
“we thought we were better than this,”
let us instead work to be better than this.
God of the ages, we cannot do this on our own.
Infuse in us a fresh anointing of your Spirit
that we may be who you need us to be in this moment;
that we may be your instruments of peace,
and vessels of healing and justice.
And may your peace that passes all understanding
fall afresh upon us and this nation we love.

Blessings and peace,
Sandy

  .

Welcome · Community Candle · Scripture · Moment of Wonder · Sermon

 .

  .

AFFIRMING

  .

  .

Song for Reflection & Offering        How Can I Keep From Singing?
        NYC Virtual Choir & Orchestra

“I lift my eyes, the cloud grows thin
I see the blue above it
And day by day this pathway smooths
Since first I learned to love it.”

  .

  .

Offering

There are a number of ways to contribute financially when we are unable to attend worship in person:

• Make a one-time donation or manage ongoing, automatic giving on our secure website page: https://fccpuyallup.com/donate

• Use our mobile app to set up one-time or ongoing giving from your phone. Download the GivePlus app from the App Store or Google Play to your smartphone and then search for “First Christian Church” using our zip code, 98371.

• Send checks by mail to: First Christian Church 623 9th Ave. SW P.O. Box 516 Puyallup, WA  98371

  .

  .

CELEBRATING & BLESSING

  .

  .

During this video clip you are invited to share the elements of communion which you have set aside for this worship time.  Bread, crackers, juice, wine, or water–all are signs of Christ’s abiding presence with us.

  .

Prayers of the People · Communion · Benediction

  .

Closing Song        God Be With You        The Walking Roots Band

“When the shadows gather around you
when fear and death confound you
unfailing love surrounds you
God be with you till we meet again”

  .

Preacher: Pastor Ray Smith; Elder: Robin Crabb; Scripture: Kerry Yanasak; Moment of Wonder: Gretchen Mertes; Prayers of the People: Caroline Palfenier