SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Do not keep the goodness of God hidden in your heart: proclaim God's faithfulness and saving power.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Supremely powerful Person, you have shown us love as well as awesome strength. In Jesus of Nazareth you have come among us as one who serves. We confess that we often prefer to be served than to serve, to be masters rather than servants. Forgive our disposition to shirk your service when we may risk suffering in the hands of the cruel and uncaring. To be sent as lambs among wolves does not appeal to us, as it did not appeal to Jesus, who nevertheless was your Lamb to take away the sins of the world, including ours. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News. You are claimed as Christ's own along with everyone who invokes the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Go in God's strength to call back those who have turned away from God and the people of God. Be a light to all who live in the shadows.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Baptize us with the Holy Spirit, divine Baptizer, that the Spirit ofpeace may abide with us, drawing us together despite the differences and distances between us. Gather us into unity in your church, to the glory of your name and the name of Jesus, who also accepted baptism for our sake. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
You have done many wonderful things for us, forceful God. You have freed us from traps and situations that frightened us. You have sent us on our way again with new plans for our future. We share with others the good news that you save all who put their trust in you. We praise you before others and seek to warn those who might fall into temptations that have threatened our lives. Your love and loyalty will always uphold us, faithful Sovereign, brave Champion, Emissary of peace. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Founder of the church, when we are unsure of accomplishing anything as your people, you promise to renew our light, that our witness may be seen by many. Receive our moneys and all our talents of hand and heart and voice, to spread the good news of your grace and peace. Amen.
PSALM 40:1-11
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
Happy are those who make the LORD their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds
and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Here I am;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love
and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.
Do not keep the goodness of God hidden in your heart: proclaim God's faithfulness and saving power.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Supremely powerful Person, you have shown us love as well as awesome strength. In Jesus of Nazareth you have come among us as one who serves. We confess that we often prefer to be served than to serve, to be masters rather than servants. Forgive our disposition to shirk your service when we may risk suffering in the hands of the cruel and uncaring. To be sent as lambs among wolves does not appeal to us, as it did not appeal to Jesus, who nevertheless was your Lamb to take away the sins of the world, including ours. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News. You are claimed as Christ's own along with everyone who invokes the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Go in God's strength to call back those who have turned away from God and the people of God. Be a light to all who live in the shadows.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Baptize us with the Holy Spirit, divine Baptizer, that the Spirit ofpeace may abide with us, drawing us together despite the differences and distances between us. Gather us into unity in your church, to the glory of your name and the name of Jesus, who also accepted baptism for our sake. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
You have done many wonderful things for us, forceful God. You have freed us from traps and situations that frightened us. You have sent us on our way again with new plans for our future. We share with others the good news that you save all who put their trust in you. We praise you before others and seek to warn those who might fall into temptations that have threatened our lives. Your love and loyalty will always uphold us, faithful Sovereign, brave Champion, Emissary of peace. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Founder of the church, when we are unsure of accomplishing anything as your people, you promise to renew our light, that our witness may be seen by many. Receive our moneys and all our talents of hand and heart and voice, to spread the good news of your grace and peace. Amen.
PSALM 40:1-11
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.
Happy are those who make the LORD their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds
and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.
Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
Then I said, "Here I am;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love
and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.
