Bulletin – Sunday, February 5, 2023 – Fifth Sunday of Epiphany / Communion
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Fifth Sunday of Epiphany / Communion
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: God sends light to us this day and invites us to meet one another in this light.
All: Light breaks forth like the dawn, drawing us into relationship with one another.
One: Humble yourselves for the worship of God, that you may be empowered to serve.
All: God calls us to trust with steady hearts and to serve with love and compassion.
One: Seek not for lofty words of wisdom, but for powerful demonstrations of God’s way.
All: God makes us to be the salt of the earth and lights to show God’s works to the world.
One: Let us come into God’s light and worship,
All: we come to worship so that we might go forth and serve in love.
Hymn – “You are Salt for the Earth”
You are salt for the earth, O people:
Salt for the reign of God!
Share the flavour of life, O people:
Life in the City of God!
Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
You are a light on the hill, O people:
Light for the City of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the City of God!
Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
You are a seed of the Word, O people:
Bring forth the reign of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice,
Grow in the City of God!
Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
We are a blessed and a pilgrim people:
Bound for the reign of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
Love is the City of God!
Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!
Prayer of Approach and Confession
Faithful God, you have called us to be a light shining in the world. Make us reflect the light of Christ, so that people see your love and goodness in our words and actions. God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor; we ignore cries for justice; we do not strive for peace.
Forgive us, God. In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, and baptize us once again with your Spirit, so that, as forgiven and renewed people, we may reflect the love and life of Jesus Christ into our world. We ask all this in the name of Light Incarnate, your son, Jesus. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Time for All Ages
The Word
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 5:1-12
1 Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry! 8 Ah, you who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is room for no one but you, and you are left to live alone in the midst of the land! 9 The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing: Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant. 10 For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield a mere ephah. 11 Ah, you who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger in the evening to be inflamed by wine, 12 whose feasts consist of lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine, but who do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands!
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:13-20
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Response – “Make Me a Servant”
Make me a servant, humble, and meek.
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be,
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant today.
Meditation – “To Be Light”
Anthem – “We Are”
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 please to use it as your own, we ask for Jesus’ sake
The Response
Communion
One: May God be with you
All: and also with you.
One: Lift your hearts.
All: We lift them up to God.
One: Let us give thanks to the God we love.
All: We freely give God thanks and praise.
One: It is right and meet, beautiful and holy that we should, in ceaseless joy. Give our thanks and praise to you, holy and merciful God.
One: And so, in grateful procession of endless praise with the church that is, was, and shall be forever, we
All: Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy is our God.
God of earth and God of heaven.
Holy, holy is our God.
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy is our God.
God of all and God of history.
Holy, holy is our God.
Who accompanies our people, who lives within our struggles,
Of all the earth and heaven the one and only God.
Blessed those who in our God’s name announce the holy Gospel,
Proclaiming forth the good news: our liberation comes.
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy is our God.
God of earth and God of heaven.
Holy, holy is our God.
Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, holy is our God.
God of all and God of history.
Holy, holy is our God.
One: Who accompanies our people, who lives within our struggles of all the earth and heaven the one and only God. Blessed those who in our God’s name announced the holy Gospel, proclaiming for the good news: our liberation comes.
One: Holy are you, Eternal One. You sit above, through, within the circle of the earth setting light into being casting the stars in the sky founding the evolving earth and all that dwell within it.
One: Limitless is your power, and great is your wisdom. You look upon the lowly as your most cherished creatures. You visit upon the downtrodden with presence, grace, and the promise of eternal justice.
One: You sent your prophets, poets, misfits, and minstrels to proclaim your kingdom of justice and shalom. Yet, we continued to wander away from the light of your love.
One: You sent to us your own child, Jesus, who reached into unexpected places, calling women beyond the limits of their times equipping men from nurturing love welcoming children into your holy embrace.
One: In his coming we found the light of your presence with us we continue to look for your presence with us today, so we lift up to you those in this community who are in need of your presence in their lives this day…Loving God we are blessed that you continue to reach out to us even in our wandering.
One: And so we recall that on the night of betrayal and desertion, the light of the world took bread, broke, and gave it to the disciples, saying;
One: “This is the bread of life, given for you. Each time you eat this bread, do this for the remembrance of me.”
One: And, in like manner, after supper, Jesus took the cup and after giving thanks give it to them saying,
One: “This is the cup of the new covenant poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink of it, for the remembrance of me.”
One: Life’s greatest feast before us, we excitedly proclaim.
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
One: Dear God, you transform. You transform all that is before you so that at the touch of your grace we are never the same.
One: Dear God, you illumine. You bring light to all peoples light to the nations, light into our hearts, light on your Way.
One: Dear God, we pray for your Spirit. Transform, illumine, bless. Make these ordinary gifts of bread and cup into the extraordinary presence for Christ with us. In so doing, hold us as your own renew us as your people for the sake of the world you love.
One: For all honour and glory are yours, O God, through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in your glorious creation both now and forever. Amen.
One: The Bread of Life.
One: The Cup of the New Covenant.
Prayer after Communion
We have been fed, Holy One, by your presence. We have been led, Eternal One, by your light. May we bask in this glow now and forevermore. Amen.
Hymn – “Go, Make a Difference”
Go make a 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 a 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 a 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 is 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.
Go make a 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.
Benediction
As people of faith we have gathered for worship. As people of faith we now return to the world. Go out to share the story of faith, the story of life, with the world around you. We share the faith in word and in deed, in speech and in action.
As you go out to give a living witness, as you go out to testify to God’s love active in the world, go knowing that God goes with you, sharing the laughter and the hope, the fears and the tears. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Response
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.
