We’re glad you’re here!
- If you are attending via Facebook Live, please fill out the contact card at the end of today's bulletin to request a pastoral visit, join our mailing list, or update your contact information.
- If you are attending in person, we invite you to sign in when the ushers pass around the clipboards, and to include your contact information so that we can send you a card (and Pastor can call you if you’d like).
We celebrate Holy Communion in worship each Sunday at 9:00 AM. Visitors are welcome for Communion—read the "Invitation to Holy Communion section to learn more.
We have weekly education programs for all ages after worship, including Sunday School (age 3+), Confirmation (7th & 8th grade), Youth Group (middle/high school), and Adult Forum.
Restrooms (all ADA accessible):
- Located down the hall from the church office (women’s first, then men’s).
Child and Family Needs—in Fireside Room (entry area):
- Children are welcome in worship! The small table has crayons and coloring books if your little ones need to keep their hands busy!
- Our Family Room (door next to the piano) offers a baby changing table and space for nursing or other family needs during the service!
Hearing Assistance:
- You can your set hearing aid to “T” to use our T-coil hearing loop.
- Other hearing assistance devices are available as well—please ask an usher if you would like to use one.
God’s Mission for Trinity: Welcome. Nurture. Serve.
- In order to put Christ first, we WELCOME people into the church, inviting them to receive the love and grace of Jesus so they may know themselves as children of God.
- We NURTURE people in faith to support their learning and growth as followers of Jesus.
- We send people out to SERVE people in emotional, spiritual, and physical need in the congregation, the community, and the world.
Prelude & Welcome
- For Kids: Learn about the Bible with interactive games, word searches, and puzzles you can play on a phone through Bible Activities Zone! (Please be polite and turn off the sound if you are sitting in church, though!)
Please stand as you are able.
Confession and Forgiveness (1 John 1:9, John 20:23)
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: As we approach the mystery of God, let us come in confession, trusting the love of Christ crucified and risen. (A brief silence for reflection.) God who searches us and knows us,
C: you have shown us what is good, but we have looked to other lights to find our way. We have not been just in our dealings with others. We have chosen revenge over mercy. We have promoted ourselves instead of walking humbly with you. With what shall we come before you? Forgive us our sin, and show us your salvation in the face of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
P: Beloved of God, you have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, poured out for you in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Gathering Hymn “Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized” #304
Apostolic Greeting (2 Corinthians 13:13)
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Hymn of Praise (Luke 2:14)
P: (sung) Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.
Prayer of the Day
P: Let us pray together. O God, our Father,
C: at the baptism of Jesus you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful to their calling as your daughters and sons, and empower us all with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please sit.
First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9
God's servant is endowed with God's spirit in order to bring justice to the nations. The servant will not exercise authority boisterously or with violence, nor will weariness ever prevent the fulfilling of the servant's task. God's old promises have been fulfilled; the servant's new assignment is to bring light to the nations.
A: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
A: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 29 (sung to the tone below)
L: Ascribe to the | LORD, you gods,
ascribe to the LORD glo- | ry and strength.
C: Ascribe to the LORD the glory | due God's name;
worship the LORD in the beau- | ty of holiness.
L: The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of | glory thunders;
the LORD is upon the | mighty waters.
C: The voice of the LORD is a pow- | erful voice;
the voice of the LORD is a | voice of splendor.
L: The voice of the LORD breaks the | cedar trees;
the LORD breaks the ce- | dars of Lebanon;
C: the LORD makes Lebanon skip | like a calf,
and Mount Hermon like a | young wild ox.
L: The voice | of the LORD
bursts forth in | lightning flashes.
C: The voice of the LORD | shakes the wilderness;
the LORD shakes the wilder- | ness of Kadesh.
L: The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe
and strips the | forests bare.
And in the temple of the LORD all are | crying, "Glory!"
C: The LORD sits enthroned a- | bove the flood;
the LORD sits enthroned as king for- | evermore.
L: O LORD, give strength | to your people;
give them, O LORD, the bless- | ings of peace.
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Peter crosses the sharp religious boundary separating Jews from Gentiles and proclaims the good news of God's inclusive forgiveness in Jesus' name to Cornelius, a Roman centurion. As a result of Peter's preaching, Cornelius and his family become the first Gentiles to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
A: Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
A: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Please stand as you are able.
Gospel Acclamation (John 6:68)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 3:13-17
Before Jesus begins his ministry, he is baptized by John, touched by the Spirit, and identified publicly as God's child.
P: This is the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 3rd chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
P: Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Please sit.
Sermon
Please stand as you are able.
Hymn of the Day "Lift High the Cross" #660
Profession of Faith (Apostles’ Creed)
C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the 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.
Prayers of the Church (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Each section of the prayers ends:
A: Lord, in your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.
When we get to this part, please join in reading the names in bold:
A: Today, we pray especially...and for these friends on our Prayer list:
C: JoAnne, Gail, Marilyn, Cecil, Rebecca, Eileen, Tom, Ron, Don, Marge, Pr. Virgil, Eleanor, Jim, Karen, Gloria, Ian, Kirk, Rosy, Dawn, Lois, Lynette, Carole, Paul, Brian, Brenda, John, Gina, Kenneth, Pattie, Caryl, and Mike.
At the conclusion of the prayers:
P: Into your hands…our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
Sharing of the Peace (John 14:27, 20:19-21; Matthew 5:23-24)
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
Please sit.
Offering ”Alleluia Yaweh” Ladies’ Ensemble
Please stand as you are able.
Offertory “Doxology”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Offertory Prayer
A: Let us pray. God of wonder, you formed us in our mother's womb, and from mother earth you bring forth this bread and wine. We place them on your table, together with our lives and all that you have made. Open the heavens to us and pour out your Spirit. We wait for your mercy; we long for your peace; we hunger and thirst for Jesus Christ, our banquet of life.
C: Amen.
P: It is indeed right...join their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy (Isaiah 6:3, Psalm 118:26, Mark 11:9-10)
Eucharistic Prayer (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
P: Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord...
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread...
Again, after supper, he took the cup...
Pour out upon us...now and forever.
C: Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4)
C: 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Please sit.
Lamb of God (John 1:29)
If you are visiting today, you are welcome to receive Holy Communion.
- Please come forward when the usher comes to your row. (If you are unable to come forward, please tell the usher, and the servers will come to you.)
- Pastor will give you the bread, and then you can choose to either drink wine from the first (silver) cup or to dip your bread in the second (blue) cup, which has both red wine and white grape juice.
- If you prefer not to receive Holy Communion, you are invited to come forward with your arms folded across your chest to receive a blessing.
All are invited to join in singing the following hymns while Holy Communion is distributed.
- #451 “We Are Baptized in Christ Jesus”
- #454 “Remember and Rejoice”
- #581 “You Are Mine”
- #471 “Let Us Break Bread Together”
Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
A: Let us pray. Faithful God, you have kept your promise to us in this meal, nourishing us with the gift of salvation. Now send your servants forth in peace, that we may testify to your goodness and share the hope that is ours in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen
Ministries & Opportunities Announcements
- Worship Helper assignments for January & February are posted on the “Serve” bulletin board near the Main Entrance. Please take a minute after worship to see when you are signed up to help. The Worship Helper assignment schedule, including our acolytes, is printed in the January Tidings. Thank you to everyone who serves!
- Offering envelopes for 2020 are ready for pick-up on the table in the Fireside Room. Please stop after worship today and take your envelopes home—they are arranged alphabetically by last name. You probably have envelopes even if you didn’t make a pledge, so be sure to check. If you don’t see any envelopes for your family and you would like a box, please let Sue know.
- Those of you who bought a poinsettia or two in memory of loved ones, please take them home with you today. Thank you for adding to the beauty of our altar during the Christmas season.
- Come join us for the January service of “Shush-Free Worship for Rejoicers of All Abilities” on Sunday, January 19th at 3:30pm! Last month, 40 people came (despite snowy conditions) to share a lively service and tasty Christmas dinner, and we made fast friends with the residents and staff from Bridgeway’s Pekin group homes in their first time at Rejoicing Spirits! Greeters and ushers are needed for the January service--please sign up on the board near the main entrance.
- Mark your calendars for the Annual Reports and Visioning Meeting on Sunday, January 26th, in Engvall Hall immediately after worship. There will be no Adult Forum that day.
- Annual Ministry reports from 2019 are due next Sunday, January 19th. If you have responsibility for one of the various ministries of Trinity, please submit your report as soon as possible. We would like to have a complete and articulate report for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 26, 2020. Please feel free to email your report to the office at trinitycanton@sbcglobal.net if that is more convenient for you. If you have any questions, please contact either Sue or Pastor. Thanks!
- If your group would like to request funds from the Endowment Commission for 2020, please fill out the “Endowment Fund Request Form” on the counter outside the church office. Please return the completed form to the office by Sunday, January 19th. Thanks!
Children's Time
Please stand as you are able.
Benediction (Numbers 6:24-25, sung)
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (Sung response below)and
Sending Hymn “O Lord, Now Let Your Servant” #313
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Service words & music reproduced and streamed under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SBL-14744.
Other hymns streamed under OneLicense #A-715015.
