Worship Guide
January 28, 2024
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “Old Rugged Cross” Charles
Centering Words:
What have you to do with me, Jesus of Nazareth? What have you to do with my joys and my hopes, with my hurts and my losses? Come with grace and mercy.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Fount of Life, Glorious One, your great works are full of honor and majesty:
People: the earth that we stand on, the trees that shade us, the birds that soar above us.
Leader: Ever-Living God, Generous One, your goodness and faithfulness endure forever:
People: the wisdom we learn, the justice we long and work for, the hope you offer.
Leader: Sheltering God, Healing One, you remember your covenant and its promises to us:
People: the grace and mercy you give, the healing you offer, the tenderness you show to us.
Leader: The works of your hands are faithful and just. Your teachings are trustworthy and true.
People: Your praise endures forever!
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Faithful God, we stand in this congregation to give you thanks with our whole hearts, for your works are great. Your massive power upholds the universe, and yet it is so intimate, it upholds our lives, tiny in scale of the galaxies. You provide food for us and for all your creatures, from goldfish to whales, hummingbirds to eagles, ants to elephants. You nurture life in the seas, yet watch over the deserts. Your work is full of honor and majesty. Thank you for being mindful of us all, remembering your promises. May your creative love and faithful power endure forever. Amen.
Hymn: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, ye ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye martyrs of your God, who from his altar call;
extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown him Lord of all.
O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
God holds true to God’s promises and sends redemption to God’s people.
Let us rejoice in the God who remembers and redeems.
Amen
*Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16 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.” 17 Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. 18 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. 19 Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20 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.”
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Words and Actions”
Hymn: “When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee”
When Jesus the healer passed through Galilee,
Heal us, heal us today!
the deaf came to hear and blind came to see.
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
A paralyzed man was let down through a roof.
Heal us, heal us today!
His sins were forgiven, his walking the proof.
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
The death of his daughter caused Jairus to weep.
Heal us, heal us today!
The Lord took her hand, and he raised her from sleep.
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
When blind Bartimaeus cried out to the Lord,
Heal us, heal us today!
His faith made him whole and his sight was restored.
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
The lepers were healed and the demons cast out.
Heal us, heal us today!
A bent woman straightened to laugh and to shout.
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
The twelve were commissioned and sent out in twos,
Heal us, heal us today!
to make the sick whole and to spread the good news.
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
There's still so much sickness and suffering today.
Heal us, heal us today!
We gather together for healing and pray:
Heal us, Lord Jesus!
Sermon: “Among Your Own People” Mark 1:21-28
21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 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.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 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.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “O How I Love Jesus”
There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth,
it sounds like music in the ear, the sweetest name on earth.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.
It tells me of a Savior's love, who died to set me free;
it tells me of his precious blood, the sinner's perfect plea.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.
It tells of one whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe;
who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.
Psalter: The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his 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;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God
the Father Almighty.
From thence he shall come
to judge the quick 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.
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “I Love to Tell the Story”
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
Benediction
