Theme: If Only
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VII, Cycle B
Call To Worship
The servant girl spoke and the great commander listened. The prophet spoke and the commander was enraged. In the end his obedience brought healing. We listen, we argue, we bargain, we obey. Let us come obediently and go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Collect (Psalm 30:11-12)
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Not your way, Lord, but mine. Your prophet gave Naaman instructions that didn't suit him, to wash himself in the water and be made whole. Instead of immersing ourselves in the waters of life we'd rather you outline some foolish rigamarole that we might mistake for you, some secure series of ups and downs that if performed in the right order would draw down your salvation and healing. Why did you have to make it so easy to repent and be made whole? We have no excuse. So we offer no excuse. Just as we are, Lord, we come into your presence. Amen.
Hymns
There Is A Place Of Quiet Rest
Just As I Am, Without One Plea
Wade In The Water
Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Theme: Do Not Run Aimlessly
Call To Worship (Psalm 30:4-5)
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Collect
God of joy, we praise your name that in the midst of our trials and tribulations, you are waiting for us at the finish line with the crown of glory. As we struggle to complete your will for our lives, and to witness in your name to the world, we pray that you will help us as we train for this task. In our worship, in our Bible studies, in our lives of prayer and devotion, in our daily service to your world in things small and great, we pray that you will sharpen our sense of your purpose for our lives, so that beginning with this morning's worship we will put your will for our lives together first, and our own aims second. Bless us with your favor, which is forever. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we give willingly to your work, trusting in your purpose and in your wisdom. Send your Spirit to guide us in our giving and in our distribution of these gifts. In this, and in all things we give our love to you, living Lord. Amen.
Hymns
This Is My Father's World
Guide My Feet
Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany
Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:40-45
Theme: I Do Choose
Call To Worship
The Lord is moved with pity as we come forward. Bless the Lord. Be made whole as God's whole people. Amen.
Collect
Let joy enter into you this morning, that you may shine God's light throughout your world. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession* (Isaiah 40:28-31)
One:
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
All:
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
One:
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
All:
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Amen.
(Please come forward to the front rows of the church if you would like to be anointed for healing.)
Hymns
Come And See
In Your Sickness, Your Sufferings, Your Trials, And Pains
Balm In Gilead
* Written as a prelude to a Service Of Anointing (see page 229)
The servant girl spoke and the great commander listened. The prophet spoke and the commander was enraged. In the end his obedience brought healing. We listen, we argue, we bargain, we obey. Let us come obediently and go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Collect (Psalm 30:11-12)
You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Not your way, Lord, but mine. Your prophet gave Naaman instructions that didn't suit him, to wash himself in the water and be made whole. Instead of immersing ourselves in the waters of life we'd rather you outline some foolish rigamarole that we might mistake for you, some secure series of ups and downs that if performed in the right order would draw down your salvation and healing. Why did you have to make it so easy to repent and be made whole? We have no excuse. So we offer no excuse. Just as we are, Lord, we come into your presence. Amen.
Hymns
There Is A Place Of Quiet Rest
Just As I Am, Without One Plea
Wade In The Water
Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Theme: Do Not Run Aimlessly
Call To Worship (Psalm 30:4-5)
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Collect
God of joy, we praise your name that in the midst of our trials and tribulations, you are waiting for us at the finish line with the crown of glory. As we struggle to complete your will for our lives, and to witness in your name to the world, we pray that you will help us as we train for this task. In our worship, in our Bible studies, in our lives of prayer and devotion, in our daily service to your world in things small and great, we pray that you will sharpen our sense of your purpose for our lives, so that beginning with this morning's worship we will put your will for our lives together first, and our own aims second. Bless us with your favor, which is forever. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession
Lord, we give willingly to your work, trusting in your purpose and in your wisdom. Send your Spirit to guide us in our giving and in our distribution of these gifts. In this, and in all things we give our love to you, living Lord. Amen.
Hymns
This Is My Father's World
Guide My Feet
Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany
Gospel Lesson: Mark 1:40-45
Theme: I Do Choose
Call To Worship
The Lord is moved with pity as we come forward. Bless the Lord. Be made whole as God's whole people. Amen.
Collect
Let joy enter into you this morning, that you may shine God's light throughout your world. Amen.
Prayer Of Confession* (Isaiah 40:28-31)
One:
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
All:
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
One:
Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
All:
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Amen.
(Please come forward to the front rows of the church if you would like to be anointed for healing.)
Hymns
Come And See
In Your Sickness, Your Sufferings, Your Trials, And Pains
Balm In Gilead
* Written as a prelude to a Service Of Anointing (see page 229)
