January 13, 2008, 11:00 AM

WE ENTER INTO GOD’S PRESENCE
Preparation for Worship
*Call to Worship –
Christ manifested in the flesh, Christ revealed in the Spirit.
Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Christ contemplated by the angels, Christ worshiped by the Magi.
Praise the Lord, all you nations.
Christ believed on in the world, Christ exalted in glory.
Praise the Lord, all you nations.
*Opening Song – 279:1,3 “O Word of God Incarnate”
*God Greets Us
*We Greet Each Other
*Continuing Praise  – “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”
“Not I But Christ”
“Amazing Grace”
Call to Confession
We know that nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ.  Let us in freedom confess the wrong we have done.
Silent Prayer of Confession
Assurance of Pardon – I John 1:5-7
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the gospel tells us that God, by the leading of a star, manifested the Savior to the peoples of the earth, and, by the power that enabled Christ to change water into wine, made known his glory to the disciples.  Come then to the joyful feast of the Lord and be transformed.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right for us to give thanks and praise.
With the coming of Jesus, the covenant with Israel was expanded and confirmed.  Through Christ, the gates of salvation have been thrown open.  Just as the Magi were welcomed at the cradle of the Christ child, so God welcomes all strangers and those in need into the covenant of blessing.  Jesus Christ offered food to the hungry and water to the thirsty, shelter to the wanderer and justice to the oppressed, friendship to the lonely and family to the faithful.  Jesus forgave sins, preached good news, and filled all people with the hope of new life. 
Jesus took upon himself the full consequences of our sinfulness – even the agony of abandonment by God – in order that we might be spared.  But our Lord could not be held by the power of death.  Jesus appeared to his followers, triumphant from the grave, in newness of life.  He has shown us his hands and feet in order that we might know that the one who was crucified is the Lord and Savior of the world.
Therefore we proclaim our faith:
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
God of all power, send your Holy Spirit upon us, that in sharing the bread we may share in the body of Christ, that in sharing the cup we may share in his blood.  Grant that, being joined together in Christ Jesus, we may become united in faith and in all things become mature in the one who is our head.
Amen.
The Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, and after giving thanks to God, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat.  This is my body, given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.  Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”  Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the saving death of the risen Lord until he comes.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
The body of Christ, given for you.
Thanks be to God.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Thanks be to God.
*Song of Thanksgiving– 475:1,2 “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Time
Prayer of Preparation
Scripture Reading – Matthew 2:13-22
Message – “Detours”
Prayer
WE RESPOND WITH THANKSGIVING
*Song – 434:1,3,5 “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”
The Offerings – First:  General Fund
  Second:  Valley CHOW Pantry
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Intercessory Prayer
WE ARE SENT TO LOVE AND SERVE
Opportunities for Ministry and Fellowship
*God Blesses Us
*Closing Praise -198:1,3,5 “Arise, Shine, for Your Light Is Come”
Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This morning our worship includes a celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  Jesus left his people with a special gift when he told us to take bread and juice “in remembrance of me.”  If you have publicly professed your faith in Jesus as your Savior and if you are living the life God lays out for you in the Bible, then receive the bread and cup when they are passed and join othersin eating and drinking after all have been served.

The second offering this morning is for our local CHOW pantry.  Your financial gifts allow the coordinators to purchase food items needed to be able to provide balanced meals for our client families.

Monday, 7:00 PM Youth ministry team meets
Tuesday, 7:00 PM Elders meet
Tuesday, 7:00 PM Deacons meet
Thursday, 7:00 PM Growth and Renewal Team meets
Saturday, 9:15 AM Youth activity at Four Seasons

Congratulations to the Aukema families.  Brady Aukema was born to Kevin and Joy on Tuesday.  May God bless them as they assume the responsibility of training him in God’s ways.

Council notes:  1. Greg Huck led our devotions from Romans 12:1-8.  2.  Doug Aukema and Bill Kutz will be our contacts with the Sea to Sea Bike tour that will be coming through Binghamton August 28.  There will also be a second offering this spring to help raise support for Claire Aukema Zwaanstra, who will be one of the riders doing the whole trip.  3.  We discussed the need for more parking space, given the recent increase in attendance.  4.  Routine reports were reviewed with appreciation for the work of the various ministry teams.

Youth notes:
1.Youth outing at Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center in Syracuse this Saturday, Jan. 19.  Meet at church at 9:15 AM with a planned return around 3:00 PM.  All teens and their friends are welcome to go.  The cost is $15 per person.  If you want to attend or for more information, see Erin Peterson after church today or give her a call no later than Wednesday.
2.All teen and parent surveys need to be turned in to Erin Peterson today.  See her this morning if you need another survey.
3.Junior High Youth group will meet Sunday, January 20, 3:00 PM.
Next Sunday, January 20, 2008

SUNDAY SCHOOL:  9:45 AM  Classes for all ages.  The adults continue the series of studies of several world religions called “Which Way to God?”  We will continue our discussion on Hinduism

MORNING WORSHIP:     11:00 AM   Pastor Gelder will be with us to bring another message in the series “On a Journey with Jesus”.  The message is “”Choosing the Right Road” based on Matthew 7:13-14 and John 14:6. 

EVENING ACTIVITY:  6:00 PM  Plan to join us for a showing of the award-winning film “The Reckoning”.  This is the story of the work of people in the Dutch Underground during the trying days of World War II.  We should never forget the potential for incredible evil in the human heart as seen in the atrocities of military occupation and especially, in the attempt to eradicate all the Jews.