Hybrid Church Fourth Sunday after Epiphany January 28, 2024

Hybrid Church

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

January 28, 2024

Presider: The Rev. Deborah van der Goes

Musician: Dorothy Dittrich

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!

Welcome & Announcements

Whether you are gathering in person, on zoom or worshipping at home with the bulletin, welcome! We are one community, one in the body of Christ. 

Centering & Stillness  

One:  We follow sound into silence and there we meet God (bell) 

(silence)

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

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

All:    And also with you

Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty                                  CP #384                                

The Collect                                                       Propers Working Group (2015)

Loving God, 

who has formed us and known us from our mother's womb, 

may we discern your call to us, 

so that we may recognize your call to others. 

In the name of him who calls us 

from our homes to the ends of the earth. Amen.

All:    Amen

The Service of Wor                                                   

Reader: By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (NRSV)            Reader: Betty Schultze

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: ‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’ Then the Lord replied to me: ‘They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.’

Psalm 111 (NRSV)                                                                 Reader: Paddy Waymark                                                                          

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
   in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
   studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honour and majesty is his work,
   and his righteousness endures for ever.
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
   the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
   he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
   in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
   all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are established for ever and ever,
   to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people;
   he has commanded his covenant for ever.
   Holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
   all those who practise it have a good understanding.
   His praise endures for ever.

Gospel Reading                                            Reader: Deborah VanderGoes

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel. 

One:  God be with you.  
All:    And also with you

One:  The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Mark

All:     Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

Mark: 1:21-28 (NRSV)

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: “Authority?”

Hymn: Take My Life and Let It Be                                             CP #435

Creed               

One:  Let us declare our faith in God.

All:    I believe in God, the creator of the universe,

who spoke, “Let there be light!” and there was light,

setting in motion all of creation and blessing it to this day.

I believe in Jesus Christ, the light of the world

that shines in the darkness. The darkness cannot overcome it.

He embodied humanity in the image of God.

In kindness, truthfulness, humility and devotion,

He suffered for the greater good.

He was and is the Son of God.

He died on the cross for us,

God’s saving grace!

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the guiding light of God in our world.

Through his spirit, God penetrates and reveals

the darkness of human sin, helps people grow and

become the people they are meant to be.

I believe in the power of transformation,

through God’s spirit and light,

here in this world and in the world to come.

Amen.

Prayers of the People                                                          Susan Brockley

One:  Gracious and merciful Lord,

All:    Hear our Prayer

The Peace

Passing of the Peace

One:  The peace of Christ be with you! 

All:    And also with you!

You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another.

The Service of Holy Eucharist

(using the Eucharistic Prayer written for the Diocese of Islands and Inlets)                                           

Offering Invitation (while music is played)

One:  Let us now gather our offerings.             

Doxology (sung as offerings brought forward)                            CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Prayer Over The Gifts

God of steadfast love,

may our offering this day,

by the power of your Holy Spirit,

renew us for your service, 

we ask this in the name of Jesus,

whom we love and follow.

One:  And God be with you, with you all                               (Kingsfold sung)

All:    And also be with you

One:  Lift up your hearts, oh lift your hearts 

All:    We lift them to our God 

          Oh, let us give our thanks to God, our God of gracious light.

          It is right to give our thanks and praise, 

          our grateful hearts delight.

One:  It is indeed right that we should praise you,

God of love, our source and our fulfillment,

or you create all things and in you we live and move and have our being 

Your wonder is manifest in land and sea and sky. 

You made us in your image.

And even though we turn from you,

again and again you call us to yourself,

and in every age, promise liberation.

As a mother gathers her children,

you embraced a people as your own,

to nurture them in the way of compassionate love.

You sent Jesus among us,

Incarnate of the Holy Spirit and born of Mary.

Jesus revealed your love for all Creation,

and showed us the way of reconciliation.

Having lived among us - Jesus suffered the cross,

died, and in rising again

became the firstborn of the renewed family.

And so as we gather around your table,

With saints of every age and your beloved creation we raise our voices and sing

Sanctus                                                                                        MV #203

O holy, holy, holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.

Hosanna in the highest heaven, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

To you be glory, almighty God,

because on the night before he died,

Jesus took bread,

when he had given thanks,

he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said

Take, eat, this is my body

which is given for you; do this to remember me.

After supper he took the cup;

when he had given thanks,

he gave it to them and said

Drink this all of you.

This is my blood of the new covenant,

Poured out for you and for many;

do this to remember me.

Great is the mystery of faith.

Memorial Acclamation                                                               MV #204

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again! 

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Recalling Christ’s death and resurrection, we ask you to accept this, our sacrifice of praise. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine that we may be fed with the body and blood of your Son.  When all of creation groans, unite us in Christ and give us your hope that we might be strengthened to do your work, as your body in the world.  Through Christ our Redeemer, in the power of the Spirit, all praise and glory be yours, Almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

The Prayer of Jesus (a paraphrase)                                            (VU #916)

One:  As Jesus taught us, let us pray together

All:    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 peoples of the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!  

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. 

          With the bread that we need for today, feed us. 

          In the hurts that 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 that is evil, free us. 

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

          now and forever. Amen. 

The Breaking of Bread

One:  The One who defeated death and injustice is now present in this bread. The One who offers our life promise and hope is now present in this wine. 

All:    Breaking into our lives and community,   

          We ask God for new life in Christ.

(Communion is Shared)

Prayer After Communion

Source of all goodness,

In this Eucharist

We are nourished by the bread of Jesus

And invigorated with the Heaven sent Cup.

May these gifts renew our lives,

That we may show your glory all around us.

In the name of Jesus Christ

Whom we love and follow.

All: Amen

Hymn: Draw The Circle Wide                                                    CP #418

Blessing

One:  Now God keep you in all your days. 

          Christ shield you in all your ways. 

          The Spirit bring you healing and peace. 

          And God the Holy Trinity 

          Pour upon you blessing and light. 

All:    Amen.

 

One:  Go in Peace. Remember the poor.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia