First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
First Sunday after Christmas

January 1st, 2023

Photo by Amanda Taylor

Gathering

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Prelude

“Once in Royal David’s City” by Henry Gauntlett

Call to Worship

One: What a curious time it has been …
Many: While Mary and Joseph make a home with the baby
One: Birth in a barn, angels winging about, shepherds coming to see, figuring out life with a newborn …
Many: While Mary and Joseph make a home with the baby
One: Wise men come with a star story and gifts for a king …
Many: While Mary and Joseph make a home with the baby
One: But home is not to be forever, fleeing all three to avoid Herod’s sword …
Many: Refugees in Egypt, settling down, until it’s safe to go back, where Mary and Joseph make a home with the child Jesus in Nazareth. God of dreams, God of safe passage, bring us always to You, our Home.

Hymn #219: “What Child Is This”

Praying

Unison Prayer

God of Light and Compassion, You call us to make our home in You, to rest in knowing that we are loved and cared for. But so many of us don’t really know what a home is, or what it means to be home. We are refugees, fleeing from war or famine or violence in our hometowns, only to be turned away, or vilified, in the places we try to find safety. We suffer violence at the hands of those who say they love us, making where we live a dangerous place. We live on the edge of losing it all to climbing rents, expensive food, jobs that don’t offer a living wage or that disappear when the stock market falls. Many of us can never relax, the traumas of war, or crime, or abuse and neglect making us wary of what’s coming next. But You promised us One who would come and teach us about You, One who would be God with Us, and Jesus was born. Teach us O Lord how to be home, help us to know Your Peace and rest in Your reassurances, so we can share Your Love with all your children, and work for a world where justice brings a safe place to live and thrive. We ask in the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, the living Christ in our midst. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Silent Prayer

Photo by Carolyn Micklas

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father (Creator)
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Listening and Reflecting

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 63:7-9

Hymn #228: He Is Born

Time with Young People

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:13-23

Sermon: “Going Home”

Responding

Offertory: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” by Terre Johnson

A Time to Consider Offering

Photo by Larry McArthur
If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

A Prayer of Home

Hymn #229: “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

Benediction

Postlude: “Glorify Thy Name” by Donna Adkins, arranged by Fred Bock