St. Paul’s United Church of Christ A welcoming Christ-centered community...

The Baptism of Christ January 12th, 2020 9:30 am Worship

We’re Glad You’re Here!

Welcome: “No matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!” More than words,

this statement is a reflection of the truth that we are all here because of God’s love, grace, and

mercy. This is a community held together by the honesty of our shared brokenness and the

healing we receive through Christ.

Get Connected: Use the “Connection Card,” signup online for the weekly E-news or monthly

Newsletter, like us on Facebook, give us a call, or send an email. It is our joy to journey with you!

Restrooms: These are located on the basement level of the church. Either go through the double

doors in the front of the sanctuary and turn right to go downstairs, or use the stairwell in the back

of the sanctuary and then walk through the fellowship hall.

Children: Children of all ages are always welcome within the worship service. Children’s

activity bags, for use during worship, can be found in the red bins by both entrances to the

sanctuary. On the 2nd

, 3rd

, &4th Sunday’s of the month, Christian Education classes are available

during worship for nursery to 9th grade kids. Every Sunday, nursery care is available for children

up to 5 years old. The nursery is located beyond the doors in the front of the sanctuary.

Cell Phones: Remember to silence them (and watch chimes) as we enter into worship

You are a blessing: Let us know how we might better be a blessing to you.

Today’s Scripture Readings

Isaiah 42:1-9 + Psalm 19:1-11 + Matthew 3:13-17

Worship Leaders

Minister – All Members

Pastor – Rev. Joseph Motz

Worship Steward – Wanda Druzba

Organist – Grace Griffith

Acolyte – Victoria Nuss

Ushers – Carole Audette & Eloise Stevens

Nursery – Jamie McGee & Nancy Hughes

Sound System Operator – Ethan Nuss

Counters – Barb Kerper & Eloise Stevens

300 West First Street, Birdsboro PA 19508

610-582-8461 + office@stpaulsbirdsboro.org + www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org

Pastor’s e-mail: pastormotz@stpaulsbirdsboro.org

Order of Worship

Welcome

Prelude (Prayer: Come Holy Spirit into the ordinary and the mundane. Come Holy Spirit touching upon

the flesh of this earth. Come Holy Spirit, catching up us all into the redemptive presence of

Christ’s life-giving love.)

(Please rise in body or in spirit)

Call to Worship

Leader: Come people of God. Come and worship the Lord.

People: We come at the earnest call of God.

Leader: Come all you who thirst, come to the living water of Christ.

People: We come to drink deeply that our soul may be satisfied.

Leader: Come you who are weary, come that Christ may shoulder the load with you.

People: We come to the one who is brother and companion of us all.

Leader: Come you who are broken, come to receive healing and mercy that is for all.

People: We come with scars and wounds

to the One who holds them in the palm of his hands.

Leader: Come you who long for life.

People: We come to give praise to the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer of life;

the One who was, and is, and evermore shall be. Amen.

Hymn: “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” #235

Call to Confession

(Please be seated)

Corporate Confession All: Almighty and most merciful God,

we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done;

and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

O Lord, have mercy upon us!

Spare those who confess their sins.

According to your promises declared through the Gospel of Christ,

bring new life to those who seek forgiveness.

And grant that from this point forward, we may live according to your will

through the way of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whom we pray. Amen.

Silent Confession (A time of personal prayer for God’s healing and redeeming peace.)

Leader: Lord, have mercy upon us.

People: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Leader: Christ, have mercy upon us.

People: Christ, have mercy upon us.

Leader: Lord, have mercy upon us.

People: Lord, have mercy upon us.

(The response is sung at least two times thru – Join in singing as you are moved.)

Songs and Prayers from Taizé #47, All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A-714498

Assurance of Grace Leader: God’s mercies are present every day. Even when we feel so far off,

the embrace of God’s compassion still surrounds us all.

Know and believe you are held in God’s precious love.

Know and believe Christ has come so that you may be rescued to life.

Know and believe God’s joy is made complete in you.

People: Thanks be to God whose love is from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.

Passing of the Peace

Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

(During the following hymn, please be seated as children nursery/pre-K to 9

th grade are

dismissed to participate in age specific Christian Education classes for the rest of worship.

Parents/guardians of first time students are invited to follow their child to their classroom in

order to complete registration information before returning to worship. Following worship

please pick-up children, 3rd

grade and younger.)

Hymn: “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated” #380

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 42:1-9 (p. #1124) God’s servant is one who will come with humility and justice. This one will bring freedom and

life to all people, Gentile and Jew. To this one, and this one alone, will be given God’s glory.

Psalm: Psalm 19:1-11

Leader: The heavens declare the glory of God;

People: the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Leader: Day after day they pour forth speech;

People: night after night they display knowledge.

Leader: There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

People: Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Leader: In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like the bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

People: It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

Leader: The law of the Lord is perfect,

People: reviving the soul.

Leader: The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,

People: making wise the simple.

Leader: The precepts of the Lord are right,

People: giving joy to the heart.

Leader: The commands of the Lord are radiant,

People: giving light to the eyes.

Leader: The fear of the Lord is pure,

People: enduring forever.

Leader: The ordinances of the Lord are sure,

People: and altogether righteous.

Leader: They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;

People: they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

Leader: By them your servant is warned;

People: in keeping them there is great reward.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 3:13-17 (p. #1499) In witness to Jesus’ obedience to the will and the way of God, the words are heard, “This

is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Leader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God!

Sermon

“The Beginning of the End”

(Please rise in body or in spirit)

Statement of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1 Pastor: What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

All: That I belong – body and soul, in life and in death –

not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ,

who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins

and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil;

that he protects me so well

that without the will of my Father in heaven

not a hair can fall from my head;

indeed, that everything must fit His purpose for my salvation.

Therefore by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,

and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready

from now on to live for Him. Amen.

Hymn: “I Need Thee Every Hour” #514

(Please be seated)

Remembrance of Baptism

(Following the blessing of the water you are invited to come forward to bless and to be blessed by

another in an act of baptismal remembrance. With another person, take turns dipping your

fingers into the water. Then while making the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead say,

“Remember your baptism and the love with which you have been claimed.”)

Receiving of Tithes and Offerings

(Electronic Giving is available with the GivePlus+ App or through our website “Give” page)

Offertory

Prayers of the People

(Believing in God’s truth, we open ourselves as God’s servants through prayer.)

The Lord’s Prayer All: 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.

And 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, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Announcements & Commissioning

Benediction

(Please rise in body or in spirit)

Sending Hymn: “Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering”

Words Copyright © 1990 Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-714498

Postlude

(May you go with the light of Christ and the presence of the Spirit until we gather again.)

Announcements Feb 9, 2020 Congregational Meeting – Immediately following worship on February 9 we

will be holding a brief congregational meeting, in the sanctuary, to present the 2019 year end

reports and the Feb 22 visioning meeting details. This meeting should not be more than 30

minutes. All are encouraged to attend.

**Computer Wanted for the Church Office - A recent update to our church management

software has made our 15+ year old secondary office computer obsolete. In order to allow our

bookkeeper and administrative assistant to work collaboratively, and to ensure a computer back

up in the event of failure, we would love to receive a donation of a used or new computer. In

order to run the updated church management software the system requirements are:

Processor: Quad-core or better

RAM: 4GB or more

Operating System: 64-bit running Windows 10

Please contact the church office if you have a computer, or know of someone who would be

interested in providing a computer, to support our congregation in its mission.

Mission Trip Birdsboro – Join in leadership made fun! - January begins the major

planning for Mission Trip Birdsboro 2020. If you have ever wondered how to join in, there is no

better time. With a growing leadership team that is uniting eight different organizations our team

is full of individuals with a heart for Christ, an earnest care for others, and a deep passion for this

community. You will be blessed in being a part of this leadership. To learn more come to our January 13

th, 6:30pm meeting held in the CE wing of the church

building (snow date January 27th) or be in touch with Pastor Joe or Dawn Fear who can guide you

in the right direct.

Community Dinner - It was brought to my attention that Russ McClellan, in doing the 2020

community dinner calendar, has placed St Paul's UCC, Birdsboro on for February 25th. I would

be prepared to take the lead on making arrangements for volunteers, food preparations etc. if I can

be assured of support from my church friends for 10 volunteers to commit to doing two teams.

One team from, 10am-4pm, to cook and prepare the food. And the second team, from 4pm-8pm,

to serve and clean up dinner. All decisions regarding the dinner will be decided after the

holidays. A sign-up sheet will be posted on the bulletin on the side door entrance ~ Eloise

Stevens

Weather Cancellation Policy for Worship - Notice of cancellation, whenever possible, will

be posted by Sunday morning at 7:30am on the website, Facebook page, church answering

service message, and WFMZ 69news.

The Life and Ministry of St. Paul’s UCC Sunday, January 12

Hearts Ablaze Worship CE Building –Lg. Meeting Room 9:00am – 1:00pm

Worship Church - Sanctuary 9:30am – 10:45am

Youth CE Classes Church – CE Wing during worship

New Millennium CE Building –Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Monday, January 13 All About Families CE Building – Lower Level 8:00am – 8:00pm

MTB Lg. Meeting Church – CE Wing 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Boy Scouts CE Building – Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Tuesday, January 14

Hearts Ablaze Prayer Meeting CE Building – Lg. Meeting Room 6:30am – 7:30am

All About Families CE Building – Lower Level 8:00am – 8:00pm

Office Open CE Building – Office 8:30am – 12:30pm

Community Table & Food Pantry Birdsboro-Union Fire Dept. 6:00pm – 7:00pm

New First Baptist Food Pantry @ New First Baptist Church 6:00pm – 7:00pm

Wednesday, January 15 / February Newsletter Articles Due All About Families CE Building – Lower Level 8:00am – 8:00pm

Office Open CE Building – Office 8:30am – 12:30pm

Disciple Bible Study CE Building – Primary Room 9:00am – 11:00am

Consistory CE Building – Primary Room 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Hearts Ablaze Youth CE Building – Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Thursday, January 16

All About Families CE Building – Lower Level 8:00am – 8:00pm

Office Open CE Building – Office 8:30am – 12:30pm

Sober @ 6:30 CE Building – Lg. Meeting Room 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Friday, January 17

All About Families CE Building – Lower Level 8:00am – 8:00pm

Beginner’s Meeting CE Building – Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Sunday, January 19

Hearts Ablaze Worship CE Building –Lg. Meeting Room 9:00am – 1:00pm

Worship Church - Sanctuary 9:30am – 10:45am

Youth CE Classes Church – CE Wing during worship

New Millennium CE Building –Lg. Meeting Room 7:00pm – 8:00pm

Flower Dedication

Prayer List Healing

“Tim”

Gary Linnett

The Glasford Family

Steve Hancock

“Adam”

Ryan Kelley

Comfort in Time of Loss

The Family of Edie Nye

The Family of Carol Creami

The Family of Rev. Randal K. Gullickson

The Family of Patrick McDevitt

Ministry Support

The Community of St. Paul’s

Visioning Workshop

Consistory

Joys & Blessings

Seeing the congregation unite and forge a

path for its future

As Well As

The Sanctity of Marriage

All who are Hurting

Long Term Care Support

Kokila Shah

Margie & Dom Amodei

Phil McGraph

Lee & Margie Baker

Dick Swavely

Bill Nuss

Fred Miller

John Miller

David Miller

Prayer List Guidelines: To add someone to the Prayer List, please complete the “Connection Card” that is in your bulletin.

Due to privacy concerns, it is necessary to receive an individual’s consent before their name can be placed on the prayer list. If you are unable to get their consent, but would like the Pastor to be aware, you

are invited to share the name privately.