Welcome
Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
- Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
- Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
- Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
- Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.
- You are welcome to print out this week's Children's Bulletin here.
Time of Reflection
“Light
Light
The visible reminder of Invisible Light.”
~T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), poet and literary critic
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
~Plato (c. 428-c. 348 BC) Athenian philosopher
“If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.”
~Brennan Manning (1934-2013) in Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
“We modern people believe in absolute freedom…. Therefore, we believe in no god…. If there was a god and if there was a god we could know, who told us how we had to live, and who gave us the rules and the regulations, well, then we wouldn’t be free.”
~Albert Camus (1913-1960), French philosopher and writer
“The baby bat
Screamed out in fright,
‘Turn on the dark,
I'm afraid of the light.”
~Shel Silverstein (1930-1990), children’s author
“…if two thousand years of pious handling had not dimmed both John’s story and its demand, this gospel would still be seen as the burning outrage it continues to be, a work of madness or blinding revelation.”
~Reynolds Price (1933-2011), professor, literary scholar on the Gospel of John
“People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
~Carl Jung (1875-1961), Swiss psychiatrist
For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it
If only we're brave enough to be it
~Amanda Gorman, first-ever youth poet laureate at the presidential inauguration
Light
The visible reminder of Invisible Light.”
~T.S. Eliot (1888-1965), poet and literary critic
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
~Plato (c. 428-c. 348 BC) Athenian philosopher
“If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.”
~Brennan Manning (1934-2013) in Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
“We modern people believe in absolute freedom…. Therefore, we believe in no god…. If there was a god and if there was a god we could know, who told us how we had to live, and who gave us the rules and the regulations, well, then we wouldn’t be free.”
~Albert Camus (1913-1960), French philosopher and writer
“The baby bat
Screamed out in fright,
‘Turn on the dark,
I'm afraid of the light.”
~Shel Silverstein (1930-1990), children’s author
“…if two thousand years of pious handling had not dimmed both John’s story and its demand, this gospel would still be seen as the burning outrage it continues to be, a work of madness or blinding revelation.”
~Reynolds Price (1933-2011), professor, literary scholar on the Gospel of John
“People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
~Carl Jung (1875-1961), Swiss psychiatrist
For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it
If only we're brave enough to be it
~Amanda Gorman, first-ever youth poet laureate at the presidential inauguration
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Psalm 67 (NASB)
LEADER: God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us—
PEOPLE: That Your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations.
LEADER: May the peoples praise You, God; may all the peoples praise You.
PEOPLE: May the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with fairness and guide the nations on the earth.
LEADER: May the peoples praise You, God; may all the peoples praise You.
PEOPLE: The earth has yielded its produce;
LEADER: God, our God, blesses us.
ALL: God blesses us, so that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
LEADER: God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us—
PEOPLE: That Your way may be known on the earth, your salvation among all nations.
LEADER: May the peoples praise You, God; may all the peoples praise You.
PEOPLE: May the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You will judge the peoples with fairness and guide the nations on the earth.
LEADER: May the peoples praise You, God; may all the peoples praise You.
PEOPLE: The earth has yielded its produce;
LEADER: God, our God, blesses us.
ALL: God blesses us, so that all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
MY HOPE IS BUILT
(Edward Mote & William B. Bradbury, 1863)
(Edward Mote & William B. Bradbury, 1863)
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
REFRAIN:
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil. (REFRAIN)
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. (REFRAIN)
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (REFRAIN)
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Than Jesus blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
REFRAIN:
On Christ the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil. (REFRAIN)
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. (REFRAIN)
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (REFRAIN)
PUBLIC DOMAIN
PSALM MEDITATION – Psalm 119:1-16 (NASB)
LEADER: Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the Law of the Lord.
PEOPLE: Blessed are those who comply with His testimonies,
And seek Him with all their heart.
LEADER: They also do no injustice;
They walk in His ways.
PEOPLE You have ordained Your precepts,
That we are to keep them diligently.
LEADER: Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!
PEOPLE: Then I will not be ashamed
When I look at all Your commandments.
LEADER: I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
ALL: I will keep Your statutes;
Do not utterly abandon me!
LEADER: Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the Law of the Lord.
PEOPLE: Blessed are those who comply with His testimonies,
And seek Him with all their heart.
LEADER: They also do no injustice;
They walk in His ways.
PEOPLE You have ordained Your precepts,
That we are to keep them diligently.
LEADER: Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!
PEOPLE: Then I will not be ashamed
When I look at all Your commandments.
LEADER: I will give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
ALL: I will keep Your statutes;
Do not utterly abandon me!
Sharing
(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)
Prayer Time
(You may have an open time of prayer or select someone to pray)
- Pray for our church’s short and long-term meeting place needs, that God would give us favor in the eyes of those in authority and that He would give us provision that would go far beyond all that we could ask or imagine.
- Pray for our world – that the good news of Jesus Christ would flourish and that many would come to know God genuinely and personally.
- Pray for those experiencing injustices; specifically, that God would bring hope, reconciliation, and restoration through the good news of His Son, and that we would be agents of this reconciliation.
- Pray for those in authority at every level in our country, that they would govern wisely and justly.
Listen to Sermon
“Receiving and Believing the Light of Jesus”
John 1:6-13
preached by Pastor Don Willeman
We hope to upload a recording of the sermon from the early service by 11:30 am.
John 1:6-13
preached by Pastor Don Willeman
We hope to upload a recording of the sermon from the early service by 11:30 am.
John 1:1-18 (NASB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.
6 A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.
6 A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be my superior, because He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.
Song of Response
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
HE WILL HOLD ME FAST
(Ada Ruth Habershon, 1906, Matthew Merker)
(Ada Ruth Habershon, 1906, Matthew Merker)
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
CHORUS:
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast,
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
(CHORUS)
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight,
When he comes at last.
(CHORUS)
©2013 Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) CCLI #1791178
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
CHORUS:
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast,
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
(CHORUS)
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight,
When he comes at last.
(CHORUS)
©2013 Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) CCLI #1791178
Confession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed (circa 5th Century)
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come 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.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come 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.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Closing Meditation
Psalm 119:9-16 (NASB)
LEADER How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
PEOPLE: With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
LEADER: I have treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You.
PEOPLE: Blessed are You, Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
LEADER: With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
PEOPLE: I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
LEADER: I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
ALL: I shall delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
LEADER How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
PEOPLE: With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
LEADER: I have treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You.
PEOPLE: Blessed are You, Lord;
Teach me Your statutes.
LEADER: With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.
PEOPLE: I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
LEADER: I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.
ALL: I shall delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
Benediction
(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)
Luke 12:29-32
LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
PEOPLE: Amen!
Luke 12:29-32
LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
PEOPLE: Amen!
Worshipping God through Giving
God has called us to be generous. He has entrusted this earth and all that is in it to us, but it is, ultimately, His! The Father gave what was most precious to Him, His own Son, in order to die for our sins. He has given to us abundantly beyond all that we could possibly ask or imagine! He is a benevolent and generous Giver! So, we give.
First, we want to remind you to continue your regular giving to CRC. This supports the ongoing work and ministry here in the Upper Valley and around the world through our missions support. Second, please consider giving to our Benevolence Fund, which supports local community care, both inside and outside the church. This is vitally important right now! As we see needs sprouting up around the community, we want to be positioned to extend a loving hand of support to those in need.
Giving Numbers
2020 Budgeted Giving EOY: $673,200
2020 Actual Giving to Date: $685,242
Difference: $12,042
Missions Giving YTD: $188,751
updated as of 1/20/21
First, we want to remind you to continue your regular giving to CRC. This supports the ongoing work and ministry here in the Upper Valley and around the world through our missions support. Second, please consider giving to our Benevolence Fund, which supports local community care, both inside and outside the church. This is vitally important right now! As we see needs sprouting up around the community, we want to be positioned to extend a loving hand of support to those in need.
Giving Numbers
2020 Budgeted Giving EOY: $673,200
2020 Actual Giving to Date: $685,242
Difference: $12,042
Missions Giving YTD: $188,751
updated as of 1/20/21