WORSHIP AT WESTFIELD JANUARY 3, 2021 | 10AM | EPIPHANY

SERVICE OF WORD & TABLE

GATHER

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.

Come, let us worship the God Whose light brings hope to a weary world.

Opening Prayer

A new day has dawned, a new year begun O Lord, call us so we may hear Your voice The world turns to hopes and dreams of the future O Lord, keep us in Your ways and on Your path We enter this new year with hope and excitement O Lord, remind us that You lead us O Lord, guide us as look to You, and worship You. Amen.

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Opening Hymn AS WITH GLADNESS, THOSE OF OLD DIX

Call to Confession

God calls us in our lives to be like the grain of wheat which dies, which lets go of one form in order to be transformed into new, and fuller life. And yet we often fear the risk and change which new growth involves. Let us ponder for a moment the places of our lives where we may be resisting God moving in our lives.

Prayer of Confession

God of Light, we confess that we have gone astray and have left Your light. We follow the dim lights of the world of success and fortune. We follow the dim lights that call us to be more religious by following rules. We follow the fading light of personal salvation. Forgive us for not seeking the true Light, of Your love for all the world. Forgive us for not following the ways of Jesus, who commanded us to love one another. Call us to be light-bearers of love, compassion and justice, in which the Mystery of Your Love is revealed. In the name of Jesus the Messiah, we pray.  Amen. 

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Assurance of God’s Love

This is the time of God's favor, God's grace continues to proclaim release to the captives, sight to the blind,

Good News to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.   We live as loved, forgiven and free people through the grace of God! Alleluia! Amen.  

Sung Response Canticle of Turning

HEAR

Gospel Lesson Luke 2:41-52

From the New Revised Standard Version:

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for

the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they

were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

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From The Message

Every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the

Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.

The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his

parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.

His mother said, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”

He said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” But they had no idea what he was talking about.

So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.

Homily The Reverend Dr. Jonathan Chapman

RESPOND Sharing Our Concerns

For all these persons, and all who are in need. Hold your people near, O God.

Sharing Our Joys

We give thanks to God for these blessings. Thanks be to God!

Call to Prayer Stepping In

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Pastoral Prayer

Call to Give

Offertory

Westfield Church’s life and ministry is dependent on your generosity. You can donate online by going to westfielducc.org/giving or you can mail your donation (made out to Westfield Church)

to 210 Main Street, Killingly, CT 06239. If you are worshipping with us in-person, tithes and offerings may be dropped in the vases on the tables in the narthex on your way out. Use this

time to offer your spiritual gifts to God.

Thank you for your consideration.

Prayer of Dedication

Dear Jesus, as You led the Magi to You by the light of a star, please draw us ever closer to You by the light of faith. Help us to desire You as ardently as they did. Give us the grace to overcome all the obstacles that keep us far from You. May we, like them, have something to give You when we appear before You. Amen.

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FEAST We share gather around our virtual table,

confident that in the telling of this story, we are made one.

Communion Song

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…and we join their unending hymn Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

…that mystery we call faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

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The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, which art in Heaven, hallowed by 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.

The Fraction & Invitation

Sharing the Bread and Cup

The Prayer after Receiving

Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits. Amen.

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GO Closing Hymn Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Benediction

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• The Call to Worship is by Joan Delaplane, O.P. • Opening Prayer is by Rev. Mindi • Canticle of Turning has words by Rory Cooney • The Prayer of Confession is by Rev. Mindi • The Words of Assurance are by Rev. Gord • Stepping In is by Christopher Grundy • Emmanuel, Emmanuel is by Bob McGee

Reproduced with Permission. CCLI Copyright License: 20184402 CCLI Streaming License: 20184392 OneLicense, License  A-726080 WorshipCast, License: 13264

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