Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: The Interrupted Church
Prelude Danseuses de Delphes” (Dancers at Delphi) C. Debussy (1862-1918)
January – By the Fireside P. I. Tchaikowsky (1840-1893)
Welcome
Call to Worship
One: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
All: Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into God’s presence with singing!
One: Know that the Lord is God! It is God that made us, and we belong to God;
All: We are God’s people, and the sheep of God’s pasture.
One: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and God’s courts with praise!
All: Give thanks to God, Bless God’s Holy name! God’s steadfast love endures forever.
*Opening Hymn No. 288 I Sing the Mighty Power of God
*Prayer of Invocation and Joy (unison)
Open our hearts, O God. We seek not to escape from the world but to see it in a new way and in seeing to understand. WE come together with questions, but we do not know how to share. We come also to celebrate but the anxiety of our daily lives over comes us. Renew in us now, O God, the strength to let your demands upon us live in our hearts and the peace to celebrate in compassion, openness, and deep joy, Amen
Scripture Reading Micah 6:6-8
Christian Education Feeding the Hungry Wendy Donnell
Gospel Reading Matthew 4:18-23
Morning Meditation Rev. June Cooper
Anthem Let them Ever Sing for Joy Kent Newbury
Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer (“Our father and mother… trespasses”)
*Hymn of Departure No. 377 Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore
*Assurance and Blessing
Postlude February – Carnival P. I. Tchaikowsky (1840-1893)
*Please stand if able
During this time of covid caution we welcome all
to safe, cautious congregational assembly.
It is good to worship together.
To care for one another we wear masks
(except for worship leaders while they are speaking/singing)
and note that all of our leaders are vaccinated.
Cleaning has increased and we welcome your questions.
We have a touch-free offering today
That is, you may leave a gift in the basket,
deliver an envelope after worship, send a gift
via email or online, or any touch-free method you wish
Newton Highlands Congregational Church, UCC
54 Lincoln Street, Newton, MA
www.nhcc.net 617 527 3898
Thanks to worship leader Rev. June Cooper, Wendy Donnell, Lynd Matt, technical support Misha Hill, deacons Yumiko Matsuoka and Joy Huber.
NHCC is an Open and Affirming, Still Speaking congregation where all are welcome regardless of the divisions or separations that some in society would impose: whoever you are you are welcome in God’s house. “In Christ we are a new creation,” so we are blessed to be together in Christ’s name.