Beacon Worship - 1/9/22

We hope you join us for worship, either live-streaming on our Youtube Channel or via zoom. Email info@thewordatbeacon.org for zoom info.

Gathering Time (unmuted)

Feel free to say hi and check in with others before the service begins!

Welcome/Announcements

Gentle Music

01.09.22

Facing God

Leader: God's light, whose sign was a star, was poured out for the people.

All: All the fears and frights of this world cannot diminish God's light.

Leader: That light is the life of Jesus Christ, who breaks through the negativity and evil.

All: Thanks be to God, for the most precious gift of goodness and hope.

Leader: Let us worship God.

10,000 Reasons

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul

Worship God’s holy name

Sing like never before, O my soul

I’ll worship God’s holy name

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

Chorus

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

Chorus

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

Chorus

Laying Down Our Burdens & Assurance

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your name. Amen.

Leader: The Good News is that Christ has come and Christ will come again.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Abi

People Look East v. 2

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare, One more seed is planted there: Give up your strength the seed to nourish, That in course the flower may flourish. People, look east and sing today: Love, the rose, is on the way.

Love, the guest, is on the way.

Lectio Conversation (Matthew 2:1-12)

(Hold onto these questions while we read our scripture.)

What do you notice in the test? What stands out from this story?

What questions do you have?

The Visit of the Wise Men

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men 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[c] 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[e] 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.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Discussion

What stands out to you about this text?

How do you think Mary and Joseph felt about the wise men?

Homily

Abi

Come holy ghost

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,

And in our hearts take up Your rest;

Come with Your grace and heavenly aid

to fill our hearts, which You have made,

To fill our hearts, which You have made.

Chorus:

Be not afraid, where you go there I am with you.

Be not afraid, where you go there I am with you.

O Comforter, to You we cry,

You, heav'nly gift of God most high;

You, fount of life, and fire of love,

And sweet anointing from above,

And sweet anointing from above.

Chorus

Praise we the Lord, Father and Son,

And Holy Spirit with them one;

And may the Son on us bestow

all gifts that from the Spirit flow,

All gifts that from the Spirit flow.

Chorus

Prayers of the People

Now is the time when we share the prayers on our hearts and minds. If you have a private prayer, you can email them to us throughout the week and the pastoral team will pray over them.

If you have a prayer, please unmute your mic to share.

After each prayer, I will lead our response on mute:

Lord in your mercy // hear our prayers

***

Now I will offer a prayer for the greater community and world. We will end by saying the Lord’s Prayer together in whatever language you prefer. Let us pray.

(muted)

Leader: Just as God/Christ taught us to pray...

All: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen.

Offering

To give online, click here: https://www.thewordatbeacon.org/donate

To give your prayers, email us at info@thewordatbeacon.org

O Love that will not let me go

Oh love that will not let me go

I rest my weary soul in thee

I give thee back the life I owe

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be

Oh light that followest all my way

I yield my flickering torch to thee

My heart restores its borrowed ray

That in thy sunshine's blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be

Oh joy that seekest me through pain

I cannot close my heart to thee

I trace the rainbow through the rain

And feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be

Oh cross that liftest up my head

I dare not ask to fly from thee

I lay in dust's life's glory dead

And from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be

Sending/Blessing ((inspired by 1 Corinthians

(Remain muted and read liturgy aloud at home)

As we close this time together, let us read this word from the letter to the Corinthians

All: Let us go now, and live as one body in Christ.

Be at peace, and care for one another;

Suffer with one another and rejoice with one another.

Give our attention to the Word of God

and proclaim the good news of freedom to all.

Leader: And may God delight your heart and sharpen your vision;

May Christ Jesus keep you, thought and word, in his grace;

And may the Holy Spirit be the fountain that sustains you all

and binds you together as one.