Gary United Methodist Church

Epiphany Sunday

January 7, 2018 9:00 & 11:00 AM

*Please stand as you are able.

Congregation reads bold print.

Congregational song books are the hard cover Hymnal and the smaller flexible book,

The Faith We Sing, both found in the pew racks.

Prelude

(9:00) I Know that My Redeemer Lives based on ANTIOCH

Dale Wood

I know that my Redeemer lives, Glory, Hallelujah!

What comfort this sweet sentence gives, Glory, Hallelujah!

(11:00) I Sing the Mighty Power of God ELLACOMBE

Altar Bells arr. Kimberly Morton

Mission and Ministry at Gary Church

*Call to Worship

We gather in the name of the living Christ to worship God.

Surely, God is in this place and calls us to worship in spirit and

in truth.

God’s love is for you and for all people everywhere.

That we may share God’s love and life, may we be renewed in

the refreshing Spirit of the living Christ.

The living Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

*Hymn I Sing the Almighty Power of God 152

(9:00) During the hymn, children Preschool 3’s–Grade 3 are invited to come forward

to proceed with their leaders to the lower level for Kids’ Church. Children will

return to the Sanctuary during the hymn prior to Communion.

(11:00) Children are invited to worship with their families during this service.

Children’s bulletins and activity bags are available from the ushers.

Childcare is available for newborn–2 yrs. from 8:45 a.m.–12 p.m. on the lower level.

*Hymn This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now 608

(9:00) During the hymn, children Preschool 3’s–Grade 3 will return to

the Sanctuary to join their families.

Invitation

Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly

repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore,

let us confess our sin before God and one another.

Confession and Pardon

Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our

whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have

not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled

against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have

not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for

joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving 13

Sharing the Bread and the Cup

Communion Hymns

The congregation is invited to sing the communion hymns or to meditate silently.

Break Thou the Bread of Life 599

Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine 606

Breathe on Me, Breath of God 420

O Thou Who This Mysterious Bread 613

*Hymn Be Thou My Vision 451

*Benediction

*Postlude OLD HUNDREDTH arr. David N. Johnson

Opening Prayer

O God, we rejoice in your grace, given and received. We thank

you that you claim us, wash us, strengthen us, guide us, and that

you empower us to live a life worthy of our calling. In the way of

Jesus, make us as water in a dry and thirsty world. Establish us

to be places of refreshment. Root us and nurture us in love, that

with all your people, we may rightly and justly serve you. Fill us

with your fullness that our lives may overflow in service and love.

Amen.

Scripture Lesson Mark 1:1–11 Pew Bible p. 836

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

*Hymn of Faith When Jesus Came to Jordan 252

Human Trafficking Presentation Karen Schultz

City Director, Refuge for Women - Chicago

Sermon “The Beginning” Rev. Dr. Chris Pierson

Pastoral Prayer

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who

trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us

from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for

ever. Amen.

Dedication of Our Tithes and Offerings

(9:00) I Sing the Mighty Power of God ELLACOMBE

Altar Bells arr. Kimberly Morton

(11:00) I Need Thee Every Hour Robert Lowry

arr. Emma Lou Diemer

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; every hour I need Thee;

oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.

~ By Annie S. Hawks and her pastor, hymn writer Robert Lowry,

who composed the music and wrote the text for the refrain

Gary United Methodist Church

— Affiliated with Winfield Community United Methodist Church —

224 N. Main, Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: (630) 668-3100 / Fax: (630) 668-8279

Email: office@garychurch.org Website: www.garychurch.org

Congregational Care

Please remember these individuals and families in your prayers this week.

Jan Adair, Meridith Brand, Charlie Castino, Jim & Carol Eaton, Anna Gorski, Barbara

Heeley, Pat Hill, Judy Jay, Rod Irey, Ivan Kane, Lola Lehman, Mary Louise Lewis, Chris

Loken, Dan Meeks, Lenna Siens, Roger & Jan Sutfin, Ruth Tremper, Jim Trieschmann,

James & Helen Wernicke, Jack & Shirley Williamson

Our Sympathy to

Chuck & Marge Armstrong on the death of Chuck’s brother-in-law, Barry Brown, on Jan. 1

Today's Altar Flowers are given by

Ed Ewoldt in memory of Nancy Ewoldt

Serving Today

9:00 a.m. Service Greeters Gene & Deb Green, Dan & June Hurd, Rona Purpura

Welcome Desk Michelle Younkin, Jeff Mousseau, Dan & June Hurd

Acolytes Ella Rodriguez, Sarah Rodriguez

Ushers Chuck Miller, Paul Calderwood, Sam Calderwood, Joe Davisson,

David Plate, Dick Raber, Lisa Rozwat

11:00 a.m. Service

Greeters Brooks & Sharon Harder, Allene Harding, Kay Bertholdt

Welcome Desk Dick & Nancy Seloover

Acolytes Gray Cicmanec, Danny Janiak

Ushers Bob Hawkins, Bill Austin, Michael Graves, Doug & Tammy Halenza,

George King

Sound Technicians: Kevin Carlson, Phil Johnson, Alyn Mann, Dave Mann, Tony Venezia

Musician: Dr. Tony Payne (organ/piano), Sharon Schmidt (Altar Bells), Anthony Quaranta

(9:00 cantor), Cindi Copeland (11:00 cantor)

Staff Ministry Team: Rev. Dr. Chris Pierson, Rev. Brian Felker Jones, Rev. Bruce

Anderson, Jennifer Whiting, Carey Bebar, Kim Austin, Alexa Isaac, Becky Lemna, Pam

Keller, Shelley Bornstein, Rebecca Roell, Dave Brewer, Deb Hafner, Mike Capra

Mission Statement

Grow in faith, knowledge, and understanding of Christ as Lord and Savior

Serve our community and the world by sharing time, gifts, talents

Nurture one another through worship, fellowship, love

Demonstrate our discipleship to Christ

Proclaim God's grace and Good News

Welcome Guests!

We are delighted you have joined us for worship. We invite you to complete the Welcome

Card in the pew pocket and stop by the Welcome Desk on the main level outside the west

Sanctuary entrance to receive a gift and more information about our ministries.

Hearing aid devices are available (including the neck loop for telecoil programs).

Large print song sheets are also available. Please see an usher for assistance.

Next Week’s Lectionary Readings

We invite you to include the lectionary readings in your devotion times. Readings for next

week are 1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20), Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18, 1 Corinthians 6:12–20, and

John 1:43–51.

Today at Gary Church

Adult Ministries at 10:00 a.m.

Human Sex Trafficking: Cultural Vulnerabilities

In the Chapel

Karen M. Schultz, City Director for Refuge for Women-Chicago, returns to Gary.

Building upon last year’s class on human trafficking, she will discuss these topics: social

media—traffickers’ new hunting grounds; pornification of culture—the link between porn

and trafficking; and vulnerabilities of being a teen. Please join her to raise awareness of this

dark industry that abuses and exploits women of all ages, as well as to learn more about the

work of Refuge for Women.

Christmas Sharing Follow-Up Meeting

In the Anderson Room

All are welcome to come share your thoughts on Christmas Sharing 2017 and suggestions

for 2018.

Gary Kids & Gary Youth

9:00 a.m. Kids’ Church

Preschool 3’s–4’s meet in the Preschool Room on the lower level

Kindergarten–Grade 3 meet in the Lower Level Lobby

10:00 a.m. Sunday School

Preschool 3’s–4’s meet in the Preschool Room

Kindergarten–Grade 5 meet in Gamon Hall

Grades 6–7 meet in the Heritage Room

Grades 9–12 meet in the Sr. High Room

Next Sunday at 10 a.m.

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: American Prophet

Jan. 14 in the Anderson Room

Rev. Richard Mosley, Jr. will lead the class in an exploration of Dr. King's philosophy of

non-violence. Participants are encouraged to read The Autobiography of Martin Luther King,

Jr. edited by Clayborne Carson and may also wish to view “Eyes on the Prize” on YouTube.

The Power of the Psalms

Jan. 14, 21, and 28, in the Chapel

Join Dr. C. Hassell Bullock to look at the Palms from three perspectives: (1) a mirror—we

will read them and see our own image in the mirror; (2) a garden—we will explore their

varieties that enable us to pray when we are joyful, hopeful, depressed, angry, cynical, and

so forth; (3) an emotive power—we will entertain their potential power to draw from our

souls what we are otherwise incapable of generating or articulating on our own. Dr. Bullock

has served as pastor and professor, and retired in 2009 from Wheaton College as the

Franklin S. Dyrness Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies.