January 17th, 2021 - Second Sunday after Epiphany: The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
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Prelude: arr. Linker: Here I Am, Lord
God of invitation, You are constantly call out to us to "come, and see" Your glory within our lives. We live in a world that oftentimes ignores the signs that Your love is surrounding us and yearning for us to work for justice, and peace. We come today to witness to Your presence with us that urges us to be Your people, led by Your spirit of truth and love. Guide us into Your ways that we can know Your strength within our souls so we radiate Your grace toward others and hear Your Word to us in our journey of faith.
During this time of worship, center our hearts, our souls, and our minds on Your Presence with us as we lift to you the prayers of our hearts. We know You promise to hear our prayers, always, and with confidence,
We come to pray for Our Church, for it's leaders and congregation Our world and our country our loved ones - keep them: keep them in health, in safety, in comfort, in Your care
Keep us, also and send forth Your Holy Spirit of truth, of comfort, and of power. We pray for any among us who feel constrained, or emotionally distressed by our time and era and for any who need to know Your love for them in this hurting world.
We also lift to You those who need comfort as they mourn their loved ones. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, The comforter, who would remind us of Your promises that Nothing in life, or in Death, things present, nor things to come, nor angel or demons within our lives, nor anything in all of creation will ever be able to separate us from Your love in Jesus the Christ, our Lord.
The Lord's Prayer
Opening Hymn: No. 451 Be Thou My Vision
Call to Worship: Psalm 29 [adapted]
- Pastor: God know us;
- People: God knows when we sit and when we stand.
- Pastor: Even from far away God comprehends our plans;
- People: God studies our traveling and our resting.
- Pastor: God surrounds us-front and back;
- People: God puts God's hand on us.
- Pastor: That is the kind of knowledge that is awesome.
- People: We give thanks You, O God, for Your wonderful love for us!
Choral Anthem: Dengler & Dengler: The Way We Follow Christ
Gracious and loving God, often we just go through the motions of faith, not really intently listening for Your Word to us that guides to understand Your hope and prayers for us in our journey of faith. We sometimes think we are doing well in our journey, and yet more often, we miss Your living presence with us because we really don't hear or know Your voice. Send Your Holy Spirit to awaken our very being to hear Your Word to us. Make our hearts sing for joy because we hear the dialogue You desire to have with us, personally. May we be form into Your people who are guided by You into the future You have planned for us. Keep us, O God of our hearts, so we can know You and Your Kingdom within our lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Hymn: No. 463 Lord Speak to Me, That I May Speak
Gospel Reading and message:
- Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 3: 1-20
- Gospel Reading: John 1: 43-51
- Sermon: The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread
Closing Hymn: No. 454 Open My Eyes That I May See
- Pastor: The Word of God can lead us into the future with hope and love.
- People: We will respond to the voice of God calling out to us in love and grace.
- Pastor: We are called to be God's people, led by God's Word.
- People: We will journey attentive for God's voice within our lives.
- Pastor: Know that God wants us to follow God's ways with joy within our hearts;
- People: We rejoice that God is able to speak to us with words that we know and understand.
- Pastor: God reaches out to us in love and peace;
- People: And we learn how to love and live in peace by God's care for us.
- Pastor: Know that God's presence is with us;
- People: God's love for us is from everlasting to everlasting.