(Image: “Star of Bethlehem with Pomegranate Trees” 1850 Textile, MFA, Boston, MA)
©Order of Worship for Sunday January 04, 2025
Epiphany of the Lord
Holy Communion
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………….…..“We Three Kings”……………………Greg D.
Words and Music: John Hopkins Jr., 1857
Coming of the Light:
Greetings:…………………………………………………Pastor Liz
Announcements:…………………………………………..Lorri B.
Call to Worship:……….Isaiah 60:1-6……………..Samantha M.
Nations come to the light
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms.
And rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
Opening Prayer:…………………………………………Samantha M.
Bright Morning Star,
your light has come,
and the birth of Jesus
has overwhelmed us with joy.
Like the magi of long ago,
may we be drawn to you
and offer you such gifts as we are able.Amen.
Opening Hymns: “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light” #223
Trans. © 1989 Hope Publishing, Co.
1. Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light, and usher in the
morning; O shepherds, shrink not with affright, but
hear the angel’s warning. This child, now weak in
infancy, our confidence and joy shall be, the
power of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.
2. This night of wonder, night of joy, was born the Christ, our
brother; he comes, not mighty to destroy, to
bid us love each other. How could he quit his
kingly state for such a world of greed and hate? What
deep humiliation secured the world’s salvation!
3. Come, dearest child, into our hearts, and leave your crib
behind you! Let this be where the new life starts for
all who seek and find you. To you the honor,
thanks, and praise, for all your gifts this time of grace; come,
conquer and deliver this world, and us, forever.
“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!
Passing of the Peace:………………………………..Pastor Liz
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, to
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Giving of our Tithes and Offerings:…………….Pastor Liz
AFUMC Online Giving Link: https://aventferryumc.org/give/
Offertory:…………….“Adeste Fideles”………………Choir
By Greg Gilpin © 2009, Heritage Music Press.
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #94 UMH
Adapted © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674, adapted by Gilbert Vieira, 1978
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
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 uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer After Receiving:………………………………Pastor Liz
The Prayers of the People:………………………….Pastor Liz
Gospel Lesson: ………….Matthew 2:1-12…………Samantha M.
Christ revealed to the nations
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”
When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.