The Bulletin is at: 01-22-2017 Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 01-22-2017 Third Sunday after epiphany
or the service is as follows:
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 22, 2017
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER………….. “We are not divided, All one body we” is a well-known line from the classic Christian hymn “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” It speaks to the unity we have in Christ Jesus, who calls us to be one. The well-loved hymn was written by Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould for a procession of Sunday School students in England. By using language images appropriate to adults, he was showing that he expected the best from the children for whom he was writing. Paul expected the best from the Corinthian Christians, even though he knew well the difficulties being experienced by the congregation at Corinth. As he wrote to them, he stated that they were “called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:2). By God’s grace, we are numbered among those saints!
Pastor: We thank You, God. Each one of us has been made in a special way by You. You have given us skills and abilities so that we can serve You…….and also so that we can care for each other. Bless our time together in worship that we may be strengthened to live in peace…….and be strengthened to share Your love and peace with others. We ask that Your presence be with us in our time together—Father, + Son and Holy Spirit. In Your name we pray. Amen.
TIME TO REFLECT………….
Pastor: In peace let us pray to our heavenly Father, confident of His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination
Pastor: Heavenly Father,
People: we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have failed to live in the fruit of Your Holy Spirit, in our thinking, speaking, and acting. We have not loved You completely or our neighbors as ourselves. We have let the turmoil in this world subvert the peace You have provided us. We have not let our hearts take courage and wait for the Lord. Our Lord Jesus revealed His person and ministry through His words and actions. In Your great mercy, forgive, renew, and lead us so that we may be revealed as His faith-filled followers to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.” Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SONG OF PRAISE Morning Has Broken
Morning has broken……Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken…..Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!
Sweet the rain’s new fall…….Sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall…….On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning
Born of the one light……..Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning,
God’s recreation of the new day!
Pastor: In concluding 2 Thessalonians, Paul has special words of benediction: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you.” For God’s people, peace has always been a focus of prayer and of living. To live with a sense of inner peace is the greatest of blessings.
People: The final word we hear in the Benediction is “peace” as the blessing spoken by Aaron over the children of Israel is recited.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 9:1-4 A great light is shining
There will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Epistle: I Corinthians 1:10-18 Let there be no divisions in Christ’s Church
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
CHOIR ANTHEM I Shall Not Be Afraid By Patricia Mock
Holy Gospel: Matthew 4:12-25 Jesus calls His first disciples
When [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called to them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
SERMON HYMN Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness……only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again,
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERINGS GATHERED
(We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.)
OFFERING SONG “Green Book” 409 Praise and Thanksgiving
Praise and thanksgiving, Father we offer
For all things living, Created good:
Harvest of sown fields, Fruits of the orchard
Hay from the mown fields, Blossom and wood.
Bless, Lord, the labor We bring to serve you,
That with our neighbor We may be fed.
Sowing or tilling, We would work with you,
Harvesting, milling For daily bread.
Father, providing food for your children,
By your wise guiding Teach us to share
One with another, So that, rejoicing
With us, all others May know your care.
Then will your blessing Reach ev’ry people,
Freely confessing Your gracious hand.
Where all obey you, No one will hunger;
In your love’s sway you Nourish the land.
Pastor: Almighty and everlasting God, You wield Your almighty power in justice and mercy. Grant that all who wield authority in this world may recognize their power as a gift to be used in service to others. Give our leaders wisdom, that their use of justice and mercy may be a blessing to us and to the world. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: Merciful Father, our Lord Jesus Christ healed many afflicted with various diseases and pains. Grant healing according to Your will. Show your gracious presence to all who suffer, and help us to be agents of your mercy through our caring presence. May all who mourn the death of a loved one find comfort and hope in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: Holy Lord, bless our country with godly leaders, with unity, with useful education, with helpful businesses and industry, with a conscientious military, with responsible citizens, with justice and peace, and with all we need for life. Overcome evil and violence among us and fill us with gratitude for all Your goodness to us. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: Holy Lord, guide each of us in our daily vocations. Make Your will to be our will. Help us to use our abilities and opportunities so that others may experience Your providing hand through us. Work in us so that we use Your gifts in ways that honor You and help the people You place in our lives. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: Hear our prayer.
Pastor: We give thanks to You, Almighty God, for Your people whom You have delivered from this world and who now gaze upon Your beauty in glory as they await the day of the resurrection. Until that day when we are added to their number, grant us strength and courage by Your grace to trust Your promises and await Your Son’s glorious appearing; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING SONG “Red Book” 98 In His Time
In his time, in his time, He makes all things beautiful, in his time
Lord please show my ev’ry day as you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say, in your time.
In your time, in your time, you make all things beautiful in your time,
Lord, my life to you I bring, May each song I have to sing,
Be to you a lovely thing, in your time.
HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY Superintendent Melissa Goff
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!