Calendar

Order of Worship

Service for the Lord’s Day

Prelude                                                           I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light

Setting by Wayne L. Wold

Kathleen Thomerson, author and composer, wrote this hymn in 1966 on a visit to The Church of the Redeemer in Houston, Texas; the location providing the tune name HOUSTON. Today’s prelude is an effective setting of Thomerson’s hymn by composer Wayne L. Wold. The simplicity of both hymn tune and text communicates deep conviction and a childlike faith while making numerous references to luminosity, making this a perfect choice for Epiphany.

God set the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus.

† Call to Worship

The Lord, the keeper of every moment in eternity
invites us to come, not only to hear words which can transform us,
but to fill us with grace and hope.

We are here to respond to that call,
willing to be carried away from the familiar ways of our lives.  

The One who walks with us on our journeys, in the midst of our harried lives,
calls us to lay aside all that entangles us, to follow Christ into service to others.

God invites us to step into the waters of life and hope, reaching out to draw others to our side, so that together we might enter Christ’s kin-dom of laughter and joy. 

† Hymn #610                                                         “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

God of procrastinating prophets, we can spend so much time waiting for the perfect moment, that we might miss the chance to help one another. We may worry so much about saying the right thing, that we say nothing to encourage a person who needs such words. We may be so wrapped up in dealing with the stresses of life, that we have no time to deal with your hopes and dreams for us.

Forgive us, God of second chances. By your grace, we can hear your words of compassion and forgiveness; by your mercy, we can place our feet back on the path of discipleship; by your love we are welcomed as your children by our Brother and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Pardon

If it can happen in Nineveh, repentance and forgiveness can happen in us; if God can call a stubborn person like Jonah, God can call us to lives of faithful discipleship.

We will lay aside all our fears and doubts, all our worries and resistance, so we can follow Jesus, trusting always in the One who forgives us, in this moment, and all the moments to come. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

† Response of praise: Hymn #721, verse 1   “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”

† Passing of the Peace

Life in Community

Come in your faith, and in your doubt! If you are joining us for the first time, we invite you to share your information by scanning the QR code. We would love to connect.

Upcoming events and recent announcements are available in the back of the bulletin and on our website at catonsvillepres.org.

Proclaiming the Word

Children’s Message

Prayer for Illumination

God who creates us and calls to us, by the power of your Holy Spirit, enable us to hear your Word, and embolden us to respond faithfully as we seek to follow Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Scripture                                                                              Jonah (interactive story)

Scripture                                                                                                 Mark 1:14-20

Sermon                                                                          “Stepping Out, Stepping Up” Dorothy Boulton

Responding to the Word

Response                                                                            From A Declaration of Faith

In forming his people and sending them into the world Jesus called individuals to be disciples. They were to share the joy of his companionship, to understand and obey his teachings, and to follow him in life and death.

We confess that Christians today are called to discipleship. Life shared with Christ and shaped by Christ is God’s undeserved gift to each of us. It is also God’s demand upon every one of us, never perfectly fulfilled by any of us. Forgiven by God and supported by our siblings in Christ, we strive to become more faithful and effective in our daily practice of the Christian life.

Call to Offering

Offering of Tithes and Gifts

Offertory                                                  Dear Lord and Father, C. Hubert H. Parry

Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord, Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness, till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!

† 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, change our hearts and our lives. Renew us by your good news. Use the gifts we bring for your holy work of transformation, as we seek to go where Jesus leads us. 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 #726                                  “Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)”

† Benediction

Postlude                                                             As With Gladness, Men of Old (DIX), Setting by Wayne L. Wold.

As with Gladness, Men of Old is an Epiphany hymn about the visit of the Biblical magi to the young child, Jesus. William Chatterton Dix penned the hymn on January 6, 1859, while recuperating in bed from an extended illness. The settings of today’s prelude and postlude were written by Wayne L. Wold, an esteemed organist and composer with over 400 published organ and choral works. Wold is Director of Music and Organist at First Evangelical Lutheran Church just down the road in Ellicott City Maryland, Professor Emeritus of Music and Chapel Organist at Hood College, and adjunct faculty at Shenandoah University. He served as Organist for many years at the Presidential Retreat at Camp David and is a former teacher and friend.

Sources

Image: Jan Richardson, Jonah’s Blessing.

Interactive Jonah story by Cindy Fritz and Peter Horn.

The 197th General Assembly (PCUSA, 1985) made its own the action of the 177th General Assembly (PCUS, 1977) with reference to A Declaration of Faith which is as follows: “That A Declaration of Faith be adopted as a contemporary statement of faith, a reliable aid for Christian study, liturgy, and inspiration . . . ” (Minutes, PCUS, 1977, Part I, p. 168), with the understanding that only the current Book of Confessions has constitutional standing.

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).

The Presbyterian Outlook, Stephanie Sorge, ed. Teri McDowell Ott (Richmond, VA: 2024).

Where the Broken Gather: Lectionary Resources for RCL Year B, Thom M. Shuman, 2014

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

Worship 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

Vickie Lord
Social media support

Bill Henderson
Liturgist

Learning & Growing

Access the articles for Adult Education at catonsvillepres.org/belonging

Perils and Promise of the Pulpit

Sunday, January 21 | Led by Ken Kovacs | 9:00 a.m. in the Library

Thomas Long, the “dean” of American Protestant preachers, former professor of preaching at Princeton Seminary and Candler Divinity School at Emory, wrote an essay in The Presbyterian Outlook, which has received a lot of attention: The Perilous and Promising Pulpit.

Long believes, “In a new and disturbing way, preaching has become perilous.” But there’s room for promise when we remember what is really going on when a congregation faithfully and courageously listens for the Word of God.

Thursday Morning Bible Study

January 25 | Led by Ken Kovacs | 10:30 a.m. in the Library

TMBS continues this week on the upcoming lectionary texts.  Join us at 10:30 a.m. in the library.  We’ll take a break for several weeks and then resume with a new study for Lent. Look for details.

Middle and High School Youth

January 21 | After worship in the Fellowship Hall

Middle and high school youth are invited to a Mardi Gras pancake lunch! After worship on Sunday, January 21, we’ll make pancakes, play some games, and meet with confirmands. Youth group will wrap up around 1:30 p.m.

Announcements

This week: Plant-based Potluck

There’s still time to RSVP for our plant-based potluck on January 27 at 5:30 p.m.! Contact Laurie White today to let her know you’re coming or if you can help set up or clean up.

Envision Board “Bouncers”

The Envision Grant deadline of March 1 is rapidly approaching and now is the time to start thinking about the process of applying. Next Sunday (January 28), board members will be in the Fellowship Hall to help you develop your idea and answer any questions about the application process. Please stop by even if you’re unsure you have an idea. Think of us as a sounding board. We’d love to hear what you are dreaming about.

Catonsville Concerts at 3 News

Elizabeth Yeoh-Wang performs at today’s Catonsville Concerts at 3 program. Known for her performances of both standard harp repertoire and her own transcriptions, Elizabeth holds degrees from the New England Conservatory and Harvard University.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to the Concerts at 3 email list. You’ll be reminded before upcoming events and be the first to know about new concerts. Visit tinyurl.com/concerts3 to sign up.

Congregational Meeting

Session has called for the Annual Congregational Meeting to take place immediately following worship on Sunday, January 28. The purpose of this meeting is to receive the 2024 budget, review the pastors’ Terms of Call for 2024, and any other business the congregation wishes to address.

Pastors’ Schedules

Dorothy Boulton is attending the annual APCE Christian educator’s conference and will be out of the office beginning Tuesday, January 23 and will return for worship on Sunday, January 28. Ken Kovacs will be out of the office beginning Tuesday, January 30, and will return for worship on Sunday, February 18. He will be traveling to Zürich, Switzerland, to continue his studies at the C.G. Jung Institute.

Child Care Registration This Week

Reminder to all families currently enrolled at FCCC that registration is this week! Register any time from 7 a.m. on Monday, January 22 to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 28 to secure your spot for summer camp and school year 2024-2025! Visit cpcfccc.org for details. Church members, returning campers, and new families will register beginning Monday, February 12 for any remaining spots.