Home Church 4th Sunday after Epiphany, January 31, 2021 Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church 4th Sunday after Epiphany, Theological Banquet: Evangelical, January 31, 2021,Rev. Karen Hollis

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

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! 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. Today we are learning about the first of Janet Gear’s theological streams: Evangelical. You will hear this theology through the words of the liturgy, the scriptures, songs and sermon. This is the theological stream that proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world and supports people in committing to and developing a relationship with Jesus.

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.

Chant: Lord Jesus Christ  (composer Fr. Krystian Golisz)  Hiromi Bradshaw    

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us sinners

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: Tim Hughs

One:    Light of the world; you stepped down into darkness

All:      You opened my eyes and let me see the beauty that made

            my heart adore you.

One:    We come, Lord to worship you, to bow down before you.

All:      Here I am to say that You're my God; You're altogether lovely, and worthy of our worship and praise.

Opening Prayer: Read the prayer slowly.     Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have won for us, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, today and every day.

Hymn: Blessed Assurance  VU #337

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of the Spirit, washed in Christ's blood.

[Refrain:]
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Saviour am happy and blessed;
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with God's goodness, lost in Christ's love. [Refrain]

Prayer of Confession

Christ, our Lord, we need you . . . we even cling to you. We need your saving power in our lives . . . we need it so much sometimes that we focus in on ourselves out of fear of losing you. Receive us O God in our fear of being unworthy of your love and grace.

Assurance of Grace

Jesus says: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you until the end of the age.” This journey of faith with Jesus is life-long, a constant relationship where we continue to learn and deepen what it is to follow him.

Peace of Christ

Praise be to Christ who offers peace to all who seek him. Let us share this peace with one another!

The Peace of Christ be with you!

And also with you!

First Reading: Acts 4:8-12  (NRSV)   Don Butt

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’

Gospel Reading  Alex McConnell

One:    God be with you.          

All:      And also with you

One:    The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Mark

All:      Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 1:21-28

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection: Proclaiming Jesus - Rev Karen Hollis (see attached)

Silent Reflection

Apostle’s Creed: Let us affirm our faith . . .

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 People - Susan Brockley (see attached)                          

One:    Holy One,

All:      Hear Our 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                                                                     

Let us pray . . .

All that we are and all that we have is yours, O God. We pray in thanksgiving for your work in us and the relationship we have with you. Your saving gospel brings light and hope to us so that we may bring good news to the world. As we move into this week, lead us to the places of need, call us to the work in the world that is ours, that we may partner with you in the coming of your kingdom on earth. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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.

Song: Amazing Grace John Newton

1 Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

2 'Twas grace first taught my heart to fear
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

5 When we've been there ten thousand years
bright shining as the sun,
we've no less days to sing God's praise
than when we'd first begun.

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.

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

Female: 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!

 

           

 

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