Berwyn Presbyterian ChurchSecond Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday, January 17, 2021                                 10:30 am

  

THE GATHERING Let all enter worship in a spirit of prayer.

Please remember to turn off your cell phones for worship.

Prelude “O God, You Search Me and You Know Me”   Bernadette Farrell

Ringing of the Hour 

Prelude “Lead Me, Guide Me” Doris Akers

Welcome                         Rev. Laura Hollister                        

Call to Worship              Pearl Meh-Kangha

      Leader:   Come and see the grace of God,      People:    Christ our teacher and our friend.      Leader:   Come and see the son of God,      People:   Christ our healer and salvation.

Leader: God is moving in this place.People: Come and see! Come and see.

Hymn GG 443 “There Is a Redeemer”

Call to Confession                  

Prayer of Confession                         God of abundant mercy, you embodied love for us in the life of Jesus Christ. You ate with sinners and shared with outcasts. You loved with boldness and healed with grace. Forgive us, O God, when we do not trust your love: when we doubt whether we are worthy of your care. Forgive us, O God, when we try to cheapen love: when we limit it to shallow feelings instead of bold actions. Help us, O God, when we cannot feel your love, when we are isolated, afraid, and unable to see your presence. Forgive us, O God, of the ways we fall short. Free us to try again, and let your love lead the way.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness                                                                       Gwen Mufor                     

The Peace                      Leader:  May the peace of the risen Christ be with you always.       People:  And also with you.

(Please share the peace with a few neighbors.)

Welcome Song    “You’re Welcome in the Name of the Lord” Trad’l Cameroonian

You’re welcome in the name of the Lord, you’re welcome in the name of the Lord,For we see in you the glory of the Lord, you’re welcome in the name of the Lord.

We love you in the name of the Lord (repeat)

                                                                                                                     THE WORD                                                           Prayer for Illumination           Gwen Mufor                                                                            

1 Sam. 3:1-10 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Hear what the Lord is saying to the Church!Amen

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18                                                                                 Eleanor Meh-KanghaO LORD, you have searched me and known me.You know when I sit down and when I rise up;you discern my thoughts from far away.

You search out my path and my lying down,and are acquainted with all my ways.Even before a word is on my tongue,O LORD, you know it completely.You hem me in, behind and before,and lay your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;it is so high that I cannot attain it.

For it was you who formed my inward parts;you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;that I know very well.My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth.Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.In your book were writtenall the days that were formed for me,when none of them as yet existed.How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!How vast is the sum of them!I try to count them—they are more than the sand;I come to the end—I am still with you.

Hear what the Lord is saying to the Church!  Amen

Children’s Message                            Rev. Laura Hollister

John 1:43-51The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

This is the word of the Lord!Thanks be to God!

Sermon When God Calls...

Hymn GG 298 “Lord, You Give the Great Commission”

Sharing of Prayer Concerns/Morning Prayer      

Ordination and Installation of Officers

SERVICE OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION

PRESENTATION OF THE INCOMING ELDERS AND DEACONS:

Those who are being installed and/or ordained come forward to the baptismal font.

Pastor:   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People:  And also with you. 

Pastor:  As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

People: There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called into the one hope of our calling.

Pastor:   In baptism, Rose, Kadie, Alain, Nicholas, and Lydia, are clothed with Christ, and are now called by God through the voice of the church to enter into ministries of service and governance, announcing in word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ.

People: We remember with joy our common calling to serve Christ, and we support and celebrate God’s particular call to our brothers and sisters.

ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION: 

SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE

Pastor:    There are varieties of gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them.People:  There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord

who is served.

Pastor: God works through each person in a unique way, but it is God’s purpose that is accomplished.

People:   To each are given gifts of the Spirit, to be used for the common good.

Pastor: Together we are the body of Christ. Individually, we are the body’s members.

 PASTOR’S STATEMENT REGARDING ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION              

 REAFFIRMATION OF THE BAPTISMAL COVENANT

 RENUNCIATIONS

Trusting in the gracious mercy of God, do you turn from the ways of sin and renounce evil and its power in the world?

I do. 

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, trusting in His grace and love?

I do.

Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying His Word and showing His loveI will, with God’s help. 

PROFESSION OF FAITH

Pastor:  Do you believe in God the Father, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and in the Holy Spirit?

People: answer with the Apostles Creed, as follows:I believe in God, the Father Almighty,the Maker of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,    was crucified, dead, and buried;He descended into hell. 

The third day He arose again from the dead;He ascended into heaven,

     and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;     from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost;    the holy catholic church;     the communion of saints;    the forgiveness of sins;     the resurrection of the body;     and the life everlasting.

Amen. 

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM 

ANOINTING

Pastor:  Remember your baptism and be thankful, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Pastor prays for candidates 

[Rose, Kadie, Alain, Nicholas, and Lydia, children of the covenant, I sign you with the cross that you may remember your baptism and be thankful.] 

Candidate responds: Thanks be to God. 

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS

Those being installed answer the questions required by the Constitution of the PC(USA).

Pastor: Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge Him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through Him believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?I do.

Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you?I do. 

Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church, as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scriptures leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?I do and I will. 

Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions?I will. 

Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit?I will. 

Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?I will. 

Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?I do. 

Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love?I will. 

To Elders:

Will you be a faithful elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Christ Jesus?I will. 

To Deacons:

Deacons, will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help to the friendless and those in need?  In your ministry, will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?I will. 

Session Representative addresses the congregation: 

Do we, the members of this church, accept Rose, Kadie, Alain, Nicholas, and Lydia as elders and deacons, chosen by God through the voice of the congregation, to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ?We do. 

Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ who alone is Head of the Church?We do. 

PRAYERS OF ORDINATION, PRAYER FOR DEACONS AND ELDERS, AND VIRTUAL LAYING-ON-OF-HANDS 

Pastor:  For your servants in every age, O God, and for the church of Jesus Christ, we give you thanks and praise. 

All present may pray together:

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon your servants whom you called through baptism as your own and marked as your own.  Grant them the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Give them a spirit of truthfulness that they may show the compassion of Christ in their actions of daily living and rightly govern your people.

 Give them the gifts of your Holy Spirit to build up the church, to strengthen the common life of your people, and to lead with compassion and vision. In the walk of faith and for the work of ministry, give to your servants gladness and strength, discipline and hope, humility, humor and courage, and an abiding sense of your presence.  Amen.

The laying on of hands is concluded. 

DECLARATION OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION 

WELCOME

We greet those newly installed. 

CHARGE

Incoming Elders and Deacons remain standing for the charge.                                             

The Lord’s Prayer (traditional)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.     

Announcements                                     Rev. Laura Hollister

THE THANKSGIVING

Call for the Offering             Gwen Mufor              Prayer of Dedication            

THE SENDING Hymn GG 442 “Just As I Am”

Benediction                                             

Congregational Response “Come, Holy Spirit, Come”       Wilson Niwagila

(Refrain from GG-287 “Gracious Spirit”)

Postlude “Lord, Prepare Me”         Thompson and Scruggs

Thank you for joining us for worship today. We are delighted for the opportunity to worship God with you.  Please feel at home and join us again. Visitors are encouraged to drop us a line at our church website: https://berwynpresbyterianchurch.net, or to write to the church email address: berwyn.office@gmail.org. We would love to be in touch. 

Leading Worship Today:Rev. Laura Hollister, PastorDr. Gabriel Ruiz-Bernal, Music Director Gwen Mufor, Worship AssociatePearl and Eleanor Meh-Kangha, Worship AssistantsPeggy Sisson, Clerk of Session

Supporting Worship Today:Zandra Brown, cameraFaithyn Chukundah, Facebook moderatorBruce Murray, soundboardMembers of the Choir (recorded music)

Hymns and lyrics reprinted in this bulletin are the property of the respective copyright holder(s).Hymns and lyrics are reprinted with permission under CCLI license #A-2918022. All rights reserved.   Permission to stream music in this service obtained from CCLI license #A-20900318. All rights reserved.   

All scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible.

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BERWYN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

6301 Greenbelt Road, Berwyn Heights, MD 20740 Website: www.berwynpresbyterian.net   ▪  Email: berwyn.office@gmail.com

Music: http://berwynmusic.com