Bulletin – Sunday, February 12, 2023 – Sixth Sunday of Epiphany

Sunday, February 12, 2023
Sixth Sunday of Epiphany

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

Gracious and all loving God, as we light this candle today we hear you call to us across deep waters and dark places. Yours is the light which guides us and the voice which we follow. We pray that you would reveal yourself to us as we worship you. May those without hope be encouraged, those who are sad, cheered; those who are seeking, find you; and may all things be according to your will. As we light this candle we come together in the name of your beloved son, the bringer of light to the world, to worship you.

Call to Worship

One:   We would be perfectly happy if our path were faultless, if we were always in step with God.
All:      This is my commandment: That you love one another.

One:   God has given us commandments that we may live as effectively as possible. With our eyes fixed on doing the right thing, we shall never be put to shame.
All:      You are to love one another in the same way as I have loved you.

One:   O Lord, touch our lives with your saving grace,
All:      that our worship this day and lives may declare your praise!

Hymn – “Love Knocks and Waits”

Love knocks and waits for us to hear, to open and invite,
Love longs to quiet every fear, and seeks to set things right.

Love offers life, in spite of foes who threaten and condemn;
Embracing enemies, Love goes the second mile with them.

Love comes to heal the broken heart, to ease the troubled mind;
Without a word Love bids us tart to ask and seek and find.

Love knocks and enters at the sound of welcome from within;
Love sings and dances all around, and feels new life begin.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

O Still Speaking God, throughout history and the wide world you have gathered people around your Word to instruct and inspire. We give thanks for all who have received your vision and shaped diverse and faithful communities to follow in your Way. Continue to open that vision to us, that we may become transformed by the renewing of your Word in our hearts. Enable us to grow in love and understanding for each other.

Create in us, O God, clean hearts and minds. Almighty God, we confess that we have taken your commandments and turned them into rules. We have criticized those who have fallen short and selfishly proclaimed ourselves righteous. We have failed to understand the spirit of the commandments and the Way that was shown by you to live, loving God and loving our neighbours. Forgive us for turning your law into burdens for others and ourselves, instead of a Way to love and freedom in you. In the name of Christ, who has given us the Way and lead us on, we pray. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Response – “Love the Lord, Your God”

Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart.
Love the Lord, your God, with all your soul.
Love the Lord, your God, with all your mind,
Love the Lord, your God, with all that you are.

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Deuteronomy 30:15-20

¹⁵ See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. ¹⁶ If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. ¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, ¹⁸ I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. ¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, ²⁰ loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Scripture Reading:           Matthew 5:21-37

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³ So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

³¹ “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

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

Meditation – “Rules and Regulations”

Anthem – “Love One Another”

Offering / Response

Your work, O God, needs many hands to help you everywhere,
And some there are who cannot serve unless our gifts we share.
Because we love you and your work, our offering now we make:
Be pleased to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus sake.

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   Loving God, you set before us commandments that affect our very lives. We can only obey you by loving you above all others. Give us the will and the skill to love you with all of our hearts, minds, and strength. Let us walk:
All:      In the light of the Lord.

One:   Lord Jesus, we know we are too often mere infants in the faith. We argue over big things and little things, and justify our points of view as faith. Forgive us when we do this and fail to remember that our growth in the faith is a matter of being your servant, working together with all other servants, in this world which is your mission field. Let us walk:
All:      In the light of the Lord.

One:   Holy Spirit, help us understand the hard teachings of Jesus about anger, name calling, bearing false witness, fidelity and trust. Even before we come to understand, give us strength to obey. Let us walk:
All:      In the light of the Lord.

One:   We bring before you the needs of all countries and communities who seek to care for one another. Help us to not merely rely upon governments for justice, but to seek and do justice in our own daily lives. Let us walk:
All:      In the light of the Lord.

One:   We look forward to the coming of spring and the flowering of the earth from her winter’s sleep. Renew us also, that we may bloom like flowers, ready to bring beauty to one another. Let us walk:
All:      In the light of the Lord.

One:   For those among us who need care, help us be the caregivers. When we name their names before you in prayer, help us also to be a real presence to those we know…Make all our petitions selfless, like those you taught us to pray.
All:      Amen.

Hymn – “Love is the Touch”

Love is the touch of intangible joy;
Love is the force that no fear can destroy;
Love is the goodness we gladly applaud;
God is where love is, for love is of God.

Love is the lit in a lingering voice;
Love is the hope that can make us rejoice;
Love is the cure for the frightened and flawed;
God is where love is, for love is of God.

Love is the light in the tunnel of pain;
Love is the will to be whole once again;
Love is the trust of a friend on the road;
God is where love is, for love is of God.

Love is the Maker and Spirit and Son;
Love is the kingdom their will has begun;
Love is the path which the saints all have trod;
God is where love is, for love is of God.

Benediction

God has place before you life and death, blessings and curses. Therefore choose life, follow God’s way. Go now, and be a people of reconciliation and integrity. And in all the paths you walk may God hold you steady and close. May Christ Jesus bless you and every place you enter. And may the Spirit give you length of days and fullness of life. We go in peace to love and serve God. Amen.

Response

Show us Christ in one another.
Make us servants strong and true.
Give us all your love of justice,
So we do what you would do.
Let us call all people holy.
Let us pledge our lives anew.
Make us one with all the lowly.
Let us all be one in you.