Called from the womb for the world
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series II
Exegetical note: In this second Servant Song of Isaiah II, the Servant makes a public announcement of his divine, prenatal call directed to all nations. Noteworthy is the fact that after the prophet declares his inability to carry out his call, God not only repeats it, but expands it to include the 'end of the earth," i.e., the entire world. The womb and the world here represent the bifocal nature of God's providence: the particular and the universal.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 40)
Leader:
Let us tell the good news of deliverance!
People:
LET US MAKE KNOWN THE SALVATION IN OUR HEARTS!
Leader:
Let us proclaim God's faithfulness!
People:
LET US DECLARE GOD'S STEADFAST LOVE!
Collect
Almighty God, your call to service is to particular individuals as well as to all humankind. Open our ears to your summoning voice: that, like the prophets of old before us, we may realize and claim in all humility the vocation that you have for us, both as individuals and as your earthly family. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
All-merciful God, we confess with shame the many excuses we use to ignore your frequent and persistent callings for us to serve you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to put aside our alibis, our rationalizations, and our hardness of hearing and heart. Take us and make us effective despite our faults and fears, our liabilities and limitations, and our misgivings and mistakes. In the name of the One whose ministry and mission was heaven on earth we pray. Amen
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Theme:
Sainthood in solidarity
Exegetical note: Paul's typically "Christianized" version of the standard ancient epistle greeting here (vv. 1-3) revolves around two focal ideas: "call" and "church." His own call is specific: to be an apostle. Their call is more general, but yet universal in scope: to be saints, not just in their local church, but in solidarity with all who everywhere profess Christ.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 40)
Leader:
May those who seek God rejoice!
People:
MAY THOSE WHO LOVE SALVATION BE GLAD!
Leader:
God is our deliverer and our help!
People:
GOD IS OUR PRESERVER AND OUR HOPE!
Collect
O Holy God, you have called us to a holiness that is not just individual and personal, but corporate and universal in scope. Expand our vision: that, beholding at last the solidarity of our saintly fellowship, we may see ourselves in terms of your desire to bring salvation, not just to ourselves, but to our world. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of humankind, we confess that we are extremely selfish in all things, and even in the ways in which we interpret your salvation. We gladly claim it for ourselves and bask in its promises, but then act as though we were a Christ-clique. Forgive us, we pray. Overcome our self-centeredness with Christ-centeredness, so that his love and concern, compassion and care for all the world's people may become ours by your grace. In his holy and universal name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Gospel:
John 1:29-34
Theme:
Witnessing God's Word
Exegetical note: John's version of Jesus' baptism is, at best, inferential, but the witness of the Baptizer to Jesus is direct and unambiguous, the result of both visual and aural evidence: he sees the Spirit descend "like a dove" and rest upon Jesus; and he hears the very voice of God. The Baptizer's (as well as the Evangelist's!) testimony, therefore, is unequivocal: "this is the Son of God" and "the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sin."
Call to Worship
Leader:
Behold the Child of God!
People:
WHO BAPTIZES WITH GOD'S SPIRIT!
Leader:
Behold the Lamb of God,
People:
WHO TAKES AWAY THE WORLD'S SIN!
Collect
Glorious God, you have given us a wonderful and redemptive gift in the person of Jesus. Teach us to bear witness to him: that, like the Baptizer of old, we may deliver to all who will hear a testimony of unequivocal and unambiguous certainty, so effective and compelling that others will be unable to ignore or resist him. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, it grieves us to confess how timid and tentative our testimony to Jesus really has been,and how ineffective and unconvincing our witness generally is as a result. Forgive us, we pray, and fill us with the deepest faith and conviction by the power of your Spirit, so that our hearts will overflow with love and our words and our works will declare that Jesus is the Christ, the very Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. In his redeeming name we pray. Amen
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 40)
Leader:
Let us tell the good news of deliverance!
People:
LET US MAKE KNOWN THE SALVATION IN OUR HEARTS!
Leader:
Let us proclaim God's faithfulness!
People:
LET US DECLARE GOD'S STEADFAST LOVE!
Collect
Almighty God, your call to service is to particular individuals as well as to all humankind. Open our ears to your summoning voice: that, like the prophets of old before us, we may realize and claim in all humility the vocation that you have for us, both as individuals and as your earthly family. In the name of Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
All-merciful God, we confess with shame the many excuses we use to ignore your frequent and persistent callings for us to serve you, your Christ, and your coming Reign. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to put aside our alibis, our rationalizations, and our hardness of hearing and heart. Take us and make us effective despite our faults and fears, our liabilities and limitations, and our misgivings and mistakes. In the name of the One whose ministry and mission was heaven on earth we pray. Amen
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Theme:
Sainthood in solidarity
Exegetical note: Paul's typically "Christianized" version of the standard ancient epistle greeting here (vv. 1-3) revolves around two focal ideas: "call" and "church." His own call is specific: to be an apostle. Their call is more general, but yet universal in scope: to be saints, not just in their local church, but in solidarity with all who everywhere profess Christ.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 40)
Leader:
May those who seek God rejoice!
People:
MAY THOSE WHO LOVE SALVATION BE GLAD!
Leader:
God is our deliverer and our help!
People:
GOD IS OUR PRESERVER AND OUR HOPE!
Collect
O Holy God, you have called us to a holiness that is not just individual and personal, but corporate and universal in scope. Expand our vision: that, beholding at last the solidarity of our saintly fellowship, we may see ourselves in terms of your desire to bring salvation, not just to ourselves, but to our world. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
God of humankind, we confess that we are extremely selfish in all things, and even in the ways in which we interpret your salvation. We gladly claim it for ourselves and bask in its promises, but then act as though we were a Christ-clique. Forgive us, we pray. Overcome our self-centeredness with Christ-centeredness, so that his love and concern, compassion and care for all the world's people may become ours by your grace. In his holy and universal name we pray. Amen
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Gospel:
John 1:29-34
Theme:
Witnessing God's Word
Exegetical note: John's version of Jesus' baptism is, at best, inferential, but the witness of the Baptizer to Jesus is direct and unambiguous, the result of both visual and aural evidence: he sees the Spirit descend "like a dove" and rest upon Jesus; and he hears the very voice of God. The Baptizer's (as well as the Evangelist's!) testimony, therefore, is unequivocal: "this is the Son of God" and "the Lamb of God who takes away the world's sin."
Call to Worship
Leader:
Behold the Child of God!
People:
WHO BAPTIZES WITH GOD'S SPIRIT!
Leader:
Behold the Lamb of God,
People:
WHO TAKES AWAY THE WORLD'S SIN!
Collect
Glorious God, you have given us a wonderful and redemptive gift in the person of Jesus. Teach us to bear witness to him: that, like the Baptizer of old, we may deliver to all who will hear a testimony of unequivocal and unambiguous certainty, so effective and compelling that others will be unable to ignore or resist him. In his name we pray. Amen
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, it grieves us to confess how timid and tentative our testimony to Jesus really has been,and how ineffective and unconvincing our witness generally is as a result. Forgive us, we pray, and fill us with the deepest faith and conviction by the power of your Spirit, so that our hearts will overflow with love and our words and our works will declare that Jesus is the Christ, the very Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. In his redeeming name we pray. Amen
