Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 40:21–31
Have you not heard? The Lord strengthens those who are weak.
Psalm 147:1–11, 20c
Sing praise to the Lord, who gathers, heals, and feeds us.
1 Corinthians 9:16–23
Paul says: Everything I do is for the sake of proclaiming the gospel.
Mark 1:29–39
Jesus heals many people; in the morning he steals away to pray.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
God gathers us together in this place.
Let us sing praise to the Lord.
God heals the brokenhearted
and binds up our wounds.
Let us sing praise to the Lord.
God lifts the downtrodden
and casts out wickedness.
Let us sing praise to the Lord.
We sing to God with thanksgiving.
Let us worship God!
Prayer of the Day
Restoring God,
teach us to steal away and pray.
We give thanks that you continue to heal.
You continue to cast out those things we ought not have in us.
Help us to perceive what you are doing among us,
that we might learn your voice among the many that call for our loyalty
and be better equipped to do the work you have for us.
Restore us to community
and show us how to live in gratitude,
freed from the bondage of sin.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the faith, hope, and love you give to us
through the blessing of our baptism—
claiming us as your beloved children,
calling us to the path of discipleship,
revealing to us the light of your glory.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
help us to follow you with faith,
to trust in you with hope,
and to serve you with love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Nothing can be hidden from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth,
whose wisdom is endless,
whose mercy is great.
Isaiah 40:27–28
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
O God you bring healing to our lives
and comfort to our hearts.
Forgive us, O Lord, when we contribute
to the things that break your heart.
You would have us share our gifts with the world,
but we keep our resources close and our minds closed.
You would have us live in faithful community,
but we isolate ourselves and eye our neighbors with mistrust.
You would have us see all people as our siblings,
but we try to separate ourselves from anyone
whose existence challenges our comfort.
Forgive us, O God, by your grace,
and free us to be agents of your healing.
Lifting water from the font:
Those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will rise up to fly like eagles,
they will run and not be weary,
they will walk and not grow faint.
Isaiah 40:31
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
God of shining splendor,
your voice makes the earth tremble in wonder.
Overshadow us with your Spirit
so that we may hear your Word
and live as faithful disciples
and covenant people;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Speak to us, Lord,
for your servants are listening.
1 Samuel 3:9–10
After the readings:
A new teaching, with authority!
Thanks be to God.
Mark 1:27
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord who speaks to us,
and strengthens us,
and blesses us with peace,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Psalm 29:1, 11
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Time after Epiphany
In Jesus of Nazareth,
true humanity was realized once for all.
Jesus, a Palestinian Jew,
lived among his own people
and shared their needs, temptations,
joys, and sorrows.
He expressed the love of God
in word and deed
and became a brother
to all kinds of sinful men and women.
But his complete obedience
led him into conflict with his people.
His life and teaching judged their goodness,
religious aspirations, and national hopes.
Many rejected him and demanded his death.
In giving himself freely for them,
he took upon himself the judgment
under which everyone stands convicted.
God raised him from the dead,
vindicating him as Messiah and Lord.
The victim of sin became victor,
and won the victory
over sin and death for all.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.08
Prayers of the People
Mindful of the many needs around us,
we turn to God for help and healing, saying:
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for the church . . .
Let all that we say and do
be done for the sake of the gospel,
sharing the blessing and joy of salvation.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for the world . . .
Lift up the downtrodden, gather up the outcast,
rebuild ruined cities, and heal this wounded planet,
so that all people and creatures may praise you.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for this community . . .
Show us how to help the neighbors
who are gathered around our door,
welcoming them with the love of Jesus.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for loved ones . . .
Reach out to those who are sick or hurting.
By your healing touch, lift them up
so that they may live to serve you.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Gracious God, turn our mourning into dancing
and change our sorrow into joy,
so that we may give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
There is only one Lord and God,
from whom all things come
and for whom we live.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
We praise and thank you, Lord God,
for the majesty of your work,
the wisdom of your word,
and the generosity of your grace.
Let the gifts of our lives bear witness
to your goodness and mercy,
your faithfulness and justice,
and your steadfast love for all. Amen.
Psalm 111
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are the Holy One, creator of the universe.
You sit above the circle of the earth and stretch out the heavens above us.
You lift us up so that we may run and not be weary, walk and not faint.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
He healed those who were sick and cured those who were possessed.
He showed us the value of solitude and prayer,
as well as the calling to proclaim your message of love to the world.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Your Spirit challenges us to meet others where they are,
sharing the good news of hope and grace as we find them,
all for the sake of the gospel, that we may share in its blessing.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
We give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ,
for the gifts of grace
we have received from your hand.
Now send us forth to reflect your light,
proclaiming your saving death and resurrection
until you come again in glory. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
Beloved children of God,
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,
the grace of Jesus Christ,
and the blessing of the Lord forever. Alleluia!
Mark 1:11, 9:7
As Jesus called the first disciples,
so he calls to us this day:
Follow me. Amen.
Mark 1:17, John 1:43
Christ in the Wilderness
Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi, 1872
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- From All That Dwell Below the Skies (O) LASST UNS ERFREUEN GTG 327
- Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty (O) LOBE DEN HERREN GTG 35
- O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (EG) AZMON GTG 610
- O God, in a Mysterious Way (O) DUNDEE GTG 30
WORD
- As a Fire Is Meant for Burning (E) BEACH SPRING STF 2237
- Precious Lord, Take My Hand (OG) PRECIOUS LORD GTG 834
- We Come to You for Healing, Lord (G) LAND OF REST GTG 796
- You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord (On Eagle’s Wings) (O) ON EAGLE’S WINGS GTG 43
EUCHARIST
- Gracious Spirit, Heed our Pleading (E) NJOO KWETU, ROHO MWEMA GTG 287
- Healer of Our Every Ill (G) HEALER OF OUR EVERY ILL GTG 795
- O Lord, Hear My Prayer (OG) HEAR MY PRAYER GTG 471
- When at This Table (EG) FEASTDAY GTG 537
SENDING
- Go to the World! (EG) SINE NOMINE GTG 295
- God of Our Life (O) SANDON GTG 686
- Lord, You Give the Great Commission (G) ABBOT’S LEIGH GTG 298
- Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples (OEG) KINGSFOLD GTG 757
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- O Praise the Lord, for It Is Good [MINERVA]; PAS 147D, LUYH 549
- Praise the Lord Who Heals (Agatep); PAS 147B, LUYH 442
- Sing Praise to Our Creator [HARTFORD]; PAS 147E
- Sing to God, with Joy and Gladness [GLENDON, STUTTGART]; GTG 657, PAS 147C, KU 140
Responsorial
- We Sing to You, Lord; PSA 153
- Alleluia, Alleluia; PAS 147A
Organ Music
- “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” The Essential Dale Wood, Dale Wood, LOR (M)
- “Postlude on ‘Lobe den Herren,’” Let the Organ Sound! John Dixon, LOR (ME)
- “Abide with Me, O God of Bethel,” Joined in Song, Matthew McConnell, LOR (ME)
- “ABOTT’S LEIGH,” Two Hymntune Preludes for Organ, David Cherwien, GIA (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Have You Not Known,” K. Lee Scott, CON, SATB, brass, opt org (M)
- “Have You Not Known,” Andrew Bruhn, CGA, SATB, org (E)
- “Touch That Soothes and Heals,” Thomas Keesecker, AF, SATB, pno (M)
- “Fix Me, Jesus,” Augustus O. Hill, AMP, SATB div, solo, acap (M)
- “There Is a Balm in Gilead,” M. Roger Holland II, MSM, SATB, pno (M)
- “How Can I Keep from Singing,” Eric Nelson, AF, SATB, acap (A)
Handbell Music
- “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” Cathy Moklebust, 3‑5 oct, opt hc, CON, 977854, Level 3
- “Sine Nomine,” Douglas Wagner, 3‑5 oct, HOPE, 1271, Level 3
- “Canticle on Kingsfold,” Sondra Tucker, 3‑5 oct, opt hc, BP, HB408, Level 4-
Art
- Christ Comforting a Poor Man, Luca della Robbia (VDL)
- Christ in the Wilderness, Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (VDL)
- Christ Healing Peter’s Mother-in-Law, Rembrandt van Rijn (VDL)
