Virtual Worship for Jan. 10, 2021

The Presbyterian Church, 142 N. 4th St., Coshocton, OH 43812

Pastor Karen Crawford

Jim Crawford, Liturgist

Mark Wagner, Organist

Prelude: Bethlehem… arr. and lyrics, David N. Johnson (Mark Wagner, organ)

Greeting/Announcements

Opening Sentences: Jim Crawford

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The Spirit of God swept over the face of the waters; then God said: Let there be light, and God saw that it was good. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was baptized by John. The heavens opened, and the Spirit descended like a dove; then God said: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Gathering Prayer

Hymn: Breathe on Me, Breath of God (1,3) text, Edwin Hatch; music, Robert Jackson

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love,
and do what thou wouldst do.

Breath on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

Call to Confession/Prayer of Confession/Assurance of Pardon with Pastor Karen

God whose spirit moved over the waters, you have washed us in your mercy, claimed us as your own, bound us in community, and called us to lives of baptismal grace. Forgive us, O God, for we have not lived as if we were your baptized people. We stumble over opportunities for forgiveness. We prioritize our own selfish interests. We are slow to disrupt the status quo, even when it means ignoring our neighbors’ suffering. Forgive us, O God, and by your forgiveness, lead us back to your waters of transformation.  Amen.

Time with Children and Youth: Butterflies and Caterpillars

Prayer for Illumination: Jim Crawford

Reading: Genesis 1:1-5

 In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!

Reading: Mark 1:4-11 with Pastor Karen

⁴ John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Holy wisdom, holy word. Thanks be to God!

Message: The Day the Heavens Were Torn Apart

Hymn: Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples ( stanzas 1, 3) ……H. Kenn Carmichael

Today we are all called to be
Disciples of the Lord,
To help to set the captives free,
Make plow-share out of sword,
To feed the hungry, quench their thirst,
Make love and peace our fast,
To serve the poor and homeless first,
Our ease and comfort last.

Pray justice may come rolling down
As in a mighty stream,
With righteousness in field and town
To cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore
An earth where conflicts cease,
A world that was created for
A harmony of peace.

Invitation to the Table (From One Bread, One Body, Hymn 530…John B. Foley)

“One bread, one body, one Lord of all.
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth
We are one body in this one Lord.

Gentile or Jew
Servant or free
Woman or man
No more.

One bread, one body, one Lord of all.
One cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth
We are one body in this one Lord…”

Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. 

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise...

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Communion of the People of God

Prayer After Communion

Charge/Benediction

Postlude: Postlude on Madrid….arr. Dennis R. Johnson (Mark Wagner, organ)