Worship Guide
February 4, 2024
Fifth 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: “Still” Stefanie
Centering Words:
The mighty one speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. God calls to the heavens and to the earth, “Gather to me my faithful ones.”
*Call to Worship:
Leader: As we live and as God lives,
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: When fire devours and storms blow us astray,
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: When truth is veiled and confusion reigns,
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: When the world changes around us,
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: When we long to speak but find no words,
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: When all around us is silent,
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: When faithfulness feels beyond us
People: God will not leave us.
Leader: As we live and as God lives,
People: we worship the One who will not leave us.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Holy One, when the world is full of confusion and your message is hard to perceive, still, we can see you. Still, your presence shines– a light to illuminate the shadows. When we cannot find a way to speak your story, let your being shine in us and through us, that we may reflect your glory, and your grace. Amen
Hymn: “Majesty, Worship His Majesty”
Majesty, worship his majesty;
unto Jesus be all glory, honor and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority,
flow from his throne
unto his own; his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high
the name of Jesus,
Magnify, come glorify
Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified,
King of all Kings.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
When we have turned away and have lost our way– still, God is with us; still God will not leave us.
When we have stopped looking for God– God is still looking for us, shining as brightly as we need, so we can find and be found again… and again.
Praises be to our God. Amen
*Old Testament Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-12
1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Be Like Jesus”
Hymn: “How Great Thou Art”
O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds they hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
thy power through-out the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
and there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
how great thou art, how great thou art!
Sermon: “Crossing Over” Mark 9:2-9
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Shine, Jesus, Shine”
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory,
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire;
flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
Lord, the light of your is shining
in the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the Word, shine upon us,
set us free by the truth you now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory,
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire;
flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
Lord, I come to your awesome presence
from the shadows into your radiance;
by the blood I may enter your brightness,
search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory,
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire;
flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
As we gaze on your kingly brightness,
so our faces display your likeness;
ever changing from glory to glory,
mirrored here may our lives tell your story.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father's glory,
blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire;
flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy,
send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.
Psalter: The Apostle’s 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.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the son
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Amen.
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Days of Elijah”
These are the days of Elijah,
declaring the Word of the Lord.
And these are the days of your servant, Moses;
righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trials,
of famine and darkness and sword,
still we are the voice in the desert crying
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
These are the days of Ezekiel,
the dry bones becoming as flesh.
And these are the days of your servant, David,
rebuilding the temple of praise.
And these are the days of the harvest;
the fields are as white in the world.
And we are the laborers in your vineyard
declaring the Word of the Lord.
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
So lift your voice,
it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Benediction
