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Second Presbyterian Church Oil City

19 hours ago

Today is Epiphany! 🌟"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1).

The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”) concludes the Christmas season with a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism. We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people. ... See MoreSee Less

Second Presbyterian Church Oil City

4 days ago

Second Presbyterian Church Oil City, Pennsylvania
Jan 5, 2025 Epiphany/Christmas II

Prelude Cathy Dixon
Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 147)
L/ Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God. Remember this: God builds up Jerusalem and safeguards all of God’s people. God heals the brokenhearted.
P/ God numbers the stars in heaven and calls them each by name. God is great and powerful, full of mercy and love for even te least of creation.
L/ God sustains the humble but casts away the wicked. God brings the music of the universe and sets it ablaze in our hearts. God provides for all te earth. Love is God’s very Name!
P/ The Lord does not look with favor on the powerful nor does God look upon physical strength as anything to be praised. God delights in the humble who fear him, God desires us to put our hope in God’s unfailing love!

Hymn of Praise: #163 As with Gladness Men of Old

Prayer of Confession
L/ Let us pause and think on our relationship with God and each other, confessing our sins to God.
<silent confession and reflection>
P/ God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor and call them morally wrong; we ignore cries for justice and somehow make them out to be wrong while justifying our own comfort and way; we do not strive for peace but yearn for violence and the forceful end of those we oppose. In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin and pour out the gifts of your Spirit, that forgiven and renewed, we might show forth your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ.

L/ Hear these words of scripture: “The Lord’s mercy is like rain falling on the fields…God’s anointed will deliver the needy and save the afflicted. He will rescue us from oppression and sin because we are precious in His sight.” (Psalm 72: 6,12-14). I declare we are forgiven and remade by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus, filled by the Spirit to shine with New Life!

Hymn: #138 Go Tell it on the Mountain

Call to Discipleship and Passing of Peace
Pastors/ We are all called to follow Christ and to bring the Light to all the world. As Paul says in Colossians 3: 12-14:
P/ As God’s own people, let us be merciful in action, kindly in heart, humble in mind.
Deacons/ Be always ready to forgive as God has freely forgiven you. And above all else be loving to all.
Elders/ Never forget to be thankful for what Christ has done for you.

L/ May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance and may you share these with all you meet. (Jude 2) Greet each other with the peace of Christ.

Children’s Chat Tammy Botts

Reading Scripture
Prayer for Illumination
Old Testament: Isaiah 60: 1-7
New Testament: Ephesians 1: 3-14

Sermon “Arise, Your Light has Come!” Rev. Dr. Tim Harmon

Affirmation of Faith (1934, PC(USA)’s Book of Confessions 8.11-8.15)

ALL: Jesus Christ, as he is attested to us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God whom we have to hear, and whom we have to trust and obey in life and in death. We reject the false doctrine that the Church could and should recognize as a source of its proclamation, beyond and besides this one Word of God, yet other events, powers, historic figures and truths as God’s revelation. As Jesus Christ is God’s comforting pronouncement of the forgiveness of all our sins, so, with equal seriousness, he is also God’s vigorous announcement of his claim upon our whole life. Through him there comes to us joyful liberation from the godless ties of this world for free, grateful service to his creatures. We reject the false doctrine that there could be areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ but to other lords, areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him.

We Offer Our Tithes of Time, Talent, and Resources
Praise God From Whom All Blessing Flow

Prayers of the People
Sacrament of the Lord’s Table
(Words of Institution: 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26)
Invitation

L/ God be with you. P/ And also with you.
L/ Lift up your hearts. P/ We lift them up to God.
L/ Let us give thanks to God. P/ We give God thanks and praise.

L/God of all things, you are worthy of all praise. At your command all things came to be—in space, in the sky, on the earth, in the sea. You have made us humans stewards of creation but we rebel and think we can be in charge without you. Thank you God that you pursue us anyway. That you reach out to us in prophets and scripture; that you came as Jesus to teach and heal and rescue us by your own blood; that Jesus has saved us and sends the Spirit to guide us and fill us with love to overflowing that we might be of service to others. Teach us to seek and find you as the wise men did when you were born, following your Light as we shout:

All/ Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. (Isaiah 6: 3; Revelation 4:8) Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! (Psalm 118:25; Matthew 21:9)

L/ So Father, we who have been redeemed and now made one with Christ bring before you these gifts, not of gold and frankincense and myrrh but of wheat and grape. Sanctify them by your Spirit that we might be the Body and Blood of Christ for all the world. Therefore we remember that on the night Jesus was betrayed, He gathered with his friends at meal. He took bread…

L/ Lord God of our ancestors: God of Abraham and Sarah and Hagar, the God of Isaac and Rebekah, the God of Jacob and Leah and Rachel, open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world around us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not strength; for pardon only and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one Body, one Spirit in Christ set apart to serve the world and let your love flow through us.

P/ Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours Almighty Father, forever and ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

Lord’s Prayer (using debts)

Communion
L/ The Gifts of God for the people of God. Take and eat for all is now prepared.

The elders and deacons will bring the elements to you or you
may have your own prepared if you are worshipping online.
Please hold them until we eat them together.
All who seek the Lord Jesus are welcome at His Table.

Prayer of Thanksgiving (from our Reformed Heritage)
L/ So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Lighten, if it be your will, the pressures and concerns of this world, and above all unite us by your will so that a peace that can never be taken away settles deep in our hearts, binding us together. (1802, Thomas Chalmers, Scottish pastor)

Benediction
Closing Hymn: # 452 Make Me a Blessing ... See MoreSee Less