FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Depend upon God to grant your heart's desire. Commit your life to Christ and trust the Spirit to do what is beyond your doing.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Wise and mighty God, humble and gentle God, humbling and gentling Spirit, we confess that we do not always learn without pride, nor act with self-control. We forget the example ofJesus, who taught without arrogance and acted without domineering. Forgive us for undue regard for human standards of scholarship or rank or office, whether in others or ourselves. Excuse our proud boast of accomplishment that discounts what we owe to you and others, and disregards the gap between our finiteness and your infinity. How foolish and weak we can be. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God has made Christ our wisdom and righteousness and in him we are consecrated and free. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
If you boast at all, let your boasting be about the Lord Jesus, who is God's wisdom and power.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
All-blessing God, in our search for happiness, save us from the expediency of the moment, the exploitation of the weak, and the exercise of selfish rights, that we may know the rewards that last, the mercy you offer the merciful and the peace ofyour presence, through Jesus Christ our teacher. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of the gospel, Christ of the cross, Voice of the scriptures, we rejoice in the wisdom of the Eternal that you share with the humble. We accept with gratitude the salvation you offer to those who have faith in the doctrine of the cross. We celebrate with joy the overthrow of all that exalts itself against you. Let our boasting always be in what you do for us in suffering love and gentle wisdom and overflowing mercy. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
What shall we bring when we approach you, O God? How shall we bow down before the Most High? No offerings can atone for our sins. Christ has offered himselffor us. Enable us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before you, in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM: 15:1-5
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly,
and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the LORD;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
Depend upon God to grant your heart's desire. Commit your life to Christ and trust the Spirit to do what is beyond your doing.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Wise and mighty God, humble and gentle God, humbling and gentling Spirit, we confess that we do not always learn without pride, nor act with self-control. We forget the example ofJesus, who taught without arrogance and acted without domineering. Forgive us for undue regard for human standards of scholarship or rank or office, whether in others or ourselves. Excuse our proud boast of accomplishment that discounts what we owe to you and others, and disregards the gap between our finiteness and your infinity. How foolish and weak we can be. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God has made Christ our wisdom and righteousness and in him we are consecrated and free. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
If you boast at all, let your boasting be about the Lord Jesus, who is God's wisdom and power.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
All-blessing God, in our search for happiness, save us from the expediency of the moment, the exploitation of the weak, and the exercise of selfish rights, that we may know the rewards that last, the mercy you offer the merciful and the peace ofyour presence, through Jesus Christ our teacher. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of the gospel, Christ of the cross, Voice of the scriptures, we rejoice in the wisdom of the Eternal that you share with the humble. We accept with gratitude the salvation you offer to those who have faith in the doctrine of the cross. We celebrate with joy the overthrow of all that exalts itself against you. Let our boasting always be in what you do for us in suffering love and gentle wisdom and overflowing mercy. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
What shall we bring when we approach you, O God? How shall we bow down before the Most High? No offerings can atone for our sins. Christ has offered himselffor us. Enable us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before you, in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM: 15:1-5
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly,
and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the LORD;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
