The Celebration of the Gospel
4th Sunday after the Epiphany
February 1, 2015
8:15 – 9:00 am
10:30 – 11:45 am
They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another,
“What is this? A new teaching—with authority!
He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
—Mark 1.27
_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Prelude in E Minor J. S. Bach
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Praise to the God who loves us.
All: Thanks to the God who heals us.
Praise to Christ, who sets us free.
Thanks to the Spirit who makes us one.
We worship you, Holy One, in gratitude and love.
* SONG When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee Blue hymnal #263
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Blessed Are They Michael Bedford (The Choristers)
__________ We Attend to the Word__________
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, your servant Jesus taught with authority. We give him our obedience, our trust and our listening. Speak to us, that we may hear and be healed, that we may listen and obey. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT 2 Corinthians 3.1-6
[Paul says though it sounds like he’s bragging about himself he’s really talking about how God works through all of us.]
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; 3 and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
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GOSPEL Mark 1.21-28
[Jesus drives out an “unclean” spirit, not only restoring the man to health and religious and social standing, but also attacking the powers of evil—which the spirit recognizes. This action is a teaching that has authority and power that mere words don’t have.]
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
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SERMON
SONG Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit Blue hymnal #264
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE … PASSING THE PEACE
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Franz Joseph Haydn, arr. Watler Ehret
__________We Share at Christ’s Table__________
OFFERING OUR GIFTS Blessed Assurance P. Knapp, arr: Mark Hayes
* COMMUNION SONG Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands Blue hymnal #273
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Black hymnal # 2257
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
SHARING THE HOLY MEAL [Everyone is welcome at the table of Christ’s self-giving love.
The bread is wheat-, soy- and dairy free. We dip the bread in the juice.]
PRAYER OF BLESSING
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You bless us by your grace and your presence, heal us of our demons, and empower us to work with you for the healing of this world. Send us forth, in the name and authority of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Sent Out In Jesus’ Name Black hymnal #2184
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to your neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Fugue in E Minor J. S. Bach
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the rear corners of the room.]