Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle A
Hymns
What Does The Lord Require (UM441, CBH409, PH405)
Worship The Lord In The Beauty (CBH220)
The Old Rugged Cross (PH405, UM504, NCH195)
O For A World (PH386, NCH575)
Blessed Jesus, At Your Word (CBH13, PH454, NCH74, UM596)
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit (NCH180)
Blessed Are The Persecuted (CBH230)
Who Now Would Follow Christ (CBH535)
Anthems
Blest Are They, Haus, GIA, Mixed Voices
Rise, Shine! You People!, Linker, Augsburg/Fortress, handbells
What Does The Lord Require?, Strathdee, Lift Up Your Hearts, 97
Ubi Caritas, Taize
Call to Worship
Leader: Hear what Yahweh says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
People: With what shall we come before Yahweh, and bow before God on high?
Leader: God has told you what is good; and what does Yahweh require of you?
People: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
Leader: Let us worship God.
Call to Confession
"With what shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before God on high?" Let us come to God with a spirit of repentance, acknowledging our sins before the God of justice. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, Paul tells us that God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; and that God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. So why is it that we keep striving to be more powerful and more wise in the world? Our lives include the struggle to be "great" in our chosen profession, in our sports activities, even in our knowledge of everyday conversation. We feel the need to boast - about ourselves, our jobs, our children, our busy, busy lives. What we should be boasting about is you, God - about your generosity to us, your presence in our lives, your care for the world. Help us to re--order our priorities, God. We want to be the best we can in service to you and to others. Help us remember Jesus' model of ministry, and to rejoice and be glad to do your work in this world.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God is the source of our life in Jesus Christ, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Thank God - we are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Micah 6:1--8: Read this passage as a litany, using the last few words as a response by the congregation.
Verses 1 and 2: Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 3: O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me.
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 4: For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verses 5 and 6: O my people, remember what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balsaam, son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord. With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 7: Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 8: He has told you, O mortal, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
1 Corinthians 1:18--31 and Matthew 5:1--12: Something new! Both of these passages talk about whom God chooses to bless. Try reading them from two lecterns, going back and forth with the verses.
One Reader: The New Testament lessons today are from Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 1, verses 18--31, and from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verses 1--12. We will read the passages alternatively. Listen for the word of God.
Corinthians: Paul states: For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
Matthew: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Corinthians: Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Matthew: Then Jesus began to speak, and taught them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Corinthians: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
Matthew: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Corinthians: For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
Matthew: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Corinthians: But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Matthew: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Corinthians: For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
Matthew: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Corinthians: Consider your own call, brothers and sisters; not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
Matthew: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Corinthians: But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
Matthew: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Corinthians: God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are.
Matthew: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Corinthians: So that no one might boast in the presence of God.
Matthew: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Corinthians: God is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Matthew: Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Corinthians: In order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Matthew: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Call to Offering
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the peacemakers." Let us give a portion of what we earn, and have it work for peace and to end suffering.
Prayer of Dedication
All--loving God, Jesus gives us ways of working toward a peaceable kingdom in this world. May what we have given today all be used as blessings for those who need it. Let us rejoice and be glad for what has been freely given. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Benediction
Leader: All right. We know what to do. Go from this place to serve God and love God forever.
People: We go to do justice and love kindness. And walk humbly with our God.
Leader: The important word is "with" - not "lagging behind" or "hurrying ahead." Have patience.
People: We go, trying to be patient, into an unjust world. We go with gladness, for our reward is great.
What Does The Lord Require (UM441, CBH409, PH405)
Worship The Lord In The Beauty (CBH220)
The Old Rugged Cross (PH405, UM504, NCH195)
O For A World (PH386, NCH575)
Blessed Jesus, At Your Word (CBH13, PH454, NCH74, UM596)
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit (NCH180)
Blessed Are The Persecuted (CBH230)
Who Now Would Follow Christ (CBH535)
Anthems
Blest Are They, Haus, GIA, Mixed Voices
Rise, Shine! You People!, Linker, Augsburg/Fortress, handbells
What Does The Lord Require?, Strathdee, Lift Up Your Hearts, 97
Ubi Caritas, Taize
Call to Worship
Leader: Hear what Yahweh says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
People: With what shall we come before Yahweh, and bow before God on high?
Leader: God has told you what is good; and what does Yahweh require of you?
People: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.
Leader: Let us worship God.
Call to Confession
"With what shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before God on high?" Let us come to God with a spirit of repentance, acknowledging our sins before the God of justice. Let us pray.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, Paul tells us that God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; and that God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. So why is it that we keep striving to be more powerful and more wise in the world? Our lives include the struggle to be "great" in our chosen profession, in our sports activities, even in our knowledge of everyday conversation. We feel the need to boast - about ourselves, our jobs, our children, our busy, busy lives. What we should be boasting about is you, God - about your generosity to us, your presence in our lives, your care for the world. Help us to re--order our priorities, God. We want to be the best we can in service to you and to others. Help us remember Jesus' model of ministry, and to rejoice and be glad to do your work in this world.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God is the source of our life in Jesus Christ, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Thank God - we are forgiven. Amen.
Micah 6:1--8: Read this passage as a litany, using the last few words as a response by the congregation.
Verses 1 and 2: Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 3: O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me.
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 4: For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verses 5 and 6: O my people, remember what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balsaam, son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord. With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 7: Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
Verse 8: He has told you, O mortal, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Response: Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.
1 Corinthians 1:18--31 and Matthew 5:1--12: Something new! Both of these passages talk about whom God chooses to bless. Try reading them from two lecterns, going back and forth with the verses.
One Reader: The New Testament lessons today are from Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, chapter 1, verses 18--31, and from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5, verses 1--12. We will read the passages alternatively. Listen for the word of God.
Corinthians: Paul states: For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
Matthew: When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
Corinthians: Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Matthew: Then Jesus began to speak, and taught them, saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Corinthians: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
Matthew: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Corinthians: For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.
Matthew: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Corinthians: But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Matthew: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Corinthians: For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
Matthew: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Corinthians: Consider your own call, brothers and sisters; not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
Matthew: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Corinthians: But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
Matthew: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Corinthians: God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are.
Matthew: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Corinthians: So that no one might boast in the presence of God.
Matthew: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Corinthians: God is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Matthew: Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Corinthians: In order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Matthew: Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Call to Offering
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the meek, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, blessed are the peacemakers." Let us give a portion of what we earn, and have it work for peace and to end suffering.
Prayer of Dedication
All--loving God, Jesus gives us ways of working toward a peaceable kingdom in this world. May what we have given today all be used as blessings for those who need it. Let us rejoice and be glad for what has been freely given. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Benediction
Leader: All right. We know what to do. Go from this place to serve God and love God forever.
People: We go to do justice and love kindness. And walk humbly with our God.
Leader: The important word is "with" - not "lagging behind" or "hurrying ahead." Have patience.
People: We go, trying to be patient, into an unjust world. We go with gladness, for our reward is great.
