Order of Service / Epiphany 4 / February 1, 2026

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

Welcome & Land Acknowledgement

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One: In this season of Epiphany in Canada,

  All: we are still in the depths of winter.

One: Cold, howling winds and long nights

  All: may keep us inside, and we long for spring.

One: May this Christ light warm our hearts and light our way,

All: so that we can be faithful disciples in this time. Amen.

*Beth W Johnston. Gathering ACE 2025/2026. Page 42.

Opening Prayer

*Opening Hymn Come, Let Us Sing (#222 VU)

Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison)

We come today to confess that we do not always live as you want us to live, we do not always want to try to live in your way. We confess that we would rather stay with what we know than venture into the unknown. Help us to understand your call in these times of challenge. Help us to notice those in need of what we have to offer. Help us to love as you love all people. Forgive us. Restore us. Renew us. In silence, we bring before you our personal prayers of confession. (a time of silent confession) Amen.

*Beth W Johnston. Gathering ACE 2025/2026. Page 44.

Words of Assurance

One: God’s grace and forgiveness are larger than our Milky Way galaxy.

All: We are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

*Bill Perry. Gathering ACE 2025/2026. Page 44.

Announcements and Minute for Mission

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

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

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

Prayer for Illumination

Proclaiming the Scriptures

Micah 6:1-8 What does God require of us?

Psalm 15 (VU p. 736) Who may be a guest in God’s house?

Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are the poor in spirit

This is the Good News from the Bible.

  Thanks be to God.

Anthem

Sermon

*Hymn You Call Us Out (#569 VU | vs. 1,3,4)

*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)
Holy Creator, we give you ourselves and the gifts of our hands. Use us to spread your kingdom of love and compassion. Use us to further your kingdom of justice. Use us to bless and nurture your creation. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

*Susan Girard. Gathering ACE 2025/2026. Page 46.

Prayers of the People and Lord’s Prayer

*Closing Hymn We Shall Go Out (#586 VU)

*Commissioning

One: Go from here, transformed by the gospel.

All: We have found what we have been seeking.

One: Yet, it is not always what we thought it would be.

All: We have found and we have been found.

One: Let us seek to understand our faith more deeply

All: so that our discipleship may be transformed by God’s grace. Amen and amen.

*Beth W Johnston Gathering ACE 2025/2026. Page 46.

*Commissioning Song I Am Walking a Path of Peace (#221 MV)

I am walking a path with light, I am walking a path with light

I am walking a path with light, lead me home, lead me home.

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