Welcome + Announcements 

One: Good morning and welcome to Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, where no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey . . .

All: You are welcome here!

[We offer you a warm welcome, and as is our practice, we remember that the land on which we meet is, was, and always will be native land. We acknowledge those indigenous tribes to Oklahoma: the Wichitas, Caddos, Plains Apaches, and the Quapaws, as the original custodians of the land in this place. We grieve the violence done to native language, culture, and personhood, and seek to honor the sovereignty and dignity of native peoples.]

We are so glad to worship together!
Tell Us You're Here!
Please use the giving link below to support the work and ministry of this church with your tithes and offerings. We do not pass offering plates during worship, although those who are in-person can use the Giving Box, located just outside the sanctuary, to contribute. Thank you for giving!
Give your Tithes & Offerings Here

Call to Worship

One: We’ve been wandering in the wilderness in these days after Christmas, knowing only that we probably need to eat some vegetables now that we’ve finished off the last of the cookies. We are glad to be together, to take the next faithful steps as a beloved community!

All: As we peek into the new year, we trust that it is time to look ahead with hope, to be assured that nothing is impossible with God, and to do the good that is ours to do.

One: We bring our courage, questions, and heart with us, comforted to know that we are not alone on the journey.

All: God walks with us all the way. We rise now in body or in spirit to sing of courage and joy!

Hymn

Joy to the World!, Hymn 132
New Century Hymnal

[Please rise in body or in spirit.]

Pass the Peace of Christ

Greeting: "May the peace of Christ be with you."
Response: "And also with you!"

Anthem

We Three Kings
John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
arr. Cindy Berry
Glenda Stansbury

Joys + Concerns

For the joys of this congregation, let the people say, "Thanks be to God!"
Share your Joys + Concerns Here

The Lord's Prayer

A translation by members of this congregation:
Our Creator, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 you reign in the power that is love, now and always, Amen.

Anthem

Love Came Down at Christmas
Maurice C. Whitney
Clint Williams with Glenda Stansbury

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine
Love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine,
Worship we our Jesus,
but where is God’s sacred sign?

Love shall be our token:
love be yours and love be mine
Love to God and neighbor,
love for plea and gift and sign.

Pastoral Prayer

Rev. Dr. Walke

Scripture: Isaiah 43:16-21

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.

Sermon: Consider the Ostrich

Rev. Dr. Walke

Hymn

Go Tell It on the Mountain, Hymn 154
New Century Hymnal

[Please rise in body or in spirit.]

Benediction

One: May God grant to us the grace to never sell ourselves short, the courage to risk something big for something good, and the wisdom to know that the world is too small for anything but love. Let us go in peace, pray for peace, wage a little peace, and love one another . . . 

All: . . . every single other. Amen.

Benediction Response

What Does the Lord Require?
Jim Strathdee

[Sung in a round, Part 1 begins the response, joined the second time by Part 2, then by Part 3, and then a fourth time through. For those in-person, it is our tradition for the congregation to stand and turn towards the center aisle during the benediction response so that we might "send each other forth" to embody what we sing.]

Part 1: What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you?

Part 2: Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God. Justice, kindness, walk humbly with your God.

Part 3: To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God. To do justice, and love kindness and walk humbly with your God.