4 Epiphany Jan 29

CALL TO WORSHIP

We are blessed when we hunger for justice and thirst for reconciliation.

Our souls are nourished by God's hope and grace.

We are blessed when we grieve over the brokenness of the world,

choosing, as God does, to be with those who are weak and powerless.

We are blessed when we become God's fools,

willing to do what is right and good, not what is easy.

GATHERING SONG “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” #659

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Holy God, you confound the world's wisdom in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in our words and deeds the world may see the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: Micah 6:1-8

Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.

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

SECOND LESSON: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

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

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Matthew 5:1-12

The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

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

SERMON “A New World” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “Blest Are They” #728

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 SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

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

NOISY OFFERING

THE SERVICE OF PRAYERS FOR HEALING

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Let us pray for all who suffer, that all in pain or grief or any kind of suffering may find strength and peace in Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those whose hearts are broken and whose hope has vanished, that their trust in God’s promises may be renewed in Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for recovery from sickness, that God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of the suffering, may grant God’s healing power, that in Christ their sickness may be turned to health and our sorrow to joy. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for those who serve in the professions of healing, that God may guide physicians and nurses and all those called to practice the arts of healing. Strengthen them by your spirit so that the health of all people may be promoted and Christ glorified. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the ministry of family and friends. Give strength and gentleness, patience and faithfulness to family members and friends. Let their love be in you, and by their ministry of love let your love be made known. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all those who depend upon our prayers. Blessed Lord, we ask your loving care and protection for those who are sick in body, mind, or spirit and who desire our prayers. Take from them all fears and help them put their trust in you, that they may feel your strong arms around them. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

A reading from Saint Luke: When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. (Luke 4:40)

Those who are able, please take hold of the hand of someone near:

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, send your Holy Spirit upon your servants, drive away all sickness of body and spirit; make whole that which is broken; deliver us from the power of evil; and preserve us in true faith, to share in the power of Christ’s resurrection and to serve you with all the saints now and evermore.

The almighty Lord — a strong tower to all who put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow and whom they obey — be now and evermore your defense, and make you know and feel that the Lord Jesus Christ is given for health and salvation for all the world. Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “Joyful, Joyful”

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE “Jesus is the Rock and He rolls my Blues Away”

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.