Home Church, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, January 16, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, January 16, 2022, Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Preparing the Space Around Us

Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. 

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Greeting
One:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

          and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:    And also with you       

Call to Worship      Enfleshed

One:  Holy are the moments that catch our breath,

          catch our attention,

          catch us off guard with the wonders of being alive.

All:    The surprises of God hearten and revive!

One:  God points us back to the riches of life before us.

All:    The world is pouring out blessings of beauty.

One:  Kinship and community enable lasting joy.

All:    The faithful gifts of God are simple and abundant.

One:  We gather to remember and to treasure every one.

Opening Prayer     Enfleshed

God of glory, God of joy, God of ordinary wonders, come and usher us toward life. Keep us from losing touch with the miracles all around us: The way love persists. The way the earth holds us. The way it’s never too late for new beginnings. Make a way for us, back to the simple truths that sustain. Amen.

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down v. 1,2,4   VU #395

 1 You know the reason why you came,

  yet no reason can explain;

  so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,

  for we are a part of the family.

[Refrain]

Come in, come in and sit down,

you are a part of the family.

We are lost and we are found,

and we are a part of the family

2 God is with us in this place,

like a mother's warm embrace.

We're all forgiven by God's grace,

for we are a part of the family. [Refrain]

4 There's rest for the weary and health for us all;

there's a yoke that is easy, and a burden that's small.

So come in and worship and answer the call,

for we are a part of the family. [Refrain]

Prayer of Confession      BAS

Most Merciful God,

We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Grace        Enfleshed, adapted

God does not bind us to our regrets or forever hold us to what we once believed. God’s love meets you where you are and calls you beloved.

Peace of Christ 

Wherever new life is desired, may the peace of Christ be welcomed among us. Let us share this peace with one another.

A-M: The Peace of Christ be with you!

N-Z: And also with you!

First Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5       Reader: Christine Blackburn

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

Second Reading: Psalm 36 (Voices United)   Reader: Christine Blackburn

Your steadfast love, O God, extends to the heavens,

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

       Your righteousness is like the mountains, O God,

       your judgements are like the great deep;

       all living things you save.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

       They feast on the abundance of your house,

       and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

       Continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

       and your salvation to the upright in heart.

Gospel Reading     Reader: Don Moser

One:  God be with you.            

All:    And also with you.

One:  The Good News of Jesus Christ according to John;

All:    Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 2:1-11 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ        

Reflection

Silent Reflection

Affirmation of Faith

You are the new song.

You are the next beat in my heart.

You are the praise and possibility.

You are the present and the future.

I believe the Light of the World has come this day.

I see it now in all days.

Those gone and those to come aflame in love.

Your love wrapped in human form,

Your love learned in justice and in mercy,

Your love risen over death.

I believe love has come on this day.

I believe love has and will always come.               

Prayers of the People     Paddy Waymark

One:  God of Light,

All:    Hear Our Prayers

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                  

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering      Enfleshed, adapted

There is so much joy in choosing community. This is where we remember that we are not alone. This is where we remember that who we are is enough. This is where we remember that coming together creates new possibilities. In a posture of thanks and praise (perhaps hand on heart; hands in prayer, hands out stretched), let us join together in the offering prayer . . .                        

Offering Prayer    Enfleshed, adapted

Loving God, we come in celebration and gratitude for all the gifts of this community, both given and received. Plant what we have given in the lush soil of your grace and root this gratitude economy for the flourishing of generations to come. Amen.

Hymn: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise      VU #264

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;

thy justice like mountains high soaring above

thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;

in all life. thou livest, the true life of all;

we blossom and flourish, like leaves on the tree,

then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

4 Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light,

thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

all laud we would render, O help us to see

'tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing        Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:      The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,  guiding you, cherishing you.

A-M:      The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories, feeding you, challenging you.

N-Z:       The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:        The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:      Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:        Thanks be to God! Alleluia!