SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids -- Series C
First Lesson: Jeremiah 17:5-10
Theme: Trust in God, not in man
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Trusting God is the pathway to our deepest joy.
People:
It seems easier for us w trust in the ability and accomplishments of man, but we never find fulfillment or satisfaction in such trust.
Pastor:
Trusting God requires a more disciplied life, but it promises blessings that know no measure.
People:
We desire the blessing God offers to those who trust in him, and commit ourselves to his care.
Collect
Almighty God, who daily refreshes your children who put their trust in you: Bend us from our natural inclination of putting our trust in the dramatic power of mankind, to planting ourselves firmly in the oasis of your loving care; that we may enjoy the blessings of your providence even into eternity. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Forgive us, Father, for the confidence we have placed in the outstanding achievements of our fellow humans. We are skilled in great demonstrations of power, but that power does not protect us. We sentence ourselves to a dry and thirsty land where life becomes lifeless. Forgive us for our misplaced trust. Lead us to the living water which flows from the quiet streams of your love where we may drink until we want no more. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All the Way My Savior Leads Me"
"He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought"
"If thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee"
"There Is a Balm in Gilead"
" 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
No. 41 - SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Theme: Christ's Resurrection is the basis of faith
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ has been raised from the dead! That fact is the foundation of the Christian faith.
People:
Our faith is firmly rooted in the reality that life is not limited by the boundaries of this world.
Pastor:
The strength of our faith lies in God's power demonstrated in Christ's Resurrection, which is a preview of our own resurrection.
People:
Praise God for the resurrection faith he has given through his Son!
Collect
Glorious God, who raised your Son from the dead, establishing the very essence of the Christian faith: Convince us of the reality that you raised our Lord from the dead; and that you have given us a faith that proclaims our own resurrection. Thus may we live our lives in the full assurance of this resurrection faith, until at last we meet our Savior face to face, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We have lacked conviction when we have talked about the Resurrection, Father, and then when we think seriously about it we feel doubts as to how it could really be. Forgive us for our affirmations that have come from our lips only, and not our hearts. Strengthen our belief in the sure hope of Christ's Resurrection and ours, that the words of our lips may be a true witness of the faith in our hearts. We pray through Christ, our Resurrection. Amen.
Hymns
"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know"
"I Know Not How That Bethlehem's Babe"
"Sing With All the Sons of Glory"
"Thine Is the Glory"
No. 42 - SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Gospel:
Luke 6:17-26
Theme: Christ reverses life's priorities
Call to Worship
Pastor:
What many of us value so highly in life, Jesus says will not bring true happiness.
People:
We strive for success, wealth, power ...
Pastor:
But Jesus says, happy are the poor, the hungry, those in sorrow, and the despised.
People:
Our priorities seem to be turned all around. May our worship today help us learn more of what Jesus means.
Collect
Almighty God, who knows better than we do what the real values in life are: Teach us to re-order our lives after your pattern, that we may receive the true happiness we seek, and which you want to give. We pray in our Savior's name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are eager for success, Father, for the good things in life. Our self-will has been so strong that we have warped our value system by rejecting that which you bless. Forgive us for redesigning our priorities so that we are excluded from your blessing. Help us to put our lives in order, to know what really counts most in life, so we can depend on your love, instead of on our selfish ambition. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Blest Are the Pure in Heart"
"Hope of the World"
"I Want a Principle Within"
"Lord Jesus, Think on Me"
"My Jesus, As Thou Wilt"
"O For a Heart to Praise My God"
Theme: Trust in God, not in man
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Trusting God is the pathway to our deepest joy.
People:
It seems easier for us w trust in the ability and accomplishments of man, but we never find fulfillment or satisfaction in such trust.
Pastor:
Trusting God requires a more disciplied life, but it promises blessings that know no measure.
People:
We desire the blessing God offers to those who trust in him, and commit ourselves to his care.
Collect
Almighty God, who daily refreshes your children who put their trust in you: Bend us from our natural inclination of putting our trust in the dramatic power of mankind, to planting ourselves firmly in the oasis of your loving care; that we may enjoy the blessings of your providence even into eternity. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Forgive us, Father, for the confidence we have placed in the outstanding achievements of our fellow humans. We are skilled in great demonstrations of power, but that power does not protect us. We sentence ourselves to a dry and thirsty land where life becomes lifeless. Forgive us for our misplaced trust. Lead us to the living water which flows from the quiet streams of your love where we may drink until we want no more. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"All the Way My Savior Leads Me"
"He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought"
"If thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee"
"There Is a Balm in Gilead"
" 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
No. 41 - SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Theme: Christ's Resurrection is the basis of faith
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ has been raised from the dead! That fact is the foundation of the Christian faith.
People:
Our faith is firmly rooted in the reality that life is not limited by the boundaries of this world.
Pastor:
The strength of our faith lies in God's power demonstrated in Christ's Resurrection, which is a preview of our own resurrection.
People:
Praise God for the resurrection faith he has given through his Son!
Collect
Glorious God, who raised your Son from the dead, establishing the very essence of the Christian faith: Convince us of the reality that you raised our Lord from the dead; and that you have given us a faith that proclaims our own resurrection. Thus may we live our lives in the full assurance of this resurrection faith, until at last we meet our Savior face to face, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We have lacked conviction when we have talked about the Resurrection, Father, and then when we think seriously about it we feel doubts as to how it could really be. Forgive us for our affirmations that have come from our lips only, and not our hearts. Strengthen our belief in the sure hope of Christ's Resurrection and ours, that the words of our lips may be a true witness of the faith in our hearts. We pray through Christ, our Resurrection. Amen.
Hymns
"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know"
"I Know Not How That Bethlehem's Babe"
"Sing With All the Sons of Glory"
"Thine Is the Glory"
No. 42 - SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Gospel:
Luke 6:17-26
Theme: Christ reverses life's priorities
Call to Worship
Pastor:
What many of us value so highly in life, Jesus says will not bring true happiness.
People:
We strive for success, wealth, power ...
Pastor:
But Jesus says, happy are the poor, the hungry, those in sorrow, and the despised.
People:
Our priorities seem to be turned all around. May our worship today help us learn more of what Jesus means.
Collect
Almighty God, who knows better than we do what the real values in life are: Teach us to re-order our lives after your pattern, that we may receive the true happiness we seek, and which you want to give. We pray in our Savior's name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are eager for success, Father, for the good things in life. Our self-will has been so strong that we have warped our value system by rejecting that which you bless. Forgive us for redesigning our priorities so that we are excluded from your blessing. Help us to put our lives in order, to know what really counts most in life, so we can depend on your love, instead of on our selfish ambition. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Blest Are the Pure in Heart"
"Hope of the World"
"I Want a Principle Within"
"Lord Jesus, Think on Me"
"My Jesus, As Thou Wilt"
"O For a Heart to Praise My God"
