The Congregations of St. Mark’s and St. David’s
United Church of Canada
Port Hawkesbury/Port Hastings, NS
Office: 625-2229, Fax 625-3597, e-mail: stmarksuc@gmail.com
Blog: http://ourcontactonline.blogspot.com/
Presbytery Website: inverguyunited.ca
Ministers: The Whole People of God Minister: Nan Corrigan D. M.
Minister of Music: Al Fougere
January 15th, 2017-2nd Sunday after Epiphany
A thought around which to gather as we worship—In each of the readings today, the call is to something wider – more than is imagined. In Baptism, we are named as members of the Body of Christ. What does it mean to be called and named by God? The biblical passages raise questions about our own call. How do we identify and confirm that call to be all we are and can be? What does it mean today to be “a light to the nations”?
Seasons of the Spirit™ SeasonsFUSION Advent • Christmas • Epiphany 2016–2017
Copyright © Wood Lake Publishing Inc. 2016 , p. 118
Announcements The Work of Church and Community
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Greeting One: The peace of Christ be with you. All: And with your spirit
*Introit Sent Out in Jesus’ Name MV 212
Sent out in Jesus’ name, our hands are ready nowto make the world the place in which the kingdom comes.
Call to Worship
One: We wait patiently for our God. All: We will sing, we will sing new songs
of the One who calls us here.
One: We will not chase after other gods.
All: We will sing, we will sing new songs
of the One in whom we can trust.
One: We will tell of all God has done for us.
All: We will sing, we will sing new songs
of the One whose salvation is for all.
Opening Prayer One: O God, All: there is none like you.
*Hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness VU 288
Prayer of Confession
Let us confess our sins to the One who is always faithful.
All: Shaped, formed, born to be servants, Faithful One, we spend so much time focused on ourselves. Called to be saints, we deeply despise those who do us harm and those with whom we disagree. Challenged to testify about the good news, we keep silent, hoarding stories of joy and hope for ourselves.
Forgive us, Merciful Lamb. Give us open ears, that we might hear your words of pardon; give us open eyes, that we might see those you would have us serve; give us open hearts, that we might welcome the One who takes away our sins, Jesus Christ, servant leader and saviour. Silence is kept.
Words of Affirmation
One: Listen! Before you were born, God called you by name, claiming you as God’s child. Pay attention! You are forgiven.
All: We will not keep silent. We will tell, and we will sing; we will whisper, and we will shout: God is faithful! Amen.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Isaiah 49:1-7 The Lamb of God. The mission of God's servant.One: Herein is Wisdom. All: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 40:1–11 I waited patiently for God VU 764
* Hymn Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying VU 400
Opening the Word & The Lord’s Prayer
Gospel Acclamation
John 1:29–42 Simon and Andrew become disciples.One: Herein is Good News. All: Praise be to God.
Opening the Word 2
WE RESPOND IN FAITH
* Hymn Will You Come and Follow Me VU 567
Minute for Mission & Offering Our Gifts to God
* Offering Prayer
As we offer our gifts to you, calling God, remind us that we are invited to not only come and see the brokenness of our world, those who are hungry and homeless, lonely and grieving, but to join you in that ministry of offering strength, hope, and healing to all your children. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Beloved God, we praise you for your word that creates worlds,your breath that brings forth life,
your voice that inspires oceans and rivers.
You are the source of all life: every creature,
great and small, is made by you and loved by you.
In the beginning you proclaimed all of your creation
to be good, and human beings you declared “very good.”
Yet too many do not know that.
We pray this day for all of those, your children,
who do not know their goodness, their worth, their value;
who do not know that they are loved unconditionally
by the One who created them.
We pray that we might never forget our own worth and value
as your beloved children.
We give thanks that in Jesus, your living word,
you call us to discipleship, to servant sainthood and new life.
Help us, as Christ’s disciples,
through words of compassion and cries for justice,
through gentle smiles and hugs
and arms that reach out to break down barriers,
proclaim the truth that all of your children
are loved and valued. Amen.
