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A Service of Song, Word, & Table
THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY
January 21, 2024
* Please rise in body or spirit.
PRELUDE Dr. Dan Cummings
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Though often misunderstood, often held captive by fabricated realities, our souls long for peace.
O God, we long for your presence; we long for peace.
We run without a destination, surrounded by highways of turbulent noise. We are tired, worn, and battered, and our souls long for joy.
O God, we long for your presence; we long for joy.
Through it all; in it all; and around all of it—choose to love the astounding teaching of the Messiah. Look to experience peace and joy—even in the midst of disappointment, war, injustice, or poverty. Allow your soul to become acquainted with the One who changes hard challenges into opportunities for transformation and growth.
Peace and Joy are possible in the presence of the Savior. In spite of the world’s challenges, we choose peace; we choose joy; we choose to follow YOU, Lord!
* PROCESSIONAL HYMN He Leadeth Me 128 UMH
*A READING FROM THE GOSPEL Mark 1:14-20
ANTHEM
8:30 Somlandela (We Will Follow) South African Dr. Karen Marrolli, mezzo-soprano
11:00 Lord, I Know I Been Changed arr. Larry Shackley Chancel Choir
HOMILY “Leaving the Nets”
MUSICAL RESPONSE Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (vs 1) 344 UMH
RESPONDING TO THE WORD: WE ARE CENTRAL — GIFTS Rev. Larry Wills
INVITATION TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY Dr. Dan Cummings, piano
*DOXOLOGY Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow 94 UMH
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy One, what a blessing and privilege we share
here in this sacred space and among this loving community.
But, like Jonah, we sometimes are jealous of what we share here.
We know that others long and thirst for what we know and experience.
Forgive us our reluctance to open our doors,
open our hearts to others; some like us, some not.
We repent of our hesitations and unwillingness
to witness to those we have considered strangers and even enemies
for fear they just might become friends. Amen.
AN ACT OF HOLY SILENCE
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS AND PARDON
The one who calls us to this place
calls us to reconciliation through grace.
God will not deny a repentant heart or an open spirit.
Know that you are forgiven
and walk in the new way that is made known to you in God's love. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
REGATHERING HYMN I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (vs 1,3) TFWS 2129
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING UMH 17
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Our God, creator of heaven and earth.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth,
from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are God.
You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth.
You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.
When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.
You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God,
and spoke to us through your prophets.
And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ,
in whom you have revealed yourself, our light and our salvation.
In his baptism and in table fellowship he took his place with sinners.
Your Spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
and to announce that the time had come
when you would liberate your people.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread,
gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over he took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father (God), now and for ever.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER — Our Father/Creator…
MUSIC AT COMMUNION Dr. Dan Cummings
INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
* CLOSING HYMN Jesus Calls Us 398 UMH
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Dr. Dan Cummings
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