January 4, 2026

St. Paul United Church of Christ, Taylor, Michigan
Second Sunday after Christmas/ January 4, 2026
Epiphany

 Ringing of the Bell

 

 Welcome                                                              Rev. Dr. Itty Mathews

 

Announcement Highlights                                 Jane Dykowski, liturgist

 

 Prelude                                                           Ava Janus, Music Director

 

*Call to Worship                             Jane Dykowski
One: Glory be to you, O God the Father, who has loved us and accepted us in your beloved Son.
All: Glory be to you, our Father.   
One: Glory be to you, O God the Son, who has loved us and set us free from our sins by offering yourself on the cross.
All: Glory be to you, our Savior.
One: Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who sheds the love of God abroad in our hearts and frees us from the law of sin and death.
All: Glory be to you, our Guide and Strengthener. O one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to you be all love and all glory for time and for eternity. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.

*Hymn No. 172  “We Three Kings”

 

*Opening Prayer                  Jane Dykowski

Almighty God before whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 Anthem

 First Lesson Psalm 72:8-17                                             Jane Dykowski

 Gospel Lesson Matthew 2:1-12

 Message  “Taking a new and different path,”                  Rev. Mathews

*Hymn No.  162  “What Child Is This?

 Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

    *Doxology

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here  below.  Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy ghost.  Amen.

 

Offertory prayer – Pastor
Gracious Heavenly Father, you have given us a new and living way to offer ourselves to you through Jesus Christ. Though unworthy, we come to you as we are, and in Jesus’ name we ask you to accept and use us and these gifts for your glory. All that is created is yours and everything that we can offer already belongs to you. AMEN.

Holy Communion
Invitation to confession
You who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and peace with your neighbor, and intend to live a new life, following the commandments of God and walking from now on in his ways, make your humble confession to the compassionate God, that you may be reconciled anew to him, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer of confession – Altogether
O God of compassion, we confess that we have sinned against you and our sisters and brothers. We have not been true followers of your new way in Christ. We have not shared in your liberating work in the world. We have fallen short of your glory. In your great compassion, make us clean from our sin, and set us free in the joy of your Spirit, that we may serve you with new life; through Jesus Christ who gave his life that we might live in peace with you and with our fellow creatures. AMEN.

Words of assurance – Pastor
O Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, the refuge of the repentant, forgives and strengthens all who truly seek his grace. He accepts you as his sons and daughters, and sets you free from the bondage of your past; for Christ died and rose to new life that we might all share his wholeness and abundant life. As God's own people, be merciful in action, kind in heart, humble in mind. Be always ready to forgive as freely as God has forgiven you. And, above everything else, be loving, and never forget to be thankful for what Christ has done for you. Amen.

Prayer of humble access
All: Be present, be present, O Jesus, our good High Priest, as you were in the midst of your disciples, and make yourself known to us in the breaking of the bread, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Blessing of elements
Pastor: Truly Holy, truly blessed art you, O heavenly Father, who of your tender love towards mankind did give your only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him and to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there, by his one offering of himself once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, a satisfactory offering, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death, until his coming again: Who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. (Matthew 26:26-27 & 1 Corinthians 11:23-25)

All: Amen. Your death, O Lord we commemorate, your resurrection we confess, and your second coming we await. Glory be to you, O Christ. The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for us, the bread of life, and The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for us, the true Vine.

Invitation
All are welcome to partake in the communion

Sung response: One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.

Partaking in the communion: Receiving of the Bread and Cup

Prayer After Communion
Now that we have received the body and blood of Christ, let us give thanks.

Let us pray together
All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who has accepted us as Your children in Your beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and has fed us with the spiritual food of his most precious Body and Blood, giving us the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of everlasting life: We thank and praise You for these inestimable benefits, and we offer and present unto You ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a holy and living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service. Grant us grace not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may learn what is thy good and perfect will, and so to obey You here on earth, that we may at the last rejoice with all Your saints in the heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the Holy Spirit, one God, forever. Amen

A Time of Prayer/ Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, 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. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

*Hymn No. 173  “As With Gladness”

*Dismissal with Blessing

 *Benediction

Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold onto what is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak, and help the suffering; honor all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. AMEN 

 Postlude/ Recessonal:  Please remain in your pews as the Light of Christ leads the way into the world at the close of service.
*Congregation standing as you are able.

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