January 10, 2021
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 “God and the Pandemic”
Join us this Wednesday for a thoughtful reflection and study group on “God and the Pandemic”. Using New Testament author N.T. Wright brand new book“God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath” we will explore how Scripture and past pandemics help us to understand the way we can find hope in the midst of the time we live. With humility, lament, service to others as main themes, Wright explores what we can do in this accessible and brief book. Join us for a four week book study starting January 13 and continuing for 4 Wednesdays, either at 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. 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
Week of Christian Unity
Each January, the World Council of Churches celebrates the diversity of our Christian expressions and our unity together. This year our theme is John 15: how do we “bear fruit” for the great community? The Lehigh Conference of Churches is excited to present via Zoom, a time of worship and brief reflection from four different local Christian communities on Tuesday – Friday, January 19-22, at 10 a.m. The Ripple Community, Resurrected Life Community Church, Phoebe Home chaplains, and a bilingual expressions of ministry will be the four Christian expressions speaking about how they bear fruit and leading us in worship each morning. Look to your Calvary weekly email to register or ask Pastor Janel for more information.
January 10, 2021.
Welcome and Announcements
Sharing of Watchwords
Calvary Moravian Church Watchword for 2021
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Introit Chorale: Sleepers Awake (J. Bach).
Call to Worship – Matthew 2:1-12. Karen Kahle.
Liturgy for Epiphany (adapted, pg. 65-70)
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. www.moravian.org; e-mail: pubs@mcnp.org. All rights reserved
TUNE: GAUDEAMUS PARITER
Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to you we raise;
Manifested by the star, To the sages from afar,
Branch of royal David’s stem, In your birth at Bethlehem:
Anthems be to you addressed, God in flesh made manifest.
All your creatures, Lord, will praise you, and all your people will give you thanks.
They will speak of the glory of your royal power and tell of your might.
Everyone will know your mighty deeds and the glorious majesty of your kingdom.
Your rule is eternal, and you are king forever.
You, Lord, are righteous in all you do, merciful in all your acts.
You are near to those who call to you, who call to you with sincerity.
You supply the needs of all who honor you; you hear their cries and save them.
We will ever praise you, Lord; let all creation praise your holy name forever.
TUNE: HYFRYDOL
Worship, honor, glory, blessing, Lord, we offer unto you;
Young and old, your praise expressing, Sing your mercies ever new.
All the saints in heav’n adore you; We would bow before your throne.
As your angels serve before you, So on earth your will be done.
With sincere hearts and open minds, let us now acknowledge the sin that entangles us and prevents us from doing God’s will.
(Silent confession)
Compassionate Lord, you call us to a higher standard than we have achieved. We therefore bow in honest confession of those thoughts, words, and deeds which have missed the mark. Within our families, we have loved imperfectly. Among sisters and brothers in the church, we have not fully walked in the light. Often our congregations have not reflected the rich diversity of people in our communities. In our witness to the world, our lives have not adequately testified to your redeeming power. Forgive us, gracious Lord, for permitting ourselves to be distracted from the goal of our discipleship. Heal the brokenness of our hearts and restore us to you, our first love.
There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. Hear the word of our Lord: I do not condemn you. Go, but do not sin again.
God created the heavens and stretched them out, fashioned the earth and all that live there, and gave life and breath to all its people.
And now the Lord God says to his servant: I, the Lord, have called you and given you power to see that justice is done on earth. Through you I will make a covenant with all peoples.
Through you I will bring light to the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind,
And set free those who sit in dark prisons.
God shows no partiality to race or culture. All who have reverence for him and do what is right are acceptable to God.
Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world.
Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son!
How great is the grace of God, which he gave to us in such large measure!
This is the good news: through Jesus’ death and resurrection all people may participate in God’s blessings.
We are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.
There is no longer rich or poor, black or white, male or female; for we are all one in union with Christ Jesus.
If we belong to Christ, then we are members of God’s family and will receive what God has promised.
Prayers of the People
Let us offer intercessions and petitions for the needs of the world.
Lord Jesus Christ, as disciples called to your service, we pray for the salvation of all. Lead us to bear witness to friends and neighbors in this community. Fill our words and manner of life with the convincing power of your Spirit. Intensify our love for all people that our discipleship may be confirmed as genuine. Through our obedience to your call, bestow on many the faith to be saved.
Give every gift and blessing to your witnesses in all places. May those who suffer because they have named you as Lord be strengthened to endure every temptation. Give courage, insight, and loving patience to those who have left their own people to proclaim the gospel to those yet unreached.
Savior, grant that your church may always grow in grace and in numbers. Bring multitudes from every people to bow and confess that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Hymn 317 Brightest and Best of the Stars.
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid;
star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.
Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining;
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall;
angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.
Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
odors of Edom, and offerings divine,
gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favor secure:
richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
Sermon “Unpacking the Magi in Humanity’s Creativity”
Special Music “Go Light your World”(Performed by Gary Gipson)
The Magi had a dream.
They dreamed of a Messiah. They dreamed of just rulers.
They dreamed of a new day for all people.
The Magi had a dream, and this dream led them to action.
They journeyed to unknown places. They followed a star.
They walked for days to get to Jesus.
So may we unpack our Magi, dust them off and see what we will continue to dream, even if those dreams are not yet realized.
May we never give in to apathy, the enemy of love. May our dreams inspire love in action, like the other wise man.
Yet the journey for this love isn’t often easy.
Forgive us when we falter and fail, when the times get too long or lonely. Give us a star to follow and light for our journey, a light within and a light above.
So until all God’s children are home, We will follow the Magi’s lead— Walking, seeking, and looking up.
We will light a candle, search for a star, and share your love – for brothers and sisters near and afar.
May it be so, for this we believe. Amen.
Benediction
Postlude. What Star is This – Coffin (1676)
Calvary Moravian Church 