Worship at Grace Church

reciting Psalms, reading and proclaiming Scriptures, singing Hymns, voicing Prayers

Praising God

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

January 29, 2006

   

 

The readers sit in the four chairs that are set up near the pulpit.   Please take your places by 10:44.

Mike

  Welcome and Introductions 

Gordy

  Organ meditation                   

            Eye Hath Not Seen   (Gaul/Grant)

Reader 1 Mindy

Ask people to stand, then begin the responsive greeting.  There is no need to introduce the introit, as Gordy will just begin playing.  After everyone sings the introit, ask people to remain standing for the Hymn of Praise.  Announce the number:  67

 

   Greeting:   (stand)

            The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

            And with you also.

            The risen Christ is with us.

            Praise the Lord!

 

♫ Introit:  (662)  (stand)

Stand up and bless the Lord, ye people of his choice;

            stand up and bless the Lord your God

            with heart and soul and voice.

 

♫ Hymn of Praise to God  (67) (stand)

We Thy People Praise Thee

 

Reader 2 Julie

Have the people sit.  This is a prayer that you will read solo.

 

   Prayer for the Morning

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world.  Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord.  Amen.

 

 

Reader 3 Karen

You will read this prayer solo.

 

   Prayer for Sunday

O God, who makes us glad with the weekly remembering of the resurrection of Jesus:  grant us blessings today as we worship and glorify you, so that the days which are to come may be spent in your favor, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Reader 4 Harriet

Ask people to pray the prayer of confession with you.  After the prayer, let there be a brief pause, then say the “Declaration of Pardon.”  Remain standing at the microphone while the people give their response.

 

   Prayer of Confession

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most holy and merciful Father:
We confess to you and to one another,
and to the whole communion of saints
in heaven and on earth,
that we have sinned by our own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.

Have mercy on us, Lord.

We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

Have mercy on us, Lord.

We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives,

We confess to you, Lord.

Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,

We confess to you, Lord.

Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,

We confess to you, Lord.

Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,

We confess to you, Lord.

Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,

We confess to you, Lord.

Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,

Accept our repentance, Lord.

For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,

Accept our repentance, Lord.

For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,

Accept our repentance, Lord.

Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;

Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.

Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,

That we may show forth your glory in the world.

By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord,

Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

 

   Declaration of Pardon

Leader:  Hear the good news:  Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us.  In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

 

   Response of the People

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!  Glory be to God.  Amen.

 

 

Reader 1 Mindy

Ask people to recite the Canticle with you responsively, with the people reading the words in bold.  Tell them that we will sing musical response number 2 at the beginning and end of the canticle.  Gordy will then play the response through once, then we will sing it together, then you will recite your first line…and so on.

 

♫Canticle of God’s Glory  (Jubilate, from Psalm 100)

#74  (response #2)

 

Ask people to recite the Psalm with you responsively, with the women reading the words in light print and the men reading the words printed in bold.  Tell them that we will sing musical response number 1 at the beginning and end of the Psalm and once in the middle.  Gordy will then play the response through once, then we will sing it together, then the women will recite the first line…and so on.  Right before we read, repeat that the women will read the light print, the men bold.

 

   The Psalm  (111)

            #832  (Response 1)

 

♫Gloria Patri  (stand)

Glory to God the Creator,
and to the Christ,
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be
world without end. Amen. Amen.

 

Reader 2 Julie

Ask people to be seated.  Then invite them to pray the Prayer for Illumination aloud with you.  After the prayer of illumination, give the first line of the versicle, the people will then respond to you.

 

   Prayer for Illumination

Lord, open our hearts and minds

   by the power of your Holy Spirit,

that, as the Scriptures are read

   and your Word proclaimed,

we may hear with joy what you say to us today.  Amen.

 

   Versicle

            God always blesses the reading of the Word.

            Thanks be to God!

 

Reader 3 Karen

Announce the scripture you are reading.  After you read the scripture, give the first line of the response (The Word of the Lord.)  Wait for the people to respond with the second line.  Then ask people to stand for the singing of the hymn.  Announce the hymn number and name.

 

Scripture:  Deuteronomy 18:15-20

            The Word of the Lord.

            Thanks be to God!

 

   Hymn  (467)  (stand)

Trust and Obey

                        (during the singing of this hymn, bring forward written joys and concerns)

 

Reader 4 Harriet

Announce the scripture you are reading.  After you read the scripture, give the first line of the response (The Word of the Lord.)  Wait for the people to respond with the second line.  Then sit down.

 

   Scripture:  I Corinthians 8:1-13

            The Word of the Lord.

            Thanks be to God!

 

Reader 1 Mindy

Ask the people to stand.  Announce the scripture you are reading.  After you finish reading the scripture, give the first line of the response (The gospel of Christ), then wait for the people to respond.  When they are finished, instruct them to be seated.

 

   Scripture:  Mark 1:21-28  (stand)

            The gospel of Christ.

            Thanks be to God.

 

At this point, all the readers will take seats in the first pew, with the congregation, while the sermon is being preached.  At the conclusion of the prayer, come forward and take the places you had originally.

 

 

Mike

   Sermon

 

Reader 2 Julie

Ask people to join you in reciting the creed.

 

   The Creed

We are not alone, we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:

            who has created and is creating,

            who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,

                        to reconcile and make new,

            who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the church:

            to celebrate God’s presence,

            to love and serve others,

            to seek justice and resist evil,

            to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

                        our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

            God is with us.

We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.  Amen.

(883, A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada)

  

Intercessions

All four readers should remain standing throughout the prayers.  Simply take turns stepping up to the microphone and praying.

 

Reader 3 Karen

For Peace

Lord, deliver us.  From self-righteousness that will not compromise, from selfishness that gains at the expense of others, from the lust for money and power that excuses killing, from trust in weapons of war, from mistrusting councils of peace, from hearing lies about other nations and believing them and speaking them, from suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation, from words and deeds that encourage discord, prejudice, and hatred, from everything that prevents us from fulfilling your promise of peace, good Lord deliver us.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen

 

Reader 4 Harriet

For the Environment

O most high, omnipotent, good Lord God, to you belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing.  For our brother the sun, who is our day and who brings us the light, who is fair, and radiant with a very great splendor, praised be our God.  For our sister the moon, and for the stars, which you have set clear and lovely in heaven; for our brother the wind, and for air and clouds, calms and all weather; for our sister water, who serves us and is humble and precious and chaste; for our brother fire, by whom you light up the night and who is fair and merry, and very mighty and strong; for our mother the earth, who sistains us and keeps us and brings forth various fruits, and flowers of many colors, and grass; for all creation we praise you and give you thanks.  Protect and defend all creation from the human rudeness that depletes and destroys.  Transform human hearts to make us faithful stewards of all creation.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 

Reader 1 Mindy

For our Nation

Look graciously O Lord upon this land.  Where it is in pride, subdue it.  Where it is need, supply it.  Where it is in error, rectify it.  Where it is in default, restore it.   And where it holds to that which is just and compassionate, support it.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

 

Reader 2 Julie

For the aging

O Lord, who gives to various individuals the gift of long life:  we know that with the blessing of many years also comes the strain of many losses.  Thank you for the wisdom and grace of our elders.  Thank you for all they share to make us what we are.  Be a companion to them in times of loneliness, a light in times of darkness, a strength in times of weariness, power in times of diminished strength, and life in times of death.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

Reader 3 Karen

For those who mourn

Gracious God, who was present when Jesus himself wept:  there are men and women, girls and boys all around the earth this day who weep and experience deep sorrow.  You know the losses, the deaths, the killings, the wars, the famines, the violence, and the breakdown of justice that lies behind human grief.  Send your spirit which comforts and consoles upon all who cry tears of sorrow this day.  Let your peace that passes all understanding be a balm for every heart.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

 

Reader 4 Harriet

For the Church

Our God, who is like a great wind of the heavens, who fills the room and creates the church out of unlikely prospects:  give this congregation and all congregations gathering in your name a clear sense of direction, a clean infusion of love, a generous portion of power, a full measure of joy, and a strong faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus so that we might tell the gospel to each soul and bless each life we encounter with the goodness of Christ.  We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

 

Mike

For the Concerns of the congregation

 

♫Prayer Response

            Hear our prayer, O Lord,

            Hear our prayer, O Lord,

            Incline thine ear to us

            And grant us thy peace.

 

Reader 1 Mindy

Please say, “Bringing our offerings to the Lord is one of the most important things we do in worship.  If you are a guest with us this morning, we do not expect you to make a contribution.  If you are a regular participant in Grace Church, the Sunday offering is a way we expresses our love for God.  It is how we fund the ministries of Grace Church, a way of loving our neighbors.”  When the Doxology begins, motion to the people to stand.

 

Offering

            Variation on Beloved Jesus (Walther)

♫Doxology  (stand)

            Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

            Praise God all creatures here below.

            Praise God above ye heavenly host.

            Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

 

Reader 2 Julie

Ask people to remain standing and pray with you the prayer of Thanksgiving.

 

   Prayer of Thanksgiving  (stand)

God of love, we thank you for all with which you have blessed us even to this day:  for the gift of joy in days of health and strength, and for the gifts of your abiding presence and promise in days of pain and grief.  We praise you for home and friends, and for our baptism and place in your church with all who have faithfully lived and died.  Above all else we thank you for Jesus, who knew our griefs, who died our death and rose for our sake, and who lives and prays for us.  Amen.

 

  

 

The Lord’s Prayer  (stand)

Holy One,

            Our only home

Hallowed be thy name.

May your day dawn

            your will be done

                        here

                        as in heaven.

Feed us today.

And forgive us

            as we forgive each other.

Do not forsake us at the test

            but deliver us from evil.

For the glory, the power, and the mercy are yours

            now and forever.  Amen.

 

   Hymn of dedication to go forth and serve in the world  (569) (stand)

We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations

 

Mike

   Benediction from the pastor  (stand)

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.  Amen.

 

♫Benediction response  (stand)

Blest be the tie that binds

            our hearts in Christian love

The fellowship of kindred minds

            is like to that above.

  

Gordy

Postlude

            Prelude in G Major  (Bach)