Forest Hill United Church
'open doors, open hearts, open minds'
Epiphany/Second Sunday
after Christmas
Date January 4, 2015 at 10 am
Welcome to worship at Forest Hill United Church. We are glad that you are here. Libby Cassidy, Chair of the Worship Committee, is pleased to be leading worship today, enabling our minister, Rev Ali Smith, to enjoy some restful time with her family. We hope that your time here is restorative and refreshes you as the New Year begins. Please join us for tea, coffee, juice, cookies and conversation after the service.
Our greeters this morning are Brian Cassidyand friend,
our tellers are Diane Robinson and Inez Higgins,
our hospitality host is Norma Reid,
our Sunday school teacher is May Houston
and our music is led by Deborah Park and the FHUC Choir.
Forest Hill United Church is a safe place for all people to gather regardless of race, creed, age, cultural background, or sexual orientation. You are welcome here!
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Gathering
At the **, you are asked to rise in body or in spirit.
PreludeLo How A Rose Eer Blooming traditional German Carol
Lighting the Candle
**Introit:(Sung Together)
“We Three Kings”John Henry Hopkins
We three kings of Orient are,
Bearing Gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Oh, Star of wonder, Star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.
Welcome & Church News
Call to Worship:
One: Learned ones in ancient times were guided by a star.
We seek God’s guidance in our lives and we look for a sign of God’s presence in many different places –
All: through the inspiration of teachers and mentors;
Through the sensitivity of friends and colleagues;
Through the nurture of family and loved ones.
One: We need to be guided in our time and in our place to new beginnings of hope and goodwill.
All: Inspire us, O God, and lead us into your future through this time of worship.
Gathering Prayer: (said together)
Gathering Prayer:(Spoken Together)
All: O God, our light, our beauty, our rest:With the appearance of your Son you have brought us into your new creation.
Form us into your people, and order our lives in you;
Through Christ, the Living One, Amen.
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**Opening Hymn:“God of the Bible” MV 28
Listening
New Testament Reading:
Matthew 2: 1-12 The visit of the Magi
Special Music:“Star of the East”Amanda Kennedy
Graham Powell, Pat Powell, Annemarie Manson
with Deborah Park
Story Time:
**Song of Praise:“Holy Spirit Hear Us” VU 377
Children, youth and leaders leave for Sunday School during the singing of the last verse.
Readings from the Older Testament:Marilyn Lohnes
Isaiah 60: 1-6 “Arise, shine for your light has come”
Responsive reading: Psalm 72 (all 3 parts) with refrain VU p. 790
Reader: This is the Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God! Amen.
Gospel Reading:
Relection:
**Hymn of Reflection:“In the Bleak Mid-Winter" VU #55
Responding
Presentation of Our Gifts
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**Offering Verse: (Sung Together) VU 542
“We give you but your own, whate’er the gift may beAll that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully.”
**Prayer over the Gifts
Prayers of the People
Prayer of Jesus:(Spoken Together)
Most compassionate Life-giver, may we honour and praise you:
May we work with you to establish
Your new order of justice, peace, and love.
Give us what we need for growth,
And help us, through forgiving others, to accept forgiveness.
Strengthen us in time of testing, that we may resist all evil.
For all the tenderness, strength and love are yours,
Now and forever. Amen.
**Closing Hymn: “When hands reach out” MV 169
**Sharing the Light
**Blessing
**Choral Response: (Sung Together 2 Times) VU 43
Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere,
Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.
Postlude:Brightest and Best by F. Mendelssohn
[Some prayers taken from “Gathering” Christmas/Epiphany/2014/2015]
Please submit your announcements to Kris for the Sunday bulletin by Noon on Thursday of each week to ensure that they are printed.
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Church News
OFFICE HOURS
Our Administrative Assistant, Kris Yarych, is in the Church Office Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12:45 - 3:45 pm. She can be reached at 455-0988 or .
Rev. Ali Smith is away on vacation and will be back in the Office on Monday. If any pastoral emergencies should arise while she is away, please contact the Chair of Pastoral Care Diane Robinson at 459-8779 or Rev. Rose-Hannah Gaskin at 292-1680.
Storm Policy Reminder: In the event of a serious storm on a Sunday morning, a decision will be made as to whether a cancellation of the worship service is necessary by 8 am. If a service is cancelled, a message will be placed on the church answering machine, sent out via email, and passed on to CBC Radio.
Nominating Committee: With our Annual Meeting coming up in February, we are looking for both a chair and members for a Nominating Committee. This Committee is very helpful in ensuring that all of our committee chairs are occupied so that our church is healthy and happy. If you are interested or need more information, please speak to Margie Roxborough.
COMING UP @ FHUC
Choir PracticeToday at 11:20 am in the Parlour
Book ClubJanuary 6th. 12:00 noon in the parlour
Bible StudyJanuary 12th
*Please note that the Quilt Group meets every Monday from 10 am until Noon in the Upper Room except when Monday is a holiday.
The January FHUC Book Club will meet on Tuesday January 6th at
12:00 noon in the Church parlour. The book for January is Proof of Heaven: a Neurosurgeons Near-Death Experience, by Eben Alexander.
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The Women’s Inter-Church Council of Fredericton is having The World Day of Prayer Planning Meeting on Monday ,January 12,2015 at 10:30 am at St. Paul’s United Church, 244 York Street, corner of George and York Street. All those interested are encouraged to attend.
We will be providing an orientation session for potential church ushers/greeters to be held after service on January 18th during the coffee time. This will be a brief session, about 20 minutes to help people feel comfortable with the tasks associated with the role of ushers/greeters. For further information please talk to me, Lorna, or Libby any time. Again I am deeply grateful to all those who help out with welcoming our congregation.
Public Service AnnouncementThe Women’s Inter-Church council is presenting during the Week of Christian Unity a celebration with Bishop Bill Hockin and members of the clergy of various denominations at Christ Church Parish Church, 245 Westmorland Street on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 2:00pm.The Theme is “He said to her give me a drink.” Everyone of all denominations are welcome to this special event. Fellowship to follow.
Non-Perishable Food Items and School Supplies Needed. As the weather cools down, heating costs go up and more people will need to turn to the food bank for assistance. Did you know that there is a Food Bank Box at the Main doors of the church? Please remember to bring in non-perishable food items and school supplies and put them in the box. One of the Outreach Committee members empties the box every month and takes the items to the Food Bank.
The next DivorceCare support group at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 536 Northumberland Street will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 PM starting January 13, 2015. Register at the church office 458-8527.
The next 13-week session of GriefShare at Grace Memorial Baptist Church, 536 Northumberland St, will begin on Monday, January 19 at 7:00 PM. Register by calling the Church Office at 458-8527 or on arrival
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