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Sunday Church Service Bulletin
Bellport United Methodist Church
185 S. Country Rd., Bellport, NY 11713 631-286-0525
January 4, 2026
“What Will You Bring the Child?”
Welcome!
The Bellport UMC family welcomes visitors from all backgrounds. You
are invited to join us for our fellowship hour following the service. For
childcare, large print hymnals, or directions to our accessible access
(elevator), please see any of our ushers. Our current newsletter and
church brochure with upcoming events are available in the Welcoming
Area and Gathering Room entrance to the Sanctuary. We hope you will
feel God’s presence with us, and we invite you to join us again. We invite
members and guests to sign in at the Welcoming Area. Thank you!
IMPORTANT CHURCH MEETINGS
Bible Study 101 is on winter pause resuming on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Men’s Bible Study, Mondays and Fridays, 3pm via Zoom
Men’s Breakfast: 2nd Saturdays: 1/10/2026, 9:00 AM at the Church.
Choir for Worship: Thursdays, at 7:00 PM in the Sanctuary.
Church Council Meeting: 1/20/2026, 7:30 PM, Wesley House.
Finance Committee: 1/6/2026, 7:00 PM, Wesley House.
Trustee Meeting: 1/8/2026, 7:00 PM, Wesley House.
Bell Choir: Startup date TBD.
Staff Pastor Parish Relationship: TBD.
Worship Team & Ushers Meeting: TBD.
Outreach: TBD, Wesley House.
• Please Sign Up for Coffee Hour on the Sign-Up Sheet in the Gathering Area. Thank You!
• The Thrift Shop is closed as of December 17, 2025. It will reopen the beginning of February 2026, weather permitting.
All Church services, programs and events are also posted on
the Church Website: www.umcbellport.org
January 4, 2026 -- 9:30 am
Reverend Matthew Querns, Pastor
Lynn Hoag, Director of Music
Danna Prather-Davis, Liturgist
Welcome visitors. Please sign our Guest Book!
(All are invited to stand, if comfortable doing so, where the * appears)
GATHERING THOUGHTS
“There is nothing better [than] when something comes and hits you and you think ‘YES’!” – J.K. Rowling
ENTERING INTO THE PRESENCE
PRELUDE & QUIET MEDITATION
WELCOME (page 1) & ANNOUNCEMENTS (page 2)
MEDITATING ON THE LIGHT OF CHRIST
INTROIT
CONGREGATIONAL CENTERING
Leader: Today, the prophetic message is even more fully confirmed.
People: As for magi, this message is illumined for us by a great light, shining down with truth and love.
Leader: Let us take heed to this light, as we bring our own gifts to the babe.People: Let God’s light, forever, shine within us, like the morning star.
Gathering Hymn: (UMH) #254 We Three Kings
“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God our creator, children all are we. Let us
walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
OPENING TO THE PRESENCE
Gathering Prayer (in unison)
God of light, you made one family of all nations, and by one star you showed us him who is Emmanuel. Help us who know your presence live every day in this light, bowing before the brightness of his rising. As with the magi, who sought truth, let us come to the child with gifts of the heart. Let our lives reflect you, who lives and reigns in us by the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
MOMENT FOR SILENT PRAYER
WORDS OF GRACE
Ministry of Music Will You Travel To Bethlehem? by Don Besig Jennie Schwinn, flute
Moments for Children
The Lord’s Prayer
*Our Father, who art in Heaven hallowed be Your 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen
CALL TO PRAYER (TFWS) #2215 “Cares Chorus” “I cast all my cares upon you,
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet, And anytime, I don’t know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.”
GOD SIGHTINGS, JOYS & CONCERNS (pages 7 & 8)
PASTORAL PRAYER
*SONG OF EPIPHANY: (UMH) #245 The First Noel
HEARING THE WORD
FIRST READING: Isaiah 60:1-6 (NRSV) Arise, shine for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you3 Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.
SECOND READING: Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV) In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men 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 at its rising, 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 wise men 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 at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When 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.
For the Word of God in scripture,
For the Word of God among us,
For the Word of God within us,
Thanks be to God.
SERMON: “What Will You Bring the Child?” Reverend Matthew Querns 5
SERMON CHALLENGE: This week, let us work on living in God’s light, and if anyone we know gets stuck in darkness, let us offer them a bit of our light.
WORSHIPPING WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY (UMH) #221 In the Bleak Midwinter (V. 4)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise God, the source of all our gifts.
Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts.
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Invitation and Great Thanksgiving Prayer after Sharing
Eternal God, we give thanks for this holy mystery 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 to others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
*SENDING SONG: (TFWS) #2095 Star Child
*WESLEYAN NEW YEAR’S COVENANT PRAYER (UMH) #607
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
January 11’s Sermon: “We Are All Truly One Family” - Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17
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