Order of Service / Fifth Sunday after Epiphany / February 4, 2024

 *Gathering Hymn Arise, Your Light Is Come (#79 VU)

Welcome

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: Let us sing songs of praise to God.

  All: Let us rejoice in God our Creator.

One: Let us lift our hearts in prayer.

  All: Let us cry out to the one who saves us.

One: Let us dedicate our lives to serve God with joy.

All: Let us offer ourselves to the work of the kingdom.

One: Let us worship God!

*Frances Flook. Gathering ACE 2022-2023, page 42.

Opening Prayer (Unison)

God of Life, you are as near to us as our breath. Touch our eyes that we may see you; open our ears that we may hear your voice; enter our hearts that we might know your love. Grace our souls and bodies with your presence, that we might feel your strength, and your healing touch; in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

*Celebrate God’s Presence. page 641.

*Opening Hymn God, Reveal Your Presence (#391 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

You call us to be the light of the world, O God, but we doubt that we are able. You ask us to share  your light with those in need, but we want to keep it to ourselves. At other times, we keep you at such distance that we sink into shadows of our own making, so dense that we cannot even see a glimmer of hope. We need you. We ask for your forgiveness. Come to us now and remind us that Christ’s gift of grace is all we need to do your good works and all we need to be your light in the world. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Seasons of the Spirit, ACE 2019-2020. page 154.

Words of Assurance

One: Jesus said:

  All: “I am the light of the world – whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

One: Friends, we walk in Christ’s light, freed from sin and illuminated by God’s grace.

  All: Thanks be to God for this glorious gift of new life! Amen and amen!

*Seasons of the Spirit, ACE 2019-2020. page 154.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

Time for God’s Children (You Are Holy, MV 45)

You are love, you show us the way. (x4)

You show us, you show us, you show us the way (x4)

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Isaiah 40:26-31 Those who wait upon God shall renew their strength.

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c (VU 869 | Part 1) God heals the broken-hearted.

Mark 1:29-39 Simon’s mother-in-law and many others healed.

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn Healer of Our Every Ill (#619 VU)

*Offering

*Offertory Hymn (#540 VU | Grant Us, God, the Grace)

Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,

That ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.

*Offertory Prayer (Unison)

We pray, O God, that you will accept our offerings for the building of your community among us. We pray that we may be joined together by your Spirit into the family and household of Christ, a beautiful and constantly growing temple for God. Amen.

*Fern Gibbard. Gathering ACE 2023/2024. page 48.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn Go Forth for God (#418 VU)

*Commissioning

One: Go into the world: dance, laugh, sing, and create.

  All: We go with the assurance of your blessing, O God.

One: Go into the world: risk, explore, discover, and love.

  All: We go with the assurance of your grace, O God.

One: Go into the world: believe, hope, struggle, and remember.

  All: We go with the assurance of your love, O God.Thanks be to God!

One: May the comfort and peace of God, our Divine Physician, Healer, and Caregiver, be with us forever and ever. Amen.

*Celebrate God’s Presence. page 73.

*Commissioning Song Walk with Me (#649 VU | Refrain)

Walk with me, I will walk with you and build the land that God has planned where love shines through (x2)

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