South Stormont Pastoral Charge

  *Gathering Hymn Joyful, Joyful We Adore You (#232 VU) Welcome Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: Jesus went to the mountain and was changed.   All: But change is hard for us. One: You call us, O God, to change our lives. All: But change is hard for us. One: You call us, O God, to change our hearts. All: But change is hard for us. One: You call us, O God, to change our thinking. All: But change is hard for us. One: Open our lives, our hearts, our thinking, All: Open us, O God, to your loving changes. * Celebrate God’s Presence , page 42. Opening Prayer (Unison) Creator God, whose love is higher than the heavens! Righteous God, whose love extends from the mountains and seas to every living thing! You take us under your wing, loving God, where we find refuge. You give us hope and possibility for the journey. You transform our lives with your compassion. May your love flow in us and through us, for now and for eternity. Amen. *Glad Fait...

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus Christ reveals himself by healing Simon’s mother-in-law. On the Sabbath, Jesus taught people and cast a demonic spirit out of a man at the synagogue in Capernaum, a town in the Galilee region. Afterward, Jesus visited the home of his disciples, Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was there, lying down with a fever. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. Then, she became well and hosted Jesus and his disciples. Many sick people in the neighbourhood heard about this and came to Jesus. He healed as many as he could. In fact, Jesus’s most important mission was to spread the good news of the kingdom of God. He aimed to unmask the false peace of the Roman Empire and reveal that true peace comes from God's love and grace. What mattered most to Jesus was helping people turn to God and make a difference in the world for the kingdom of God.  For his public ministry, Jesus had only a short time because Herod, who had arrested John the Baptist...

  *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 ...

Today is the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. We're going to reflect on the story of Jesus Christ revealing himself to people and a demonic spirit in the synagogue on the sabbath through today’s Gospel reading.  After calling the first four disciples from the sea of Galilee, Jesus went with them to a town called Capernaum. On the sabbath day, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught the people. Those who listened to him were amazed because his teachings had authority. Unlike scribes who were biblical scholars at that time, Jesus reminded them about the true meaning of the Law, which is all about freedom, peace, and compassion. The Greek word translated as "authority" (ἐξουσία) also means freedom, right, and capability. This reflects the time of ancient society when only those with authority and power had the freedom of choice and action. According to the Bible, the sabbath is a day of liberation when everyone is supposed to take a break from work and meditate on God's grac...

  *Gathering Hymn Arise, Your Light Is Come (#79 VU) Welcome Lighting the Christ Candle Call to Worship One: God created light in the beginning.   All: God calls us to be the light of the world. One: Christ reveals God’s light to us   All: God calls us to be the light of the world. One: The Spirit reveals God’s light in others. All: God calls us to be the light of the world. One: Come you who are light for the world, let us worship God. *Sandy Ferguson, . Gathering ACE 2022-2023 , page 43. Opening Prayer (Unison) Holy One, as we gather together before you, help us focus on celebrating your presence, not ours. Turn our attention to you, your word, and your people. Everything depends on you. Praise to you forever! Amen. *Opening Hymn We Praise You, O God (#218 VU) Prayer of Confessional and Renewal (Unison) It is intimidating, O God, to open our hearts completely to you. We feel vulnerable, with no defenses, with no explanation. Yet, in trust...

Today's Gospel reading is about the story of the first time Jesus publicly revealed himself. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus spoke these words: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (1:15).  In the New Testament, the main Greek words for time are καιρός (kairos) and χρόνος (chronos). Although their meanings sometimes overlap, they also have different uses. Chronos is more about quantity and refers to the "span of time," such as three days or 24 hours. On the other hand, kairos is used more qualitatively and refers to a “decisive point of time.” For instance, kairos can be the time in the sentence "It is the time to harvest."  When Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled," the word kairos is used, which indicates that he began his ministry at a very important and meaningful moment. This was because it was the moment when "the kingdom of God has come near." However, we s...