January 4, 2026 Order of Worship
Gathering Music – Geoffrey Liu
Welcome – Terry Bolender
Opening Prayer – Luke Coffland
Leader: Arise! Shine! For your light has come. The Glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
People: Darkness has covered the earth. Thick darkness has long covered us all.
Leader: We’ve gotten stuck in our old ways, rigidity and ruts keep us from seeing the changes that are necessary and meeting You, God, in new places.
People: But now, the Lord is rising among us. Your glory, God, is appearing over us!
Leader: Lift up your eyes and look around!
People: See and be radiant! Let your hearts thrill and rejoice!
Leader: Our Lord has come!
People: Peace is now our companion and Righteousness is now our master.
Leader: Arise! Shine! For your light has come.
People: The Glory of the Lord has risen upon us!
On This Day Earth Shall Ring – UMH #248
Advent Candle Lighting for the Day of Epiphany – Luke Coffland
God, as we celebrate your coming into our lives in Jesus, give us courage to face this moment in history with your wisdom and commitment for justice. Show us how to follow you into the pain and suffering of this world, where we are needed most. Teach us the true gifts you’ve given us to work for the well-being of our neighbors. We pray in the name of the child who reigns in our hearts and lives. Amen!
We relight these candles for those who need it most.
For all who need more Hope, we relight the first candle.
For all who yearn for peace, we relight the second candle.
For all whose joy is crushed or stolen, we relight the third candle.
For all who need the healing of God’s love and the gift of our love, we relight the fourth candle.
For all who need Christ and all that is possible in him, we relight the Christ candle.
Come Holy Spirit! come light of Christ! Shine in the world through us, today and always.
Time with Young Disciples – Rachael Robinett
Scripture Reading – Luke Coffland
Introduction to the Gospel reading: On Epiphany Sunday we welcome the Magi who come from the East to see the new born King, Jesus, and worship him. But we also see the struggle of the powerful to keep their power and the suffering of many innocent people. Our scripture reading tells an ancient story of power that is still true today. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1-18 we read…
Matthew 2:1-18
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
‘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.’ ”
Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On 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. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
Message – Focus on the Light – Pastor Jim
Offering Our Gifts to God – Holy Spirit, Come (Doug Spires) – Jill Clifford, Pat Gray
Doxology (Star Child, TFWS #2095)
Prayer of Dedication
Leader: All that we have, we have from you, Creator and Preserver of all.
People: Accept these gifts which we now offer. Help us to make the whole of life an offering and every thought a prayer.
Holy Communion
The Great Thanksgiving
Sharing the Bread and the Cup
We Three Kings – UMH #254
Blessing
Sending Music – Geoffrey Liu
Resources for Worship
Opening Prayer is by Jim Head-Corliss for worship at Kent UMC, January 7, 2024
Advent Candle Lighting Liturgy is by Jim Head-Corliss for worship at Kent UMC, January 4, 2026.