January 17, 2021 – 2nd After Epiphany
Prelude VU #87 I am the Light of the World
Thoughts to Ponder:
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” – Winston Churchill
“The first duty of love is to listen.” – Paul Tillich
Welcome, Announcements, Life & Work of the Church
Acknowledgement of the Territories
Sharing the Peace of Christ:
Leader: May the Peace of Christ be with you.
Response: And also with you.
Call to Worship:
Call to worship (based on Psalm 139)
Before we were born, God knew us.
God knit us together in the womb.
God searches out our paths, and guides us along our way.
So, we praise God, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
There is nowhere we can go where God is not with us.
How wonderful are all God’s works! Let us worship God together.
Gathering Prayer:
God ever creating, ever loving, ever leading,
You are stillness when we simply can’t slow down;
You are truth when we are bewildered.
You call us to freedom when we are paralyzed by fear;
You send us light when we stumble in the darkness.
You are love when we feel lonely and empty.
For all that you are, all that you have been, and all that you will be for us,
we praise you, Creator, Christ, Spirit.
We now turn to you in this time of worship,
to listen for your voice and seek your way for us. Amen.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Children’s Time: Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs
Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
Merciful God,
you call us to fullness of life but we have settled for much less.
We have wandered from your ways and wasted your gifts.
We ignore the pain of others, and turn our faces from injustice.
At times we have hidden from the truth,
especially when it calls us to do what we are afraid to do.
We have given up in despair when problems around us seem overwhelming.
Forgive us our small faith.
Give us courage to listen and respond when you call.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture:
1 Samuel 3:1–10, (11-20) God calls to Samuel
Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18 God has searched me and known me
John 1:43–51 Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael
Reflection: Have Your Ears Tingled Lately?
Hymn Bits – God is Calling
Prayers of the People (with Responses)
God, speak to us a word of …
Embrace us with your love.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Minute for Mission: Residential School Survivor Answers the Call to Ministry
Invitation to the Offering:
Prayer of Dedication:
God of new possibilities, in Christ you create a future for each of us, giving us strength and opportunities to flourish in our faith. Thank you for these gifts. Use them and us to create new possibilities in the world for those who are uncertain about what the future holds. Our gifts are a token of our trust that you hold the future for us all. Amen.
VU #508 Just as I Am
Benediction:
Prayers based on the prayers for January 17th, 2021 by the Presbyterian Church of Canada. Altered by JMB for this context.
