PRELUDE
“Wie Schoen Leuchtet der Morgenstern Op. 22” Neils W. Gade
“Wie Schoen Leucht’ uns der Morgenstern” and “Jesu Meine Freude” Joseph Ahrens
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“Morning Hymn” Iverson
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Gregg Neel
In the beginning our God created the light.
Morning broke open on the first day.
This God of ours sent the light.
Jesus the Christ came to the world’s people.
Morning light opens for us.
God’s Light illumines our lives, and opens us to worship this day.
Written by Ruth C. Duck (died 12/26/2024)
*HYMN #151
“We Three Kings of Orient Are” KINGS OF ORIENT
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never over us to all reign.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a deity nigh;
Prayer and praising gladly raising, worshiping God Most High.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
Glorious now behold him arise, King and God and Sacrifice:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION Junha Kim
It has been said that when we announce our accomplishments, we make ourselves competitors. But when we confess our sins together, we are among friends. So, let us make our confession to God together, first in silent prayer.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, we confess that we forget who we are. We don’t listen for a still small voice. We walk with our heads down and miss all the stars that could be ours, but we know, O God, that you are a God of Hope, a Shepherd-God who looks for lost sheep, a faithful God who keeps calling us in spite of our deafness, a God who enters our history and opens our eyes and heals our blindness. Help us to receive your presence this day and all our days. Amen.
(Adapted from Searching for Shalom by Anne Weems)
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Grace upon grace; mercy upon mercy; hope upon hope: these are the gifts God pours out on us in this moment, and all the moments of our lives to come.
Thanks be to God! We are filled to overflowing with God’s light and love. We are forgiven! Amen.
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION
THE SCRIPTURE READING The Rev. Gregg Neel
John 1:1-18
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN Junha Kim
SERMON The. Rev. Gregg Neel
“The Word is Love”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
(Text 73256 the word WESTPRESPDX to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply. If you’re new to Westminster, please let us know by filling out a pink visitor card and dropping it in the offering plate. Thank you.)
OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“With a Voice of Singing” Martin Shaw
With a voice of singing, declare ye this and let it be heard. Alleluia.
Utter it even unto the ends of the earth.
The Lord hath delivered his people, Alleluia.
O be joyful in God, all ye lands.
O sing praise to the honor of his name, make his praise to be glorious.
Declare ye this and let it be heard. Alleluia!
*DOXOLOGY – Hymn #606
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.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE Junha Kim
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING The Rev. Eileen Parfrey
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is a joy to give you thanks, holy God. In power and with hope you created all that is, stars, water, doves, night and day, and rule in love over all these things. Throughout the ages you have called us, your people, to serve you and to be as light among the nations. In the fullness of time, you sent your son, Jesus, to be the light of the world, to heal us of our brokenness, and to set before us the ways of justice and peace.
Therefore we praise you, and join our voices with the angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven, who have gone from us to you. We join our voices with our sibling in Christ, Clois McCarter, and with all the faithful as they sing of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is Jesus, born to dwell among us, full of grace and truth. He set our example: to live for you, to speak your truth, to show your love, to give ourselves for others.
Remembering him, and all your gracious acts in Jesus Christ, we ask that you would pour our Holy Spirit among us and upon this bread and this cup; that the bread we break and the cup we bless would become for us His body and blood.
Illumine our hearts with the radiance of Christ’s presence, that our lives may show forth his love in this weary world. Teach us to befriend the lost, to serve the poor, to reconcile our enemies, and to love our neighbors, until that day when you complete the creation and redemption of the world. We pray together the Lord’s Prayer:
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
On the night before the Lord Jesus died, he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed with my life, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.
RECEIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP AND THE EPIPHANY STARS
(Today, the congregation is invited to come forward to receive communion. Someone will hand you a piece of bread, which you will eat. You may then move to the next person, who will hand you a cup of juice, which you will drink. As you return to your pew, you may put your cup in the basket. Then, you may take a star and discover your guiding word for this new year. For those unable to come forward, a pastor will bring you the elements.)
COMMUNION MUSIC
“Behold a Star from Jacob Shining” Felix Mendelssohn
Behold a star from Jacob shining, and a scepter from Israel rising,
To reign in glory over the nations.
Like some bright morning star is he; The promise of the coming day,
Beyond the night of sorrow. Break forth, O Light!
We, our joyful hearts uplifting with thanksgiving.
Hail the brightness of Thy rising.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION The Rev. Gregg Neel
Almighty God, you have filled us with the Light of the Word, who became flesh and lived among us. Let that light of faith shine in all we do; through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Light, our hope and salvation and guide. Amen.
*HYMN #136
“Go, Tell It on the Mountain” GO TELL IT
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
The shepherds feared and trembled when lo! Above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus that hailed our Savior’s birth.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Gregg Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Finale-Allegro from Organ Sonata No. 1 in F” Felix Mendelssohn