Bulletin – Sunday, February 2, 2020
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Communion
Approach
Gathering Song – VU #592 – “Come, Now, You Blessed”
Welcome, lighting the candle and announcements
Call to Worship
One: What does the Lord require of you?
All: To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.
One: What does God command of us?
All: To love God with all our heart, and all our soul, and all our mind, and all our strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
One: God does not call us to ease or to comfort.
All: But to presence, and abundance, and grace in our struggle.
One: Let us worship the God who believes in us, and trusts in us, and abides with us.
All: Let us worship the God who will ask much of us, but will be beside us every step of the way.
(adapted from Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy)
Opening Hymn – MV #12 – “Come Touch Our Hearts”
Prayer of Approach and Confession
O God, you are the gathering one who calls us into community with each other to love and work, to support and heal. You are the gathering one who calls us into community with all people; to bring justice and hope, freedom and truth. Gathering God, we know that we have not led a blameless life.
We have not done what is right in your sight or spoken the truth, as you desire us to speak. We have treated badly both those we love and those we refuse to love as we should. We have not been faithful stewards of all that you have blessed us with and have hoarded what should be shared with the least of these. Hear our cry, God of our hope, as we confess that which weighs us down…
Redeeming God, save us from our foolishness and guide us to your wisdom. Gather us once again in your love and grace. Forgive us as we seek to live as you call us to live. Cleanse our brokenness that we might do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Amen.
Words of Assurance Hymn – VU #562 – “Jesus Calls Us”
The Word
Scripture Reading:
Micah 6:1-8
Matthew 5:1-12
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “Profoundly Simple / Simply Profound”
Anthem – “Blest Are They”
The Response
Offering / Response: (VU #537)
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 please to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake.
Offering Prayer
We bring before all that we have been blessed with, our time, our talent, and our treasure, that you might use them to transform this world. We ask that you also transform us, show us, God, when to do justice, how to love kindness, and where to walk, humbly, with You. Amen.
Communion
Closing Hymn – “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”
Commissioning / Benediction Response
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back.
