January 30, 2022
ORDER OF WORSHIP
January 30, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENT
The 348th Annual Meeting of the First Church of Deerfield will take place on Sunday, February 13th, following the worship service.
Reading of the Warrant
by Carole Pennock, clerk
PRELUDE
Vom Himmel hoch (1st setting) F.W. Zachau
Thomas Pousont, organ
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come as you are
not as you wish you were
or as others expect you to be
or as you think others expect you to be
Come as you are
not as you see yourself
or as others see you
not as your resume
or your curated online presence
Come as you are
not as the girl your mother raised you to be
or the man your father hoped you would become
or the hero you want your kids to see
Come as you are
there are no imposters here
no interlopers
no unwanted guests
Come as you are
for whoever you are
you are
welcome.
HYMN
God, Who Gives to Life its Goodness
PRAYER
God, you are a mystery to us,
but we are no mystery to you.
You have searched us and known us;
before a word is on our lips, O God,
you know it altogether.
You know our hardness of heart,
and our tenderness.
You know each wound we carry,
and each we have inflicted.
You know the measure of our strength,
and of our weakness.
And knowing this, still you call us your own.
Teach us, O God, to trust in your love.
Forgive us that we put more effort
into keeping up appearances
than into seeing beyond them.
Grant us the courage to be ourselves,
the compassion to let others be themselves,
and the wisdom to let you be God. Amen.
1st CALLING
2nd CALLING
3rd CALLING
INTERLUDE
Vom Himmel hoch (2nd setting) F. W. Zachau
SERMON
Unfit
Rev. Liza B. Knapp
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
We ask for prayers today
for the people of Ukraine
Somewhere, right now, God,
there are soldiers getting ready for war
and children getting ready for bed
and patients getting ready for surgery
and teachers getting ready for school
You see them, you know them,
surely as you see us, right now.
Deliver them all, safely,
into tomorrow,
without harm.
These are the prayers of the people;
Let the people say, Amen.
OFFERING
The Mission Committee is asking for donations towards church sponsored Community Meals. The church is currently paying for the hire of a restaurant to provide the meal. Any donations will help with that cost. You may pay by checks (made out to the First Church of Deerfield with “Community Meals” in the memo line) or by Online donation through Breeze (click HERE and choose “Community Meals”)
ANTHEM
Vom Himmel hoch Michael Praetorius
Dorian Pousont & Thomas Pousont, vocalists
“From heaven above to earth I come
to bring good news to every home
great tidings of abundant joy I bring
Of which I now will say and sing!
DEDICATION
God of Grace,
it is from your hand
that we have received our being:
accept now these gifts
that we place in your hands
for the care of your church,
your people, and your world.
Bless those who receive;
bless also those who give,
so that each of us may be
both the blessing and the blessed.
amen
HYMN
BENEDICTION
May the strength of God uphold you,
May the love of God enfold you,
May the spirit of God embolden you,
as you go forth to serve God’s world.
AMEN.
POSTLUDE
Images:
Isaiah, by Marc Chagall
The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by Raphael
The Conversion of Saul, source? (if you know, please tell me!)
Sir Lancelot at the Chapel of the Grail, by Burne-Jones
