EPIPHANY
January 4, 2026 | 8:30 and 11:00am
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
Divinum Mysterium/Corde Natus
arr. David Blackwell (b. 1961)
Welcome
Rev. Dr. Jason Hays
Executive Minister
*Call to Worship
Leader: How dear is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts!
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
People: The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young;
Leader: Happy are they who dwell in God’s house!
People: Happy are the people whose strength is in the Lord,
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way. Let us worship God.
Gathering Hymn 33 Praise the Lord! God’s Glories Show, Vs 1 (Llanfair)
*Corporate Confession (Unison)
Holy God, we confess and lament
the violence of our world
and our fascinated bondage
to military might, merciless justice,
self-righteous revenge, and national pride.
Shine on us from the cradle of your vulnerability
that forgiveness, mercy, and kindness
may glow and grow among us
through Jesus Christ. Amen.
*Assurance of God’s Love
*Response Gloria
*Passing of the Peace
*Hymn
147 The First Nowell, Verses 1, 4-6 (The First Nowell)
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD
Word to the Children
When the music begins, children are invited to gather on the chancel steps as we sing, “This is where children belong, part of our family, part of our song. Be with us, pray with us, help us grow strong: this is where children belong.” Please note the 11:00am service is livestreamed and your child’s image may appear on the video.
Anthem
I. Adagio & III. Larghetto from Six Studies in English Folk-Song (8:30am)
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Behold a Star Shall Come from Jacob (11:00am)
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
Prayer for Illumination (Unison)
Lord, open our hearts and our minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that as the Scriptures are read
and your Word is proclaimed,
we may hear with joy
what you say to us today. Amen.
Scripture Lesson
Matthew 2:1-12 (Pew Bible New Testament Page 1)
Response to Reading
Leader: Listen to the voice of the Spirit speaking to the Church.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Co-Pastor
Moment for Reflection
Musical Reflection
Noël Angevin
arr. César Franck (1822-1890)
RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts Rev. Dr. Lorraine Leist, Associate Pastor
Making a financial gift makes Montview’s programs and ministries possible, including this worship service. You are invited to give generously at www.montview.org/giving or by texting a dollar amount to 720.452.6449. Offering boxes are stationed at the exit for cash and checks. We’re grateful for your support.
All are invited to sign and pass the Friendship Pad and greet each other by name.
*Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
God, you have so greatly loved us, long sought us, and mercifully redeemed us. Give us grace that in everything, we may yield ourselves, our wills and our works, a continual thank offering to you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Response
607 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Lord’s Table
Great Thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Leader: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Gracious God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You have been faithful to us through all generations and continue to speak to us today. We praise you for this table of love you spread in the world as a sign of your love for all people. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join in their unending song.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
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; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Words of Institution
Communion of the People
You are invited to come forward, offering your open palms to the communion server. Once you receive a piece of communion bread and juice, please bring them back to your seat in the pews. Bread at every station is gluten-free. The Presbyterian tradition does not include a specific rite for first Communion. Our parents decide when their children are ready to participate. If you’d like to receive communion in your pew, please signal to a server when they come down the aisle at the conclusion of communion.
Communion Music
Capriccio for Solo Viola (8:30am)
Henri Vieuxtemps (1820-1881)
A New Year Carol (11:00am)
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
*Prayer of Thanksgiving (Unison)
Gracious God, you have made us one with all your people in heaven and earth. You have fed us with the bread of life and renewed us for your service. Help us, who have shared Christ’s body and received his cup, to be faithful disciples, so that our daily living may reflect your presence among us, and our love be your love, reaching out into the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Closing Hymn
151 We Three Kings of Orient Are (Kings of Orient)
SENDING IN GOD’S LOVE
*Charge and Benediction
*Benediction Response (11:00am)
The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Peter Lutkin (1858-1931)
Postlude
On This Day, Earth Shall Ring
arr. Rebecca Groom te Velde (b. 1956)
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Preacher: Rev. Clover Reuter Beal
Liturgists: Rev. Dr. Jason Hays and Rev. Dr. Lorraine Leist
Organ/Piano: Benjamin Corwyn
Viola: Margaret Dyer Harris (8:30am)
Conductor: Mary Louise Burke (11:00am)
Reader: Jim Thomas (11:00am)
Sound: Cate Thieme
Video: John Goerner
Chorus: Westminster Choir (11:00am)
PARISH NEWS
Prayer Tree
Jolene Cranston; Cindi Graves; The Grove Family (mourning the death of Julie’s mother, Jackie Brand); Mark Haynes; Joe Hickman; Mary Holleman; The Kramer Family (mourning the death of Pat Kramer); Sherwood Lingenfelter (brother of Paul Lingenfelter); Susan Long (relative of Peggy Gonder); Sam Mateo; Eden Murphy; Jim Polsfut; The Scherer Family (mourning the death of James Scherer, son of Betty); Jan Tazelaar; Constanza Hege de Tobasia (friend of Lisa Padilla); Kathryn Walton (daughter of MaryGrace Wake); Steve Wrenn (brother of Grover Wrenn)
Deaths
December 20 | Pat Kramer
November 1 | Betty Scherer (Memorial Service on January 8 CANCELLED)
Pastoral Care Concerns
Please reach out to the church with pastoral care concerns such as illnesses, hospitalizations, deaths, births, or any other change of personal circumstances or condition. Contact: caring@montview.org or (303) 355-1651 (general mailbox voicemail). For pastoral care emergencies, please call (303) 355-1651 and press 4.
Flower Dedication
The flowers in the chancel today are given to the glory of God by Julie and Tom Grove in celebration of the beautiful life of Julie’s mom, Jackie Brand.
TODAY AT MONTVIEW
8:00am-12:30pm
Childcare – Ages Birth-7
Location: Preschool Floor
Enter via the Commons past Heritage Center to the Education wing.
8:30am
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
8:45am
Youth Bells (Grades 3-8)
Location: Room 206B
9:30am
Pastors’ Forum
Location: Sanctuary
Bel Canto Choir (Grades K-5)
Location: Room 205
Assembly: Choir Alternative Fellowship (Grades K-5)
Location: Room 204B
Sunday School (Preschool)
Location: Room 112
JAM in the AM (Grades 6-8)
Location: Cellar
MOB in the Morning (Grades 9-12)
Location: Confirmation Room
10:00am
Sunday School (Grades K-5)
Location: Second Floor
11:00am
Worship Service
Location: Sanctuary
12:15pm
Grief Education Series
Location: McCollum Room
UPCOMING EVENTS
Guest Preacher: Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber
Next Sunday, January 11 | 8:30 & 11am Worship Services
We are happy to welcome Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber to our pulpit once again. Rev. Bolz-Weber is serving as Theologian-in-Residence at Montview Church, as well as Pastor of Public Witness with the Rocky Mountain Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
ABOUT THIS SERVICE
Assistive listening devices are available in the sound booth in the back of the sanctuary.
Restrooms are available in the Commons. An all-gender restroom is available on the lower level across from Youth Cellar.
A room for families with children who are not enjoying the service is below the sanctuary with livestream.
Childcare is available for ages Birth-7 on the Preschool floor.
Please note that the 11:00am worship service will be livestreamed to several social media platforms and your image may appear on the livestream video.
MONTVIEW BOULEVARD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220
303.355.1651 | www.montview.org