Home Church Service Third Sunday after Epiphany Jan. 24, 2021:

Home Church 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Theological Banquet: Spiritual January 24, 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 Spiritual stream of Janet Gear’s Theological Banquet. You will hear this theology through the words of the liturgy, the scriptures, songs and sermon. This is the theology that seeks wisdom, awakening, and union with God.

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: Spiritus Sanctus (Holy Spirit)  St.Hildegard von Bingen

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:   1 Kings 19

One:    God said to Elijah, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the    Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

All:      There was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting   mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord,

One:    but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an        earthquake,

All:      but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the     earthquake a fire,

One:    but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

Opening Prayer  Read the prayer slowly.  J. P. Newell

Let us pray: Glory be to you, O God of silence.

In the depths of life that we find you

at the heart of this moment

at the centre of our soul

deep in the earth and its eternal stirrings.

You are the Ground of all being

the Well-Spring of time

Womb of the earth

the Seed-Force of stars.

So at the opening of this day, we wait

not for blessings from afar, but for You

the very Soil of our soul

the early Freshness of morning

the first Breath of day.

Hymn: Open My Eyes, That I May See  VU #371

1Open my eyes, that I may see

glimpses of truth thou hast for me;

place in my hands the wonderful key

that shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

2Open my ears, that I may hear

voices of truth thou sendest clear;

and while the wave-notes fall on my ear,

everything false will disappear.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!

3Open my mouth, and let me bear

gladly the warm truth everywhere;

open my heart and let me prepare

love with thy children thus to share.

Silently now I wait for thee,

ready, my God, thy will to see.

Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!    

Prayer of Confession                                  

When the world is chaotic and scary, we draw into ourselves for fear of losing ourselves. In the effort of self-preservation, we find ourselves in self-infatuation. The truth is . . .

You are God – not me, not us; ..... Sam Hamilton-Poore

help me to remember this simple fact each day.

You are the Centre of creation – not me, not us;

help us to recognize our place within the orbit of your grace.

You are the Source of all life – not me, not us;

let us find in you our kinship with all creation

Chant: Spiritus Sanctus (Holy Spirit)   Hiromi Bradshaw

Assurance of Grace

Do not fear, rather put your trust in God! In God we live and move and have our being, for God made this creation and called it good. God continues to move and work in and through the world – we need only open our eyes to see God’s magnificent works!

Peace of Christ

The peace of Christ makes us whole day by day, as we walk the pilgrim journey. This community is a touchstone along the way, so here in this sacred space, let us share the peace Christ brings.

The Peace of Christ be with you!

And also with you!

First Reading: Proverbs 8:1-2, 22-31 NRSV Translation by Robert Alter

Look Wisdom calls out,

  and discernment lifts her voice.
At the top of the heights, on the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand,

The Lord created me at the outset of His way,

  the very first of His works of old.

In remote eons I was shaped,

  at the start of the first things of earth.

When there were no deeps I was spawned,

  when there were no wellsprings, water sources.

Before mountains were anchored,

  before hills I was spawned.

He had yet not made earth and open land,

  and the world’s first clods of soil.

When he founded the heavens, I was there,

  when He traced a circle on the face of the deep,

when He propped up the skies above,

  when He powered the springs of the deep,

when He set to the sea its limit,

  that the waters not flout His command,

     when He strengthened the earth’s foundations.

And I was by Him, an intimate,

  I was His delight day after day,

     playing before Him at all times,

playing in the world, His earth,

       and my delight with humankind.

Gospel Reading                                                          

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 1:14-20

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 lake—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.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

 

Reflection:   Wisdom Journey                 

Silent Reflection

Affirmation of Faith: Let us affirm our 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:    Giver of Gifts

All:      Hear Our Prayers

Lord’s Prayer New Zealand Prayer Book – Jim Cotter

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom

sustain our hope and come one earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and for ever. Amen

Offering      J. P. Newell: Shelagh Huston

Let us pray . . .                                                           

For everything that emerges from the earth, thanks be to you, O God. Holy root of being, Sacred Sap that rises, Full-bodied Fragrance of earth’s unfolding form. May we know that we are of You; may we know that we are in You; may we know that we are one with You; together one. Guide us as nations to what is deepest; open us as peoples to what is first; lead us as a world to what is dearest, that we may learn the strength of humility and live close to the earth. Bless us O God, in the deepest parts of us and guide us in service of your creation.

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: Deep Peace       Celtic blessing, music Bill Douglas, recording Simon DeVoil

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the son of peace to you

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.

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

Male:     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!