Opening Hymn
In the name of God: Creator, Redeemer, and Giver of life. Amen.
Call to Worship and Confession of Sin
Light! Light, light and more light!
Rise and shine—your light is here! God’s glory streams in! The world will be drawn to your glow! Leaders will follow your shining brilliance.
The awesome light of our Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Seers speak of the coming light of God which calls all people of the earth to come together in peace. Let us confess the ways in which we have turned away from this vision of wholeness.
God of light and darkness, we have seen the glimmer of your star-light beckoning to us, but we have turned away – through distraction, habit, sloth, or simple lack of love – and followed other paths. We confess that we have not loved you with everything we’ve got. And we haven’t loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Forgive us, Holy One. Strengthen our faltering steps. Guide us in your way of peace. Amen.
Lift up your eyes and see the grace of God pouring into your lives. The healing, forgiving, restoring light of God shines through the darkness.
Our hearts rejoice for Christ is in our midst.
Canticle of Praise for Epiphany
From Godspell
Collect of the Day
The Great Spirit be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
Old Testament
A reading from Isaiah 49: 1-7
Listen, far-flung islands,
pay attention, faraway people:
God put me to work from the day I was born.
The moment I entered the world he named me.
He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.
He kept his hand on me to protect me.
He made me his straight arrow
and hid me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You’re my dear servant,
Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”
But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”
“And now,” God says,
this God who took me in hand
from the moment of birth to be his servant,
To bring Jacob back home to him,
to set a reunion for Israel—
What an honor for me in God’s eyes!
That God should be my strength!
He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—
just to recover the tribes of Jacob,
merely to round up the strays of Israel.
I’m setting you up as a light for the nations
so that my salvation becomes global!”
God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel,
says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations,
slave labor to the ruling class:
“Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—
and then fall on their faces in homage
Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word,
The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to our church. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 40
I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
compares to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.
Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
so I can listen.
So I answered, “I’m coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.
I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,
I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn’t keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.
Now God, don’t hold out on me,
don’t hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
1 Corinthians
I, Paul, have been called and sent by Jesus, the Messiah, according to God’s plan, along with my friend Sosthenes. I send this letter to you in God’s church at Corinth, believers cleaned up by Jesus and set apart for a God-filled life. I include in my greeting all who call out to Jesus, wherever they live. He’s their Master as well as ours!
May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to our church. Thanks be to God.
Hymn
John 1:29-42
Our words of freedom Gospel according to John
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I’ve been talking about, ‘the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.’ I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God.”
John clinched his witness with this: “I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ That’s exactly what I saw happen, and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God.”
The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”
The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”
They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.
Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).
The Gospel of our Saviour. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
The Prayers
Because We Believe
Words adapted from Because We Believe, Don Moen
We believe in God the Father
We believe in Christ the Son
We believe in the Holy Spirit
We are the Church
And we stand as one
Holy holy, Holy is our God
Worthy worthy, Worthy is our King
All glory and honor are His to receive
To Jesus we sing, because we believe
We believe in the Living Scriptures
We believe in all peoples’ worth.
We believe in the resurrection
That Christ calls us
To protect the Earth.
Holy holy, Holy is our God
Worthy worthy, Worthy is our King
All glory and honor are His to receive
To Jesus we sing, because we believe.
We believe it’s love that saves us
That we’re all meant for divine rebirth.
We believe that beyond our vision
Is a boundless realm of joy and mirth.
Holy holy, Holy is our God
Worthy worthy, Worthy is our King
All glory and honor are His to receive
To Jesus we sing, because we believe.
Prayers of the People
We pray for the coming of a Living Community of Love.
You sent your Son to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to the captives, salvation to your people, healing for our planet: anoint us with your Spirit; rouse us to work in Christ’s name. God, by your Spirit
Unleash your domain.
Send us to bring help to the poor and liberation for the oppressed. We remember all refugees and migrants in this country and around the world. We remember the hungry, the homeless, those living in regions and homes torn by war and violence, those grieved by prejudice and hatred.
God, by your Spirit
Unleash your domain.
Send us to tell the world the good news of your healing love. We pray for those who are ill or suffering and those in need of healthcare, those suffering from suffering of body, mind or spirit, naming them now either silently or aloud. (Pause)
God, by your Spirit
Let your realm arise.
Send us to those who mourn, to bring joy and gladness instead of grief. We remember those who have died, naming them now either silently or aloud. (Pause)
God, by your Spirit
Let your realm arise.
Send us to bear witness to You, to your love and kindness, to your justice and compassion.
God, by your Spirit
Let your realm arise.
God, use us, imperfect as we are, to bring in your kingdom of mercy, justice, and peace. Empower us by your Spirit and unite us in your Son, that all our joy and delight may be to serve you, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peace
Announcements
The Holy Communion
God loves it when the giver delights in giving.
2 Corinthians 9:7
During the Offertory, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung.
Doxology
(Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), para. of Psalm 117; Music: Old 100th, melody from Pseaumes octante trois de David, 1551, alt.; harm. after Louis Bourgeois (1510?-1561?); Licensed for Use: CCLI Copyright License 20716203; CCLI Streaming License 20716210
The Great Thanksgiving
The Great One is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them into the Day-giver’s clear light.
Let us give thanks to our most Holy God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.
We give you thanks, O God, for making your love visible since the very beginning of time. You spoke the word which replaced the darkness of chaos with life-giving light. This light has nurtured generations of people, creatures and plants, great and small. This same light nurtures the virtues and strengths of our human souls, and heals the pain and harm caused by cruelty, violence and hatred.
At a pivotal moment, you spoke the Word of Light which would, decisively, dispel the darkness of chaotic lives. Because you love the world, Jesus became flesh and lived among us full of grace and truth. The entire created order, with forces visible and invisible, join together in crying out their praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, holy and gracious God,
creator of all things and giver of life.
We thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ—
for his life among us, for his teaching and healing,
for his death and resurrection, and for his abiding presence with us still.
As we celebrate each Sunday, on the night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them. Each Sunday we remember what he said:
“Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this to remember me.”
Each Sunday we remember that after supper he took the cup, gave thanks, and said:
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for you.
Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.”
And so we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Gracious God, we give you thanks for this holy food and drink,
set apart and blessed for us in your Church,
and for the grace you share with us through this sacred meal.
Be present with us now as we receive these gifts.
Strengthen our faith, deepen our love,
and renew our commitment to follow Christ.
Make us one with him, one with one another,
and one in service to the world,
until that day when we rejoice together at your heavenly banquet.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
And now, in the words that Jesus taught us, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven. hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kindgom 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, and deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord
Gentile or Jew, Servant or free
Woman or man, No more
One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord
Many the gifts, many the works
One in the Lord, Of all
One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord
We are one body in this one Lord
Songwriter: John B Foley; One Bread, One Body lyrics © Epoch Universal Publications Inc
The congregation receives communion.
Prayer after Communion
Gracious God, you are the author and giver of all good things. We give you thanks for the gift of life, for the meal we shared, and for reconnecting us as your people. Keep us nourished by this meal and this community. Keep us grounded in the ways in which you feed us, and in the ways we are all hungry. We pray these things through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessing
May the path that Christ walks to bring justice upon the earth, to bring light to those who sit in darkness, to bring out those who live in bondage, to bring new things to all creation: may this path run through our life. May we be the road Christ takes. Amen.
Closing Hymn
Dismissal
Some prayers taken from The Church of England and https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/11/epiphany-worship-resource-index.html