Bulletin – February 13, 2022 – Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday, February 13, 2022
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

Jesus Christ is the light that shines in the shadows of life, who bursts forth life sunshine through clouds of sadness, whose presence changes gloom into gladness. We light this Christ candle rejoicing that the presence of God is with us this morning.

(adapted from Fern Gibbard, Gathering Epiphany 2021/22, page 43; used with permission)

Call to Worship

One:   From the comfort of our Western homes and prosperous lives,
All:      we come hungry for a better world for all.

One:   In our society divided by power struggles and prejudice,
All:      we affirm the power of Your healing love.

One:   With the honesty of our doubts and insecurities,
All:      we rejoice in Your love for each one of us; seeking Your blessing to make us whole.

One:   Together in worship this day,
All:      we celebrate in word and song all that God has done.

(adapted from Gil Le Fevre)

Hymn – “Jesus, Draw Me Close”

Jesus, draw me close; closer, Lord, to You.
Let the world around me fade away.
Jesus, draw me close; closer, Lord, to You.
For I desire to worship and obey.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth, help us to notice, help us to pay attention, to let our senses experience all that you have given. Help us to stay on your path. Surround us. Guide us. Keep us focused on the true path that you call us to follow.

May we always show praise and grace in our words, in our actions, in all that we do. As we examine our lives and our life together as God’s people, we become aware that we do not always live in faithfulness to God’s call. Let us therefore together come before God, acknowledging the ways we fall short of God’s call, fall short of being God’s people in the world, fall short of reflecting the glory of God.

(adapted from Doris Van Den Eeckhout and Frances Flook, Gathering Epiphany 2021/22, page 46; used with permission)

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “God Says”

God says, “Be still so you may hear the words I whisper in your ear.
If you will listen, you will know I’m with you always where you go.”

God says, “Look up and see the prize I’ve placed here right before your eyes.
Find beauty in the things of earth, a cause for wonder and rebirth.”

God says, “Come here! I need your voice. Please teach my people to rejoice.
In who you are, in what you do, your life will show my love for you.”

God says, “Reach out! The world’s in need and wants a word, a song, a deed.
I send you forth to speak, to sing, to act for Christ in everything.”

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Jeremiah 17:5-10

⁵ Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD. ⁶ They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. ⁷ Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. ⁸ They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. ⁹ The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse—who can understand it? ¹⁰ I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.

Scripture Reading:           Luke 6:17-26

¹⁷ He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸ They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹ And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
²⁰ Then he looked up at his disciples and said: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹ Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
²² “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. ²⁴ But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. ²⁵ Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
²⁶ “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Meditation – “The Context of Our Lives”

Anthem – “Blest are They”

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   Bless those who are peacemakers from all creeds and cultures. All who bring no other agenda than to see neighbour and stranger live together as one community. Bless the peacemakers.
All:      Strengthen and bless them.

One:   Bless those who are comforters. Shoulders to cry upon. Willing ears to listen. A present help in times of despair and hopelessness. Bless the peacemakers.
All:      Strengthen and bless them.

One:   Bless those who are healers of physical injury and deeper hurts. Whose touch brings relief from trauma and pain. Who brings compassion. Those whom we lift up to you this day…Bless the peacemakers.
All:      Strengthen and bless them.

One:   Bless us as we continue to pray in the words that Jesus taught us:
All:      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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn – “Go Make a Difference”

Go make difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world

We are the salt of the earth, called to let the people see
The love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world, not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a difference in the world.

Go make difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world

We are the hands of Christ reaching out to those in need,
The face of God for all to see.
We are the spirit of hope, we are the voice of peace.
Go make a difference in the world.

Go make difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world.
Go make a difference.
We can make a difference.
Go make a difference in the world

So let your love shine on, let it shine for all to see.
Go make a difference in the world.
And the spirit of Christ will be with us as we go.
Go make a difference in the world.

Benediction

Go forth to be God’s people, knowing that God’s love for us will never change. Go forth to embody God’s lover to and for others, knowing that God’s love for us will never change. Go forth to the world that God loves, seeking to be that love we know through Jesus and in this community. God and may the love of God go with you always. Amen.

(adapted from Beth W. Johnson, Gathering Epiphany 2021/22, page 49; used with permission)

Response

Lead me, Lord, I will follow.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.