Celebration of Worship - The Presbyterian Church in Morristown

Celebration of Worship
January 13, 2013 The Baptism of the Lord 9:15 and 11:00 a.m.
VOLUNTARY Prelude in G Major William H. Harris
Matthew Webb, organ (1883-1973)
* CALL TO WORSHIP The Reverend Dr. David J. Smazik
Leader:
The voice of the Lord is over the waters.
Senior Pastor
People:
Leader:
People:
Leader:
People:
The God of glory thunders.
The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice.
The voice of the Lord is full of splendor
The Lord sits enthroned above the flood.
The Lord sits enthroned as Sovereign forevermore.
*HYMN 356 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Nettleton
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)
The Reverend Cynthia J. Alloway
Associate Pastor
In the waters of baptism, O God, you have cleansed us and claimed us. Forgive us
for resisting your grace and for denying your name. We have followed our own
paths, and they have led us far from you. Help us to live into our baptisms, to trust
that all we need is in you, for you have marked us as your own, loving us without
limit. Wash us with your love again, so that with clean hearts we may go in the way
of Jesus.
SILENT PRAYER
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
*RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS (Hymn 411, Stanza 2)
Arise, your light is come! Fling wide the prison door;
Proclaim the captives; liberty, good tidings to the poor.
A TIME WITH YOUNG CHRISTIANS (11:00)
Alexandra Mead
Director of Christian Education
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Elder Amanda Boyadjis (9:15)
Elder Peggy Clark (11:00)
God, source of all light, by your Word you give light to the soul. Pour out upon us
the spirit of wisdom and understanding that, being taught by you in Holy Scripture,
our hearts and minds may be opened to know the things that pertain to life and
holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 43:1-7 (Old Testament, page 631)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM Bethlehem Down Peter Warlock
Scott Gothe, baritone (1894-1930)
“When he is king we will give him the King’s gifts, myrrh for its sweetness, and gold for a crown,
Beautiful robes,” said the young girl to Joseph, fair with her firstborn on Bethlehem Down. Bethlehem
Down is full of the starlight, winds for the spices, and stars for the gold, Mary for sleep, and for lullaby
music songs of the shepherd by Bethlehem Down. When He is King, they will clothe Him in grave
sheets, myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown, He that lies now in the white arms of Mary sleeping
so lightly on Bethlehem Down. Here He has peace and a short while for dreaming, close-huddled oxen
to keep Him from cold, Mary for love, and for lullaby music songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem
fold.
Text: Bruce Blunt
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (New Testament, page 56)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

SERMON: “Hearing Voices” Dr. Smazik
*HYMN 495 We Know That Christ Is Raised Engelberg
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more.
Embraced by death, he broke its fearful hold,
and our despair he turned to blazing joy. Alleluia!
We share by water in his saving death.
Reborn, we share with him an Easter life
as living members of our Savior Christ. Alleluia!
The Father’s splendor clothes the Son with life.
The Spirit's power shakes the church of God.
Baptized, we live with God the Three-in-One. Alleluia!
A new creation comes to life and grows
as Christ's new body takes on flesh and blood.
The universe, restored and whole, will sing: Alleluia!
ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS (9:15 & 11:00)
RESPONSIVE LITANY
Ginny Pontious
As in one body we have many parts and each part has its own function,
so all of us together with Christ are one body, and we all belong to each other.
We have different gifts according to the grace God has given us.
If your gift is to hear God’s Word,
speak it out in faith.
If your gift is service,
live to serve others.
If your gift is the heart of a teacher,
teach what is true.
Let preachers preach with conviction, and givers give freely;
let officers work diligently for the people,
and let those who serve the poor, serve gladly.
Let us not lack for enthusiasm, but be ardent in spirit,
serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in suffering,
constant in prayer, supporting one another, and welcoming all.

Today we reclaim our historic calling and remember the great ends
of the church:
The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;
the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;
the maintenance of divine worship;
the preservation of the truth;
the promotion of social righteousness;
and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
PRESENTATION OF DEACONS AND ELDERS
At the 9:15 Service:
Being Installed as Elder are Susan Hubbard and Bruce Smith.
Being Ordained as Elder is Eric Seguin.
Being Installed as Deacon is David Mutchler.
Being Ordained as Deacon are Daria Lisco, Jenny Tooley, and Benson Wang.
At the 11:00 Service:
Being Installed as Elder is Linda Schober.
Being Installed as Deacon is Ellin Lawrence.
Being Ordained as Deacon is Barbara Parke.
QUESTIONS TO THE OFFICERS
QUESTIONS TO THE CONGREGATION
Do we, the members of the church, accept these candidates as elders or
deacons, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us
in the way of Jesus Christ? We do.
Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow
as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do.
PRAYER FOR OUR NEW OFFICERS
WELCOME AND CHARGE TO THE OFFICERS
GREETING/OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS TO GOD
(Please sign and pass the friendship pad, found in the pew, to the person next to
you. Offering envelopes, prayer request cards and visitor cards are located in the
pew pockets for your convenience.)
OFFERTORY (9:15) The Five Lesser Joys of Mary Peter Warlock
Scott Gothe, baritone
When Mary lay fretting that night in the cold for Jesus, the young Lad, and Joseph the old, the ass and
the oxen drew near for to warm the young Lad and old man to keep them from harm. When Mary lay
thinking that night in the hay what little thing she would give Jesus for play, His Father in heaven hung
out for a toy the star, and young Jesus He caroled for joy. When Mary was sad for the Babe at her

east, to see the poor clouts in which he was dressed, then the three Kings in velvet came into adore
the poor ragged Infant and knelt on the floor. When Mary was sick in her heart with the fright on the
morning that Jesus strayed out of her sight, O Glory! she found Him, so meek and so mild,
confounding the doctors, the poor little Child. When Mary, heart-broken on Calvary’s hill, saw Jesus
droop over and lie very still, she thought of the good times they had long ago when He’d droop in her
arms and she’d sing hush-een-lo.
Text: D.L. Kelleher
OFFERTORY (11:00) Come, thou fount of every blessing Fredrik Sixten
Chancel Choir (b. 1962)
Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy unchanging love. Here I raise mine Ebenezer: here
by Thy great help I’ve come; and I hope by Thy good pleasure safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought
me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God: he, to rescue me from danger interposed His
precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be. Let Thy grace now, like a
fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
Text: Robert Robinson (1757)
* DOXOLOGY Lasst uns erfreuen
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures here below
Sing praises, Alleluia!
Praise God, Creator, God the Son
Praise God the Spirit, three in one
Sing praises, sing praises, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE 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.
*HYMN 434 Today We All are Called to Be Disciples Kingsfold
Today we are called to be disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captives free, to make plow-share out of sword.
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst, make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first, our ease and comfort last.
God made the world and at its birth ordained our human race,
to live as stewards of the earth, responding to God's grace.
but we are vain and sadly proud, we sow not peace but strife,
our discord spreads a deadly cloud that threatens all of life.

Pray justice may come rolling down as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town to cleanse us and redeem.
for God is longing to restore an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for a harmony of peace.
May we in service to our God act out the living word,
and walk the road the saints have trod till all have seen and heard.
as stewards of the earth may we give thanks in one accord,
to God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.
*BENEDICTION
VOLUNTARY Fastasia on Houston John A. Behnke
Matthew Webb, organ (b. 1953)
Participating in the services today are the Reverends Dr. David J. Smazik
and Cynthia Alloway, and Elders Amanda Boyadjis and Peggy Clark.
Matthew Webb is the Director of Music.
Text printed with permission, CCLI #2247504