Evangelical United Church of Christ 204 East Lockwood Avenue

Webster Groves, Missouri 63119 Phone: 314/968-1727 ~ FAX: 314/968-1855 Pastor’s email: khawker@evangelicalucc.org Office email: tbrauer@evangelicalucc.org

dhubatka@evangelicalucc.org Church Website: www.evangelicalucc.org

The Leadership Team supporting the members and friends of

Evangelical UCC.... Church Staff

Katherine (Katy) Hawker, Pastor Donita Bauer, Director of Music

Jill Thompson, Assistant Director of Music Darcy Swanson, Children’s Choir Director

Sue Schindel, Director of Educational Programs Terri Brauer, Office Administrator

Don Hubatka, Financial Administrator Carole Janssen, Nursery Coordinator

Carolyn Held, Sunday Custodian Laurel Hayes, Webster University Campus Minister

Church Council Al Schon......................................... President Phyllis Klaiber ......................... Vice-President Karen Dodson................................. Secretary Teri Hillen .......................................Treasurer Steve Bardelmeier ......................Stewardship Paul Detrick ...................................Fellowship Marge Engelsdorfer .........................Outreach Kirk Foster ......................Church and Ministry Mike Minkler ................................Evangelism Phyllis Rogers.................. Worship and Music Jessica Short ............... Youth Representative Joe Kelly...................... House and Properties Lolly Wehrli......................Christian Education

Committee Chairs/Co-Chairs Debbie Gregg............ Christian Education Mickey Clarke........... Church and Ministry (Open)................................... Evangelism Gretchen Loudermilk ...............Fellowship Marlene McCarthy ...................Fellowship Paul Vasterling .......House and Properties Joli Baker .................................. Outreach Wynn Miller .......................... Stewardship Barbara Patten ...........Worship and Music

204 East Lockwood Avenue Webster Groves, Missouri An Open and Affirming Congregation

New Year’s Day January 1, 2006

http://www.heqiarts.com/gallery/new-works/2004/img/moses.jpg by He Qi

Welcome to Children and Their Families…. Children are welcome to full participation in the worship life of this congregation. Professional childcare is available in the crib room on the main level throughout the morning for those who prefer. Activity folders (available in the Narthex) allow children of all ages to respond creatively to worship. After the Chancel Steps at the 11:00 a.m. service, preschool age children are in-vited to go to “Shepherds” on the lower level—Red Room.

Welcome to our Elders….

Welcome to Evangelical United Church of Christ…. The avowed purpose of this congregation shall be to worship God, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to celebrate the sacraments; to realize Christian fellowship and unity within this congregation and the church univer-sal; to render loving service toward humanity; and to strive for righteousness, justice and peace. Therefore, Evangelical United Church of Christ welcomes all who seek to experience the healing and unconditional grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and invites each to participate and lead in our common life. Endeavoring to maintain the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace, we are open to and affirm- i n g

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SIGNUP SHEETS FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE ARE IN THE NARTHEX

MINISTRY TODAY NEXT WEEK SHEPHERDS: Elaine Branding and

Jack Ketcher

CRIB ROOM ASSISTANTS: Peggy Thater and Alyssa Schnell

USHERS: Geno and Lola Con-testabile and Debbie Gregg

Jeff Davis, Gigi Hill, and Marilyn Staven-ger

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:

THE FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR WERE GIVEN BY JAN ITTNER

IN CELEBRATION OF THIS COMMUNITY OF FAITH

Sunday, January 1 New Years Day NO EARLY WORSHIP 11:00 a.m. Worship

Monday, January 2 6:00 p.m. Committee Leaders dinner 7:00 p.m. Committee meetings

Tuesday, January 3 6:30 p.m. Webelos Scouts (FH) Wednesday, January 4 6:30 p.m. Ecumenical Music 6:30 p.m. Children’s Choir

Thursday, January 5

8:00 a.m. Teamworks Team Building Training (FH)

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS For further detailed and updated information, visit the calendar link

on the church website: www.evangelicalucc.org

8:30 a.m. Parents As Teachers 5:00 p.m. Circle of Friends 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir Friday, January 6

8:00 a.m. Teamworks Team Building Training (FH)

Saturday, January 7 9:00 a.m. Removing the Greens 9:00 a.m. Worship Planning Meeting 5:00 p.m. Sts. Clare and Francis

Sunday, January 8 8:30 a.m. Worship 9:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Intergenerational Event 11:00 a.m. Worship 12:00 p.m. Youth Choir Rehearsal 6:00 p.m. Jr. High and Senior High Fellowship

News and notes for the bulletin

OFFERTORY “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming” Es Ist Ein’ Ros Todd Herbst-Ulmer

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (People’s response in bold.) God of God, Light of Light, True God of True God, We bless you. Object of the Magi’s search, subject of an old man’s song, fulfillment of the Baptist’s preaching, We bless you. Mary’s son, Joseph’s son, God’s only son, We bless you.

Cloth for the Cradle, Iona Community *HYMN 151 “’Twas in the Moon of Wintertime” Une Jeune Pucelle

*BENEDICTION Bless the young one, the tender one, the wise child

who comes with hands open, with eyes wide, with heart of wonder;

whose blood runs fresh with you, whose lungs breathe with you, whose limbs dance with you.

May we see the star that calls her. May we protect the path he walks. May we follow where they lead us.

Jan L. Richardson Behold: Arts for the Church Year

*POSTLUDE

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It’s Annual Report Time again! Our Annual meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 22. In order to prepare for this meeting, a year-in-review is needed from each committee chairperson.

Please reserve your space in the report by TOMORROW and submit your report to Terri Brauer by Friday, January 8, 2006. Thank you for your cooperation!

Permission to reprint music and words from sources other than The New Century Hymnal is granted under CCLI License #1357653 or GIA Publi-cations Inc., License #9951.

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WORSHIP

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE INVOCATION (People’s response in bold.)

Light looked down and saw darkness. “I will go there,” said Light. Peace looked down and saw war. “I will go there,” said Peace. Love looked down and saw hatred. “I will go there,” said Love. So he, the Lord of Light, the Prince of Peace, the King of Love, came down and crept in beside us.

Cloth for the Cradle, Iona Community

*HYMN 126 “Angels From the Realms of Glory” Regent Square

*CALL TO WORSHIP (People’s response in bold.) The Christ Child was not born into a world of peace but into a world that mingled politics and piety, scripture and sword. A world not unlike our own. When fear and suspicion stalk our world, and violence and cunning seem the norm, remind us, O Prince of Peace, that this is not your way. Give us the courage to search diligently for what is true and good and just. For it is there that we find you and ourselves. Amen. Cheryl Kristolaitis Behold: Arts for the Church Year

*RESPONSE It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old, From angels bending near the Earth, To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the Earth, good will to all, From heaven’s all gracious King” The world in solemn stillness lay—To hear the angels sing. Shall we go out to greet the Christ, Or wait in heart and home?

Shall we go out to seek the Christ, However Christ might come? Shall we search out the holy one, God’s prophesied surprise? Where will it be when God in flesh—appears before our eyes?

v. 1: E.H. Sears, 1846 v. 2: Densley H. Palmer

CHANCEL STEPS (We invite children of all ages to a time of sharing on the chancel steps.)

SPECIAL MUSIC “The Water is Wide” Todd Herbst-Ulmer SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Zander Smutz-Ulmer

Julianne Smutz and Mia Ulmer, parents INVITATION AND QUESTIONS OF THE PARENTS QUESTIONS OF THE CONGREGATION

Do you, who witness and celebrate this sacrament, promise your love, support, and care to this child about to be baptized, as he lives and grows in Christ? We promise our love, support and care.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Do you believe in God? I believe in God. Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? I believe in the Holy Spirit.

BAPTISMAL PRAYER AND ACT OF BAPTISM

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 351 “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” Borning Cry

THE SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 2: 1-12 1In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,

wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

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

7Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, say-ing, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring

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me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

ANTHEM “Riu Riu Chiu” Spevacek The Chancel Choir

SERMON “Seek Ye First” Katherine Hawker *HYMN “We Three Kings”

We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright; westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light!

Still we seek to follow the star Still we scan the heaven’s afar Can we see you, now arriving, Shining within our hearts. (Refrain)

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE JOYS AND CONCERNS

Believing that each joy and/or concern expressed is indeed a prayer, After each expression, the worship leader will say: Lord in your Mercy. And the people may respond: Hear our prayer.

PASTORAL PRAYER OUR 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.

CELEBRATION OF GIVING CALL TO THE OFFERING

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