Bulletin – Sunday, January 22, 2023 – Third Sunday of Epiphany

Sunday, January 22, 2023
Third 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:   The invitation is given to every person by Jesus Christ: “Come to me! Follow me! Be my disciples!”
All:      We come to this place, to this time, at the invitation of Jesus Christ.

One:   In the name of Christ,
All:      we accept the invitation to discipleship.

One:   In the name of Christ,
All:      as his disciples, we worship and praise God.

One:   In the midst of a world where cruelty abounds,
All:      we proclaim the God of Compassion.

One:   In the midst of despair that threatens to swallow up whole lives, whole peoples,
All:      we proclaim the God of Hope.

One:   In the midst of indifference and apathy,
All:      we proclaim the God of Love.

One:   Come, let us worship together and share our witness of God’s living presence in the world.
All:      Let us worship in song and prayer, this day and every day.

Hymn – “Jesus Calls Us”

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.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

You call us, wanderer of seashores and sidewalks, inviting us to sail out of our smug harbours into the uncharted waters of faith to wander off from our predictable paths to follow you into the unpredictable footsteps of the kingdom; to leave the comfort of our homes and accompany you into the uncomfortable neighbourhoods, we usually avoid. As we wait, in our simple, sometimes crazy, constantly uncertain lives, speak to us, Spirit of Grace: of that hope which is our anchor; of that peace which is our rock; of that grace which is our refuge.

God who calls each of us to follow, who calls us to come into the light of your presence, we confess that we have gone astray, we have not truly followed you, we have left your light. We follow the dim lights of the world of success and fortune. We follow the dim lights that call us to be more religious by following rules. We follow the fading light of personal salvation.

Forgive us for not following, for not seeking the true light of your love for all the world. Forgive us for not following the ways of Jesus, who commanded us to love one another. Call us to be light-bearers of love, compassion and justice, in which the mystery of your Love is revealed. In the name of Jesus the one who calls, we pray. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “Would I Have Answered When You Called?””

Would I have answered when you called, “Come, follow, follow me!”?
Would I at once have left behind both work and family?
Or would the old, familiar round have held me by its claim
And kept the spark within my heart from bursting into flame?

Would I have followed where you led through ancient Galilee,
On roads unknown, by ways untried, beyond security?
Or would I soon have hurried back where home and comfort drew,
Where truth you taught would not disturb the ordered world I knew?

Would I have matched my step with yours when crowds cried, “Crucify!”
When on a rocky hill I saw a cross against the sky?
Or would I too have slipped away and left you there alone,
A dying king with crowns of thorns upon a terrible throne?

O Christ, I cannot search my heart through all its tangled ways,
Nor can I with a certain mind my steadfastness appraise.
I only pray that when you call, “Come, follow, follow me!”
You’ll give me strength beyond my own to follow faithfully.

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Isaiah 9:1-4

¹ But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. ² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. ³ You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. ⁴ For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Scripture Reading:           Matthew 4:12-23

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³ He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴ so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ¹⁵ Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—¹ the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” ¹⁷ rom that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

¹⁸ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹ As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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

Anthem – “Jesus Saw Them Fishing”

Meditation – “To Follow”

Anthem – “Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”

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:   God of wonder and mystery, God of the stars and the universe, God of winding ways and straight paths, we gather today with gratitude for the gift of your constant presence, your trustworthy guidance, and your daring risk-taking with us. You dare to love us despite our inability to respond fully. You dare to care for us, despite our challenge in caring for others. You dare to walk with us, despite our fickleness.

One:   On our own journeys toward the stars and guiding points you put before us, you continue to lead us forward, guiding us by the teachings of Jesus to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly in your loving shadow.

One:   As we struggle with the political wrangling of this world, the wards waged for both justice and greed, the violence committed daily against the innocent, let alone the pain of broken relationships and loss, you remain steadfast in your care and devotions for your entire creation throughout the universe. It is almost too much to take in sometimes. And even in our doubts and disbelief, our struggle to understand and constant misunderstanding, and our flat-out ignorance about your ways, you remain constantly present to us.

One:   We pray for peace in this world, Lord, the kind of peace in which we celebrate diversity, are joyfully challenged by adversity, and share in the joy that is to be found everywhere. We pray for those who are lonely, that you might lead us to reach out and be friends. We pray for those who are hungry, that you might lead us to offer sustenance. We pray for those whoa are lost, that you might lead us to give hope and direction. We pray for those who are ill or struggle, those we lift up to you this day…may they feel the comfort of your presence with them.

One:   We pray for the countries of the world, that we might find a way to work together to lift one another up. We pray for our leaders in Ottawa, that your Spirit might guide them to set an example for our country and the world to work together rather than against one another.

One:   We pray for our denomination, that we may seek to build up this body and seek to repair the theological divisions that are tearing us apart. We pray for the Right Reverend Carman Lansdowne, that they may continually seek your Spirit in their lives and their daily decisions as they lead this congregation.

One:   And we pray for ourselves, that we might continue on this journey, learning the lessons you offer, seeking the fullness of your perfection, and live as you would have us live. These prayers and hopes we offer in confidence and gratitude of your love and presence…

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.

Benediction

Go now in peace, for Christ has called you to live in peace among all that you meet. Go now in courage, for Christ has called you from the places of your life to be agents of love, peace, healing, and change in our world. Go now in joy and thanksgiving, for Christ is our light! Go now as one body, to love and serve God as you love and serve the world! 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.

In the morning, we will follow Jesus.
In the morning, follow faithfully.
In the morning, we will follow Jesus.
Everywhere he goes we will follow.

In the evening, we will follow Jesus.
In the evening, follow faithfully.
In the evening, we will follow Jesus.
Everywhere he goes we will follow.