Sunday January 13, 2013
Year C, First Sunday after the Epiphany
First Sunday after the Epiphany :: Green :: Isaiah 43:1-7 :: Psalm 29 :: Acts 8:14-17 :: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Adapted from Psalm 29
L: Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
P: Ascribe to the LORD, glory and strength.
L: Ascribe to the LORD the glory of God’s name;
P: And worship the LORD in holy splendor.
L: The LORD rules over all nature.
P: The LORD sits enthroned as eternal ruler.
L: May the LORD give strength to the people!
P: May the LORD bless the people with peace!
Invocation:
Remind us O God, who rules all nature and all time. Remind us of your sovereignty; remind us of your love. We have gathered in this place to offer our worship and our praise, help us to remember. Help us recall as from the mouth of the prophet “The one who created you, O Jacob; the one who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Make us aware of your presence, of your concern, and of your care. Hear our prayers O God, and heed our petitions, for we offer in the trust and the name of the one you sent to save us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Stewardship Moment:
The book of Acts recounts the story of Peter and John coming to Samaria to pray for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit. If we stop reading too soon, though, we miss the story of Simon, who wanted to pay Peter and John to give him the power to convey the Holy Spirit too. The account explains clearly that you cannot obtain God’s gift with money. Why am I bringing this up at Offering Time? Because that is not what we are doing here. The gifts we bring are not in any way a “purchasing of the faith” or a “paying for what we receive here.” No, the gifts we bring are meant to be an expression of our gratitude and trust for all God has done for us, and all God is going to do.
You have received the gifts of God freely, because God loves you. Now is the time we express our love and thanksgiving to God, by bringing gifts to lay before the Master. Let us now receive those gifts.
Offertory Prayer:
Eternal God, we do indeed bring our gifts before you. Help us to recognize your hand at work in each of our lives. Help us to see the blessings of an eternal ruler, who loves us enough not only to give a Son, but also a Spirit, without charge or cost. Help these gifts express our true gratitude before you, O LORD. Amen.
Communion Meditation:
Welcome to the Baptismal Table. No, I didn’t misspeak. What I said was intentional. In baptism, like Christ, we are buried, and we are raised to live in newness of life. In baptism we are washed of our sin, and made clean before God. Each time we come to this table we renew our baptism. We remember Jesus promise of broken body and New Covenant. We remember our baptism. And I believe that each we take the bread and drink the cup God looks down on each of us and says “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.” Come and receive God’s gifts of redemption and salvation.
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