Welcome to Grace at Home.
Thank you for joining us and for beginning the year in worship and praise. We invite you to unplug in this moment from daily life: from display screens and sales, from overload, work, and isolation. Reconnect to visions and dreams: experience the grace of God moving within you, and among this community of faith.
Click on the pictures below to access the inspiring educational videos. Scriptures, prayers, and announcements are located beneath the links. Click here to watch the livestreamed service.
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"The Fourth Wise Man"
(Inspiring video)
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"Here I Am to Worship"
(Opening song)
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"Epiphany Sunday"
Children's Moment
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"The Work of Christmas"
(Song of reflection)
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Imagine more...more love...more grace
Learn more about our community of faith
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"Holy Travel Guide"
10am central live at Grace
Sermon by Rev. Yvonne Gilmore
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Gifts of generosity and grace
You may give gifts, tithes, and offerings online below or mail in a check to Grace Community Christian Church.
Thank you for making space for Grace and Joy to be shared within and beyond our walls this season. Your faithful tithes and offerings make a life changing difference.
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We are a part of something BIGGER...than time, than ourselves, than darkness. We are a part of God's movement for wholeness as faithful stewards of God's limitless love.
In many cultures around the world, Epiphany (January 6) is the day of receiving gifts. Children eagerly put their shoes outside the door, along with hay and carrots for the camels, in hopes the magi will bring gifts to their home as they brought gifts to Jesus long ago.
What are the gifts you might bring, to honor the birth of Jesus? Few of us would bring gold, frankincense or myrrh, but each of us is invited to bring our offerings as one way of giving thanks to God for the gift we’ve received in the One born to set us free.
Offering prayer
Blessed are you, Lord God Almighty! You’ve made it possible for us to be adopted as your own beloved daughters and sons. We rejoice that we’ve been given forgiveness, that we’re redeemed by Jesus’ death, that we are heirs and now can live marked by the Holy Spirit. We give you thanks for all we receive from your abundance, and offer these gifts as signs of our gratitude. So receive this offering, help us use it completely, and allow us to fully claim our identity as your own. Amen
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Click here to give online using Paypal or your credit card
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Opening Prayer
God of eternal hope, you place a light in every darkness and a star in every sky. Yet sometimes we still find ourselves walking in despair, slogging through the slough of despond. Somehow we forget you are always and forever with us. Today we give you thanks for your Son, Emmanuel, who is always and forever “God with us.” We pray, once again, you will shine your light on our paths and walk with us through the mountains AND the valleys of our days. Amen.
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Prayers of the People
Loving God, who breaks through the darkness of doubt and despair, be with us this day as we hear of the visit of the Wise Ones, who risked everything to follow a Star. Let us open our hearts and be willing to risk receiving the gift of gracious Love that you have to offer us in the form of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
You pour your transforming love into our lives and we are challenged to bring back to all those places the glad good news of hope and salvation. Remind us again of all the opportunities we are given to celebrate your love and power. Help us find joy in serving others. As we have brought the names of those near and dear to us before the throne of grace, asking for your healing mercies, help us remember that the love poured out in the Light of the Natal Star is still given for us this day. Give us grace and peace to reach out to all those in need. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
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Grace Community Christian Church
2770 Montgomery Road
Aurora, IL 60504
www.graceccc.org
630.898.7990
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