Order of Worship

1-04-26

Set Your Intention for the Year 2026 With a New Star Word

Prelude ~

Shared by Tanner Bayles

Welcome and Announcements

Shared by Pastor Ken

Opening Words

Shared by Pastor Ken

One: Who are we and what are we called to do?

All: We are the sensitive and responsive ones called to create a world where every person is radically affirmed and barriers between people become

bridges of inclusion, justice, and spirituality.



Call to Worship and Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle

Cindy Gattorna

One: We gather to celebrate, not just by words spoken, but by the miraculous Word About Life that comes to us in

countless ways.

All: Such as a baby's first cry, the view out our window, the petals of a cactus rose, mist-covered hills, the wind across the desert, human love, and human

hope.

One: With gratitude and with joy at life's boundless possibilities we gather and we sing.

Singing Our Faith ~ We Three Kings

We three kings of orient are

Bearing gifts we traverse afar

Field and fountain

Moor and mountain, Following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of night

Star with royal beauty bright

Westward leading, still proceeding

Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain

Gold I bring to crown Him again

King for ever, ceasing never

Over us all to reign. (Chorus)

Frankincense to offer have I

Incense owns a Deity nigh

Prayer and praising

All folk raising

Worship Him, God most high! (Chorus)

Myrrh is mine

It's bitter perfume breathes

A life of gathering gloom

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying

Sealed in the stone cold tomb. (Chorus)

Glorious now behold Him arise

King and God and Sacrifice

Al-le-lu-ia, al-le-lu-ia

Heaven to earth replies. (Chorus)

Opening Prayer ~ Pastor Ken

The Lord's Prayer

Our Creator in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those

Who trespass against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

And deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

And the glory are yours

Now and forever.

Amen.

Celebrations For the Deep Goodness of Life

Led by Pastor Ken

This is our time to share the celebrations of our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, words of kindness and works of peace and justice.

Celebration Song ~

Celebrate your heart and your spirit.

Celebrate your life while you live it.

Even when it’s hard to do, celebrate the best of you!

Celebrate your dreams and your visions.

Celebrate the love you’ve been given.

Cherish all that you’ve been through.

Celebrate the best of you!

Communion

Led by Cindy Gattorna and Pastor Ken

Spirit of Life and Love,

We bring ourselves to this table-to Your Table-in hope of

catching a glimpse of You. Speak to us in this bread. Speak to us in the cup. Speak to us through our star words. Speak to us as you spoke through the clouds at Jesus’ baptism, the burning bush to Moses, and the rushing wind of Pentecost. Speak to us through our star words so they may be a tool that helps us look for life and love in this season of Epiphany. Now we put our voices together in prayer.

All: Holy One, you call us beloved. You are with us in our joy. You are with us in our sorrow. Surely, you are

with us as we pray, you are with us here and now. So

with grateful hearts, we share this table with each

other and invite all people to share with us. Amen.

Communion Music

Everyone is welcome to this table! You are invited to pick up a star on the table and then move to a communion station. The baskets near our communion stations are for our communion offering. This month, the communion offering supports our Immigration Justice Fund.

QR Code for Giving Page

Chimes Call Us To The Word About Life

Word About Life

Offered by Pastor Ken

There is not one single kind of good that suits and fits everyone; there are as many good lives as there are people to live them.

It is false that there is only one right way to live and one right way to be,

And that to find it we must obey those who claim to have the

secret of a ‘one right way’ and a ‘one true good’.

If there are guides to the good, one must eventually leave them behind and seek the good of one’s choice, and which suits one’s own talents.

This is the ultimate responsibility: to choose, and to cultivate the talents for one’s choice.

But though there are many goods and many good kinds of life, the latter will share two notable characteristics:

The first is that those seeking them will honor affection, beauty, creativity, peace, patience, fortitude, courage;

Will honor self-mastery, wisdom, loyalty, justice, sympathy and kindness;

Will honor knowledge, truth, honesty, decency, and honor itself.

And the greatest of what they honor will be affection:

of a friend for a friend, a parent for a child,

between lovers, between comrades;

For affection calls out to the other virtues and teaches them,

and is the motive for the continuance of our kind.

The second is that lives in which these virtues are honored will be regarded by those living them, and those touched by them, as good.

To seek the good life is an endeavor for a whole life.

One can improve, learn, encourage oneself, profit from failure: and still be seeking it on the last day.

Words For Mission

Led by Cindy Gattorna

Please stand in mind, body, or spirit

One: When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the [wise women and men] are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

All: To find the lost, to heal the broken,

To feed the hungry, to release the prisoner,

To rebuild the nations,

To bring peace among all people,

To make music in the heart.

One: These are the times!

All: We are the people!

One: All of Creation is blessed!

All: May we love all and serve all!

One: May God be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Amen.

All: Amen.

Sending Forth Songs ~ Day of New Beginnings

This is a day of new beginnings,

Time to remember and move on,

Time to believe what love is bringing,

Laying to rest the pain that’s gone.

Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,

Step from the past and leave behind

Our disappointment, guilt, and grieving,

Seeking new paths, and sure to find.

In faith we’ll gather round the table

To taste and share what love can do.

This is a day of new beginnings;

Our God is making all things new.

Sermon Reboot is OFF for today.

This is a time to talk about the message and explore together using the ORID Art Form Conversation methodology. What is ORID? It stands for Observation, Reflection, Interpretation, and Decision. You will get the hang of it.