GRACE COVENANT

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Awakening a Love for Christ in the Heart of the City
January 6, 2013 Epiphany 10:55 a.m.

WE GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

Please fill out the communication card and place it in the offering plate during the offertory. PRELUDE Chorale Fantasia on How Lovely Shines the Morning Star WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 36

Dietrich Buxtehude

Leader: Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. People: Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; Leader: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. People: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. All: For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Praise the LORD! HYMN 68 (Blue Hymnal) What Star Is This, with Beams so Bright Puer Nobis Nascitur

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty and most merciful Father, As we think on the past year, the remembrance of our sins is grievous unto us. We have wandered and strayed, but You have been faithful; We have misplaced our trust, but You have not abandoned us. We have behaved as if other things were more important than You, but You have given Your life for us. Lord, have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins, we pray. Shine the brightness of Your love upon our hearts, and reveal every sin we would hide or ignore, That we may truly repent, turn afresh to Your grace, and walk in the light of Your steadfast love, Revealed to us, and to all the world, in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, in whose holy and perfect name we pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON ALLELUIA (All repeat after the choir) A. Gregory Murray

Alleluia, music A. Gregory Murray 1958 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND GIFTS
On the first Sunday of each month, in addition to your tithe and regular giving, we receive the "5 Cents Per Meal" offering, which is used to help feed the hungry in Richmond.

ANTHEM Adoration of the Wise Men

Saw you never, in the twilight, when the sun had left the skies, up in heavn the clear stars shining through the gloom, like silver eyes?

Crawford Thoburn

So of old the wise men, watching, saw a little stranger star, and they knew the King was given, and they followed it from far. Heard you never of the story how they crossed the desert wild, journeyed on by plain and mountain, till they found the holy Child? How they opend all their treasure, kneeling to that infant King; gave the gold and fragrant incense, gave the myrrh in offering? Know ye not that lowly baby was the bright and morning Star? He who came to light the Gentiles, and the darkend isles afar? And we too, may seek his cradle; there our hearts best treasures bring; Love and faith, and true devotion for our Saviour, God, and King.
Cecil Frances Alexander, 1853 music: CHARTRES, 15th-century French melody

DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Old Hundredth Virginia Hudson

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 30:1-6 Virginia Hudson Holy Bible, p. 625 OT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. CHILDRENS SERMON EPISTLE READING Ephesians 3:1-12 Leslie Hartman Holy Bible, p.183 NT Holy Bible, p. 7 NT

GOSPEL READING Matthew 2:1-12 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON Come to the Light

Brint Pratt Keyes

WE RESPOND TO GODS WORD

HYMN 138 (Red Hymnal) Light of the World, We Hail Thee THE APOSTLES CREED GLORIA PATRI 579 (Blue Hymnal) SACRAMENT OF THE LORDS SUPPER PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER Red Hymnal, p. 12 sung to Aurelia, 437 Red Hymnal, p. 12 Greatorex

WE GO FORTH TO LOVE AND SERVE

HYMN 174 (Red Hymnal) As with Gladness Men of Old BENEDICTION AND CHORAL RESPONSE Star of Wonder POSTLUDE The Rejoicing (Suite in G) Dix Three Kings of Orient Charles Callahan, b. 1951

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship. The flowers are given to the glory of God and in memory of Lindley B. Hill and Mr. and Mrs. William R. Hill, Sr., by the family.
1627 Monument Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 804-359-2463 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Email: info@grace-covenant.org Website: www.grace-covenant.org Radio: WLES 590 AM Interim Pastor: The Reverend Mr. Brinton Keyes Director of Music: Christopher Martin Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Strait Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin Custodian: James Greene Child Development Center Director: Nicole Williams Seminary Intern: Christopher Tweel