True worship is sharing with the needy
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
We worship God by giving ourselves in devotion to him.
People:
We have many forms of worship; but it is too easy to sit through these forms without giving ourselves to God.
Pastor:
That is why God asks for true worship to be expressed in the form of sharing this world's goods with the needy.
People:
May the worship we profess in the sanctuary find expression in genuine concern for the poor and hungry.
Collect
Almighty God, who requires worship to reach beyond ritual into the area of benevolent service: Inspire in us honest devotion which will motivate genuine love for those less fortunate, that we may enjoy the blessing of your guiding presence in our lives. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We have expressed our worship in too small a place, Father, and the real sanctuary of our world is desecrated by our unwillingness to share with our brothers. Forgive us for the empty expressions we have offered as worship, while failing to express our love by reaching out to others in need. Lead us by your Spirit in true worship, that we may feel our brothers' need, and minister to that need. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"O Brother Man, Fold to Thy Heart"
"The Voice of God Is Calling"
"We Thank Thee, Lord"
"Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life"
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 2:1-11
Theme:
God is the power of the gospel, not man
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The greatness of the gospel is not determined by the persons who proclaim it.
People:
The gospel is great because it is God's revelation of his love and power.
Pastor:
We need dedicated leaders to help us grow in the faith; but the real basis of faith is the presence of God in our lives.
People:
We ask God to help us stand firm in the faith, trusting in his power to redeem us.
Collect
Heavenly Father, whose very being is the gospel which thrills our hearts: Confirm our faith in you, that we may not let the frailities of human wisdom weaken our commitment to you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We know the gospel is your word, Father, and not man's. But we are prone to react to the gospel with indifference when we see undesirable qualities in those who proclaim it. Forgive us for our pettiness which prevents us from standing firm in the Christian Faith, with conviction to live committed lives. Add strength to our faith by the power of your Spirit as we witness to one another. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Author of Faith, Eternal Word"
"How Firm a Foundation"
"How Great Thou Art"
"O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink"
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Gospel:
Matthew 5:13-16
Theme:
Engaged in self-giving ministry
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ has called his church into being to share his message of salvation with our world.
People:
The church has brought God's love to us; now we are commissioned to share his love with others.
Pastor:
Jesus used the illustrations of salt and light to show we have a caring and sharing ministry.
People:
We are in Christ's ministry. May God help us to be effective in that ministry.
Collect
Almighty God, who challenges your church with a ministry which lightens and enhances the lives of others: Lead us into committed service, that our ministry may bring wholeness to our world through Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We believe the church has the best message our world could hear, Father. But we become silent so easily; and we are like salt which has lost its taste, or a light that has grown dim. Forgive us for our lack of genuine concern and enthusiasm to give ourselves in ministry to our world. Refresh us by your Spirit, that we may accept your challenge and win others into your kingdom. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"
"Forth in Thy Name"
"O Thou Who Camest from Above"
"Rescue the Perishing"
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
First Lesson: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Theme:
Choose God and live
Call to Worship
Pastor:
God has created life in such a way, that evil cannot give the blessings which God gives to those who follow him.
People:
Those who follow the commandments of God are blessed with joy and happiness now and forever.
Pastor:
But the choice is ours whether we follow evil and perish, or choose God and live.
People:
We choose God. May we witness to that fact by our love, our obedience, and our discipleship.
Collect
Almighty God, who has set before us the choice of good or evil, with the promise of life or death: Convince us of your love, and of our need of your love, that we may not turn our hearts from you and perish in our sins. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We have made our choice to follow you, Father. But we forget that every day we must choose. Too often, our negligence to choose righteousness leads us into the way of sin. Forgive us for our failure to consciously decide each day to live in accordance with your will. Convict us of our sins, and share with us your forgiveness, that we may remain in fellowship with you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
"O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice"
"Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated"
"When We Walk with the Lord"
Pastor:
We worship God by giving ourselves in devotion to him.
People:
We have many forms of worship; but it is too easy to sit through these forms without giving ourselves to God.
Pastor:
That is why God asks for true worship to be expressed in the form of sharing this world's goods with the needy.
People:
May the worship we profess in the sanctuary find expression in genuine concern for the poor and hungry.
Collect
Almighty God, who requires worship to reach beyond ritual into the area of benevolent service: Inspire in us honest devotion which will motivate genuine love for those less fortunate, that we may enjoy the blessing of your guiding presence in our lives. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We have expressed our worship in too small a place, Father, and the real sanctuary of our world is desecrated by our unwillingness to share with our brothers. Forgive us for the empty expressions we have offered as worship, while failing to express our love by reaching out to others in need. Lead us by your Spirit in true worship, that we may feel our brothers' need, and minister to that need. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"O Brother Man, Fold to Thy Heart"
"The Voice of God Is Calling"
"We Thank Thee, Lord"
"Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life"
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 2:1-11
Theme:
God is the power of the gospel, not man
Call to Worship
Pastor:
The greatness of the gospel is not determined by the persons who proclaim it.
People:
The gospel is great because it is God's revelation of his love and power.
Pastor:
We need dedicated leaders to help us grow in the faith; but the real basis of faith is the presence of God in our lives.
People:
We ask God to help us stand firm in the faith, trusting in his power to redeem us.
Collect
Heavenly Father, whose very being is the gospel which thrills our hearts: Confirm our faith in you, that we may not let the frailities of human wisdom weaken our commitment to you. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We know the gospel is your word, Father, and not man's. But we are prone to react to the gospel with indifference when we see undesirable qualities in those who proclaim it. Forgive us for our pettiness which prevents us from standing firm in the Christian Faith, with conviction to live committed lives. Add strength to our faith by the power of your Spirit as we witness to one another. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Author of Faith, Eternal Word"
"How Firm a Foundation"
"How Great Thou Art"
"O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink"
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Gospel:
Matthew 5:13-16
Theme:
Engaged in self-giving ministry
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Christ has called his church into being to share his message of salvation with our world.
People:
The church has brought God's love to us; now we are commissioned to share his love with others.
Pastor:
Jesus used the illustrations of salt and light to show we have a caring and sharing ministry.
People:
We are in Christ's ministry. May God help us to be effective in that ministry.
Collect
Almighty God, who challenges your church with a ministry which lightens and enhances the lives of others: Lead us into committed service, that our ministry may bring wholeness to our world through Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We believe the church has the best message our world could hear, Father. But we become silent so easily; and we are like salt which has lost its taste, or a light that has grown dim. Forgive us for our lack of genuine concern and enthusiasm to give ourselves in ministry to our world. Refresh us by your Spirit, that we may accept your challenge and win others into your kingdom. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"
"Forth in Thy Name"
"O Thou Who Camest from Above"
"Rescue the Perishing"
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
First Lesson: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Theme:
Choose God and live
Call to Worship
Pastor:
God has created life in such a way, that evil cannot give the blessings which God gives to those who follow him.
People:
Those who follow the commandments of God are blessed with joy and happiness now and forever.
Pastor:
But the choice is ours whether we follow evil and perish, or choose God and live.
People:
We choose God. May we witness to that fact by our love, our obedience, and our discipleship.
Collect
Almighty God, who has set before us the choice of good or evil, with the promise of life or death: Convince us of your love, and of our need of your love, that we may not turn our hearts from you and perish in our sins. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We have made our choice to follow you, Father. But we forget that every day we must choose. Too often, our negligence to choose righteousness leads us into the way of sin. Forgive us for our failure to consciously decide each day to live in accordance with your will. Convict us of our sins, and share with us your forgiveness, that we may remain in fellowship with you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Have Thine Own Way, Lord"
"O Happy Day, That Fixed My Choice"
"Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated"
"When We Walk with the Lord"
