Service of Worship, December 31, 2023
First Sunday after Christmas
Rev. Eric S. Anderson, Pastor
Rev. Jonathan Roach, Guest Pastor
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Please note that audio and video of this service are being live streamed on the Internet and will be recorded. The right rear section of the sanctuary will not be captured by any cameras. Please be aware that in other sections you may be visible at times.
Prelude: Kayleen Yuda
Lighting of the Candles
Ringing of the Bell
Welcome Rev. Jonathan Roach
* Please stand if you are able and join me in a Watchnight Call to Worship
Stefan Tanouye
One: God of new beginnings, God of sacred endings, we gather today at the end of this year, in this in-between time and space, unsure of what the future holds…awaiting transformation, renewal, the chance to begin again.
All: Out loud, but muted. Our times are in Your hands, O God, give us Hope for the journey.
One: We have traveled through dangers seen and unseen, we have tiptoed through the struggles of the souls and wrestled against powers that should have kept us down.
All: Out loud, but muted. Our times are in Your hands, O Lord, give us Courage for the journey.
One: Encourage us to be ever mindful of Your Still Speaking Voice; to dance without fear when the good times have come, and to know that with the coming of Your new possibilities, fear must release its death-grip on our lives.
All: Out loud, but muted. Our times are in Your hands, O God, give us Light for the journey.
One: We remember faithful ancestors who moved under the night sky to have a little talk with Jesus;
All: Out loud, but muted. Our times are in Your hands, O Lord, give us Freedom for the journey.
One: Today we stand in this present moment, frustrated by miscarriages of justice, angered by the lack of collective concern for black and brown bodies, exasperated with a broken immigration policy, racism, sexism, homophobia, mass incarceration, and we deeply grieve the growing numbers of deaths by gun violence.
All: Out loud, but muted. Our times our in Your hands, O God, give us Justice for the journey.
One: The future stretches out before us full of mystery and full of surprise. We need You, God of New Beginnings, to set the course, and guide our feet in the way of righteousness.
All: Out loud, but muted. Our times are in Your hands, Triune God, give us Life.
* Hymn #132: Joy to the World (vs. 1-3)
* Please join me in the Invocation Stefan Tanouye
The end of the year is upon us and today we gather to offer the strides as well as the struggles of this year to God. We gather to give to the Creator both our hopes and our fears, as we gather to worship the Lord our God. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our lives today as we worship. Grant us each the strength to sing our song, to pray our prayer, and to listen for the Word that will drive our fears away and move us to offer praise and thanksgiving. Inspire us today we pray, in Jesus name, Amen.
Please be seated
WE SHARE THE WORD OF GOD
Hymn #148: What Child Is This (vs. 1-3) Holy Cross Singers
Time with the Children Rev. Jonathan Roach
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 (The Message) Stefan Tanouye
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. God has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, and has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
* Hymn #125: Angels We Have Heard on High (vs. 1-3)
Sermon: Times Flies Rev. Jonathan Roach
WE RESPOND IN WORD AND DEED
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Jonathan Roach
Reflection in Silence
Prayers of the People
Please join me in 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
* Hymn#143: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing (vs. 1-3)
Call to Offering
God, you call us to give as we have received in this Christmas Season when you have shared your Child with us, help us to share our blessing with those in need.
Offertory Kayleen Yuda
* Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost – Amen
* Please join me in the Offertory Prayer Stefan Tanouye
God of Vision, take these offerings of money and turn them into vision; vision of all people fed, vision of all people safe, vision of all people housed, vision of all people educated. Amen.
* Hymn #154: Go Tell it on the Mountain (vs. 1-3)
Announcements Rev. Jonathan Roach
Benediction Rev. Jonathan Roach
Postlude: Kayleen Yuda
* Please stand if you are able.
Permissions:
Prelude here
Call to Worship and Innovation adapted from Rev. J. Lee Hill, Senior Pastor, Christian Fellowship Congregational UCC of San Diego. Copyright 2020 Local Church Ministries, Faith INFO Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.
Joy to the World—Frank Ritter, Tune: Antioch by G. F. Handel
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
What Child Is This
Text by William C. Dix, 1865
Tune GREENSLEEVES, 16th cent. English melody
Public Domain
Angels We Have Heard on High
Contributors: Dean Baskerville, GLORIA
French carol melody, ca. 18th cent
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
On Christmas Night All Christians Sing
Public Domain
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Offertory
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Contributor: John W. Work, Jr.
Streamed by permission ONELICENSE A-735890
Postlude:
Pastor Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Guest Pastor Rev. Jonathan Roach
Moderator Stefan Tanouye
Lay Reader Stefan Tanouye
Choir Accompanist Kanako Okita
Choir Director Doug Albertson
Organist Kayleen Yuda
Hand Bell Director Anna Kennedy
Chapel Decorations Laura Ota
Childcare Coordinator Evonne Shioshita
Projected Imagery Sue Smith
Web Master Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Videographers Eric Tanouye, Jen Tanouye,
Eli Yamaki, Ruth Niino-DuPonte
