Call to Worship

         The last chapters of the Bible paint a picture of the "holy city," the "new Jerusalem," God’s coming kingdom where, it says, "there will be no more night; they (will) need no lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light..." (Revelation 22:5). At the very end of this book of books, Jesus himself speaks, saying, "I am the bright morning star" (22:16).

         Long ago, the wise men followed a star to Bethlehem. The star we follow today, however, is not a distant sun in a galaxy far, far away. The light of Christ shines here and now. His Holy Spirit is within us, an ever-present strength upon which we can depend as we follow him. In anticipation, may this "morning star rise upon your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19), as together we turn to the Lord.

"All of you (even you) angels in heaven,
honor the glory and power of the Lord!
Honor the wonderful name of the Lord,
and worship the Lord most holy and glorious"
(Psalm 29:1-2, CEV)

         Please stand and sing, led by a child, #214, "Morning star, O cheering sight!"
     

Children’s Time
"Turn Around"
Mark 1:4-11

         Can anyone tell me what the word repent means? If you are doing something bad and you repent, what do you do? You stop doing the wrong thing and begin doing the right thing. The word repent means "to turn around and go the other way." Could I have a volunteer to help demonstrate the word repent?

         I would like our helpful volunteer to walk down the center aisle toward the back of the church until you hear me say, "Repent!" That word is almost the same as "About face!" When you hear "Repent!," you turn around and come back. Let’s try it. (Let the volunteer get partway down the aisle and then call them back with the word repent.) Did this person repent? Yes, they turned around and came back. If only we all could repent as quickly as that!

         Before Jesus began preaching, a man named John the Baptist told people to repent. He told them they were going the wrong way; they weren’t thinking about God at all. He wanted them to stop walking away from God, to turn around and walk toward God. When someone had repented, John the Baptist would baptize him or her in the river. John was sent by God to get people ready for Jesus. He turned them around and got them to face the right direction. John baptized with water to show that the people had repented and were now living good, clean lives.

         Before someone is baptized in our church, they are asked this question: "Do you repent of your sins and confess and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord?" That means, "Will you turn around and walk in the direction that God wants you to walk?" Of course, we believe that the only way we can do what is right is with God’s help. Baptism is more than just turning around, it is receiving from the Lord what we need to live, trusting in Jesus to save and lead us, depending upon his Holy Spirit to help us every day for the rest of our lives.

         Even after we are baptized, we can still walk in the wrong direction, we can do what God doesn’t want us to do. However, there’s now a voice within us to tell us to "turn around," and there’s now an inner strength to help us to "turn around" and walk where God wants us to go, to step out into the adventure of living by faith.

         Well, right now I want you all to stand up and face me. All of you are going to practice "doing" the word repent, which means what? To "turn around and go the other way." That’s right. I’m going to ask Marian to invite you to go with her to choir practice (some of you will go to pre-school playtime). When she says "repent," what will you do? That’s right, you'll turn around and follow her... Marian?

Adapted from "Sitting on the Rainbow,"
by Ruth Gilmore, pp. 26-27
    

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

         We started out worship this morning with the very last chapter of the Bible. Let’s now turn to the very first. Listen. (read Genesis 1:1-5)

         When you look over your personal finances, do you see a "formless void," or even "darkness"? If so, please know that the One who "created the heavens and the earth" can bring order to your chaos. Where there seems to be nothing, God provides for your needs.

         As you return your offering to the Lord just now, allow the very first recorded words of God to become your prayer. Thinking about your finances, hear the voice of your Creator say, "Let there be light."

         Will the ushers come forward to serve?