SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Prayer
Psalms And Prayers For Congregational Participation
CALL TO WORSHIP
Put your confidence in God and you will not be disappointed. If you put your trust in people, you will be frustrated if they prove to be not trustworthy.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
DESPITE YOUR WARNINGS THROUGH PROPHETS AND PSALMISTS, GOD OF TRUTH, WE ARE FREQUENTLY DECEIVED
BY THE SILKS AND SATINS OF PALACES AND CATHEDRALS. WE MISPLACE OUR TRUST WHEN WE PUT OUR TRUST IN SUCH PERSONS AND NOT IN YOU. YOU FREQUENTLY SPEAK THROUGH ROUGH AND READY PERSONS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST. HEAL THE SICK THROUGH POOR PEOPLE LIKE JESUS OF NAZARETH, COMFORT THE DYING THROUGH SERVANTS LIKE MOTHER THERESA OF CALCUTTA FORGIVE OUR ADMIRATION OF FALSE GLORIES, THROUGH JESUS OUR SAVIOR. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! You are blessed if you do not find Jesus Christ to be a stumbling block, and believe the Good News he preaches to the poor. Friends, believe the Good News. IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Beware of the frivolous life. These joys soon disappear. Following Christ may not always be easy, but the rewards are enduring.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
SAVE US, SON OF MAN, CHILD OF GOD, FROM THE CASUAL LIFE WITHOUT COMMITMENT TO YOU, AND WITHOUT COMPASSION FOR THE SICK AND POOR OF THE WORLD. SATISFY US WITH THAT WHICH IS ETERNAL IN YOU, THE EVER-LIVING CHRIST. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
GOD OF THE LIVING, CHRIST OF THE RESURRECTION, ETERNAL SPIRIT, WE REJOICE IN THE SURVIVAL OF THE CHURCH, GIVING THANKS THAT THE MESSAGE THAT CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM DEATH HAS BEEN HEARD AND BELIEVED BY MANY, FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES TO THIS DAY. WE LIVE IN JOYFUL BELIEF THAT IT IS NOT A DELUSION AND THAT WE ARE NOT LOST IN OUR SINS. YOU HAVE VINDICATED THE CHRIST IN RESURRECTION, AND RECEIVED HIM INTO HEAVEN TO INTERCEDE FOR US. GLORY BE TO YOU, O GOD, NOW AND ALWAYS. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
THOUGH OUR LIVES, O GOD, ARE NOT AS FRUITFUL AS THEY WILL BE, RECEIVE WHAT WE ARE, AND WHAT WE WILL BECOME, AND WHATEVER WE MAY ACCOMPLISH, BY YOUR GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
PSALM 1
Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
NOR LINGERED IN THE WAY OF SINNERS,
(ALL) NOR SAT IN THE SEATS OF THE SCORNFUL!
Their delight is in the law of the Lord,
AND THEY MEDITATE ON HIS LAW DAY AND NIGHT.
They are like trees planted by streams of waters,
BEARING FRUIT IN DUE SEASON, WITH LEAVES THAT DO NOT WITHER;
(ALL) EVERYTHING THEY DO SHALL PROSPER.
It is not so with the wicked;
THEY ARE LIKE CHAFF WHICH THE WIND BLOWS AWAY.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes,
NOR THE SINNER IN THE COUNCIL OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
BUT THE WAY OF THE WICKED IS DOOMED.
Put your confidence in God and you will not be disappointed. If you put your trust in people, you will be frustrated if they prove to be not trustworthy.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
DESPITE YOUR WARNINGS THROUGH PROPHETS AND PSALMISTS, GOD OF TRUTH, WE ARE FREQUENTLY DECEIVED
BY THE SILKS AND SATINS OF PALACES AND CATHEDRALS. WE MISPLACE OUR TRUST WHEN WE PUT OUR TRUST IN SUCH PERSONS AND NOT IN YOU. YOU FREQUENTLY SPEAK THROUGH ROUGH AND READY PERSONS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST. HEAL THE SICK THROUGH POOR PEOPLE LIKE JESUS OF NAZARETH, COMFORT THE DYING THROUGH SERVANTS LIKE MOTHER THERESA OF CALCUTTA FORGIVE OUR ADMIRATION OF FALSE GLORIES, THROUGH JESUS OUR SAVIOR. AMEN
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! You are blessed if you do not find Jesus Christ to be a stumbling block, and believe the Good News he preaches to the poor. Friends, believe the Good News. IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN.
EXHORTATION
Beware of the frivolous life. These joys soon disappear. Following Christ may not always be easy, but the rewards are enduring.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
SAVE US, SON OF MAN, CHILD OF GOD, FROM THE CASUAL LIFE WITHOUT COMMITMENT TO YOU, AND WITHOUT COMPASSION FOR THE SICK AND POOR OF THE WORLD. SATISFY US WITH THAT WHICH IS ETERNAL IN YOU, THE EVER-LIVING CHRIST. AMEN
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
GOD OF THE LIVING, CHRIST OF THE RESURRECTION, ETERNAL SPIRIT, WE REJOICE IN THE SURVIVAL OF THE CHURCH, GIVING THANKS THAT THE MESSAGE THAT CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM DEATH HAS BEEN HEARD AND BELIEVED BY MANY, FROM THE TIME OF THE APOSTLES TO THIS DAY. WE LIVE IN JOYFUL BELIEF THAT IT IS NOT A DELUSION AND THAT WE ARE NOT LOST IN OUR SINS. YOU HAVE VINDICATED THE CHRIST IN RESURRECTION, AND RECEIVED HIM INTO HEAVEN TO INTERCEDE FOR US. GLORY BE TO YOU, O GOD, NOW AND ALWAYS. AMEN
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
THOUGH OUR LIVES, O GOD, ARE NOT AS FRUITFUL AS THEY WILL BE, RECEIVE WHAT WE ARE, AND WHAT WE WILL BECOME, AND WHATEVER WE MAY ACCOMPLISH, BY YOUR GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
PSALM 1
Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
NOR LINGERED IN THE WAY OF SINNERS,
(ALL) NOR SAT IN THE SEATS OF THE SCORNFUL!
Their delight is in the law of the Lord,
AND THEY MEDITATE ON HIS LAW DAY AND NIGHT.
They are like trees planted by streams of waters,
BEARING FRUIT IN DUE SEASON, WITH LEAVES THAT DO NOT WITHER;
(ALL) EVERYTHING THEY DO SHALL PROSPER.
It is not so with the wicked;
THEY ARE LIKE CHAFF WHICH THE WIND BLOWS AWAY.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes,
NOR THE SINNER IN THE COUNCIL OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
BUT THE WAY OF THE WICKED IS DOOMED.
