Saturday, January 18, 2025
OPENING MUSIC
"Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow" • Johann Walther, attr. Henry Purcell
WELCOME & PRAYER
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
THE LORD'S LIGHT AND LEADING —A HYMN CYCLE
"Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" • 21, st. 1, 2, 4
"The Lord Is My Light" • 515, st. 1, 3
"Lead On, O King Eternal" • 619
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" • chorus only of 290
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Craig Courtney
CALL FOR OFFERING
Ron Knott, Pioneer Member
OFFERTORY
"Wake Up! For Night Is Flying" • Wayne Wold
CHILDREN'S STORY
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 4:5-20 NRSV
Guerline Deshammes, Pioneer Member
HYMN OF PREPARATION
"'We Would See Jesus'" • 494, st. 1
MESSAGE
"A Citizen's Guide to the Powers That Be"
Bill Knott, Associate Director, GC Public Affairs and Religious Liberty
HYMN OF RESPONSE
"Come, We That Love the Lord" • 422, st. 1, 2, 4
CLOSING MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Janet Linker
OPENING MUSIC
"Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow" • Johann Walther, attr. Henry Purcell
WELCOME & PRAYER
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
"HYMNS OF PRAISE"
"The Lord Is My Light" • 515, st. 1, 3
"Lead On, O King Eternal" • 619
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" • chorus only of 290
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
WORSHIP IN MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Craig Courtney
CALL FOR OFFERING
Ron Knott, Pioneer Member
OFFERTORY
"Wake Up! For Night Is Flying" • Wayne Wold
CHILDREN'S STORY
Jacob Gibbs, Associate Pastor
PRAISE
"Heaven's Jubilee / I'll Fly Away"
"We'll Soon Be Done With Troubles and Trials"
"He Touched Me"
SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 4:5-20 NRSV
MESSAGE
"A Citizen's Guide to the Powers That Be"
Bill Knott, Associate Director, GC Public Affairs and Religious Liberty
HYMN OF COMMITMENT
"Come, We That Love the Lord" • 422, st. 1, 2, 4
CLOSING MUSIC
"How Firm a Foundation" • Janet Linker
Offering for January 3, 2026
Pioneer Operating Budget
There is something special about the beginning of a new year. It’s the energy and the excitement. It’s the opportunities that it offers. It provides the chance to forget the past and its challenges, while we embrace the possibility to start over.
The New Year offers the opportunity for us to look at the future with optimism and gratefulness. For this reason, I like new, don’t you? Paul liked the idea of new also. That’s why he encourages us to look towards the future instead of looking back. He says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3: 13, 14, NIV), we should press toward the goal to win.
The encouraging thing is, when Christ is in the lead, we must succeed. For this reason, we can embrace the possibilities of the new year– striving to be better stewards for God. So may our goals this year include spending consistent time in worship and developing a relationship of steel with God. May we take care of our wellbeing (physically and psychologically) and witness about His love by using our talents and gifts.
May we faithfully return to God the designated portion of our wealth and take care of our world and the environment. Let’s determine to make 2026 an exceptional year of sacrificial generosity, in our local church and worldwide.
—North American Division Stewardship Ministries
Church Office Holiday Closure: 12/22-12/26 & 12/29-01/02
Please note that the church office will be closed from December 22 to 26 and again from December 29 to January 2 for the holiday season. We will reopen on January 5. Our church services will proceed as always. If you have any announcements, please submit those no later than December 19. Thank you for your understanding. We wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!