A welcoming community of joy, worship, and compassion

bringing God's love to the world.

by Daydream Studios

"Then God said, 'Let us make humankind in our image....'" Genesis 1:26

“True freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are

meant to be. Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom,

then, is not found in moving away from that image but only in living it

out.” ~ Augustine of Hippo

Made in the Image of God: Word, Art, Music

03 January, 2021

9:30 a.m.

Intercession Episcopal & Redeemer Lutheran

900 Brilowski Road Stevens Point WI

www.belovedcommunitysp.org

Look for Beloved Community Stevens Point on Facebook

http://www.belovedcommunitysp.org/

Welcome to the Beloved Community! We are so glad to have you here with us. We are a community of faith who are grounded in the ELCA Lutheran and Episcopal traditions and who are centered in Jesus. We believe we are called to LOVE (working toward the good for another) because God so loves us and all of Creation. No exceptions. No outsiders. We are a mixed bag of pilgrims, so here at the BC, you will have a vibrant experience. Some folks like to be more formal; some folks like to be less formal. Some folks like contemporary band music; some folks like hymns. Because we deeply believe in hospitality, our worship services strive to include the spectrum of who we are as God’s people based on the gifts present within our community. We recognize that people use different ways to express their faith and their beliefs, so we don’t expect everyone to pray exactly the same way. However, we are also a people grounded in the words and ways of the first apostles (apostolic); this means some of our prayers have been lifted by voices for thousands of years by a myriad of pilgrims. It is this sense of catholic (meaning the church worldwide and throughout time) that connects us to the past as well as to the future. This also provides a sense of unity and oneness as we listen and respond to the Living Word to shape how we see and listen and respond to the world and our neighbors in the present time. And all this because we are holy, which means we are called and inspired by the divine (as all people are) to live into the way of LOVE. This is who we are, who we are becoming, and who we are practicing to be. We won’t always get it absolutely right, but we will keep on trying and leaning in. We would love to have you join us!

Music reprinted under OneLicense #A-726736; CCLI #11172100; The Rite Song Copyright © 2009, Church

Publishing Incorporated; Augsburg Fortress #SB137235. Texts from Sundays & Seasons; Enriching Our

Worship 1; The Book of Common Prayer; Eucharistic Prayers, © 2016 Samuel Wells & Abigail Kocher; Book

of Occasional Services 2003 © 2004, The Church Pension Fund. All rights reserved.

Prelude/Centering Song Love Came Down at Christmas

Jesus of the People by Janet McKenzie

Story John 1:1-5 (CEB) Reader: Jane Johnson

The Trinity by Kelly Lattimore

Song Night of Silence/Silent Night

1. Cold are the people, winter of life,

We tremble in shadows this cold endless night,

Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping,

Flowers that will echo the sunrise,

Fire of hope is our only warmth,

Weary, its flame will be dying soon.

2. Voice in the distance, call in the night,

On wind you enfold us, you speak of the light,

Gentle on the ear you whisper softly,

Rumors of a dawn so embracing,

Breathless love awaits darkened souls,

Soon will we know of the morning.

3. Spirit among us, shine like the star,

Your light that guides shepherds and kings from afar,

Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely,

Rising in the warmth of your Son's love,

Star unknowing of night and day,

Spirit we wait for your loving Son.

4. Silent night, holy night,

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,

Holy Infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Text of Night of Silence: Daniel Kantor, b.1960, © 1984, GIA Publications, Inc.

Story Luke 2:6-7 (CEB) Reader: Carol Chmielewski

Indigenous Madonna by Sonia Lopez-Chavez

Song Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

1 'Twas in the moon of wintertime

when all the birds had fled,

that mighty Gitchi Manitou

sent angel choirs instead;

before their light the stars grew dim,

and wond'ring hunters heard the hymn:

Refrain

Jesus your king is born! Jesus is born,

in excelsis gloria!

2 Within a lodge of broken bark

the tender babe was found;

a ragged robe of rabbit skin

enwrapped his beauty round;

but as the hunter braves drew nigh,

the angel song rang loud and high: Refrain

4 O children of the forest free,

the angel-song is true;

the holy child of earth and heav'n

is born today for you.

Come, kneel before the radiant boy,

who brings you beauty, peace, and joy. Refrain

Text: Jean de Brébeuf, 1593-1649; tr. Jesse E. Middleton, 1872-1960, alt.

Text © 1927 The Frederick Harris Music Company. All rights reserved.

Story Luke 2:15-20 (KJV) Reader: Carol McCarrier

Madonna and Child Hope for the World

by Patricia Brintle

Song I Wonder As I Wander

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die

For poor ord-n’ry people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus, all in a cow’s stall

Came wise men and farmers and shepherds and all

And high from the heavens a star’s light did fall

The promise of the ages it did then recall

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing

A star in the sky or a bird on the wing

Or all of God's angels in heaven to sing

He surely could have had it ‘cause He was the King

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die

For poor ord-n’ry people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky

CCLI Song # 4106957

Text: Appalachian carol, collected by John Jacob Niles, 1892-1980

© 1934 (renewed) by G. Schirmer, Inc. (A.S.C.P.)

https://www.greatbigcanvas.com/category/brintle-patricia/?ref=also-in-cat

Story Matthew 2:13-15 (CEB) Reader: Valerie Le Grande

Jose y Maria by Everett Patterson

Song Carol of the Refugee Children

Away and in danger, no hope of a bed,

the refugee children, no tears left to shed

look up at the night sky for someone to know

that refugee children have no place to go.

The babies are crying, their hunger awakes,

the boat is too loaded, it shudders and breaks;

humanity's wreckage is thrown out to die,

the refugee children will never know why.

Come close, little children, we hold out our hand

in rescue and welcome to shores of our land -

in touching, in healing your fear and your pain,

with dreams for your future when peace comes again.

Words: Shirley Erena Murray © 2016 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol

Stream, IL 60188

Story Matthew 25:44-45 (the Message) Reader: Judi Cumley

Homeless Jesus by Timothy Schmalz

Song Carol of the Manger

1 Holy Child within the manger,

long ago yet ever near;

come as friend to ev’ry stranger,

come as hope for ev’ry fear.

As you lived to heal the broken,

greet the outcast, free the bound,

as you taught us love unspoken,

teach us now where you are found.

2 Once again we tell the story--

how your love for us was shown,

when the image of your glory

wore an image like our own.

Come, enlighten with your wisdom,

come and fill us with your grace.

May the fire of your compassion

kindle ev’ry land and race.

3 Holy Child within the manger,

lead us ever in your way,

so we see in ev’ry stranger

how you come to us today.

In our lives and in our living

give us strength to live as you,

that our hearts might be forgiving

and our spirits strong and true.

Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950

© 1987 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Story Isaiah 55:12-13 (the Message) Reader: Deb McCabe

Cathedral Fall by Philippe Sainte-Laudy

Song Joy to the World

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her king;

let ev'ry heart prepare him room

and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n and nature sing,

and heav'n, and heav'n and nature sing.

2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let all their songs employ,

while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,

repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 No more let sin and sorrow grow

nor thorns infest the ground;

he comes to make his blessings flow

far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found,

far as, far as the curse is found.

4 He rules the world with truth and grace

and makes the nations prove

the glories of his righteousness

and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love,

and wonders, wonders of his love.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Final Reading “When the Song of the Angels is Stilled” by Howard Thurman

Reader: Jane Johnson

Jesus of the People by Janet McKenzie

in Praying Color

~from prayingincolor.com

Praying Color in

~from prayingincolor.com