First Baptist Church of Birmingham, Michigan
The First Baptist Church of An January 4, 2009 Welcome to Worship at The Christmas story still unfolds for us as we come to worship today. The hope and joy of God’s light is shining in our world at the birth of the Christ Child. Today we will share in the service of communion. The New Year dawns and we gather around The Lord’s Table. Our congregation observes “open communion”. All who are followers of Jesus the Christ are welcome to receive the Bread and the Cup. A reception held in the Parlor will follow the service. Please stay. In worship we offer praise and thanksgiving to God, hear the Scriptures, take time for confession and intercession in prayer, seek inspiration through music and the proclamation of God’s word, and respond by giving our gifts to support the mission of God in the world around us. Hymns, songs, anthems, scriptures, and the message are selected to provide continuity to the service theme for the day and to draw us closer to God. Our worship leader is Arthur Kaczmarek. Elementary school aged children (K-5) are invited to attend a Learning Community class and are dismissed at the designated time in worship. A nursery is provided for infants and toddlers. An usher will assist in locating the nursery. We ask that all who attend to fill out a registration card and place it in the offering plate when it is passed so that we know of your attendance today. Enter to Worship
Prelude: "Noel Joyeux" (Gordon Young) - Jack E. Ellis
Call to Worship:
Leader: Arise, for the glory of God is shining on us. Shadows shall cover the earth, but the brightness of God’s presence is upon us. Lift up your eyes and look around,
People: arise and shine for our light has come!
Leader: Nations will be drawn to our light, and rulers to the dawning of our new day; people are gathering to come home. Lift up your eyes and look around.
People: arise and shine for our light has come!
Leader: We will see this and be filled with joy; we will tremble with excitement. Great caravans will come, bringing gifts of praise. Everyone will tell the good news of what God has done. Lift up your eyes and look around,
People: arise and shine for our light has come!
Processional Hymn: “The First Noel” #162
Opening Prayer:
Prayer of Confession:
Assurance of Pardon
Response: “Gloria, Gloria” #825
“Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria, Gloria, alleluia, alleluia!”
Celebrations and Concerns
A Moment for
The Old Testament
The New Testament
(Children up through fourth grade may now leave for Children’s Church.)
The Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: "Gesu Bambino" (Yon-Leavitt)
- Chancel Choir, with Mike McCandlish soloist
*Offertory Response: “As with Gladness” #181, vs. 3
“As they offered gifts most rare at that manger rude and bare, so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy, all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heavenly King.”
The Gospel
Sermon: “By Another Way” – Rev. J. Wesley Babian
Reading the Church Covenant
Communion Offering:
Our communion offering is taken in support of the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering.
Communion Offertory: "O Little Town Of
The Celebration of Communion
A Prayer of Blessing for the Bread
Distribution of the Bread
Music for the Bread: "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" (arr.
A Prayer of Blessing for the Cup
Distribution of the Cup Music for the Cup: "Of The Father's Love Begotten" (arr. Stipp)
Closing Hymn: “Thanks to God for My Redeemer” #380
Benediction
Postlude: "Song for a New Year" (Gilbert Martin)
Invitations to Involvement
Stewardship Team meets after service.
Organ Committee meets after service.
Quilter & Prayer Shawl Ministry Group News: Our wonderful Quilters & Prayer Shawl ministry group has begun to meet again. They come together on the first and last Tuesday of the month, 11AM to 3PM. The group meets in the Conference Room. Join us!
“From the Mountain Top” We are invited to attend the 17th annual
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Monday, January 19, 8am at the Community House in Birmingham, $25 per person including breakfast. Sponsored by the Race Relations and Diversity Taskforce.
MOSES: A Community Organizing Organization: MOSES Annual Banquet Save the date of January 19, 2009 for the annual banquet held in memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The banquet will again be held at Burton Manor in
The Week Ahead:
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Choir Practice 9:20 a.m.
Worship Service – 10:30 a.m.
Children’s Learning Community – during Worship time after being
dismissed from the service.
Communion Sunday Reception
Tuesday, January 6, 10AM Bible Study
Wednesday, January 7, Choirs practice (ask Jack)
Thursday, January 8, Bible Study, evening