SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Choose life. Love, obey, and hold fast to God; that is life for you and your descendants.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all, we confess that we are all too human. We have our favorites among Christian leaders who sometimes receive the loyally that only Christ deserves, and thereby make divisions among us. We are sometimes jealous of others and strive against each other instead of working as a team, as your co-workers. Forgive the immaturity, the unwillingness to rise above the natural plane, the parochial view that does not fully acknowledge one holy catholic church and settles for narrow denominationalism. We need to grow stronger, enabled by the Spirit to rise above pettiness, to broaden participation in your rule of earth and heaven, through Jesus Christ, our role model. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Whether you are infants in Christ or more mature, you have the Spirit of God to stimulate your growth. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
We are God's agents. Let us work as a team and all of us will get our own pay for our own labor.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Sovereign, guide and goad us by both law and prophets to set as our highest priority making peace with our brothers and sisters so that we may be properly prepared to offer you our worship and readyforyourjust judgment. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Heavenly Law-giver, Sender of apostles, Inspirer of prophets, we give thanks for all whom you have sent to be our guides through the mazes of decisions that are before us in life. We rejoice in the diversity we find between Peter and Paul, between Elijah and Jesus. We celebrate the concerted service of Aquila and Priscilla, Barnabas and John Mark, and others who, like the twelve, found ways of serving you in a variety of combinations. We are grateful for individuals and couples and groups who have shared their faith with us and helped us to mature in our understanding of your will, and support us in our attempt to do it. With great joy we remember them all and praise your name with them, an undivided company. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
As we offer our gifts, loving God, bring to our minds any unresolved grievance we may have with others, that we may continue the ministry of peacemaking to which we are called as followers of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 119:1-8
Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous ordinances.
I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
Choose life. Love, obey, and hold fast to God; that is life for you and your descendants.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all, we confess that we are all too human. We have our favorites among Christian leaders who sometimes receive the loyally that only Christ deserves, and thereby make divisions among us. We are sometimes jealous of others and strive against each other instead of working as a team, as your co-workers. Forgive the immaturity, the unwillingness to rise above the natural plane, the parochial view that does not fully acknowledge one holy catholic church and settles for narrow denominationalism. We need to grow stronger, enabled by the Spirit to rise above pettiness, to broaden participation in your rule of earth and heaven, through Jesus Christ, our role model. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Whether you are infants in Christ or more mature, you have the Spirit of God to stimulate your growth. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
We are God's agents. Let us work as a team and all of us will get our own pay for our own labor.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Sovereign, guide and goad us by both law and prophets to set as our highest priority making peace with our brothers and sisters so that we may be properly prepared to offer you our worship and readyforyourjust judgment. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Heavenly Law-giver, Sender of apostles, Inspirer of prophets, we give thanks for all whom you have sent to be our guides through the mazes of decisions that are before us in life. We rejoice in the diversity we find between Peter and Paul, between Elijah and Jesus. We celebrate the concerted service of Aquila and Priscilla, Barnabas and John Mark, and others who, like the twelve, found ways of serving you in a variety of combinations. We are grateful for individuals and couples and groups who have shared their faith with us and helped us to mature in our understanding of your will, and support us in our attempt to do it. With great joy we remember them all and praise your name with them, an undivided company. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
As we offer our gifts, loving God, bring to our minds any unresolved grievance we may have with others, that we may continue the ministry of peacemaking to which we are called as followers of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 119:1-8
Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous ordinances.
I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
