2 Epiphany January 14

GATHERING SONGS “Here I Am, Lord” #574

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who stretches out the heavens,

who sends light to the nations, who gives breath to us all. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Loving God,

we confess that we have turned from your way to follow our own ways.

Forgive us for the times

we have spoken or acted too quickly;

we have not spoken or acted at all;

we have hurt those closest to us;

we have hurt those we have yet to know;

we have thought more about ourselves than others;

we have thought less of ourselves than we ought.

Turn us around, and give us a fresh start, so that we can live again as your children. Amen.

Even when we have done wrong, God makes us right.

Even when we have messed up, God puts us together.

God’s love never runs out. God never tires of calling us beloved children.

Hear God say to you now: Your sins are forgiven, for the sake of ☩ Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, most merciful redeemer, for the countless blessings and benefits you give. May we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day praising you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: 1 Samuel 3:1-11, 19-20

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' “So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Then the LORD said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.”

As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 139:1-6, 13-18

LORD, you have searched me out; O LORD, you have known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O LORD, know it altogether.

You encompass me, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I will thank you because I am marvelously made; your works are wonderful,

and I know it well.

How deep I find your thoughts, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: John 1:43–51

The holy gospel according to Saint John. Glory to you, O Lord.

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON “Follow Me” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “O Jesus, I Have Promised” #810

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let Us Pray.

God of power, God of plenty, all things belong to you.

We bring your gifts to the table, that all might be fed.

Form us into the body of your Beloved, Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Amen.

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,

forever and ever. AMEN

BLESSING

The God of glory, ☩ Jesus Christ, name above all names,

and the Spirit who lives in you, bless you now and forever.

Amen.

SENDING SONG “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” #674

SENDING

Go in peace. You are God’s beloved. Thanks be to God.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.