Bulletin – January 24, 2021

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

From deep within us we know of a loving presence. All around us we see glory, beauty, life, and light. We have no words for what we experience so we cry out, “God!” In this moment, as we light the candle of Christ, may we become aware of your diving presence around us becoming more intense. May we, who have gathered together this day, learn to pay more attention to you, God, who loves us at all times and in all place.

Call to Worship

One:   Jesus calls us to praise and prayer, to song and silence;
All:     Jesus calls us to worship.

One:   Jesus calls us to hearing and healing, to service and solidarity,
All:     Jesus calls us to love.

One:   Jesus calls us to advocacy and action, to protest and provision,
All:     Jesus calls us to justice.

One:   Let us hear the call of Christ to follow.
All:     Let us worship together with joy, living in love and justice.
(adapted from Joanna Harader)

Music – “Come to My Heart”

Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; come to my heart today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Come to my heart, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; fill me with love today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Fill me with love, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; teach me to walk in your way.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; answer my prayer today.
Give me the peace and joy that only you can bring.
Answer my prayer, Lord Jesus; give me a song to sing.

Prayer of Approach

Holy One, God of all Creation, you call us to be your people, to carry your vision in this time and place, to go where you send us to help welcome your amazing good news. As we gather in the presence of the risen Christ to spread the news that your realm is near, fill us with your Holly Spirit, O God of all Creation.

Yet there are many times when we don’t heart, or we don’t want to answer your call. Sometimes it is just easier for us to live our lives as we always have, without thinking of what you are calling us to do, who you are calling us to be. Sometimes we are afraid that what you call us to be might be too challenging, too difficult, might require us to really change who we are and what we do.

Help us to open our hearts to you, open ourselves up to hearing your call and to then answer that call. Fill us with your glorious Spirit, that we may share your good news with a world in need. Amen.

(adapted from Ministry Matters)

Words of Assurance

Music – “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.

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:          Jonah 3:1-5; 10

¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, ² “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” ³ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. ⁴ Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” ⁵ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

¹⁰ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Scripture Reading:          Mark 1:14-20

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

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

Music – “Fish With Me”

Jesus saw them fishing by the shore of Galilee,
Casting out their nets into the sea.
Simon Peter, Andrew and the sons of Zebedee,
Waiting in their boats so patiently.

And Jesus said, “Oh, come and follow me.
Oh, leave behind your nets. I call you.
Oh, come and fish with me,
And your life will never be the same again.”

A rich young person came to Jesus looking for advice.
“How can I obtain eternal life?”
Jesus told him, “Honour the commandments of the Lord.
Then sell off all your riches for the poor.”

And Jesus said, “Oh, come and follow me.
Oh, leave behind your nets. I call you.
Oh, come and fish with me,
And your life will never be the same again.”

Those who save their lives will lose them.
Those who lose their lives will save them.
For what profit does it show if you gain the world
But lose your soul, your soul?

“If you want to follow me deny your very self.
Take up your cross and walk the walk with me.
This might seem a hardship, an impossibility,
But nothing is impossible with God.”

And Jesus said, “Oh, come and follow me.
Oh, leave behind your nets. I call you.
Oh, come and fish with me,
And your life will never be the same again.”

Meditation – “To Truly Follow”

Music – “We Will Follow Jesus”

Zulu: Som’landela, som’landel’ U Jesu.
Som’lanadela yonke indawo.
Som’landela, som’landel’ U Jesu.
Lapho Eyakhona som’landela.

We will follow, we will follow Jesus.
We will follow everywhere he goes.
We will follow, we will follow Jesus.
Everywhere he goes, we will follow.

The Response

Prayer

One:   Let us pray to God, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh.

          As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine, for your light has come”, empower your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus, which pierces even the deepest darkness. Lord, in your mercy,

All:     Hear our prayer.

One:   As a star rose high into the nighttime sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child; send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your peace and truth. Lord, in your mercy,

All:     Hear our prayer.

One:   As John the Baptist guided throngs of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country and our leaders to the ways of justice and righteousness. Lord, in your mercy,

All:     Hear our prayer.

One:   Like the Magi who traveled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Saviour’s birth; we pray for this community, that they may truly live into their identities as followers of Christ, a community of believers. Lord, in your mercy,

All:     Hear our prayer.

One:   As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world; we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame. We especially pray for…Lord, in your mercy,

All:     Hear our prayer.

One:   As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him; we pray for those we love and who have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. Give them your peace. Lord, in your mercy,

All:     All:     Hear our prayer.

One:   Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy. Hear 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.

(adapted from Rick Morley)

Anthem – “There is No One Like Jesus”

Benediction

As you go out into the world choose to follow God. At home with your family and friends choose to follow God. At school and work choose to follow God. In everything you do this week choose to follow God. And as you do, remember that God is with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

Response “Lead Me Lord“

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.