Epiphany: Home By Another Way

Sunday, January 2, 2022
10:30 AM 11:30 AM 10:30 11:30

Union Presbyterian Church 200 E Main St Endicott, NY, 13760 United States (map)

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The Magi appear as our Christmas season circles back to the infancy of Jesus. These are Wise Ones, scholars and astronomers, but they meet their match in the treacherous Herod. How can they stay true to their quest and find the Christ Child?

Join the UPC community as the Christmas Season draws to a close. We continue to explore ways in which God draws us closer and closer to home. Worship with us in our sanctuary at 10:30 AM, or online (here!) if you are at home or on the road. You are invited!

Online Bulletin

Christmas 2/Epiphany: Home By Another Way

Union Presbyterian Church

January 2, 2022

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: Laura Keibel Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette, piano

“Coming Home,” Joseph Martin

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship

We come to this place—

each of us on our own path.

The path is winding,

and the path is not always clear,

and the path changes,

but we are here.

God is walking us home.

What a gift it is

to not walk alone.

Let us worship Holy God.

Hymn #234 W & R

“Wise Men, They Came to Look for Wisdom,” Christopher Idle

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Wise men, they came to look for wisdom,

Finding one wiser than they knew;

Rich men, they met with one yet richer—

King of the kings, they knelt to you:

Jesus, our wisdom from above,

Wealth and redemption, life and love.

Pilgrims they were, from unknown countries,

Searching for one who knows the world;

Lost are their names and strange their journeys,

Famed is their zeal to find the child:

Jesus, in you the lost are claimed,

Aliens are found and known and named.

Magi, they stopped to see your splendor,

Led by a star to light supreme;

Promised Messiah, Lord eternal,

Glory and peace are in your name:

Joy of each day, our song by night,

Shine on our path your holy light.

Guests of their God, they opened treasures,

Incense and gold and solemn myrrh;

Welcoming one too young to question

How came these gifts, and what they were:

Gift beyond price of gold or gem,

Make among us your Bethlehem

Call to New Life Laura Keibel

Prayer for Wholeness and Peace

God of changed plans,

The Magi heard in a dream that they were to take a new way home—

a different path,

an untraveled road. And to our amazement, they did just that.

The Magi packed their bags and went home by another way.

We wish that change could be easy for us,

but more often than not, when whispers

of change come, we tend to clench our fists and hold on tighter.

Forgive us for resisting change that might be holy.

Forgive us for ignoring that there is more than one road home.

Forgive us for failing to hear your invitation.

Guide our steps to unfamiliar places.

Gratefully we pray, amen.

Assurance of God’s Love Laura Keibel

No matter which roads we take in this one wild and precious life,

God walks with us. God never leaves our side. When the road changes and we find

ourselves on a new path home, God is always there.

So hear and believe this good news:

No matter where we go, no matter what we do,

we are claimed, loved, and held by God.

Thanks be to God for a love like that.

Sharing of the Peace Laura Keibel

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Ephesians 3:1-12 Laura Keibel

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Music: “Arise, Your Light Is Come” (Public Domain)

Scripture Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men [magi] from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘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 my people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 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.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Anthem

“Will You Come and See the Light?”

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Will you come and see the light from the stable door?

It is shining newly bright, though it shone before.

It will be your guiding star, it will show you who you are.