January 15 Worship Materials

Pastor Matt and Pastor Aubra invite you to us for a transformative worship experience this Sunday as we commemorate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our special service, titled “A Healthy Community is a Free Community,” is a powerful exploration of the intersection of faith, health equity, and justice.

🎶 The Chancel Choir will open the service with a moving rendition of “Lord, for Thy Tender Mercies’ Sake” by Richard Farrant, setting the tone for a worship filled with spiritual resonance.

🙏 Call to Worship: Pastor Aubra Love will lead us in a reflection, reminding us of the interconnectedness of compassion, justice, and community. Drawing inspiration from Dr. King’s words, we’ll explore the profound mutuality that binds us together in our shared destiny.

🎵 Worship in Song: Lift your spirits with the hymn “What a Covenant,” echoing the joy of leaning on the everlasting arms, finding peace and blessedness in our faith.

🙌 Prayer of Invocation: Kerri Hufford from the Health and Wellness Ministry will guide us in seeking divine guidance for our reflections on health as a source of agency and self-determination. Join us in a prayer for the dismantling of barriers contributing to health disparities.

🗣️ Guest Speaker: Dia S. Hodnett, MPH, a distinguished public health strategist, will share insights on the theme “A Healthy Community is a Free Community.” Join us as we explore the powerful role of health in fostering a just and liberated society.

📖 Scripture Readings: Kerri Hufford will read Isaiah 58:6-8, urging us to reflect on the true essence of fasting and the call to break chains of oppression. Rev. Patricia White will bring Psalm 139:13-18, emphasizing our fearfully and wonderfully made nature.

👫 Time with Children: Pastor Matt Braddock will engage our younger members in an enriching session before they are dismissed for Church School.

🔊 Sermon: Rev. Jason Carson Wilson, an esteemed minister and advocate, will deliver the MLK Sunday Sermon, exploring the profound implications of Psalm 139:13-18 in the context of our collective journey toward justice and health.

🙏 Joys and Concerns | Pastoral Prayer: Pastor Matt Braddock will lead us in a moment of reflection, giving us the opportunity to share our joys and concerns and offering them up in prayer.

🌐 Call to Offering: Pastor Aubra Love invites us to contribute to the collective well-being and mission of the church. Your continued support ensures we can actively contribute to health, justice, and liberation.

🎼 Offertory: The Chancel Choir, with soloist Spencer Clark, will present “MLK” by U2, arranged by Bob Chilcott, offering a poignant musical tribute to the legacy of Dr. King.

🌈 Benediction: Concluding the service, Pastors Matt Braddock and Aubra Love will extend blessings, sending you forth with the spirit of compassion, justice, and community.

Join us for this enriching and empowering worship experience. Let’s come together to celebrate, reflect, and commit to fostering a healthy, just, and liberated community in the spirit of Dr. King’s legacy. See you there!