3 Epiphany January 21

CALL TO WORSHIP PSALM 62:5–12

For God alone I wait in silence; truly, my hope is in God.

God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.

In God is my deliverance and my honor;

God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in God always, O people,

pour out your hearts before the one who is our refuge.

Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath; those of low estate cannot be trusted.

Placed on the scales together they weigh even less than a breath.

Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride;

though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, that power belongs to God.

Steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord, for you repay all according to their deeds.

GATHERING SONG “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” #815

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

As God's beloved children, let us call to mind our sin

and our need for reconciliation with God and one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Strong and faithful God,

we confess that we have not lived as your holy people in the world.

We have closed our hearts to your love.

We have resisted your light.

We have failed to proclaim your mercy.

Forgive what we have done and what we have left undone,

heal us with your abundant grace,

and help us walk as children of the light.

Amen.

Rejoice in this good news: In ☩ Christ Jesus, your sins are forgiven.

You are descendants of the Most High, adopted into the household of Christ,

and inheritors of eternal life. Live as freed and forgiven children of God.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service.

Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call,

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

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

THE SECOND LESSON: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

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

GOSPEL SONG “Jesus Calls Us; o'er the Tumult” #696

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Mark 1:14-20

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

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

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

SERMON “Follow” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “Follow Me"

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 INTERCESSION

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 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

SENDING SONG “Jesus Shall Reign” #434

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. 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.