Third Sunday after Epiphany

Greetings!  God's grace makes us fishers of men. God's power helps us through difficult times. God calls us and our answer what we truly want to do as followers of the Lord! Let us pray for guidance, sing out in joy and dance with the Lord!

Opening Hymn - Lord of the Dance

Call To Worship The Word of the Lord came, hope for all people cradled in his arms. the Word of the Lord comes, calling us out of our comfort zones, to go where grace is needed most. The Word of the Lord will come, gathering all the outsiders and insiders into one community of the kingdom.

The Opening Prayer When we try to ward off  your call to proclaim  the kingdom's good news  to those we would never  welcome into our tight circle,  you remind us that we can never  set boundaries on how far  your mercy, your love, your hope  will extend, God of persistence.  Looking at your watch,  you announce, 'it is time,'  opening your arms to welcome  all the outlanders we build fences  to keep out of our lives,  opening your heart to draw  all the odd ones out  into the safe shelter  of your heart, Calling Jesus.  Each morning,  you break your fast  with those for whom  we have no place at our tables;  each day,  you set out

to meet those who stand  at the edge of our narrow- mindedness,  to show them the path home;  each evening,  you take our foolish fears  and gently blow them away  from our hearts, Companion of Grace.  We wait and trust in you,  God in Community, Holy in One,  even as we pray as taught, saying,  Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Praise Hymn: I Will Follow

Praise Hymn: Step By Step

Time For Our Children - Jesus called His disciples, drawing to Himself followers who would help Him in His work and continue to spread His good news.

The Jewish Scripture: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 The Lord’s word came to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to Nineveh, that great city, and declare against it the proclamation that I am commanding you.” And Jonah got up and went to Nineveh, according to the Lord’s word. (Now Nineveh was indeed an enormous city, a three days’ walk across.) Jonah started into the city, walking one day, and he cried out, “Just forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on mourning clothes, from the greatest of them to the least significant... God saw what they were doing—that they had ceased their evil behavior. So God stopped planning to destroy them, and he didn’t do it. L: This is the word of the Lord P: Thanks Be to God

Special Music: Miles Walter, piano - A medley of "Joy Spring" (by Clifford Brown) and "Blest Be the Tie That Binds", with "How Can I Keep From Singing" tying it together.

The Gospel Lesson: John 1: 43-51 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” Right away, they left their nets and followed him. After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers. L: This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.       P: Thanks be to God.

The Message - Who Are You? - What comprises the essence of who you really are? Is it your body? Your mind? Your memories? Pastor Kevan suggests that it is your character--what life is calling you to do--that truly defines who you are.

The Morning Prayers Into the swirling mist of chaos and destruction, you tossed the seeds of creation, Persistent God: whales that power through the seas, puffins that gather on rocky islands, gases which coalesce into stars. All your wonders were gifts for your children, but we chose to stew in sin's acid. You longed to rescue us from death's belly, sending even the most reluctant prophets to proclaim the nearness of your compassion, but we refused to change our minds, sure we could bribe our way out of sin's grasp. Persistent to a fault, you sent Jesus to proclaim your good news. With the intimates who prove to be unfaithful, with the interlopers who trust and believe, we sing songs of joy to you and pray... For Charlie Cassidy. He will be having surgery on January 25. We pray for a successful operation and continued healing. For Joan Whearty who will be having hip replacement surgery next week. For those sick with Covid19. God, heal and sustain their bodies and spirits. We pray for those who are in pain, suffering from illness either physical or mental, both at home and in hospital, or hospice. For the 419,000+ who have died from Covid19, their families, friends and co-workers and all those who are experiencing the consequences of death, whether recently or some time ago. We pray for our nation and our leaders who lead us day by day and for those taking up new positions in our government. Help them to work together towards the good of the nation as we strive to overcome the effects of the pandemic, ailing economy and a divided population. For our friends working the Covid19 front lines: Alayne Snyder, Drs. Johnny and Riny Kovoor. and Erik Lindholm. Help all hospital workers as they deal with overwhelming numbers of patients and give them strength to carry on when all seems hopeless and they are weary. Thank you that you have set us free and that you are bigger than anything we face in this life. We lay our burdens before you, every single one, for we know they’re much safer in your hands than our own. God, protect our vulnerable populations and our elderly; provide for the poor, especially the uninsured. We pray for our families, for every relationship most dear to us, that you would guard our time, and our lives together.  For our friends, family and colleagues where ever they may be throughout the country and world. We pray for those who are crying; the sad, the depressed and the anxious. We hope in the promise that God will wipe every tear from our eyes. Dear God, when the appointed time comes and you gather us with our sisters and brothers around the Supper of the Lamb in glory, we will sing our praises to you forever, God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

The Benediction Now, take the word of God into the world. we will place hope in the arms of others. Now, take the word of Jesus into the world.  We will follow to serve beside him in all the broken places. Now, take the word of the Spirit into the world. We will bring others near to the kingdom where all are welcome.

Closing Hymn - God of Grace and God of Glory

Valhalla United Methodist Church | 200 Columbus Avenue, Valhalla NY 10595 914-949-6252 | valhallaumc@verizon.net

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