January 3, 2021
Happy New Year!
Today we will be celebrating Holy Communion as we welcome in the new year, please bring bread and something to drink that we might consecrate the elements in our virtual Holy Communion.
Thank you for worshipping with us at Calvary Moravian Church. To support our ministries, you can mail the office a check (948 N. 21st St. Allentown 18104). An online giving portal is at: https://mmfa.info/calvary-moravian-church-pa-donation-form/.
There are no changes to our worship format for January.
Zoom (live starting at 10 a.m, Sunday school check-in and 10:45 a.m. Worship)
Youtube (Calvary Moravian Church Allentown channel) – either live at 10:45 a.m. or access later recorded on the Youtube channel.
Every Sunday morning, continue to use this Zoom address:
https://zoom.us/j/673028163, Meeting ID: 673 028 163
You can call this number and listen to the service on any telephone as well:
(929) 205-6099 (enter 673028163#).
Bulletins are available from Friday onward in the Little Library on Livingston St.
Book Study starting January 13th!
Looking for a reflection between your spiritual life and the pandemic? New Testament author N.T. Wright recently wrote a brief (96 page!) book called “God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath”. In it he attempts to understand what Scripture based outcomes (lament, humility, service to others) could come from this time period based on our shared history as well. Join us for a four week book study in January and February. It will be held on Wednesdays, starting January 13th – February 3rd. Please let us know if you are interested and if you prefer 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. (Talk with Pastor Janel or leave a message at the office). Books will be available at the office this week, please call to pick up ($9).
Helping our Neighbors at Esperanza Moravian Church!
Esperanza Moravian Church, a bilingual church and ministry outreach to the neighborhood of South Bethlehem, is collecting food to help hungry kids in the neighborhood. We will continue to collect microwaveable Mac and Cheese cups (just the cups not the boxes) to donate as part of this effort or funds to purchase these. Please call us to arrange a drop-off.
Daily Texts
Moravian Daily Texts for 2021 are available, contact the church office. The cost is $11.00 for regular print, $13.00 for large print.
2021 Offering Envelopes are available for pick-up, please contact the office to make arrangements
Our Bible Study continues on Zoom on Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. – All welcome.
January 3, 2021
Welcome and Announcements
Introit Once He Came in Blessing – Weisse (1488)
Liturgy for the New Year pg. 143
Reprinted or adapted from the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship with the permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in America. © 1995 IBOC.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all God’s benefits,
Who forgives your iniquity, who heals your diseases,
Who satisfies you with good as long as you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
TUNE: ST. ANNE (14 H)
O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home!
Under the shadow of your throne, Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone, And our defense is sure.
O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,
Remain our guide while life shall last, And our eternal home.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Prayers of the People
Let us in penitence and humility confess our sins before the throne of grace, praying together:
God of mercy, as we mark this moment, we confess our weaknesses, failures, and transgressions:
Our broken vows,
Our slackness and misuse of time and opportunity,
Our selfishness and our love of ease,
Our unkindness and indifference,
Our self-indulgence and our pleasures taken at the
expense of others,
Our moments when we have not been true to ourselves,
Our lack of faith in your providence.
For these sins of commission and omission, have mercy upon us.
Lord Jesus Christ, we remember in your presence our losses and griefs, our hopes and treasures which the departing year has carried away, the disappointments we have known, the friends who are no longer with us and whose steps we shall hear no more. We pray for grace to cherish the spirit which brings good out of evil, and which prevents adversities and sorrows from embittering our hearts. Give us comfort and a deep sense of your goodness in every circumstance of life; and when, despite our good intentions, we fail, be our strength and stay.
Silent Confession and Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
God will supply every need of ours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
TUNE: DISMISSAL
Thanks we give and adoration, For the gospel’s joyful sound;
May the fruits of your salvation, in our hearts and lives abound.
May your presence, May your presence, With us evermore be found.
Lord Jesus, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever: your throne is established in righteousness, your compassion fails not, and your love endures from generation to generation. Lift the light of your countenance upon us, for we are exiles as our ancestors were. We thank you for all the ways by which you have led us in the past. Give us courage to set our faces toward the future.
Amen.
Let us give thanks for all God’s mercies:
For your grace given to us in days that are gone,
For the blessings of life, seen and unseen,
For the joy and peace of communion with you,
We give you thanks, gracious God.
For the sacraments of love and service which have made us conscious of your presence in our common life,
For the deeds we have been able to accomplish in the strength which you supply,
For the kindness of associates, the love of friends, and the fellowship of kindred souls,
We give you thanks, loving God.
For the disciplines which have enriched our living,
For your wisdom and gracious providence which we have recognized when you have denied our foolish requests,
For the faith which has guided us in days of trial,
We give you thanks, gracious God.
God will supply every need of ours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
TUNE: MIT FREUDEN ZART
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in every generation.
Your people still have known your grace and your blest consolation.
Through every age you heard our cry, Through every age we found you nigh,
Our strength and our salvation.
Lord, nothing from your arms of love, shall your own people sever.
Our helper never will remove; Our God will fail us never.
Your people, Lord, have dwelt secure; Our dwelling place, you will endure
Forever and forever.
Watchword for Calvary Moravian Church, 2021
Special Music O Jesu, Joy of my Heart – Brahms (1833)
Scripture John 1:1-18
Hymn 287. “Break Forth, O Beauteous Heav’nly Light” Moravian Christmas.
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light, and usher in the morning.
O shepherds, shudder not with fright, but hear the angel’s warning.
This child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be,
the pow’r of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making.
TEXT: Johann Rist (1641). Composite tr.
TUNE: Johann Schop (1641). Harm. Johann Sebastian Bach (1734)
Message
Special Music. “God’s Own Son” (performed by Moravian group, Reserved Parking) Copyright © 2015 Common Hymnal Digital (BMI) The Telling Songs (BMI) Ryan Flanigan Music (BMI) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion for Christ’s Coming
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, be with you all.
Amen.
Hymn 285. Jesus Call Thou Me (Sharing Right Wave of Fellowship).
Jesus, call thou me, from the world to thee;
speed me ever, stay me never;
Jesus, call thou me.
Not Jerusalem – lowly Bethlehem
’twas that gave us Christ to save us;
not Jerusalem.
Wondrous Child divine! warm this heart of mine;
keep it burning, for thee yearning,
wondrous Child divine!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Lord’s Prayer)
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
(All partake together.)
Silent prayer
By your divine presence,
By the holy sacraments,
By all the merits of your life, sufferings, death, and resurrection,
Bless and comfort us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.
In the same way, after supper our Lord Jesus Christ took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.
(All partake together.)
Silent prayer
Christ, the Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant to us your peace. Amen.
Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death,
Until he comes.
Hymn 270 Once He Came in Blessing (Sharing Right Wave of Fellowship)
Once he came in blessing, all our sins redressing,
came in likeness lowly, Son of God most holy;
bore the cross to save us, hope and freedom gave us.
Still he comes within us, still his voice would win us
from the sins that hurt us; would to truth convert us
from our foolish error, ere he comes in terror.
Thus if we have known him, not ashamed to own him,
nor have spurned him coldly, but will trust him boldly,
he will then receive us, heal us, and forgive us.
Those who then are loyal find a welcome royal.
Come then, O Lord Jesus, from our sins release us;
let us here confess you till in heav’n we bless you.
TEXT: Jan Roh (1544). Tr. Catherine Winkworth (1863), alt.
TUNE: Medieval melody, adapt. Michael Weisse (1531)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace;
In the name of Jesus. Amen. (Sung Response)
Postlude. The Lord Bless You – Peter Lutkin (1926).
Calvary Moravian Church 