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Second Sunday after Epiphany
- Date: Sunday, January 14, 2024
- Time: 10:30am–11:30am
- Location: Sanctuary
Order of Worship
January 14, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Prelude: Adagio from Concerto in A Minor, BWV 593, J. S. Bach
This work for solo organ is Bach’s transcription of Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Violins, Op. 3 No. 8. It was common during the Baroque era for composers to transcribe one another’s works, and Bach himself was an indefatigable transcriber, which explains his mastery of many styles despite not traveling more than 200 miles from his birthplace during his lifetime.
*Call to Worship
(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)
Jesus says:
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Come, let us worship God!
*Hymn #734, “Hope of the World”
1. Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion:
speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent;
save us, thy people, from consuming passion,
who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.
2. Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven,
bringing to hungry souls the bread of life:
still let thy Spirit unto us be given
to heal earth’s wounds and end our bitter strife.
3. Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways,
showing to wandering souls the path of light:
walk thou beside us lest the tempting byways
lure us away from thee to endless night.
4. Hope of the world, who by thy cross didst save us
from death and deep despair, from sin and guilt:
we render back the love thy mercy gave us;
take thou our lives and use them as thou wilt.
5. Hope of the world, O Christ, o’er death victorious,
who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain:
we would be faithful to thy gospel glorious;
thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign!
Prayer of Adoration
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have wandered from your way of truth and life.
You call us to share all that we have and work together for the common good, but we hoard up treasures for ourselves and deny others their daily bread.
You call us to set the captives free and seek justice for the oppressed, but we live in fear of our neighbors and hide ourselves from our own kin.
You call us to walk in newness of life and to be witnesses to the resurrection, but we dwell in the valley of dry bones and keep silent about your saving love.
Forgive us, God of grace. Set us free from sin, death and fear
so that we may serve you with gladness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Silent prayer of confession
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news:
God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
*Response of Praise: Hymn #582 (“Glory To God, Whose Goodness Shines on me”)
1. Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
2. World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Life in Community
Thank you for joining us for worship! Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week. If you’re joining us for the first time or would like to learn more about Catonsville Presbyterian, you’re welcome to share your email with us. We’ll send some information that will help you get connected.
Children’s Message
Hymn #486 (Verses 1-3): “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”
1. Child of blessing, child of promise,
baptized with the Spirit’s sign,
with this water God has sealed you
unto love and grace divine.
2. Child of love, our love’s expression,
love’s creation, loved indeed!
Fresh from God, refresh our spirits;
into joy and laughter lead.
3. Child of joy, our dearest treasure,
God’s you are, from God you came.
Back to God we humbly give you:
live as one who bears Christ’s name.
Sacrament of Baptism
Presentation
*Profession of Faith
Do you, as members of the church of Jesus Christ, promise to guide and nurture Carolina Paola Chame Maxwell, by word and deed, with love and prayer? We do.
Will you encourage her to know and follow Christ and to be a faithful member of his church? We will.
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Baptism
The Welcome
Hymn #486 (Verse 4): “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”
4. Child of God, your loving Parent,
learn to listen for God’s call.
Grow to laugh and sing and worship;
trust and love God more than all.
Prayer for Illumination
Speak to us, O God, with the voice of your Holy Spirit, that we may know the way of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”
Sermon: “The Least of These,” Ken Kovacs
Call to Offering
Offering of Tithes and Gifts
Offertory: Down By the Riverside, Traditional Spiritual, Arr. Moses Hogan
Gonna lay down my burden down by the riverside
to study war no more.
I ain’t gonna study war no more.
Gonna lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside
to study war no more.
I ain’t gonna study war no more!
*Doxology #607, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
Holy God, these offerings are only a portion of all that you have given us. We gratefully present these gifts and entrust them to your work in this world. May our gifts share the good news of the gospel to those who are in need. May these gifts help unburden those with the heaviest of loads. Amen.
Prayers of the People & The 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;
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, forever. Amen.
Hymn #757, “Today We are All Called to Be Disciples”
1. Today we all are called to be
disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captive free,
make plowshare out of sword,
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst,
make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first,
our ease and comfort last.
2. God made the world and at its birth
ordained our human race
to live as stewards of the earth,
responding to God’s grace.
But we are vain and sadly proud;
we sow not peace but strife.
Our discord spreads a deadly cloud
that threatens all of life.
3. Pray justice may come rolling down
as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town
to cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore
an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for
a harmony of peace.
4. May we in service to our God
act out the living word,
and walk the road the saints have trod
till all have seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth may we
give thanks in one accord
to God who calls us all to be
disciples of the Lord.
Charge and Benediction
*Postlude: His Name is So Sweet, Setting by Richard Bilingham
This African American spiritual, “I’ve Just Come from the Fountain” refers to Jesus as the source of comfort and healing, and the fount of all good things. Turning to him, expressing love for him, is like drinking sweet, fresh water from a fountain. (Source: “In Their Own Words: Slave Life and Spirituals,” by Dr. Eileen Guenther).
I’ve just come from the fountain,
I’ve just come from the fountain, Lord.
I’ve just come from the fountain,
His name’s so sweet.
Participants
- Dorothy Boulton, Associate Pastor
- Keith and Kathy Glennan, A/V Production
- Wendy Johnston, Organist and Assistant Director of Music
- Greg Knauf, Director of Music
- Ken Kovacs, Pastor
- Leo Chame Maxwell, Acolyte
- Vickie Lord, Social media support
- Cheryl Thurber, Liturgist
Sources
- Call to Worship: Liturgy, Music, Preaching, and the Arts, Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Theology and Worship (Louisville: Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, 2023).
- Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).
- Matthew 25 worship resources, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), (Louisville, KY).
- The Presbyterian Outlook, ed. Teri McDowell Ott (Richmond, VA: 2024).
- Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071