A New Year’s Eve Epiphany Party

Join us for Three Kings Cake and other treats  as we celebrate the new year and the Magi’s visit to the Christ Child

 

 

 

First Baptist Church

Epiphany Sunday

December 31, 2017

 

 

                       No matter who you are or where you are from,                           you are welcome in this community of faith.

 

Today we are celebrating Epiphany Sunday with the Karen Baptist Community with a combined worship service.  Hymns will be sung in English and Karen.  (KH) signifies the hymn number in the Karen Hymnal.  (BH) signifies the hymn number in the Blue Pew Hymnal.

 

When the worship leaders enter the sanctuary let there be silence among the people.

 

PRELUDE                               

                

WELCOME AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE

 

*CONGREGATIONAL INTROIT                                           185(BH)  61(KH)               Hark ! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King:                  Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”                  Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;                          with angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”                        Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                     Leader: The Star in the dark sky heralded His Coming.                                       People: Arise! Shine! The Light of     the World has come!                                Leader: Led by the light of the Star, the Wise Ones came to pay    homage.                                                                                                  People: Arise! Shine! The Light of the World has come!                           Leader: God’s Light of love is shining upon us.                                                 People: Arise! Shine! The Light of the World has come!                                Leader: O Come, Let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

*HYMN                  Brightest and Best of the Stars                 235(BH) 65(KH)

*UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION – Loving God, who breaks through the darkness of doubt and despair, be with us this day as we hear of the visit of the Wise Ones, who risked everything to follow a Star.  Let us open our hearts and be willing to risk receiving the gift of gracious Love that you have to offer us in the form of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

*SUNG RESPONSE                                                                     182(BH)531(KH)                       O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant                                                O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem                                                              Come and behold him, born the King of angels:                                                   O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him,                                    O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord.

QUESTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR

SPECIAL MUSIC

A TIME FOR CHILDREN

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE                                                                                              Leader: Guiding Light. . .                                                                                      People: We lift our prayers to you.

OFFERTORY INVITATION

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY                                                                                      188 (refrain)                          Gloria in excelsis Deo!  Gloria in excelsis Deo!

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN                         The First Noel v. 1-3, 6                        229(BH) 60(KH)

HOLY SCRIPTURE                                                                                                            OLD TESTAMENT     Isaiah 60:1-6                                                             844          NEW TESTAMENT    Matthew 2:1-12                                                        2

SERMON                           Arise and Shine                    Rev. Karen A. Mendes

*HYMN                   We Three Kings of Orient Are                   233(BH) 68(KH)

*BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE         

*Please stand if you are able.

                                                  Today’s Worship Participants:                                                                                               Co-officiant – Pastor Thee Say                                                                                 Greeters: Barb Farrington & Marie Morton                                           Ushers: Andy Farrington, Frank Swasey, Pat Boyden & Mark Paulsen

 

WELCOME TO ALL VISITORS WITH US TODAY. Please fill out a white pew card so that we might know of your presence with us today. Large print bulletins with scripture readings and hymns are available; ask an usher for assistance.  We also have devices to aid the hearing-impaired                        .

THERE IS NO CHURCH SCHOOL TODAY – Children of all ages will remain with their family to celebrate Epiphany Sunday.  Children’s bulletins, activity packets and crayons are available from the ushers.  Quiet toys and board books for toddlers are available in the flowered box in the Narthex.

A NEW YEAR’S EPIPHANY PARTY TODAY!  Plan to join us after the worship service for Three Kings Cake and other treats as we celebrate the new year and the Magi’s visit to the Christ child.

THERE WILL BE NO BIBLE STUDY ON JAN 1 DUE TO THE HOLIDAY.                                                              Please plan to join us again on January 8th as we continue exploring the Christmas story this time in the Gospel of John. Starting on January 22, we will be studying the Gospel of Thomas.  This ancient collection of sayings by Jesus has many parallels with the Gospels of Luke and Matthew.  Feel free to bring your lunch.

UN-DECORATING THE TREE will take place today immediately following worship.  Many hands are needed to make the job light and quick.  Please come and lend a hand!

ANNUAL REPORTS ARE DUE BY JANUARY 12TH.  Please send them electronically to the office.

END OF YEAR CONTRIBUTIONS – The final collection will be recorded and deposited at the bank today. Final Giving statements for 2017 will be sent in mid-January.

~Ginger Calder, Financial Secretary

THE SECRET PLACE (daily devotional) for December, January & February is available on the table in the Narthex.

GREEN STEEPLE CAFÉ – plan to help today; if you aren’t signed up, see me for an assignment. Our Café is our major fund-raiser of the year and requires many hands! (There are sit-down jobs as well as more energetic ones). Above all, it is a time of fun and fellowship for all.  Some of the crew will be hard at work downstairs during the service. ~ Sarah Dopp

THE ANNUAL MEETING WILL BE JANUARY 28TH, following worship and a potluck meal.

 

PULPIT EXCHANGE – On January 14, we will have a pulpit exchange with the First Congregational Church of Essex Junction. The Rev. Mark Mendes will be leading worship here while the Rev. Karen Mendes will be preaching in Essex. Folks from both churches have been asking to hear “the other Rev. Mendes” for a while, so now is your chance!  Be sure to invite your friends and neighbors!

 

 

 

PLEASE HOLD THESE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF FIRST BAPTIST IN PRAYER:

 

 

Fred Danforth                                   Don Dalton

Anne Marie Tsady                           Fran Whitney                                                                   Warren & Fern Sparks                    LisaAnn Oberbrunner

Elsie Follett                                       Gladys Severance

Beth Ovitt                                          Laura Fuller

Bill Mason                                         Rose Lambert

Ann Arms                                          Greg Curtis

Gail Holmes                                      Shirley Logan                                                                  Gladys Laura                                     JoAnne Benis

Jane North’s Family (Betty Capponi’s Sister-in-Law)

Ray Brault’s Family (Chris Brault’s Grandfather)

Bea Dandridge & son, Walter

Ed & Penilee Saulnier’s grandson, Jacob

Stan & Virginia Girvan

Donna Cotner’s Family

Jason Curley’s family (Ray Sherrod’s grandson)

Betty Button and her grandson, Wally

 

 

TODAY IN OUR CHURCH

9:00am – Green Steeple Café Prep

9:45am – Combined Worship Service –

Pastors Karen A. Mendes and Thee Say                                                                                                Epiphany Celebration

                          1:30-10PM – Green Steeple Cafe in Fellowship Hall

                                                                                                                                                                                            THIS WEEK IN OUR CHURCH                                                                                                                   Monday – Office Closed                                                                                            Tuesday – 10:00am – Meals on Wheels                                                                                  Thursday – 7:00pm – Chancel Choir

Saturday – 9:00am – Namuna Nepali Church

NEXT SUNDAY – January 7th                                                                           9:45am – Worship Service – Rev. Karen A. Mendes                                                                               12:00 – Karen Baptist Community

WEEKLY AA MEETINGS                                                                                                                     Wednesday at 8pm                                                                                                                                 Friday at noon                                                                                                                          Saturday at 7:00pm

2nd Monday of each month – District II at 7:00pm

 

 

 

 

Rev. Karen A. Mendes, Pastor; Marie Morton, Administrative Assistant;  Steve Perkins,  Instrumental Group Director; Adam Schneider, Organist & Interim Choirmaster;  Rachael Haar, Children’s Choir Director; Chris Brault, Sexton.  Office phone: (802)864-6515; Office email: fbcbvt@gmail.com; Website: fbcburlingtonvt.com.  Rev. Karen A Mendes’ email: kamendesfbc@gmail.com  Visit us on Face Book.  Office hours: Monday-Friday 9:00-1:00pm, Thurs. 9:00-3:00pm.