The Celebration of the Gospel
January 22, 2017 —3rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. — John 1.29
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense Max Reger
[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: God, you have rescued us from the pit of our despairing.
All: You have put a new song in our mouths.
You have given us Christ, who delights to do your will.
We are glad to tell the good news of your salvation.
You do not desire burnt offerings and sacrifices.
But you have given us open ears.
May we hear, and in our hearing praise you. Alleluia!
* SONG Fairest Lord Jesus Blue hymnal # 189
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
____________We Attend to the Word__________
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Pastor: The grace of God is with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, we open ourselves in honesty to God.
God of love, help us to see ourselves with the eyes of love,
to see what is in us that is loving,
and what is not loving.
God, we recall when we have been in harmony with you, or with life, and we give thanks. [silent prayer…]
We recall when we have been out of harmony, and we seek your grace. [silent prayer…]
God of mercy, in Christ you have shown us your grace.
Forgive us, heal us, and perfect your love in us.
SILENT PRAYER … THE WORD OF GRACE
RESPONSE Alleluia Black hymnal #2014
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love, you have given us as light to the nations. Speak to us now and fill us with the light of your Word. Show us Jesus, so we might see, and follow. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 49.1-7
[The second of Isaiah’s “servant songs.” As God’s servant you may feel you have “labored in vain,” but, doing God’s will, you are sustained. God says, “It is not enough to serve your own people; I will give you as a light to the whole world.” You will even gain the respect of rulers.]
Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother’s womb God named me.
God made my mouth like a sharp sword,
and hid me in the shadow of the hand of the Most High;
The Almighty made me a polished arrow,
and hid me in God’s quiver.
God said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
But I said, “I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Holy One,
and my reward with my God.”
And now I am honored in the sight of the Eternal,
and my God has become my strength—
Yahweh, who formed me in the womb to be God’s servant,
to bring Jacob’s children back to God,
and to gather Israel.
The Holy One says, “It is too light a thing
that you should be my servant to raise up
the descendants of Leah and Rachel and Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Thus says the Mighty One, the Redeemer of Israel, the Holy One,
to one who is deeply despised,
who is abhorred by nations, or enslaved by tyrants,
“Rulers shall see and stand up in your presence;
powerful people will bow down before you,
because of the Eternal, who is faithful,
because of the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
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PSALTER Psalm 40.1-11
[This prayer turns from concern with one’s self to God, and the whole community. First we give thanks for God’s help in trouble, and praise those who trust God. Then we affirm that what God wants is not “sacrifices and sin offerings” but “an open ear” to listen for God’s desire, and the commitment to do God’s will. Finally we move to telling “the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation.” ]
I waited patiently for the Holy One,
and God inclined to me and heard my cry.
God, you drew me up from the desolate pit,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
You put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to you.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in you.
Happy are those who make the Eternal their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
O Mystery, my God, you have multiplied 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 God.
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 God, withhold your mercy from me;
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.
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NEW TESTAMENT 1 Corinthians 1.1-9
[Paul greets the church in Corinth as those “called to be saints,” assuring them that they do not lack any spiritual gift so that they can serve faithfully.]
From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ, both their Redeemer and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Life-Giver and the Chosen One Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way Christ has enriched you with faithful knowledge and speech. In the same way you have become a living confirmation of the story of Christ. So you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Hope, Jesus Christ. Christ will continue to strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Savior Jesus Christ. God is faithful; after all it is God who called you into intimacy with Jesus Christ our Savior.
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GOSPEL John 1.29-42
[John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” saying that he saw the Spirit descend and remain on him. Some of John’s disciples begin to follow Jesus, including Andrew, who recruits his brother Peter.]
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed ). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter ).
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SERMON
SONG Behold the Lamb of God Steve G-H
Behold the lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world.
Come, let us follow.
Come, let us follow the lamb of God
Who takes away the sin of the world.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
RESPONSE: This is my prayer. All: This is our prayer.
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
Our Mother, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Toccata for a Joyous Day Kevin McKlveen (Bells of St. Matthew’s)
_______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
I Want Jesus to Walk With Me Traditional, arr: Larry Shackley
* OFFERING SONG Freely, Freely Blue hymnal #389 v. 1
* PRAYER
Gracious God, in gratitude for all you have given us, and in faithful stewardship of what you have placed in our hands to share with the world, we give our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Help us to follow Christ in setting this world free from fear, in the name of Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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 our 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 Fantasia In B Minor J. S. Bach
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]