The Celebration of the Gospel
January 15, 2017 —2nd Sunday after the Epiphany
“The realm of heaven has drawn near…. Follow me.”
— Matthew 4.17, 19
________We Gather as the Body of Christ______
GREETING
PRELUDE This Little Light Of Mine Harry Dixon Loes, arr: Mark Hayes
[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.]
SONG We Shall Overcome
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
All: Those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
For you have broken the power of oppression;
you have liberated your people.
Therefore we sing with joy, and praise you.
In gratitude we worship, and we give you our lives. Alleluia!
* SONG God of Grace and God of Glory Blue hymnal # 577
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
_________ We Attend to the Word__________
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of love and justice, your Christ proclaimed that the realm of heaven has drawn near. By your spirit awaken us; move us to hear and to rejoice, to see and to act. By your Spirit give us grace to follow Jesus in proclaiming the Empire of your Grace. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 9.1-5
[Isaiah celebrates the light of God’s liberating grace, which overwhelms the darkness of war, injustice and oppression.]
There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish.
In the former time God brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the latter time God will make glorious the way of the sea,
the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
All the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the blood-stained garments shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
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NEW TESTAMENT 1 Corinthians 1.10-18
[Paul responds to news of divisions in the church in Corinth with a plea for unity. Our unity does not come from anyone’s leadership, but from our life in Christ, particularly in the power of the cross.]
I appeal to you, siblings in Christ, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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GOSPEL Matthew 4.12-23
[Jesus proclaims God’s power and presence in the world (the “realm of heaven”), and calls disciples to follow him in proclaiming the good news and healing people. It is the light in us, not our beliefs about that light, that unites us. Jesus then goes about living out the light he proclaims. Matthew locates Jesus in Galilee, quoting the Isaiah passage.]
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the realm of heaven has come near.” As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
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SERMON
SONG Make Me a Channel of Your Peace Black hymnal # 2171
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The United Methodist Social Creed
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom we acknowledge God’s gifts, and we repent of our sin in misusing these gifts to idolatrous ends
We affirm the natural world as God’s handiwork and dedicate ourselves to its preservation, enhancement, and faithful use by humankind
We joyfully receive for ourselves and others the blessings of community, sexuality, marriage, and the family.
We commit ourselves to the rights of men, women, children, youth, young adults, the aging, and people with disabilities; to improvement of the quality of life; and to the rights and dignity of all persons
We believe in the right and duty of persons to work for the glory of God and the good of themselves and others and in the protection of their welfare in so doing; in the rights to property as a trust from God, collective bargaining, and responsible consumption; and in the elimination of economic and social distress
We dedicate ourselves to peace throughout the world, to the rule of justice and law among nations, and to individual freedom for all people of the world
We believe in the present and final triumph of God’s Word in human affairs and gladly accept our commission to manifest the life of the gospel in the world. Amen.
RESPONSE
Leader: God of justice, we accept the Spirit you give us to follow Jesus,
to proclaim your Realm of Grace.
We give thanks that you cherish this Creation and care for it,
All: and we shall do the same.
We lament our corporate sin of poverty, discrimination and violence,
and give thanks that Jesus came among us in forgiveness, healing and reconciliation;
and we shall do the same.
We give thanks for those prophets among us, including Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.,
who have spoken and acted in faith and in peace for the sake of justice;
and we shall do the same.
We give thanks for those who have honored the gift of our diversity,
who have labored and sacrificed to break down barriers of hate,
who in love have made strangers into siblings and enemies into friends;
and we shall do the same.
God grant us faith and courage to pray and to speak, to work and to live
for the sake of the coming of your Realm of Grace, in the name and Spirit of Jesus.
Amen.
* SONG We Utter Our Cry — Blue hymnal # 439, vv. 1, 2, 6
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
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
______ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS My Song Is Love Unknown — arr: Gerhard Knapf
* OFFERING SONG Doxology — Blue hymnal #94
* 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 you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Send us as disciples of Jesus to follow in faith, to proclaim your Realm with courage, and to help create a world of love, freedom, beauty and joy, in the name of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG We Are Called — Black hymnal #2172
* 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 Agnus Dei — Georges Bizet, arr: Rick Parks
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]