Bulletin – Sunday, January 21, 2024 – 3rd Sunday of Epiphany
Sunday, January 21, 2024
3rd Sunday of Epiphany
We Gather as People of Faith
Words of Welcome
Lighting the Christ Candle
Epiphany is the season of light. A light to reveal God to us. That light is Jesus, the Christ. We light a candle to remind us of Christ who lights our way.
Acknowledging the Territory
One: In this place of worship, we are joined together with all the people of treaty 1 in the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. We acknowledge the failures of the past, offer hope for the future, commit to living together in peace, and strive to bring joy and love into our relationships. As we strive to walk in faith and peace with our brothers and sisters, we also pledge to create a sacred space of welcome where all people might find a home.
All: We will do our part to seek reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous brothers and sisters as we walk together in peace and harmony. We will welcome all people as beloved children of God.
Announcements
Gathering Song – “Behold, Behold, I make All Things New” (MV #115)
Behold, behold I make all things new,
Beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, behold I make all things new,
My promise is true for I am Christ the way.
Behold, behold I make all things new,
Beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, behold I make all things new,
My promise is true for I am Christ the way.
Call to Worship
One: Let us give thanks to God.
All: Let us join our whole selves in songs of praise.
One: Let us bring our hurts and concerns to God’s gentle love.
All: Let us receive God’s word for our lives.
One: Let us commit our lives to live for God’s kingdom.
All: Thanks be to God! We gather to worship.
(Frances Flook, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 42)
Opening Prayer
Loving and Gracious God, you have gathered us together, the faithful in our time and place. We come because we have heard Jesus’ call by the seashore. We come because we have discovered the empty tomb. We come because we have tasted the bread of forgiveness. We come because we feel Christ’s risen presence among us. We come because where else would we go to find life? And as we gather, we give you thanks and praise for the gift of Jesus Christ, who is new life and promise for us all. It is in his name we pray. Amen.
(Frances Flook, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2023, page 44)
Prayer of Confession
God of the ages, you have called us, just as you called people long ago. We have received this call but we find excuses. We have ignored your call. We have done what we know is not your will. Forgive us. Restore us. Call us again. Amen.
(Beth W. Johnston, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 44)
Assurance of God’s Love
One: We area forgiven people. We are told that our light has come. We are challenged to be light in this world, for we are graced by the Light of Life.
All: Thanks be to God.
(Beth W. Johnston, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 44)
Hymn – “Jesus Calls Us” (VU #562)
Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea,
Day by day his clear voice sounding, saying, “Christian, follow me.”
Long ago apostles heard it by the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus’ sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, saying “Christian, love me more.”
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures, “Christian, love me more than these.”
Jesus calls us: by your mercies, Saviour, may we hear your call,
Give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all.
Our Story
Sharing the Peace of Christ
One: The peace of Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
We Hear God’s Word
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, shine your light upon the words of scripture and the words we sing, that you might be revealed in our lives and in our hearts. May these words so reveal you that we see you in creation and in all whom we meet. Amen.
Anthem – “There is No One Like Jesus”
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
Forever and ever it will be! Sing haleluia!
I’ve walked around and there’s none like Him.
I’ve searched around and there’s none like Him.
I’ve gone around and there’s none like Him.
Forever and ever it will be! Sing haleluia!
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
Forever and ever it will be! Sing haleluia!
I’ve walked around and there’s none like Him.
I’ve searched around and there’s none like Him.
I’ve gone around and there’s none like Him.
Forever and ever it will be! Sing haleluia!
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
O there is no one like my Jesus,
Forever and ever it will be! Sing haleluia!
Sing haleluia! Sing halelu.
Sing haleluia! Sing halelu.
Forever and ever it will be!
Sing haleluia! Forever and ever it will be!
Sing haleluia! Forever and ever it will be!
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
Hymn – “Jesus Saw Them Fishing” (MV #113)
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 of 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.”
“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.”
Gospel 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 fishers. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of 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.
The light of Christ, God’s word revealed.
Thanks be to God!
Gift of Music
Reflection – “Belonging to God”
Hymn – “Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” (VU #563)
Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore
Looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;
You only asked me to follow humbly.
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.”
You know so well my possessions;
My boat carries no gold and no weapons,
You will find there my nets and labour.
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.”
You need my hands, full of caring
Through my labours to give others rest,
And constant love that keeps on loving.
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.”
You, who have fished other oceans,
Ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
My loving friend, as thus you call me.
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.”
We Respond to God’s Word
Stewardship Moment – “Providing Tuition Assistance”
An Invitation to Share
As we come to know God we are called to shine God’s light upon others. We do so by sharing from our blessings that others may have their needs fulfilled. We present our gifts as we sing our offering song and we pray:
Offering Response – “I Praise You, O God” (MV #61)
I praise you, O God with all of my heart.
With all the earth I will sing your praises.
I praise you, O God with all of my heart.
With all the earth I will sing your praises.
I praise you, O God with all of my heart.
With all the earth I will sing your praises.
We Dedicate Our Gifts
Holy One, bless all that we offer: our time and finances, our energy and ideas, our care and compassion, our praise and prayers. Together may we create a community of faith, hope, and love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Catherine Elsdon. Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 48)
Prayers of the People “And When You Call for Me” (MV #96)
And when you call for me,
I have already answered.
And when you call for me,
I am already there.
And when you call for me,
I have already answered.
And when you call for me,
I am already there.
One: Jesus, your call to us, your disciples, is to go—go out into the world to learn and grow with community in the Spirit. Through our prayers today, we offer ourselves to you. We receive your call to go, and we wonder what it means in our lives.
One: Gracious God, you call us into the places of this world that are thirsting for your grace and care. We know that your call to go is not a simple one, and still we thank you for trusting us with this incredible task. As we go, may we remember the people and places in the world and in our communities that are most in need of care this day. We lift all of our prayers to you, God of still endings and bold beginnings.
One: We pray for those in our community who need your healing touch…We take time now to pause and allow each of us, individually, to offer prayers, silently or out loud for people and situations near to our hearts.
One: As part of the Prairie to Pine Regional Council prayer cycle, we pray for Ste. Rose Du Lac united Church – disbanding, Southwest Interlake (Ashern – disbanding, Clarkleigh, Eriksdale), Treherne-Rathwell (Treherne, Rathwell – disbanding). And as part of the World Council of Churches prayer cycle, we pray for the people and lands of Cyprus, Greece, and Turkiye.
One: As we pray for healing, wholeness, and holiness, turn our prayers from words into actions. Bless our journey, we pray. We continue to pray, saying together the words Jesus taught his disciples:
All: Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, they 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, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
(Peter Chynoweth. Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 49)
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “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.
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.
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.
You have called me, I will answer.
Lead me, Lord, I will go.
God Calls Us into the World
Leave your burdens here and go in joy to love and serve our world. You are loved with an everlasting love. You have been given a great gift. Go now to share it in peace. Go out to share the love of God, the peace of Christ, and the sustaining fellowship of the Holy Spirit, this day and always. Amen.
(Karen Pryznyk. Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023/2024, page 48)
Song of Blessing – “Go Now in Peace, Guided by the Light” (MV #211)
Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ,
So you may be nourished by the Word of Life.
Go now in peace, guided by the light of Christ,
So you may be nourished by the Word of Life.
Go in Peace! Amen!
