God's love is like that of a husband for his bride
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call To Worship
Pastor:
When Jesus was anointed to be God's Servant, he was sent not as Savior of the Jews only.
People:
His was a worldwide mission, that "salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Pastor:
Our Lord continues his mission through his church. We are to carry his message of salvation to all parts of the world.
People:
We are servants of God's Servant. May we be faithful in telling our world the good news.
Collect
O God, our loving Father, who sent your Son into our world with a mission to bring all humanity into your salvation: Undergird your church to continue that mission in today's world; that none may be without the opportunity of hearing your word. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are your church, O God; and we have been called into being by your Son to carry out his mission of salvation to our world. Forgive us when we have failed in our responsibility, assuming someone else would carry our share of the load. Strengthen us in an effective ministry to our world; that we may convince others of salvation in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go, Make of All Disciples"
"I Love to Tell the Story"
"O Zion, Haste"
"We've a Story to Tell"
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Theme:
The church is universal and united
Call to Worship
Pastor:
We are God's church. And as his church we are united with all Christians everywhere.
People:
To all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
We are your brothers and sisters! The peace of Christ be with you all wherever you may be!
Pastor:
Thanks be to God for his universal church united in Christ!
People:
We are one in Christ's Spirit. Our love goes out in all directions as we join hearts around the world to worship our Lord.
Collect
Gracious Father, whose Son has called into being one church made up of all who believe in him as Lord and Savior: Unite us with all Christians in glad songs of praise as we express our gratitude for being members of Christ's body; that the spirit of unity may become a universal witness of all Christians. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We know the church is one, Father; but sometimes we look at our congregation and forget the whole church. Other times we do not want to recognize the whole body of Christ. Forgive us when discord, church doctrine, or prejudice hinders the unity of your church. Remind us of the source of our being, and our reason for being; that we may strive to make strong our witness in the world. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
"Happy the Souls to Jesus Joined"
"In Christ There Is No East or West"
"These Things Shall Be"
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Gospel John 1:29-41
Theme:
Jesus is the Lamb of God
Call to Worship
Pastor:
When Jesus assumed his servant role, he did more than just say what God wanted him to say.
People:
He became the suffering servant whose suffering brings healing to others.
Pastor:
In his suffering he took away the sins of the world which neither man nor the Law could do.
People:
May God help us surrender to him, and lay all our sins at the foot of the cross.
Collect
Eternal God, who gave your only Son to suffer death on our behalf that we may be saved to new life: Draw us to you in humility and in penitence; that we may let Jesus take all our sins away and cleanse us from within. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are sinful people who need your love, Father. You have expressed your love through your Son, Jesus, who offered himself as a sacrificial lamb in atonement for our sins. Forgive us for our wickedness that keeps us from being 'in a right relationship with you. Cleanse us by the blood of the Lamb, that we may walk in newness of life with Christ our Lord. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy"
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
"Jesus Is Tenderly Calling"
"O Happy Day"
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:1-4
Theme: Jesus' ministry brings light to those in darkness
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Jesus began his ministry in Galilee as God's Servant, bringing light to those in darkness.
People:
Isaiah had prophesied that Galilee would be filled with God's glory. That certainly came true in Jesus.
Pastor:
Jesus' mission began in Galilee, but continues to reach out to all generations, sharing the light of God's love.
People:
We have joy in our hearts because Christ's ministry has reached us. May our joy overflow and convey his love to others in our world.
Collect
Most merciful Father, whose Servant Son began a ministry which continues through your church today: Use us as servants of your Son, ministering to our world on his behalf, that your salvation may become known to our world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We praise you O God, for your Son, who poured out his life in service that the light of his peace and joy may become realities for those in darkness. His mission has been entrusted to his church, and now we are to be in ministry. Forgive us for our immaturity which makes us want to be receivers of his light without being his messengers. May the testimony of our lives reflect the brightness of our Savior's love to the oppressed of our day. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go, Tell It on the Mountain"
"O God of Light, Thy Word, a Lamp"
"The People That in Darkness Sat"
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Theme:
A call for harmony in the church
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The church belongs to Christ; and therefore ought to be united in one harmonious witness.
People:
We know we are Christ's people; but our human nature often interferes. And what ought to be harmony becomes discord.
Pastor:
When divisions arise, we need to remind ourselves our differences are various parts of Christ's one church, and pledge our allegiance to him.
People:
May God help us grow into a mature understanding of the unity of Christ's church.
Collect
Almighty Father, who has brought your children into one church through the sacrificial ministry of your Son: Heal the fractures which hurt your church today, that harmony may add strength to the faith we proclaim to our world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We cannot really point a finger at the Corinthian Church, Father. We have our divisions, too. And they hurt the outreach of your church today. Forgive us for our self-interests which compete with the unity of your church. Restore a singleness of heart to your church, that Christ's death on the cross may not be robbed of its power. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord"
"Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love"
"Father, We Thank Thee Who Hast Planted"
"We Are One in the Spirit"
Pastor:
When Jesus was anointed to be God's Servant, he was sent not as Savior of the Jews only.
People:
His was a worldwide mission, that "salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
Pastor:
Our Lord continues his mission through his church. We are to carry his message of salvation to all parts of the world.
People:
We are servants of God's Servant. May we be faithful in telling our world the good news.
Collect
O God, our loving Father, who sent your Son into our world with a mission to bring all humanity into your salvation: Undergird your church to continue that mission in today's world; that none may be without the opportunity of hearing your word. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are your church, O God; and we have been called into being by your Son to carry out his mission of salvation to our world. Forgive us when we have failed in our responsibility, assuming someone else would carry our share of the load. Strengthen us in an effective ministry to our world; that we may convince others of salvation in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go, Make of All Disciples"
"I Love to Tell the Story"
"O Zion, Haste"
"We've a Story to Tell"
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Theme:
The church is universal and united
Call to Worship
Pastor:
We are God's church. And as his church we are united with all Christians everywhere.
People:
To all who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
We are your brothers and sisters! The peace of Christ be with you all wherever you may be!
Pastor:
Thanks be to God for his universal church united in Christ!
People:
We are one in Christ's Spirit. Our love goes out in all directions as we join hearts around the world to worship our Lord.
Collect
Gracious Father, whose Son has called into being one church made up of all who believe in him as Lord and Savior: Unite us with all Christians in glad songs of praise as we express our gratitude for being members of Christ's body; that the spirit of unity may become a universal witness of all Christians. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We know the church is one, Father; but sometimes we look at our congregation and forget the whole church. Other times we do not want to recognize the whole body of Christ. Forgive us when discord, church doctrine, or prejudice hinders the unity of your church. Remind us of the source of our being, and our reason for being; that we may strive to make strong our witness in the world. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
"Happy the Souls to Jesus Joined"
"In Christ There Is No East or West"
"These Things Shall Be"
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Gospel John 1:29-41
Theme:
Jesus is the Lamb of God
Call to Worship
Pastor:
When Jesus assumed his servant role, he did more than just say what God wanted him to say.
People:
He became the suffering servant whose suffering brings healing to others.
Pastor:
In his suffering he took away the sins of the world which neither man nor the Law could do.
People:
May God help us surrender to him, and lay all our sins at the foot of the cross.
Collect
Eternal God, who gave your only Son to suffer death on our behalf that we may be saved to new life: Draw us to you in humility and in penitence; that we may let Jesus take all our sins away and cleanse us from within. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are sinful people who need your love, Father. You have expressed your love through your Son, Jesus, who offered himself as a sacrificial lamb in atonement for our sins. Forgive us for our wickedness that keeps us from being 'in a right relationship with you. Cleanse us by the blood of the Lamb, that we may walk in newness of life with Christ our Lord. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy"
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
"Jesus Is Tenderly Calling"
"O Happy Day"
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
First Lesson: Isaiah 9:1-4
Theme: Jesus' ministry brings light to those in darkness
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Jesus began his ministry in Galilee as God's Servant, bringing light to those in darkness.
People:
Isaiah had prophesied that Galilee would be filled with God's glory. That certainly came true in Jesus.
Pastor:
Jesus' mission began in Galilee, but continues to reach out to all generations, sharing the light of God's love.
People:
We have joy in our hearts because Christ's ministry has reached us. May our joy overflow and convey his love to others in our world.
Collect
Most merciful Father, whose Servant Son began a ministry which continues through your church today: Use us as servants of your Son, ministering to our world on his behalf, that your salvation may become known to our world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We praise you O God, for your Son, who poured out his life in service that the light of his peace and joy may become realities for those in darkness. His mission has been entrusted to his church, and now we are to be in ministry. Forgive us for our immaturity which makes us want to be receivers of his light without being his messengers. May the testimony of our lives reflect the brightness of our Savior's love to the oppressed of our day. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Go, Tell It on the Mountain"
"O God of Light, Thy Word, a Lamp"
"The People That in Darkness Sat"
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Theme:
A call for harmony in the church
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The church belongs to Christ; and therefore ought to be united in one harmonious witness.
People:
We know we are Christ's people; but our human nature often interferes. And what ought to be harmony becomes discord.
Pastor:
When divisions arise, we need to remind ourselves our differences are various parts of Christ's one church, and pledge our allegiance to him.
People:
May God help us grow into a mature understanding of the unity of Christ's church.
Collect
Almighty Father, who has brought your children into one church through the sacrificial ministry of your Son: Heal the fractures which hurt your church today, that harmony may add strength to the faith we proclaim to our world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We cannot really point a finger at the Corinthian Church, Father. We have our divisions, too. And they hurt the outreach of your church today. Forgive us for our self-interests which compete with the unity of your church. Restore a singleness of heart to your church, that Christ's death on the cross may not be robbed of its power. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord"
"Blest Be the Dear Uniting Love"
"Father, We Thank Thee Who Hast Planted"
"We Are One in the Spirit"
