WELCOME TO WORSHIP | sunday | january 4, 2026

a diverse, inclusive church experiencing and reflecting the love, hope and joy of Jesus Christ

to each other and our community.

WELCOME | Pastor Cathy Johns

WELCOME ONE ANOTHER

WAYS TO CONNECT | christchurchfl.org/ways2connect
Please see below.

MUSIC MINISTRY
Rise Up Shepherd and Follow | arr. Mark Hayes 
Carrie Brooke, alto
Mark Hayes | © 1994 Alfred Publishing Co, Inc. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* CALL TO WORSHIP | Judy O'Donnell, liturgist 
Arise, people of God, for Christ’s light has come.
We come to worship the one revealed to the world.

From distant lands, seekers followed the star.

Guided by wonder and hope, they found the Christ.

The light of Jesus shines beyond all borders and boundaries.

God’s love is made known for all people everywhere.

Come, let us worship the Christ who is revealed among us.

With joy and thanksgiving, we celebrate Christ, the light of all nations!

* GATHERING HYMN
There’s a Song in the Air | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 249 (verses 1,2,3,4) 
There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky!

There's a mother's deep prayer and a baby's low cry!

And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,

for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

There's a tumult of joy o'er the wonderful birth,

for the virgin's sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.

Ay! the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,

for the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;

and that song from afar has swept over the world.

Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing

in the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!

We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song

that comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.

Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,

and we greet in his cradle our Savior and King!

Josiah Gilbert Holland | Karl Pomeroy Harrington | words & music: public domain | CCLI License # 487103

* OPENING PRAYER
God of light and revelation, we give thanks for the light of Christ, made known not only to a few, but to the whole world. You guide seekers by unexpected paths and meet them with grace, truth, and joy. Open our hearts to recognize Jesus anew—in your word, in this gathered community, and in the needs of our neighbors. As you once guided faithful travelers to Christ, guide us by your Spirit today. Shape us into people who follow with trust, offer our lives with humility, and live in ways that make Christ known. Awaken wonder within us and send us out as bearers of Christ’s love to a world still longing for hope. Amen.

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God, Maker of heaven and earth. God shattered the darkness with light, setting in the sky a radiant sun. God transformed the night sky with brilliant stars. God overcomes every darkness with glorious light. God placed a star in the sky to guide people near and far to Jesus, The Christ-Child. 

We believe in Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. He brings hope to those filled with grief and sorrow. He brings healing and strength to the weak. He brings direction and purpose to those who have lost their way. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the depths of God’s love for all people.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who activates the light of Christ within us, calling us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The Spirit shapes all who follow Jesus into the image and likeness of Christ, equipping us to serve one another in His name. We believe that Christ’s light still shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. 

* GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Henry W. Greatorex | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

OFFERING | Pastor Doug Johns
worshiping through the offering of our lives and gifts

·     Place offerings in the plates or wooden boxes

·     Give online at christchurchfl.org/give 

·     Text GIVE to 954.880.3885

·     Mail a check to Christ Church, 4845 NE 25^th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308

Connect cards may also be placed with your offering. Christ Church is a congregationally supported ministry. We thank you for your faithfulness as we reflect the love, hope and joy of Jesus to our community.

MUSIC MINISTRY
We Three Kings | Craig Courtney
Chancel Choir 
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a deity nigh; prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high. Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.

Carig Courtney | © 2010 by Beckenhorst Press, Inc. | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Bourgeois & Ken | public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MORNING PRAYER

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE | Pastor Monique McBride

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 2:1-12 | New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

These are the words of God for us, the people of God. Thanks be to God

MESSAGE
Do you believe in Magi? | Pastor Cathy Johns

THE LORD’S SUPPER

 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.

And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy God, in the beginning there was darkness, mystery, and you. By your own word, you shattered the beams of darkness with light. You set in the sky radiant beams of sunlight and punctured the night sky with sparkling jewels. You forever changed our darkness. 

You have placed your word in us to be a lamp for our feet. You have given us your Spirit like a bright and guiding star. You fill us with your love as glorious as the sun. 

God of the sun and stars, we praise you. With your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. 

Ever-persistent and ever-loving God, you placed a star in the sky to guide people from far and near to your child. Jesus became the Light of the World, drawing the lost and forgotten, the hurt and the wounded, the oppressed and depressed to the wellsprings of life. 

He changed water into wine, called unheralded workers to be disciples, preached good news to the poor, healed the sick and beckoned people to love their neighbor. 

By his baptism, suffering, death, and resurrection he revealed the depths of your love and the power of light over darkness. 

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,

gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over he took the cup,

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:

"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died;

Christ is risen;

Christ will come again.

Pour out your holy Spirit upon us and on these gifts of bread and cup, that through Christ’s presence we may become a beacon of holy light, a source of joy, a witness for peace. 

By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, one with seekers far and near, and one in ministry to all the world until we feast at the heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your hold church,

All glory and honor are yours, eternal God, now and forever. Amen.

And now with the confidence of the children of God, let us pray together: 

THE 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

You do not need to be a member of Christ Church or a United Methodist to come to the table. Christ himself is host and welcomes all.

GATHERING AT THE LORD’S TABLE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

all Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy ministry in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world, in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others. 

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

* HYMN OF COMMITMENT
Go, Tell it on the Mountain | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 251 (verses 1,2,3)
(refrain) Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

While shepherds kept their watching o’er silent flocks by night,
behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. (refrain)

The shepherds feared and trembled, when lo! Above the earth,
rang out the angel chorus that hailed the Savior’s birth. (refrain)

Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born,
and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn. (refrain)

John W. Work Jr. & William Farley Smith | words: public domain | music: 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House | CCLI License # 487103

* SENDING FORTH

* RESPONSE
Joy to the World | The United Methodist Hymnal No. 246 (verses 1)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

George Frideric Handel | Isaac Watts © music & words: public domain | CCLI License # 487103

MUSIC FOR CLOSING
The March of the Three Kings | Stewart Landon
Chuck Stanley, organ
© 1941 Lorenz Publishing Co. | a division of the Lorenz Corporation | admin. by Music Services | all rights reserved | used with permission under One License #A-726973

* please stand in body or spirit.

Join us next Sunday for worship and the message Breakthrough Prayer - How God Answers Prayer! based on Romans 8:24-30.

For a complete list of all the ways to conect click here