Bread and More Soup Kitchen continues to serve a free to-go meal every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30-6:15.
February 2026
Our midweek Lenten service (with our wider ecumenical community) is this coming Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Old Steeple, 11:00am. There will also be a light lunch after the service for those interested in such.
Blessings all around,
Pastor Sean
Sunday School: Please call our church office at 631-727-2621 if you would like your child to join. Sunday School is held during church services at 10:00.
Bible Study: Bible Study will begin in February. Call the church office for the date. 631-727-2621 Please join us from 10:00-11:00 am in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
Thrift Shop: The thrift shop hours are Tuesday and Thursday 10-2 and Saturday 9-1. Clothing, knickknacks, and other small household items are accepted. No furniture or children's clothing. Please bring your donations only when we are open. Thank you for your support.
If you would like to join us on Zoom, please follow the link
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86897065711?
pwd=a0FZcDg5MnRqKz-JMQXRLVzIBTGZFQT09 to start or join a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Meeting ID: 850 1493 9172
Passcode: 7272621
Transfiguration Sunday
A Service of the Word
February 15, 2026 ✦ 10am
OPENING WORDS:
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: Prelude in a minor J.P. Rameau
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: The coming of a new day calls us to anticipate God’s dawn.
The day of God’s dawning is like a morning rising.
Many: The light of God is like a devouring fire.
God’s brightness is too intense for our gaze.
One: Come up to the mountain of God’s presence
Wait for God to reveal divine intentions for us.
Many: We are eyewitnesses to God’s majesty.
We have sensed God’s presence in stories of Jesus.
One: Look up, and do not be afraid.
Jesus, whom you seek, is transfigured before you.
ALL: We will serve our God with fear and trembling.
Happy are those whose refuge is in God.
*HYMN: We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding No. 182
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Amazing God, as leaders of old sought high places of encounter with you, lift us up above the fogs of our technology and theology that we might meet you in this hour. If you have instructions for us, we want to hear them. If our lives need a change of direction, turn us around. If there is a prophecy we have ignored, reveal to us its meaning for us. If the Scriptures hold truth we have overlooked, awaken our attention and grant us courage to respond in new and positive ways. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer
God of mountaintops and valleys, whose rule extends beyond the ends of the earth to embrace the unfathomed reaches of time and space, grant to us a vision of your intention for our lives and equip us to fulfill the destiny you entrust to us as followers of Jesus Christ. Banish our fear of one another that we may experience together the awesome wonder of community, serving you in awe and wonder…..
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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. Lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is
the kingdom, the power, the glory, now and forever.
Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME
OFFERING: Abide with Me Lyte/Monk
* DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Exodus 24:12-18 OT Page 65
❖ Psalm 2 HYMNAL Page 621
❖ 2 Peter 1:16-21 NT Page 209
❖ Matthew 17:1-9 NT Page 16
SERMON: “A New Look, a New Glow”
Today’s a big little Sunday. Big because it’s Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday of Epiphany, our season of light. Little because, despite its importance, it isn’t a Sunday like Easter or Pentecost that people could readily name. If asked what’s the last Sunday of Epiphany most folk outside of church this day would be at a loss to name it.
When we first began this season of Epiphany, it was with the symbol of light. It was the light of the natal star that the Magi followed and discovered the Christ child, and the light of understanding of God in our midst is what the season has been all about. Now, on this day, Transfiguration Sunday, we again say goodbye to Epiphany as we ready ourselves to enter into the Season of Lent, which is typically considered to be the season of the dark days of our journeys of faith as the consideration of our sin and short-comings and the suffering of Christ come to the fore.
Given what nature is doing these days as we move from darkness to light the switch from Epiphany, a season of light, to Lent, is oddly ironic. There's more light to be had in the early morning (well at least until we change the clocks in a couple of weeks) and the sunsets are now closer to 6pm than to 5. Given all the good that our season of light represents -- illumination, understanding, and the presence of God -- there's no reason to abandon the light come Lent, but rather we do well to sustain the light, to keep the light going, and continue, even in Lent to work on seeing things in a new light, with the hand of God clearly at work.
The true hope of Epiphany is that it will indeed give us a new look and a new glow even as Jesus gets his shine on. Yet when we consider a new look, our thoughts turn to the physical. It’s the new hair style upon the latest visit to the salon or barber, or perhaps it’s the new hipper outfit that gives us a new look. And with the change, we do shine a bit brighter, as the pleasure of the change brings some cheer.
Yet the real transformative change of look is the inward one as we take stock in what we’ve got and move one with a bit more confidence and faith. The new inward look transforms into a better outlook. Especially in the dark cold days of winter, our attitudes can reflect the weather. We’re less than cheery, less than excited about the prospects of a new day, and more prone to contemplate warm and cozy settings rather than any adventure or outing. The a new look of a brighter prospects is needed.
Similarly, when things are most puzzling, or most troubling, we tend to long to see them in a new light. We hope that there is a way to have a new and different, more illuminating read on the situation at hand, so that we might better comprehend the meaning behind it; so that we might be moved to proceed with courage into a better tomorrow. Sometimes this new light of understanding comes to us as an epiphany of surprise. We may not even be dwelling on the meaning behind the troubling situations at hand, but simply going through the paces and hoping to manage things, and then all of a sudden, we have a realization of "now I get it." That which sets before us is transformed before our eyes and imbued with more profound meaning. That's the light of this day; that's the light we called to sustain.
Consider the main theological event itself of this day --The transfiguration or transformation , or, as the Germans call it, the glorification , consisted of a visible manifestation of the inner glory of Christ’s person, and was accompanied by an audible voice from heaven. It was a big deal.
The transfiguration was the revelation of Christ's future state of glory, which was concealed under the veil of his humanity. The cloud which overshadowed the witnesses was bright or light-like, luminous, and later will be reminiscent of the same kind of light cloud that was seen at the ascension.
As our faith developed, and the lectionary was put together for our liturgical use, the light of the Transfiguration was further explored. With our first lesson, the Transfiguration got tied to the understanding the Jesus was the culmination of the Law and the Prophets. It was a witness that Jesus is part of the same salvation history of Moses and Elijah – that is, the Transfiguration clearly displayed that God continues to be manifest in the world. The Transfiguration also got tied to scripture as it provided striking proof of the unity of the Old and New Testaments, for it brought forth lessons of personal immortality, and the mysterious intercommunion of the visible and invisible worlds. Jesus Christ becomes clearly seen as the connecting link between heaven and earth, between the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory.
By showing them the real glory and power of Jesus, the Transfiguration also confirmed the faith of the inner circle of disciples, and prepared them for the great trial which was approaching, the events of Lent and the crucifixion of Jesus.
Even though we say goodbye for a while to Epiphany, we're not to say goodbye to the light. The challenge of the day, the week, of the new days that lie ahead, is to continue to work on ways that manifest God's light within us so that we, too, can proceed with a new look and a new glow.
Lent begins this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday. Now I know for some, Lent is largely ignored and written off as more of a Roman Catholic thing than a protestant or Congregational one. But we are called to work on the letting the light of God shine within us. You know the old children's hymn -- "this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."
To let the light shine, we need to do so in the community of the faith. Join us for the Ash Wednesday service here at 11:00 am, and let your light shine. Join us for the mid-week services -- all at 11:00 am -- and learn and grow in the light of community and learning with others.
Throughout Lent, consider opening pages of scripture and let the light of God's word shine upon you. Read the Gospels again or for the first time. Join us for Bible Studies on Fridays at 10am and discover God at work through the ages.
Practice gratitude each day. Write down or mentally note three things you appreciate to shift focus from negatives. By so doing, you can actively reduce complaining about your situation or about others and look to the good that is.
Consider ways that you can best put yourself in touch with God's light. Be deliberate about your prayer life. Set aside times to pray in the day. Start the day with a little meditation; a daily devotion only takes a few minutes. Pray at mealtime, and thank God for your daily bread. Consider, too, ways that might up your service to God and others as doing for others helps our attitudes and outlook.
Transfiguration is a big deal. God in all God's glory, among us, with us, in us, is a big deal. Sustain the light and let it shine. Have a blessed day, and a blessed new season of with a new look and a new glow. So goes the hope.
*HYMN: All Beautiful the March of Days No. 434
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: Dance from Suite in a minor J.P. Rameau
Baptism of the Lord
A Service of the Word
January 11, 2026 ✦ 10am
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: Petite Fleur
(Once the music begins we ask that you would please maintain respectful silence)
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love;
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship, we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: A voice of power and majesty calls out to me.
I am your God; I have called you in righteousness.
Many: We are amazed that God knows us and calls us.
By God’s breath and spirit, we receive life.
One: God takes us by the hand and leads us.
In covenant with God, we extend light to the world.
Many: Eyes are opened and prisoners are freed.
Justice and peace prevail, by God’s strength.
One: Worship with joy and give glory to God’s name.
Listen for the new thing God declares.
ALL: We remember that we have been baptized.
May we live as those with whom God is pleased
*HYMN: As with Gladness Those of Old No. 159
https://youtu.be/UB8rKNrlpDQ
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION
Come, Holy Spirit, to dwell in us and among us. Make us more than dimly burning wicks, that we might share enough light to make a difference in your world. Where there is injustice, help us as we work to change the minds and hearts of those who benefit from it. Show us again the new possibilities you have in mind for us. May we reflect your peace amid the frantic busy pace of the marketplace. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS:
Call to Annual Meeting: Our Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 25, to be held in the Fellowship Hall immediately following worship. The business of the meeting will include approval of our Annual budget and the election of officers. We hope to elect one at least two people to serve as trustees for 2026-2028. Our thanks go out to Barbara Parsons and Luann Seaman who haves completed their service on the Board of Trustees. We will also seek to elect at least 5 members to the Board of Deacons for the 2026-2028 term. Our thanks go out to Sandy Gruner, Melinda Topping and Shirley Bergaman who have completed their service on the Board, and to Olivia Wooten for her year of service.. If you are willing and able to serve, please speak with Pastor or to any of the people who have completed their terms.
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer
…Creator of all worlds, who appoints us to serve as ministers of justice, examples of righteousness, and teachers of truth, help us to see the fulfillment of your word and the new things you now declare, so we may receive the strength you promise and thereby give a believable testimony to your world….
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, now and forever. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME
OFFERING: Memories of You
*DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
LITANY OF HEALING:
Let us offer our prayers for God’s healing:
Holy God, source of health and salvation, and wellspring of
abundant life, visit us afresh this day.
Holy Immortal one, protector of the faithful and source of all
wholeness, visit us afresh this day.
Loving Lord, grant your grace to heal those who are sick; give courage
and faith to all who are disabled through injury or illness, we pray.
Comfort, relieve, and heal all sick children;
give courage to all who await surgery, we pray.
Support and encourage those who live with chronic illness;
strengthen those who endure continual pain, and give them hope.
Grant the refreshment of peaceful sleep to all who suffer;
befriend all who are anxious, lonely, despondent, or afraid.
Restore those with mental illness to clarity of mind and hopefulness
of heart, we pray.
Give rest to the weary and hold the dying in your loving arms;
help us to prepare for death with confident expectation and
hope of Easter joy, we pray.
O God, give your wisdom and compassion to health care workers,
that they may minister to the sick and dying with knowledge, skill,
and kindness.
Uphold those who keep watch with the sick, and guide those
who search for the causes and cures of sickness and disease.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, through acts of healing, you were
revealed as the true source of health and salvation.
Have mercy on us, make us whole, and bring us at last into the
fullness of your eternal life.
May the God who goes before you through desert places by
night and by day be your companion and guide; may your
journey be with the saints; may the Holy Spirit be your
strength, and Christ your clothing of light, in whose name we
pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Isaiah 42:1-9 OT Page 630
❖ Psalm 29 HYMNAL Page 638
❖ Acts 10:34-43 NT Page 113
❖ Matthew 3:13-17 NT Page 32
SERMON: “God’s Time – How’s Your Patience?””
The fact that our world largely operates on God’s Time is a theological principal held by many of us. Today’s principle lesson is that of Jesus’ baptism which happens within the boundaries off the credal statement that Paul purports in Galatians 4:4: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Somehow, some 2026 years ago, the “fullness of time had come.” Humanity and our planet, and then Jesus himself, had reached the age of God’s new thing: a time of new teaching, and ultimately the time of redemption of all people through Jesus’ sacrificial death. The answer to “Why then?” can only be met with speculation.
As the account of Jesus’ ministry unfolds, beginning with his baptism and ending with his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, we regularly get the sense that all works according to God’s plan and God’s timing. Jesus regularly seems to have a sense of it. At the wedding at Cana, he tells his mother, “My hour has not yet come,” as Jesus knew that it wasn’t yet time for his public ministry. The notion reappears a bit later with the account in John 7:6–8 when Jesus’ brothers, who did not yet believe in Him, urged Him to go to Jerusalem and perform miracles publicly to gain a following and Jesus replies "I am not going up to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come,” from which we understand that Jesus recognized that going to Judea publicly at that moment would lead to a premature arrest and execution before His appointed time for the crucifixion.
The phrase shifts toward the end of His ministry. At the start of the Passion week, Jesus finally declares: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (John 12:23) and then during Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer before the crucifixion, He says, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son" (John 17:1)
Jesus had an uncanny sense of God’s Time, of the when, and even the how things were to happen.
Just as God’s Time orchestrated pivotal moments in the life of Jesus, so too does it weave through the stories found in Isaiah and Acts. In Isaiah 42:1–9, we witness the introduction of God’s servant, chosen and upheld, who brings justice quietly and faithfully, not by rushing or forcing events, but by moving at the pace ordained by the Creator. It hadn’t yet happened but God’s word through the prophet was, “See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.” The faithful were put on alert to look for the new things and yet they would have to wait.
Similarly, in Acts 10:34–43, Peter comes to the profound realization that God’s plan for salvation unfolds without partiality, embracing all who fear Him and do what is right, regardless of their background or heritage. There Peter knows the time had come to welcome the others, the uncircumcised gentiles of even foreign lands, into the full embrace of the Jesus movement. Yet others around Peter would be challenged to catch up to that particular God’s Time. Eventually, largely through Paul’s ministry, they do.
As we consider these accounts, we do see that God’s Time is active through all time. Yet, there are those who, trusting on their own read, work against God’s Time, too. Those who would try to rush things, such as Jesus’ mom at the wedding, or his brothers with an eye to the Feast of Tabernacles, who thinking that it was time already and so give the “Come on, Jesus, show the world your stuff” urge, impatiently try to rush things.
In our day and all too often, people wrongly and cruelly take their own concept of what and when without any consideration of God or of apparently any ethical thought. These are those who take to massive gun violence which has terrorized our schools and public gatherings, and those who take law into their hands such as we’ve been seeing with ICE. They are the enemies of God’s Time, the clear perpetrators of sin who act so clearly against God’s will and ways.
It is important for us to pause and reflect on our own patience when it comes to waiting on God’s timing. Often, our urgency clashes with the divine rhythm, leading to frustration or misguided actions. Trusting in God’s Time requires faith, humility, and a willingness to surrender our personal agendas, believing that the unfolding of events is guided by a wisdom greater than our own. We often can’t control what comes our way, but we can control how we respond to it. We can meet it with anger and frustration, or meet it with prayer and patience.
Practically speaking, embracing God’s Time means adopting a posture of active patience in our daily lives. This can look like pausing in moments of frustration or uncertainty to pray for discernment, rather than rushing ahead with our own plans. It involves seeking wisdom in Scripture and the counsel of trusted believers when facing major decisions, and being willing to wait for clarity rather than forcing outcomes. We’re invited to notice where impatience or anxiety may be driving us and to consciously surrender those moments to God, trusting in God’s Time even when it challenges our own expectations.
Additionally, we can practice patience by supporting others who are in seasons of waiting, offering encouragement and reminding them of God’s faithfulness throughout history. In our communities, we can advocate for justice and mercy in ways that reflect God’s pace—persistent but never reckless, hopeful yet grounded. By doing these things, we learn to align our daily actions and attitudes with God’s Time, allowing God’s purposes to unfold as we remain open and faithful.
The challenge to cultivate patience, the challenge to trust that, even though the reasons and timing may remain shrouded in mystery, God’s purposes are always advancing, so often in ways far beyond our immediate understanding, is a tough one. God calls us to align ourselves with God’s Time, and to learning to wait with faith and expectancy for God’s redemptive work to continue in our lives and in the world.
*HYMN: O Radiant Christ, Incarnate Word No. 168
https://youtu.be/6ogwrYa7ATg
*BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel.
Lead us back if we should stray.
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: Sing, Sing, Sing
Second Sunday after Christmas
Service of Word and Sacrament
January 4, 2026✦ 10am
We open our hearts to the presence of God and worship together.
PRELUDE: A Gothic Prelude Gordon Young
*CHORAL INTROIT:
We are here this day to share God's love.
We have come with burdens and cares,
For within this place, we are bound as one
In this fellowship we share.
*CALL TO WORSHIP:
One: God has been good to us.
Let us sing our songs of praise.
Many: God brings us together from many places.
Let us celebrate our diversity.
One: Come to hear God’s word for our day.
Listen that you might understand and share it.
Many: God’s commands run swiftly over the earth.
God’s Word comes to us as a mighty wind.
One: Give thanks for the bounty God supplies.
Gain strength from the peace God offers.
ALL: God’s word fills us with radiance.
We are ready to dance with joy.
*HYMN: The First Nowell No. 139
https://youtu.be/0u5UvnKlCTA
WELCOME
PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
All blessing and honor be to you. Holy God, for the wisdom and insight you have offered us in Jesus Christ. Through him, the mystery of your will is becoming clearer to us. You introduce us to life in all its fullness, lived in the light of your grace and truth. Thank you for this holy season. Continue, we pray, to reveal yourself to us in this hour. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
ANNOUNCEMENTS, CELEBRATIONS & CONCERNS
A TIME OF PRAYER:
❖ Pastoral Prayer
…Gracious God, in whose love we are chosen and blessed, let your Word become flesh once more as we embrace the light of Jesus Christ in our walk and in our talk. Strengthen our belief and our testimony, that enlightenment may be available to all your children and fulfillment of your will for us may be realized among all the earth’s people….
❖ Silent Prayer
❖ 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. Lead us not
into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, the glory, now and forever. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME: 12 Days of Christmas
12-Drummers, 11-Pipers, 10-Lords, 9-Ladies, 8-Maids, 7-Swans
6-Geese, 5-Golden Rings, 4-Calling Birds, 3-French Hens,
2-Turtle Doves and 1-A Partridge in a Pear Tree!
https://youtu.be/1UHmQANFtNs
OFFERING & OFFERTORY ANTHEM:
Blessed by the Bread, Graced by the Wine Mary Kay Bell
*DOXOLOGY AND BLESSING OF GIFTS:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, you heavenly host:
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
❖ Jeremiah 31:7-14 OT Page 692
❖ Psalm 147:12-20 Hymnal Page 720
❖ Ephesians 1:3-14 NT Page 169
❖ John 1:1-18 NT Page 79
*GLORIA:
Glory to the Creator, the Christ, the Holy Spirit,
Three -in-one; as it was in the beginning
Is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen. Amen.
SERMON: “Opt for Optimism”
It’s a New Year which is always much celebrated, but for many of us it is always met with a tinge of trepidation. Rather than see it as replete with hope and new possibilities for love and laughter, and improving health and wellbeing, if we allow faith to be attacked by fear and doubt, we can slide into anxiety and concern, as the old saying about our aging echoes in our year. You know the saying… “this growing old stuff ain’t for wimps.” Plus, in a world so filled with uncertainty and challenge, now complete with a new war against Venezuela, it can be easy to drift toward pessimism.
Yet let’s begin with a look over the shoulder at last year’s journeying. Yes, the year saw its challenges, even some uh-oh moments and worse for some, yet we got through it and now are a bit wiser and even stronger because of it all. Although we can point to the problems of the past, we do well to lift up the good, and celebrate the victories and joy that the year brought our way. With thanks to God, we’re here and equipped to continue on with Christ, with hope and optimism—an optimism rooted not in wishful thinking, but in the promises of God. And today we can draw inspiration from three profound passages which reveal why and how we can opt for optimism, even when circumstances tempt us otherwise.
Jeremiah speaks to a people in exile, a nation that has lost its home, its confidence, and, seemingly, its future. Yet, God declares through Jeremiah, “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations… I will gather them from the ends of the earth” (Jeremiah 31:7-8). The message is clear: restoration is coming. God promises that sorrow will turn to joy, mourning to gladness, and that there will be abundance once again.
This passage teaches us that optimism is not ignorance of reality, but trust that God is at work even in the darkest times. The exiles are called to sing and rejoice—not because their problems have vanished, but because God’s faithfulness assures them that a better day is coming. They, as we are, were called to believe. They, as we are, would also be tested by patience as we’re called to wait with certain hope.
This reassurance reminds us that optimism is an act of faith, not denial. When we cling to God’s promises, we become agents of hope—both for ourselves and for those around us. By choosing to believe in God’s redemptive plan, we find strength to persevere and courage to face the future with expectation.
Our Gospel lesson from John 1:1-18 has long been a favorite of mine. It’s often summarized as, “The Light Shining in Darkness.” In a wonderfully poetic way, John presents the very beginning of all creation. It starts with the Word of God, and with the Word, is life and light. And despite the darkness, the light continues and with it comes “grace upon grace.”
It's not simply a positive outlook, but a response to the reality that God has entered our world, bringing the goodness, the grace, we need. Because Jesus is with us, we are never alone in our struggles, and we can move forward with confidence, knowing that God’s light guides our path.
Even when we feel broken or overwhelmed, God’s promise to restore and renew gives us a solid foundation for hope. We are invited to lift our eyes above our present troubles and trust that God’s loving purposes will prevail. This does not dismiss our pain, but it assures us that our story is not finished and that God is present in every chapter.
As we reflect further, Ephesians 1:3-14 reminds us that our hope is not only for restoration in difficult times, but is also always anchored in the boundless grace God has lavished upon us through Christ. We are blessed “with every spiritual blessing in Christ,” chosen before the foundation of the world, and destined for adoption as God’s children. This assurance is not merely theoretical—it shapes our identity and infuses our daily walk with confidence and gratitude. Because we are redeemed, forgiven, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to see beyond present hardships. Instead of succumbing to despair, we can celebrate God’s ongoing work in our lives and anticipate the fulfillment of holy promises. In this way, optimism becomes our faithful response to God’s unwavering love—a hope that does not disappoint, but draws others into the light of Christ’s grace and truth.
In light of these scriptural insights, how can we practically opt for optimism in our everyday lives? Here are a few ways to put this faith-filled outlook into action:
By weaving these practices into our routines, we don’t just hope for optimism—we actively cultivate it, allowing God’s promises to shape our attitude and actions. In doing so, we become beacons of hope, shining light for ourselves and those around us, no matter what the year may bring. Opt for optimism.
OUR ORDER OF COMMUNION
The Invitation and Time of Confession:
❖ Call to Confession
❖ Silent Confession
❖ Unison Prayer of Confession:
Save your people, God of goodness and light. You have
blessed us with the peace of Christmas, but we reject your
gift in our frantic striving. You destine us for adoption,
but we go our own way. You send the Holy Spirit to lead us,
but we block out awareness of your will for us in favor of
our own selfish ambition. Restore to us the ability to discern
and respond to the light you offer, we pray in Jesus name.
Amen.
❖ Words of Assurance
Thanksgiving:
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Pastor: We give you thanks, God of majesty and mercy,
for calling forth the creation and raising us from dust
by the breath of your being.
We bless you for the beauty and bounty of the earth and for the vision of the day when sharing by all will mean scarcity for none.
We remember the covenant you made with your people Israel, and we give you thanks for all our ancestors in faith.
We rejoice that you call us to reconciliation with you and all people everywhere and that you remain faithful to your covenant even when we are faithless.
We rejoice that you call the entire human family to this table of sacrifice and victory.
We come in remembrance and celebration of the gift of Jesus Christ, whom you sent, in the fullness of time, to be the good news.
Born of Mary, our sister in faith, Christ lived among us to reveal the mystery of your Word, to suffer and die on the cross for us, to be raised from death on the third day, and then to live in glory.
We bless you, gracious God, for the presence of your Holy Spirit in the church you have gathered. With your sons and daughters of faith in all places and times, we praise you with joy as we say together:
All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Words of Institution and Communal Proclamation:
Pastor: We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion,
and on the eve of death, Jesus gathered the disciples for a shared meal of preparation.
Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying:
“This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup after supper.
Again he gave God thanks and praise and said:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
All: Christ’s death, O God we proclaim.
Christ’s resurrection we declare.
Christ’s coming, we await.
Glory be to you, O God.
Prayers of Consecration:
Pastor: Eternal God, we unite in this covenant of faith, recalling Christ’s suffering and death, rejoicing in Christ’s resurrection, and awaiting Christ’s return in victory. We spread your table with these gifts of the earth and of our labor. We present to you our very lives, committed to your service on behalf of all people. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon this bread and wine, upon our gifts, and upon us. Strengthen your universal church that it may be the champion of peace and justice in all the world. Restore the earth with your grace that is able to make all things new.
All: Be present with us as we share this meal,
and throughout all our lives, that we may know you as
the Holy One, who with Christ and the Holy Spirit,
lives forever. Amen.
Sharing the Bread and Cup:
Pastor: Allelujah! Christ our Passover is offered for us.
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God.
We celebrate the grace of God in our midst.
(Please wait until all have been served and we’ll ingest together)
Unison Prayer of Thanksgiving:
We give you thanks, Almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table through the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Continue to heal us, we pray, and strengthen our faith. Increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; we ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
*HYMN: This Is a Day of New Beginnings No. 417
https://youtu.be/y630UrAOLPw
*PASTORAL BENEDICTION
CHORAL BENEDICTION:
May the light of God shine on us today.
May the light of God shine on us today.
May it show us where to travel,
Lead us back if we should stray,
May the light of God shine on us today.
POSTLUDE: In dulci jubilo, BWV 729 J.S. Bach
(please remain seated for the postlude)
We're biblical, traditional, yet progressive.
We honor and take pride in our
Congregational roots.
We covenant with one another and with God,
as revealed
in Jesus Christ through the illumination of
the Holy Spirit.
We endeavor to walk humbly with God and
strive for justice and peace.
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
Isaiah 56.7
We are an open and affirming congregation in which all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, economic status, gender, age, or personal ability, are equally affirmed into membership, leadership and employment
and joyfully welcomed.
Our church office is open for phone calls at 631-727-2621. Pastor Sean will return your calls. Our secretary is in the office Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Our church office is open for phone calls at 631-727-2621. Pastor Sean will return your calls. Our secretary is in the office Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
Worship on Sundays at 10:00am.
No matter who you are or where you are in life's journey, you are welcome here.
103 1st Street, Riverhead, New York 11901, United States
Open today | 09:00 am – 12:00 pm |
Our church office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am-12:00. Church services are held on Sunday at 10:00am, and coffee hour in the fellowship hall following the worship service. Sunday School will be held at 10:00 am. (To run concurrent with our worship service)
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