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January 11, 2026
1st Sunday After Epiphany
TRADITIONAL Service
Union-Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                      

Welcome and Announcements                       

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Introduction to Theme
 

Liturgist: During this worship series, we are exploring how our everyday activities can become spiritual practices that bring more light and meaning to our lives. Maria von Trapp, the real Maria of “The Sound of Music,” said, “Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” Indeed, music is known to have a powerful effect on our moods with its ability to literally “move” us. The Psalmist proclaims that God can give us a new song, bringing us out of a “miry bog.” Today we affirm that attention to our music “playlists” can offer a transformative daily spiritual practice.

Call to Worship
One: Creator God, eternal Spirit of Love, we praise you!
All: Your grace is our salvation, and we thank you!
 

One: Risen Christ, Lamb of God, you have shown us the Way of Life.
All: Gentle One, give us your Spirit to follow on the Way of Love.
 

One: Holy Spirit, as you descended upon Christ, come to us, and remain with us.
All: Grant us the compassion to trust your love, to love others as ourselves, and to live only in love.
 

One: Glory be to you, O God of all Creation, God of our Salvation!
All: Alleluia! Come, Holy Spirit, and transform us by your grace. Alleluia!

Opening Prayer (unison)
God who sang all creation into being, we give you thanks for the sweet harmonies and soul-stirring rhythms that lift up our spirits in the dance of life. Open our hearts to the light of possibilities, even when the day ahead holds difficulties. Be with us, near us, beside us. Amen.

Opening Hymn: #68 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Children’s Time

Reading of Scripture
Psalm 40: 1-11
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. 4 Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted. 6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.

After reading, please say, “Here end the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Message: A Good Song Never Dies

Hymn: #424 How Can I Keep from Singing

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

We Offer Our Gifts

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Gracious God, in gratitude for all you have given us, and in faithful stewardship of what you have placed in our hands to share with the world, we give our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Help us to follow Christ in setting this world free from fear, in the name of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #559 Here I Am, Lord (1,2)

Benediction
Now go into the world, feeling the wrap of love around your shoulders, the embrace of well-being encompassing your heart, the confidence that only requires one foot in front of the other, and the assurance that you are not alone. The world needs you and will patiently wait for your light to shine, illuminating just one small corner, speaking even a little bit of hope. We’re in it together,
along with the One who created us, the One who redeems us, the One who sustains us. So be it. Amen.

Sending Music                                
 

Attributions:
•   Call to Worship and Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes
•   Other liturgy and theme by Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio
 

January 4, 2026
Epiphany Sunday
Communion Service
Union-Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                         

Welcome and Announcements                       

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Introduction to Theme
Liturgist: Many of you have probably heard of “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” It is a condition in which the lack of sunlight, often during winter months, can affect our moods and ability to cope effectively. Millions of people live with some sort of anxiety or depression disorder. If you do not, chances are you are close to someone who does.

Pastor: For the next few weeks, we will talk about another way of understanding this reality—“Spiritual Affective Disorder”— considering how the uncertainty and pace of life can keep us from the spiritual and emotional wellbeing that God desires for us. But instead of focusing on typical spiritual practices as an antidote, we will simply focus on how everyday life activities could become spiritual practices—deepening our experience of a meaningful life and helping us shine a light on the “blahs.”

Liturgist: This morning, we hear the scripture reminding us to “Arise, shine, for your light has come.” This is your invitation to “flip the switch” and see waking up each day as a simple reminder that we can start fresh.

Pastor: Feeling afraid, uncertain, down, and depressed is no sin, my friends. It doesn’t mean you are separated from God. May we lean on those who are right there and ready to be a cradle of God’s love for each of us.

Call to Worship                             
One: People of faith, look! In our darkness a light shines: the star is love.
All: Alleluia! In gratitude we follow the star of love.
 

One: The star moves ahead of us, and leads us faithfully.
All: Alleluia! In wonder we follow the star of love.
 

One: The star hides itself in each of us: in everyone we meet, in all God’s people.
All: Alleluia! In devotion we follow the star of love. Alleluia!

Opening Prayer (unison)                    
Waking God, we give you thanks for the chance to start fresh every day. Open our hearts to the light of possibilities, even when the day ahead holds difficulties. Be with us, near us, beside us. Amen.
 

Opening Hymn: #231 Arise, Your Light Is Come! (OL #08411)

Reading of Scripture                       
Isaiah 60: 1-6
60 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. 3 Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms.

5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

After reading, please say, “Here end the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Media: “Shine” by Collective Soul (Lyric video, YouTube)

Message: Waking Up

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

We Offer Our Gifts

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Leader: Radiant God, you have revealed your dwelling among us—in bread shared, in mercy offered, in justice imagined and begun. We thank you for the gifts that flow like rivers, for the abundance that rises from the sea, for the courage to give and to receive. Bless now these offerings and the hearts from which they come. Let them join the caravans of compassion moving through this world, bringing joy where despair has lingered, and peace where fear has taken root.
 

All: Look! God’s dwelling is now among us. May our lives shine with the glory of God, our hands carry God’s grace, and our gifts become good news for all creation. Amen.

Sharing Holy Communion
One: The Holy Healing God be with you.
All: And also, with you.
 

One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift our breaking hearts to God.
 

One: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Pastor: It is right, and good thing, to give thanks to you, Holy One. You pierced the dark night of the cosmos with the light of a rising sun and set in motion the growth of all that exists. You created us in your image, with the capacity for navigating joy as well as the depths of sorrow. You set a rainbow in the clouds after devastation, and you continue to provide us with signs of life renewed when all feels like destruction. When we can’t seem to find you when our light grows dim, you abide. You stay. You are. For you have promised to be with us always, until we can lift our heads and sense your presence once again. Because of this, you help us sing with all the saints, all those who have gone before us and have borne the weight of life and death. They help us raise our voices with the ancient song:

All: Holy, holy, holy One God of mercy and light. Heaven and earth are full of your shining glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are they who come near for respite, for hope, for healing, for comfort. Blessed are they who come in your name.

Pastor: Holy are you and blessed is your son, Jesus, who came as your flesh in this world, showing us that all of life is sacred, is good, even though difficult at times. Life is full. Jesus lamented injustice. Jesus cried with loss. Jesus sought solace in solitude. Jesus found comfort in friends. And he promised to always be with us in the healing waters and groaning Spirit.

Pastor: On his last night with loved ones, he gathered them together for a meal. He broke bread and poured wine and spoke of brokenness.  He did not hide his anguish. He did not tell them to flee difficulty. He offered sustenance for the trying times ahead.

[lift the bread and cup (adapt for more traditional Words of Institution if need be)]

Pastor: Whenever we gather around his table, especially in turbulent times like these, we break the bread and pour the cup and remember him, just as he told us. And we remember that he is constant friend, covenant-maker, companion, always. We are not alone.”

[replace the bread and cup on the table]

Pastor: And so, remembering his invitation, we gather at this family table and we proclaim this mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ comes again.

Pastor: And so, Holy Spirit, bless this bread and cup that they may become for us symbols of your love for us. And bless us, that we may be ambassadors of your holy spirit for all.

Sharing the Elements

Prayer after Communion
Friends, I invite you to open your hands as a sign of opening your hearts. Imagine the light shining out from your palms or a beam going into your palms, whichever you need at this moment. Light out or light in.
[pause for a moment]

Pastor: Spirit of God, shine upon us and within us, making your way to shine from us. We pray that you will transform us as you come to us in these elements of bread and fruit of the vine. Though you do not require that we be whole in order to be at your table, may our coming to this table suture our wounds until we can be whole again. In the same way, Spirit, heal this world and help us be part of that healing. Make us one in suffering and healing. In your holy name, Loving God, through your son, Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, now and forever.

All: Amen.

Closing Hymn: #229 The First Noel (1,2,4,6)

Mission and Vision Statements (unison)
We go now to Love God's Creation, Share in Fellowship, and Live Christ's Example, while seeking God's blessing on our lives and on our communities. Living our Core Values, We the family of Union-Congregational Church seek to deepen our own spirituality with acceptance of all through love and a commitment to Christ.

Benediction
 

Now go into the world, feeling the wrap of love around your shoulders, the embrace of well-being encompassing your heart, the confidence that only requires one foot in front of the other, and the assurance that you are not alone. The world needs you and will patiently wait for your light to shine, illuminating just one small corner, speaking even a little bit of hope. We’re in it together,
along with the One who created us, the One who redeems us, the One who sustains us. So be it. Amen.

Sending Music                               

Attributions:
•    Call to Worship by Rev. Steve Garnaas-Holmes
•    Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Michael Anthony Howard for UCC Worship Ways
•    Other liturgy and theme by Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio
 

December 28, 2025
1st Sunday After Christmas
TRADITIONAL Service
Union—Congregational Church

Gathering Music                                
Welcome and Announcements               

Sharing the Peace of Christ

Call to Worship
One: I bring you good news of great joy, for unto you is born a savior, who is Christ the Lord.
All: Alleluia! Christ, holy child, bearer of the light of heaven among us, we greet you with glad and humble hearts.
 

One: Jesus, the pioneer of our faith, who saves us and makes us holy, is not ashamed to call us siblings.
All: Alleluia! Jesus, our brother and our teacher, we praise you and we open our hearts to you.
 

One: Christ shares our flesh and blood, and shares our suffering, so that we might be set free from our fear of death.
All: Alleluia! Christ our savior, free us from our fears and attachments, and save us from sin and death. Living among us, transform us by your Spirit and fill us with your glory. Alleluia!

Opening Prayer (unison)
Living God, Christ Mystery, Spirit of New Beginnings, we give you thanks for this commitment to help one another. As we take in the renewed life you offer, may we be a reflection of your light, expanding the sacred doing of our community to the alleviation of suffering wherever it is found. Amen.

Opening Hymn: #179 Joy to the World! (verses 1,2,4)

Reading of Scripture
Before reading, please say: We’ve looked through the lens of the sacred and have experienced time, people, places, others, and ourselves as God’s holy love reflected and incarnate in the world. Because of the experience of God’s action of love toward us, we are called also to act, the “sacred doing” of alleviating suffering wherever it is found. We dedicate ourselves in this New Year to sacred acts of justice and mercy, bringing grace to a hurting world, reflecting the sacred in all we do. Hear this first reading:

Isaiah 63: 7-9
7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 8 For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not act deceitfully,” and he became their savior 9 in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and pity, it was he who redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
 

Matthew 2: 13-23
13 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.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt 15 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.” 16 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. 17 Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “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.” 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazarene.”

After reading, please say, “Here ends the readings for today. May God bless us as we learn from these holy words. Amen.”

Message: What Should We Do Now? 
 

Hymn: #185 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Prayers of the People
Time for Silent Prayer
Joys and Concerns 
After each prayer petition, Jacob will say, “God in your mercy”, and the congregation is invited to respond: “Receive our prayer.” 
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

We Offer Our Gifts

*Doxology

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
Wise God, we present these offerings to you and dedicate our time, talents, and treasures for your kin-dom. May your will be done, our siblings’ needs be met, and your name be known through what we share in praise and thanksgiving for all you have given to us in time, talent, and treasure. Amen.

Closing Hymn: #350 The Summons 1,2,4

Benediction

Sending Music                                     

Call to Worship by Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Opening Prayer, Benediction, and theme by Dr. Marcia McFee, Worship Design Studio
Prayer of Dedication by Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay for UCC Worship Ways