January 31st, 2021 - Fourth Sunday after Epiphany: LIving Word of God

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Prelude: Held: Come Away to the Skies, played by Mark Steiner

Living God of our faith, You remind us that You are a God of promises for Your people. You faithfully fulfill those promises, in spite of our inability to perceive Your actions within our lives and era. Send Your Holy Spirit to us so we can see Your living and active Word and hear Your Word for 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 its 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. 188 Christ Is the World's Light

Call to Worship: Psalm 111 [adapted]

Pastor: Praise the Lord!
People: We thank the Lord with all our hearts.
Pastor: The works of the Lord are magnificent;
People: God's works are treasured by all who desire them.
Pastor: God's deeds are majestic and glorious.
People: God's righteousness stands forever.
Pastor: God is full of mercy and compassion.
People: God remembers God's covenant forever.

Choral Anthem: arr. Behnke: We've Come A Long Way, Lord

Unison Prayer:

Loving and compassionate God, we gather to hear, sing, and learn about Your Living Word in our journey of faith. We come to learn to trust in Your faithfulness to us as we encounter the trials we encounter in this fallen world. We are confronted by many different things that perplex us, that sadden us, that frighten us, and yet You, in Your faithfulness teach us that You never forsake us. You have promised to send prophets to lead us, and teach us. You sent Jesus to show us Your love for Your people that can heal our very being. Help us to accept Your Living Word into our lives.

Hymn: No. 265 O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come

Gospel Reading and message:

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:21-28
Sermon: Living Word of God

Closing Hymn: No. 174 His Name Is Wonderful

Benediction:

Pastor: God proclaimed God's powerful deeds to God's people;
People: God's righteousness stands forever;
Pastor: God remembers God's covenant forever;
People: We than the Lord with all our hearts;
Pastor: God's Handiwork is honesty and justice;
People: God's [words] are trustworthy;
Pastor: God's [words] are established always and forever;
People: God's [words] are fulfilled with truth and right doing;
Pastor: Holy and awesome is God's Name;
People: God's praise lasts forever!

Postlude: Robinson: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, arranged and played by Jason Payne