Order of Worship

Opening Voluntary – “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us,” arr. by Larry Shackley

Welcome/Greetings

Choral Introit

*Opening Hymn #314 – “In the Garden”       GARDEN

*Call to Worship

L:  Can you hear God’s call?

P:  Christ’s voice is heard far and near.

L:  Can you discern God’s Word?

P:  Christ calls one and all.

L:  God speaks of light and life.

P:  Christ loves the mighty and the small.

L:  The Spirit breathes joy and compassion.

P:  We are called into fellowship together.

*Opening Prayer

Holy One, may our spirits be polished arrows in the quiver of your searching love.  May our words ring true with shouts of praise.  Use us, Gracious God, as instruments of your mercy and compassion.  Fashion us into vessels of your abiding Spirit, that a world torn by brokenness and pain might touch your healing love through our fellowship with you and with one another.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, when we succumb to despair and get lost in our fears of inadequacy, remind us who we are and whose we are.  We long to feel worthy of your love and to rest secure in your call to be a light to the nations.  Remind us, Loving Presence, to speak words of hope like Isaiah, and words of encouragement like Paul.  When others ask us if we have found the Lamb of God, give us the courage and the faith to boldly proclaim:  “Come and see!”  Amen.

Words of Assurance

God polishes us as arrows in the quiver of holy love.  Christ calls us and sanctifies us to be the saints of God.  The Spirit fills us with light and leads us home.

Passing of the Peace of Christ

With songs of joy in our mouths and songs of praise for our God, let us great one another and share the peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Children’s Message      Rev. Eumin Kim

Scriptures

New Testament – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, ² To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:  ³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  ⁴ I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  ⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— ⁶ God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.  ⁷ Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  ⁸ He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  ⁹ God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading – John 1:29-42

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  ³⁰ This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. ’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”  ³² Then John gave this testimony:  “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.  ³³ And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  ³⁴ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”  ³⁵ The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.  ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”  ³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”  They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”  ³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”  So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.  ⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

*Hymn before Sermon #3095 “Somebody’s Knockin at Your Door”

(Worship and Song Hymnal)

Sermon – “Come to See and Go to Tell”      Rev. Eumin Kim

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Invitation to Tithes and Offering

What does God require of us, and with what shall we come before the Lord?  It is not with sacrifice and burnt offerings, but with hearts filled with praise and lives bent on justice.  With joy and thanksgiving for the tender mercies of our God, may today’s offering be a sign of our commitment to bring God’s justice and compassion to our world.

Chancel Choir – “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” setting by John Carter

*Hymn No. 95 – Presentation of the Offering

*Prayer of Dedication

God of Grace and God of Glory, you bless us with water and the Spirit, that we might know the fullness of life.  As we strive to be a light to the nations, may others be brought to the dawn of your glory.  Bless the gifts we bring before you now, that they might reach the very ends of the earth and help those struggling to find the light.  Amen.

*Closing Hymn #370 – “Victory in Jesus”      HARTFORD

*Dismissal with Blessing

Closing Voluntary – “Chant héroïque” by Jean Langlais