United Presbyterian Church
Sunday Worship Jan 5, 2024
We gather to worship God together with music, prayer, scripture, and a message.
Locations & Times
United Presbyterian Church, Sterling KS
307 N Broadway Ave, Sterling, KS 67579, USA
Sunday 10:45 AM
PRELUDE
Prepare for worship by asking God to help you be aware of his presence.
Prepare for worship by asking God to help you be aware of his presence.
WELCOME
Say hello in the comments and let us know you're worshipping with us today. Towards the end of the service, we'll have a time to share joys and concerns and pray for one another. If you are joining us online, use the comments or message us to let us know how we can pray with you today, and we'll include those in our prayer time.
Send us an email and we'll pray for you privately. Let us know if you also want to be included in our prayer list that goes out by email.
Say hello in the comments and let us know you're worshipping with us today. Towards the end of the service, we'll have a time to share joys and concerns and pray for one another. If you are joining us online, use the comments or message us to let us know how we can pray with you today, and we'll include those in our prayer time.
Send us an email and we'll pray for you privately. Let us know if you also want to be included in our prayer list that goes out by email.
CALL TO WORSHIP-
(Bold means everyone speaks together)
How did you get here?
Left side of the room: I walked, eyes looking up, following the star.
Right side of the room: I ran, lunging for a love that is bigger than me. Left side of the room: I tumbled and fell, tender step after tender step. Right side of the room: I ambled like a river, caught up in God’s flow. I crawled, kissing the earth below me.
Tell me again. How did you get here?
I am here by God’s grace and love’s pull.
Welcome home.
This is God’s house.
There is room for you here.
Let us worship our gracious God.
(Bold means everyone speaks together)
How did you get here?
Left side of the room: I walked, eyes looking up, following the star.
Right side of the room: I ran, lunging for a love that is bigger than me. Left side of the room: I tumbled and fell, tender step after tender step. Right side of the room: I ambled like a river, caught up in God’s flow. I crawled, kissing the earth below me.
Tell me again. How did you get here?
I am here by God’s grace and love’s pull.
Welcome home.
This is God’s house.
There is room for you here.
Let us worship our gracious God.
PRAYER
MUSIC
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
Chorus
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Verse 1
The sun comes up it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Verse 2
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Verse 3
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Tag
Worship Your holy name
Lord I'll worship Your holy name
Ending
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
CCLI Song # 6016351 Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman © 2011 Atlas Mountain Songs; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; worshiptogether.com songs For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
Chorus
Bless the Lord O my soul O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Verse 1
The sun comes up it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Verse 2
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Verse 3
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
Tag
Worship Your holy name
Lord I'll worship Your holy name
Ending
Sing like never before O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
Worship Your holy name
CCLI Song # 6016351 Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman © 2011 Atlas Mountain Songs; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; worshiptogether.com songs For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
CALL TO CONFESSION
Friends, one of the gifts of confession is it allows us to begin again.
For in this moment of prayer, we name our shortcomings and mistakes.
We receive God’s grace, and we start again. The slate is wiped clean.
The prayer of confession is an act of beginning again and again and again. So join me in prayer. For even here, God is already doing something new. Let us begin again. Let us pray:
Friends, one of the gifts of confession is it allows us to begin again.
For in this moment of prayer, we name our shortcomings and mistakes.
We receive God’s grace, and we start again. The slate is wiped clean.
The prayer of confession is an act of beginning again and again and again. So join me in prayer. For even here, God is already doing something new. Let us begin again. Let us pray:
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
(Bold means everyone speaks together)
God of new beginnings, We admit that we often follow the well-worn path, simply because others have been there before. Sometimes this is holy and humble, but there are days when a new path needs to be tread. On those new-beginning days, O God, give us the courage to follow your star. Give us the courage to go home by another way.
Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction for the sake of justice, love, and neighbor. For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow.
With hope in our hearts we wander, we travel. Amen.
(Bold means everyone speaks together)
God of new beginnings, We admit that we often follow the well-worn path, simply because others have been there before. Sometimes this is holy and humble, but there are days when a new path needs to be tread. On those new-beginning days, O God, give us the courage to follow your star. Give us the courage to go home by another way.
Give us the courage to kick up some dust and walk in a new direction for the sake of justice, love, and neighbor. For when you are doing a new thing, we want to have the courage to follow.
With hope in our hearts we wander, we travel. Amen.
WORDS OF FORGIVENESS
(Bold means everyone speaks together)
Dear travelers, no matter the roads you’ve taken, the steps you’ve made,
or the paths you’ve traveled, there is nowhere you could go that would land you outside of God’s love. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel:
Regardless of the path we travel, of how lost we may get,
or the twists and turns along the way, we do not walk alone.
We are loved. We are forgiven. We have every chance to begin again. Thanks be to God for a love like that!
(Bold means everyone speaks together)
Dear travelers, no matter the roads you’ve taken, the steps you’ve made,
or the paths you’ve traveled, there is nowhere you could go that would land you outside of God’s love. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel:
Regardless of the path we travel, of how lost we may get,
or the twists and turns along the way, we do not walk alone.
We are loved. We are forgiven. We have every chance to begin again. Thanks be to God for a love like that!
MUSIC
O Love, How Deep, How Broad
Worship & Rejoice Hymn #244 (v1, 3, 5 & 6)
Verse1
O Love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy:
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake.
Verse 3
For us he prayed, for us he taught,
for us his daily works he wrought,
by words and signs and actions, thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
Verse 5
For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to comfort, and to cheer.
Verse 6
All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad--
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore.
CCLI Song # 2769327 Benjamin Webb | Thomas à Kempis © Public Domain For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
O Love, How Deep, How Broad
Worship & Rejoice Hymn #244 (v1, 3, 5 & 6)
Verse1
O Love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy:
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake.
Verse 3
For us he prayed, for us he taught,
for us his daily works he wrought,
by words and signs and actions, thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
Verse 5
For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to comfort, and to cheer.
Verse 6
All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad--
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore.
CCLI Song # 2769327 Benjamin Webb | Thomas à Kempis © Public Domain For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
SCRIPTURE READING
Isaiah 43:16-21 New Revised Standard Version
16 Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down; they cannot rise;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.
Matthew 2:1-12 New Revised Standard Version
The Visit of the Magi
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Isaiah 43:16-21 New Revised Standard Version
16 Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down; they cannot rise;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 Do not remember the former things
or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.
Matthew 2:1-12 New Revised Standard Version
The Visit of the Magi
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east[b] and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’ ”
7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
SERMON
“The Road isn’t Straight”
By Rev. Melissa Krabbe
“The Road isn’t Straight”
By Rev. Melissa Krabbe
MUSIC
Build My Life
Verse 1
Worthy of ev'ry song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
Verse 2
Jesus the name above ev'ry other name
Jesus the only one who could ever save
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
We live for You
Chorus
Holy there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
Bridge
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
CCLI Song # 7070345 Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett © 2016 Kaple Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Housefires Sounds; Said And Done Music; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; Martin, Karl Andrew; Bethel Music Publishing For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
Build My Life
Verse 1
Worthy of ev'ry song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
Verse 2
Jesus the name above ev'ry other name
Jesus the only one who could ever save
Worthy of ev'ry breath we could ever breathe
We live for You
We live for You
Chorus
Holy there is no one like You
There is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are
And fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
Bridge
I will build my life upon Your love
It is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone
And I will not be shaken
CCLI Song # 7070345 Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett © 2016 Kaple Music; Capitol CMG Genesis; Housefires Sounds; Said And Done Music; sixsteps Music; Thankyou Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; Martin, Karl Andrew; Bethel Music Publishing For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in a with-us God, a God who is beside us in the mountains and valleys,
holding our hand through every bump and turn.
And in the chaos of our journey, we believe that God sees what we cannot always see:
a path home by another way.
Therefore, trusting in this ever-present and guiding God, we lace up our shoes.
We look for God’s fingerprints in the world.
We trust that there are paths still unexplored,
paths that God has only begun to invite us down.
And like the Magi, we dare to follow.
May it be so, Amen.
We believe in a with-us God, a God who is beside us in the mountains and valleys,
holding our hand through every bump and turn.
And in the chaos of our journey, we believe that God sees what we cannot always see:
a path home by another way.
Therefore, trusting in this ever-present and guiding God, we lace up our shoes.
We look for God’s fingerprints in the world.
We trust that there are paths still unexplored,
paths that God has only begun to invite us down.
And like the Magi, we dare to follow.
May it be so, Amen.
COMMUNION & STAR WORDS
SONG: Keep the Feast
SONG: Keep the Feast
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE 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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
THE 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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
MUSIC
As With Gladness
Worship & Rejoice Hymn #236
Verse 1
As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore your splendor see.
Verse 2
As with joyful steps they sped
to that lowly manger bed,
there to bend the knee before
him whom heaven and earth adore,
so, may we with willing feet
ever seek the mercy seat.
Verse 3
As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin's alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to you, our heavenly King.
Verse 4
Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.
CCLI Song # 4986524 William Chatterton Dix | Word & Music © Word & Music - The Jubilate Group (Admin. by Jubilate Hymns Ltd, sub to Hope Publishing for various regions) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
As With Gladness
Worship & Rejoice Hymn #236
Verse 1
As with gladness men of old
did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light,
leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we
evermore your splendor see.
Verse 2
As with joyful steps they sped
to that lowly manger bed,
there to bend the knee before
him whom heaven and earth adore,
so, may we with willing feet
ever seek the mercy seat.
Verse 3
As they offered gifts most rare
at that manger rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy,
pure and free from sin's alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to you, our heavenly King.
Verse 4
Holy Jesus, every day
keep us in the narrow way;
and when earthly things are past,
bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide,
where no clouds thy glory hide.
CCLI Song # 4986524 William Chatterton Dix | Word & Music © Word & Music - The Jubilate Group (Admin. by Jubilate Hymns Ltd, sub to Hope Publishing for various regions) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 1245222
BENEDICTION
ONLINE GIVING
God’s love for us never ends. In gratitude and joy, we give to God our offerings. Let us worship as we give. PRAYER OF DEDICATION: God, in all your ways, use me and use all that you have given me to spread your goodness in our world. May my gift today remind me to be thankful to you for putting me in this time and place to serve you and to honor you, for you are my all in all, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
https://upcsterling.com/give-now/LITTLE FREE PANTRY
We need your help! You can help us shop for our Little Free Pantry. Our budget each month is $80. Check what's in the pantry before you shop, and check with the church office to get a prepaid Dillons' card.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B044DA4A62AA1FA7-47357463-lilUPC NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
Here's what's happening this week!
https://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=4e056e412eb71b90c682b3edb&id=7f2bab80f3