New Hope Presbyterian Church

SESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Moderator Dwyn Mounger

Clerk Cathy Forester

Building & Grounds Connie Carter

Christian Education Debbie Coffield

Congregational Care Lucille Sweet

Missions Judy Smith

Hospitality, Church Life Sandy Hodsden

Music/Worship Jim Burkins

Stewardship/Personnel/Administration Pam Burkins

1705 Merchants Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37912-4711

(865) 687-3911 - www.newhopeknoxville.org

January 7, 2018, First Sunday after Epiphany 10:45 a.m.

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION

PRELUDE Serve the LORD with Gladness B.B. McKinney

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

INTROIT Adoration by John Monsell and Tom Fettke

CALL TO WORSHIP (Isaiah 60:1-3) led by Lucille Sweet, Liturgist L: Let us worship God. Arise, shine; for your light has come; P: and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. L. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; P. But the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. L. Nations shall come to your light, P. And kings to the brightness of your dawn. L. Praise the LORD. All: The LORD’s name be praised.

*HYMN #22 Angels, from the Realms of Glory REGENT SQUARE

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) led by Lucille Sweet God of glory, you have sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride often hide that brightness. We have turned away from the poor, ignored cries for justice, and failed to strive for peace. In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, and baptize us once again with your Holy Spirit, that, forgiven and renewed, we may show forth your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

All sing (Kyrie):

*SILENT PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Dr. Dwyn Mounger

*RESPONSE (all sing; Gloria in Excelsis):

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

DISCIPLES’ MOMENT Dr. Dwyn Mounger

SCRIPTURE – First Lesson, Isaiah 60:1-6, p. 720 in the pew Bible read by Lucille Sweet

Psalm 72 words James Montgomery, alt; tune FOREST GREEN, #43, Presbyterian Hymnal; please stay seated as we sing God’s Word:

(7) THIS MORNING WE CELEBRATE THE COMING OF THE WISE MEN to worship the Baby Jesus. Just after we affirm our faith, using the words of the Nicene Creed, while we sing “We Three Kings of Orient Are,” please bring forward your filled “Magi Meals” can (10c per person per meal daily), to be evenly divided between New Hope’s Clothes Closet Ministry, FISH Pantry’s feeding of the hungry, and our Presbytery of East Tennessee’s hunger ministries. Place your can in one of the baskets, then return to your seat by your side aisle. If you are physically challenged, an usher can bring a basket to you. NOTE: Figured at 10c per person per meal, starting on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23, 2017), the figure for one person would be $13.60; on Christ the King Sunday (Nov. 26), $12.70; and on the First Sunday of Advent (Dec. 3), $10.60. Of course, you may place in your can a check for the amount, made out to the church, in place of all those dimes, nickels, & pennies!

IN OUR SERVICE TODAY PLEASE JOIN THE CHOIR AND LEADERS OF WORSHIP IN SINGING THE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNION RESPONSES from the excellent latest hymnal of our denomination, Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal. We have easily learned them as we’ve sung them on the first

Sundays of the past several months. You will notice, too, that some of the prayers and responses are set to the tunes of favorite Christmas and Epiphany carols. PLAN TO JOIN DR. MOUNGER AND OTHER KNOXVILLE AREA PRESBYTERIANS to march in our local Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Parade, Monday, January 15! We’ll rendezvous at 9 a.m., New Hope Church, then carpool to Tabernacle Baptist Church parking lot, 2137 MLK Jr. Ave., by 9:30. (We’ll look for the "Presbyterians for Peace & Justice" sign, and the giant puppets, and fall in.) Step-off is at 10. Or, instead, park for free in the parking garage of First Presbyterian Church, 620 State St., and ride in various church vans to the rendezvous point. All ages, welcome! What a great way, on this school and work holiday, to shed some holiday extra pounds! Yet the route is easy.

ALL RULING ELDERS SERVING ON SESSION: REMINDER, our very important, first-of-the-new year meeting next Sunday, January 14, during the refreshment time after worship, 12 noon, in the large room behind the church nurseries!

(5) All sing:

L. Gracious God, pour out our Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be for us the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in min- istry in every place. As this bread is Christ’s body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world. All sing:

L. And now, with the confidence of the children of God, let us sing together:

All sing: (tune MUELLER, #25, Away in a Manger):

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

*HYMN #64 What Star Is This, with Beams So Bright? PUER NOBIS NASCITUR

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine! Fannie J. Crosby and Phoebe Knapp

*All who are able, please stand. Bold denotes participation by the congregation.

WELCOME, ALL WHO COME IN FAITH TO THE LORD’S TABLE! It is our custom, staying in our pews, to be served by the elders. Please take and eat a piece of the consecrated bread, and drink a cup of the (unfermented) wine. We believe that the living Christ is spiritually our Host at the holy table (I Corinthians 10:16).

(2)

3. You shall come down like showers Upon the fruitful earth; Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, Spring in your path to birth. Before you on the mountains Shall peace, the herald, go; And righteousness in fountains From hill to valley flow.

4. All kings shall bow before you, And gold and incense bring; All nations shall adore you, Your praise all people sing. To you shall prayer unceasing And daily vows ascend; Your kingdom still increasing, Great realm without an end.

Epistle Ephesians 3:1-12 , p. 1143 in the pew Bible read by Dr. Mounger

*Response (all stand and sing; tune FOREST GREEN): All glory to the Father, Creator of all things;

(3) And glory to his only Son, Whose cross salvation brings; To God the Holy Spirit--With them, great One-in-Three-- Just as it was at dawn of time, is now, and e’re shall be.

*Gospel Matthew 2:1-12, p. 931 in the pew Bible read by Dr. Mounger

MEDITATION Mark of the Star Dr. Mounger

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison; Nicene Creed, Ecumenical): We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one LORD, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the LORD, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

*HYMN #66, Presbyterian Hymnal We Three Kings of Orient Are (NOTE: As we sing please come down the center aisle and place your filled “Magi Meals” can in one of the baskets; our regular Sunday offering is later.)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS AND HEARTS OFFERTORY I Give My Song by Joe Martin sung by Bill Westmoreland and the Choir

*RESPONSE (Henry Smith, © 1978 Integrity’s Hosanna!!; CCLI#11282524)

(4)

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

*GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING L. The LORD be with you.

P. And also with you. L. Lift up your hearts. P. We lift them to the LORD. L. Let us give thanks to the LORD our God. P. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

L. It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, God of majesty and splendor, who sent a star to guide wise men to where Christ was born, and whose signs and words in every age lead people to him. We thank you for making manifest to us our LORD Jesus, the light of the universe, by whom we are saved, and baptized into your service. We praise you that the darkness can never quench his light, nor the shadow of death overcome it. Great and wonderful are your works, LORD God almighty. Your ways are just and true. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels, and with all the faithful of all times and places, who forever sing to the glory of your name

*RESPONSE (all sing; Sanctus):

(The congregation sits for the rest of the Great Prayer.) L. Remembering your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we take from your creation this bread and this wine, and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising as we await the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer our very selves to you, to be a living and holy sacrifice to your service. Great is the mystery of faith: