PROVIDENCE CHURCH

January 3, 2021

Welcome

 

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you!  And also with you!

 

 

Call to worship:   Psalm 90 selected verses

Pastor: Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

People:  3 You return us to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

Pastor:  10 The years of our life are seventy,  or even by reason of strength eighty;              yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

People:  12 So teach us to number our days aright that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Pastor:   13 Return, O Lord! How long will you wait?  LORD have pity on your servants!      14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,  that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

People:   16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.

All:     17 May the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,  and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Songs of Praise:

Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down (Dave Doherty, 1980)

Come, let us worship and bow down,

Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker.

Come, let us worship and bow down,

Let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker.

 

For He—is our God, and we are the people of his pasture,

And the sheep of his hand, just the sheep of his hand.

(Repeat all twice)

 

How Great is Our God (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves and Ed Cash, 2004)

1.The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty,

Let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.

He wraps himself in light, and darkness tries to hide,

And trembles at his voice, trembles at his voice.

 

How great is our God! Sing with me, how great is our God!

And all will see how great, how great is our God.

 

2.Age to age he stands, and time is in his hands,

Beginning and the end, beginning and the end.

The God-head, three in one: Father, Spirit, Son,

The Lion and the Lamb, Lion and the Lamb.

 

How great is our God! Sing with me, how great is our God!

And all will see how great, how great is our God.

 

Cause you’re the Name above all names,

You are worthy of all praise,

And my heart will sing: How great is our God.

You’re the Name above all names,

You are worthy of all praise,

And my heart will sing: How great is our God.

 

How great is our God!

Sing with me, How great is our God!

And all will see how great, how great is our God. (Repeat)

 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee:

How great thou art, how great thou art.

Then sing my soul, my Savior God to thee:

How great thou art, how great—thou—art.

 

Seek Ye First (Karen Lafferty, 1972)

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

And all these thangs shall be added unto you—Allelu, Alleluia

 

Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be opened unto you—Allelu, Alleluia

 

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word

That proceeds from the mouth of the Lord—Allelu, Alleluia

 

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,

And all these thangs shall be added unto you—Allelu, Alleluia

 

 

Confession/Assurance   

 

Musical Offering:  I Need Thee Every Hour (Annie Hawks, 1872; tune and chorus, Robert Lowry, 1872)

I need thee ev’ry hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like thine can peace afford.

I need thee, O I need thee, ev’ry hour I need thee;

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

 

I need thee ev’ry hour; stay thou nearby;

Temptations lose their pow’r when thou art nigh.

I need thee, O I need thee, ev’ry hour I need thee;

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

 

I need thee ev’ry hour, teach me thy will,

And thy rich promises in me fulfil.

I need thee, O I need thee, ev’ry hour I need thee;

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

 

I need thee ev’ry hour, Most Holy One;

O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son.

I need thee, O I need thee, ev’ry hour I need thee;

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee. (Repeat Chorus)

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

 

Apostle’s Creed: 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead and buried;

He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand

of God the Father Almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.   Amen

 

 

 

Scripture Reading:    Matthew 2:1-12

 

The Visit of the Wise Men

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b] and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

 

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

Sermon:  “Wise Men Still Seek Him”  

 

 

Communion Hymn:

Behold the Lamb (Keith & Kristyn Getty)

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, slain for us,

And we remember

the promise made that all who come in in faith find forgiveness at the cross.

So we share in this bread of life and we drink of his sacrifice

As a sign of our bonds of peace, around the table of the King.

 

The body of our Savior Jesus Christ, torn for you,

Eat and remember

The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life paid the price to make us one.

So we share in this bread of life and we drink of his sacrifice

As a sign of our bonds of grace around the table of the King.

 

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, shed for you,

Drink and remember

He drained death’s cup that all may enter in to receive the life of God.

So we share in this bread of life and we drink of his sacrifice

As a sign of our bonds of love around the table of the King.

 

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise to respond,

And to remember

Our call to follow in the steps of Christ as his body here on earth.

As we share in his sufferings, we proclaim: Christ will come again!

And we’ll join in the feast of heav’n, around the table of the King.

 

 

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.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:

for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.  Amen

 

Hymn of Thanksgiving:   

 

Amazing Grace (John Newton, 1779; tune traditional American melody)

 

Amazing grace!—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

 

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

 

Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

 

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.

 

Benediction

 

 

 

 

KNOW

Welcome to Providence Church! We are glad that you are here, joining us in person or via Zoom! We invite you to stop by our Welcome Center where you can receive more information about our church.

 

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship.  We will have

childcare for children up to 6 years of age.

 

Tithes and Gifts: An offering plate is not passed during the service.  Plates for your tithes and

offerings are located at the back of the sanctuary. If you are joining us via Zoom, your tithes and gifts can be mailed to P.O. Box 65, Clyde.  We thank you for your prayerful financial support for our church.

 

 

GROW

Would you like to grow in the joy and work of prayer? Join our women on Wednesday mornings or our men on Thursday mornings. These seasons of weekly prayer are rich in fellowship and in prayers. Want to know more about the time and place for Women’s Prayer? Contact Linda Roberts. Would you like to join our ZOOM prayer times at 7:30 am Thursday’s call Sam Mitchell and he will send you the link to the meeting.  NOTE:  All these groups will resume in January.

 

Are you longing to grow in your connection with God through Scripture reading? Pastor Edward recommends Bible In One Year (by Alpha International), a 20 minute reading of Scripture and commentary written by Nicky Gumble leader of Alpha (an international evangelism ministry).  Just look it up under your apps on your phone/computer.

 

 

GO

Open Door Soup Kitchen: This is an ongoing commitment of Providence Church to the least, the last, the lost and the lonely of our community.  While Open Door is no longer able to serve meals, we are still volunteering to cook the meals on the first Friday of each month, If you can serve in this way, please let Phil and Pat know at 828- 476-5130. Thanks for your faithfulness.

 

Prayer Requests: Deaths: LuAnn Davis mother (prayers for Davis family) Healing: Wally, Eleonore, Sarah, Barb, Bob’s parents (recovering in rehab); Robbie Hargrove; Chuck & Carole Torpy; Glenn & Laura Glad; Thom Morgan’s mother; Caroline (Bev’s Mom); Sarah’s brother in law Dan – cancer; Lisa Rhodarmer’s brother Michael – cancer.

 

A special Welcome Home:  Lois Simone was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on 12-26-2020 at the age of 100 yrs old.  Lois dedicated her life to serving the Lord in many ways, including Soup Kitchen, and teaching handicapped children at the YMCA.  Memorials can be made to Rowan Helping Ministries, PO Box 4026, Salisbury, NC  28144.  Please keep LuAnn and family in your thoughts and prayers.