Bulletin – Sunday, January 28, 2024 – 4th Sunday of Epiphany
Sunday, January 28, 2024
4th 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 sing songs of praise to God.
All: Let us rejoice in God our Creator.
One: Let us lift our hearts in prayer.
All: Let us reach out to the one who saves us.
One: Let us dedicate our lives to serve God with joy.
All: Let us offer ourselves to the work of the kingdom.
One: Let us worship God!
(Frances Glook, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 42)
Opening Prayer
In a world filled with noise, you are a place of quiet, God. In a world filled with complexity, you are wisdom. In a world filled with brokenness and loss, you are the sturdy ground of our being. Through this time together, through the love of Christ, may the world be changed, and may all be made whole. Amen.
(Richard Bolt, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2023, page 43)
Prayer of Confession
O God of mercy and grace, we confess to you that we have sinned. Please remind us to pay attention to our own problems rather than trying to fix the problems of other people. Sometimes, intentionally or unintentionally, we are mean toward others. Help us not to judge others and to leave the judgments up to you. Show us how to love the way that you love us, O God. Forgive us, O God. Forgive our sins. Amen.
(Creeann Anderson, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 46)
Assurance of God’s Love
One: God gave us love for ourselves. God calls us to love one another, just as God loves us. In love, we are a forgiven people
All: Thanks be to God.
(Creeann Anderson, Gathering, Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2023-2024, page 46)
Hymn – “Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom” (MV #10)
Come and seek the ways of Wisdom, she who danced when earth was new.
Follow closely what she teaches, for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice, showing us what love must do.
Listen to the voice of Wisdom, crying in the marketplace.
Hear the Word made flesh among us, full of glory, truth, and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens, peace and righteousness embrace.
Sister Wisdom, come, assist us; nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit guide and close companion, bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to be come your people, holy friends of God and earth.
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 – “With My Hand in Thine”
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge, 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.
4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
7 It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11 So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister for whom Christ died is destroyed. 2 But when you thus sin against brothers and sisters and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Hymn – “Will You Come and Follow Me” (VU #567)
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:21-28
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The light of Christ, God’s word revealed.
Thanks be to God!
Gift of Music
Reflection
Hymn – “When Hands Reach Out Beyond Divides” (MV #169)
When hands reach out beyond divides and hope is truly found,
Each chain of hate will fall away and bells of peace shall sound,
And bells of peace, of peace shall sound, and bells of peace shall sound,
Each chain of hate will fall away and bells of peace shall sound.
When fear no longer guides out steps and days of war are done,
God’s dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one,
Our hearts will heal, will heal as one, our hearts will heal as one,
God’s dream for all shall live anew; our hearts will heal as one.
When race and creed blind us no more, a neighbour’s face we’ll see,
And we shall dance the whole world round, for love will set us free,
For love, yes love will set us free, for love will set us free,
And we shall dance the whole world round, for love will set us free.
We Respond to God’s Word
Stewardship Moment – “Preserving Culture Through Language Revitalization”
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
We pray, O God, that you will accept our offerings for the building of your community among us. We pray that we may be joined together by your Spirit into the family and household of Christ, a Beautiful and constantly growing temple for God. Amen.
(Fern Gibbard. 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: God of deserving praise, you gift us with voices to witness, hands to extend in welcome and care, and hearts to love. May your calling grow deeper within us as your Spirit equips and inspires us with power to do your will.
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 our 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 Altona United Church, Atlantic Garden City United Church, Kenton-Shiloh Pastoral Charge (disbanding), and Roland United Church. And as part of the World Council of Churches prayer cycle, we pray for the people and lands of Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Western Sahara, and Tunisia.
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.
(Prayers for All Seasons – Year B, Ellen Turnbull, ed., page 33)
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “Draw the Circle Wide” (MV 145)
Draw the circle wide.
Draw it wider still
Let this be our song,
No one stands alone,
Standing side by side,
Draw the circle wide.
God the still-point of the circle,
‘Round whom all creation turns;
Nothing lost, but held forever.
In God’s gracious arms.
Draw the circle wide.
Draw it wider still
Let this be our song,
No one stands alone,
Standing side by side,
Draw the circle wide.
Let our hearts touch far horizons,
So encompass great and small;
Let our loving know no borders,
Faithful to God’s call.
Draw the circle wide.
Draw it wider still
Let this be our song,
No one stands alone,
Standing side by side,
Draw the circle wide.
Let the dreams we dream be larger,
Than we’ve ever dreamed before;
Let the dream of Christ be in us,
Open every door.
Draw the circle wide.
Draw it wider still
Let this be our song,
No one stands alone,
Standing side by side,
Draw the circle wide.
God Calls Us into the World
Go and continue to be the exceptional followers of Jesus that you are. Take the message of inclusion and justice out into the community and share it boldly. Be among God’s beloved wherever you go, and remember you are the only Bible that many people will ever encounter. 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.
(Laura J. Turnbull. 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!
