Sunday, January 16th 2022

January 16, 2022 Worship Bulletin

THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE The Time of Welcome The Morning Prelude “Prelude No. 2 in D Minor” by J.S. Bach GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP The Call to Worship— L: Come, worship God who came to live among us. P: All praise be to our Living God! L: Come, worship and serve God who came among us to bring us life. P: All praise be to Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen! +The Hymn #2001 “We Sing to You, O God” +The Opening Prayer— O God, you are our Rock and our Strength. You have given us life. You continue to sustain us and we have learned to hide ourselves in your lov- ing arms. In this season of light, bathe us in your light that we might al- ways reflect your presence not only in this hour, but throughout our lives. In Christ we pray. Amen.

WE CONFESS OUR SINS The Call to Confession The Prayer of General Confession— Lord, so often we tend to come before you as if we deserve your grace and mercy. In our sin of judgmentalism, we act as if, among all of your people, we alone deserve your favor. And, too often we forget that you have created us and claimed us as your own. We belong to you. Con- tinue to help us grow into the person who you would want each of us to become. As we make that journey, forgive us, Lord, we pray. Amen. Moments For Personal Confession Words of Assurance and Pardon The First Lesson WE SHARE THE WORD I Corinthians 12:1-11 12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3 Therefore I want you to under- stand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifes- tation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to an- other the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. Response: L: The Word of God for the people of God. All: Thanks be to God!

+The Act of Praise #771 (Response 1) Psalm 36:5-10 +The Affirmation of Faith #881 The Apostle’s Creed +The Gloria Patri #70 The Morning Prayer…………………………………………..…….The Lord’s Prayer (using trespasses) +The Gospel Lesson John 2:1-11 2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the moth- er of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Response M: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God. (#901 Alleluia) +The Hymn #560 “Help Us Accept Each Other” (10:00 am —Those who want to praise God for an answered prayer may come forward and place a stone in the jar during this hymn.) The Sharing Time with Our Children The Word Proclaimed “We’re Invited to a Wedding” Rev. Mike

WE RESPOND TO THE WORD The Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving by William Gaither The Offertory Solo “Redeeming Love” soprano, Cindy Kennedy + The Doxology #94 “Forward Through the Ages” by J.S. Bach + The Hymn #555 “Spirit Song” (Vs 1 only) + The Benediction + The Response #347 “Fugue No. 2 in D Minor” + The Postlude + Please stand in stature or in heart as you are able! Next Week’s Lectionary Readings 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21

WELCOME TO THIS MORNING’S WORSHIP! We hope the music, scriptures, prayers and fellowship of this service strengthen your faith and encourage your discipleship. If you are our guest today, please know you are WELCOME! We’re glad you are here and hope you might come again. If you are looking for a church home, or wanting to grow in your faith, we would be glad to tell you more about our church’s ministry and would hope you might consider being part of our community of faith. Please sign the pew pad located at the end of your pew. Tear out the sheet and place it in the offer- ing plate when passed during the service. Please visit our Welcome Table in the rear of the sanctuary for more infor- mation about our church. For your added comfort in worship, the ushers can provide any assistance you may need, as well as with the use of acoustical equipment, or provide you with large print bulletins and hymnals. Restrooms are located in the main hallway. Use the left door as you face the back of the sanctuary and follow the hallway towards the main entrance. Re- strooms will be on your left. We are a “Safe Sanctuary” church. Parents, please accompany all young chil- dren to the rest rooms during the worship service. Our Mission – “Making Disciples of Jesus Christ For the Transformation of the World!”

Assisting in Today’s Worship In The Sanctuary Senior Pastor.....................................................................................Rev. Mike Bealla Associate Pastor…………………………………………………….....Rev. Andy Weidner Lay Leader .............................................................................................. Diana Howe Director of Music/Organist ................................................................George Simmons Reader.......................................................................................................Rick Bivens Media Team …………………..…………………. Wesley Bealla, Bill Miller, Betsy Miller Head Ushers ........................................................... John Luczak and Leigh Redmon Hospitality Host/Hostess…………………………………………….…..……Martha Butler

Elm Park United Methodist Church Elm Park is a 712 Linden Street United Methodist Congregation Scranton, PA 18510. and proud to be Our Telephone number is a church of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre District (570) 342-8263 We can be reached by email at of the [email protected] Susquehanna Conference Our website address is of www.elmparkumchurch.org The United Methodist Church. Our Conference website address is Our Resident Bishops are www.susumc.org Bishop Cynthia Moore-KoiKoi Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball Our District Superintendent is Rev. Judy Walker Our Senior Pastor is Reverend Mike Bealla Our Associate Pastor is Reverend Andy Weidner Our Lay Leader is Diana Howe Student Intern Rev. Takasongo Jean