Lectionary Readings
1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20)
The boy Samuel hears God calling and replies: Speak, Lord.
Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18
O Lord, you search me and surround me; I praise you.
1 Corinthians 6:12–20
Your body is a temple of the Spirit; you were bought with a price.
John 1:43–51
Jesus calls Philip; Philip in turn calls Nathanael: Come and see.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The boy Samuel heard God’s voice in the night.
We come listening for God’s voice.
God knew us before we knew ourselves.
We come listening for God’s voice.
Our minds, bodies, and souls belong to God.
We come listening for God’s voice.
We come to this place to listen and follow.
Let us worship God!
Prayer of the Day
Great God,
today we meet your mystery
in the form of Jesus Christ.
We believe you, God,
and we believe Jesus to be the Messiah;
but even when we do not believe,
when we are distracted and unaware,
we know that Christ calls us still.
Help us to recognize your voice among us
and give us the strength to go where we are called,
that we may learn, O God,
what it means to follow with open hearts.
In the name of Christ, 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.
God of abundant mercy,
you embodied love for us in the life of Jesus Christ.
You ate with sinners and shared with outcasts.
You loved with boldness and healed with grace.
Forgive us, O God, when we do not trust your love:
when we doubt whether we are worthy of your care.
Forgive us, O God, when we try to cheapen love:
when we limit it to shallow feelings instead of bold actions.
Help us, O God, when we cannot feel your love,
when we are isolated, afraid, and unable to see your presence.
Forgive us, O God, of the ways we fall short.
Free us to try again,
and let your love lead the way.
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:
Saving God, source of our calling,
your Word is full of power and glory.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
so that we may receive your grace
and live as your beloved children;
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
God’s sovereign love is a mystery
beyond the reach of the human mind.
Human thought ascribes to God
superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness.
But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ
by showing power in the form of a servant,
wisdom in the folly of the cross,
and goodness in receiving
sinful men and women.
The power of God’s love in Christ
to transform the world
discloses that the Redeemer
is the Lord and Creator
who made all things
to serve the purpose of God’s love.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.15
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 . . .
Make us a temple of your Holy Spirit,
united in the body of Christ
and dedicated to your mission in the world.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for the world . . .
Speak truth to those who are in power
so that leaders will abandon corrupt ways
and seek the welfare of all.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to follow you faithfully
even in the streets of this place.
Use us to do good things for our neighbors.
To you, O God, we cry; be gracious to us.
Ever seeking your glory, we pray for loved ones . . .
Surround all those who suffer
with your loving, healing presence.
Let them know you are with them always.
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.
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 know us and call us by name.
You speak to us through prophets young and old.
Your hand is upon us, giving us courage to speak justice and seek your way.
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:
Like Philip and Nathanael we are called to follow Jesus,
who calls us by name and sends us to proclaim your love.
In him we see the heavens open and angels descend.
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.
By your Spirit you make us one.
Our bodies are temples of your breath.
You give us life, we glorify you.
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 and praise, O God,
that you have fed us with your mercy
and poured out your Spirit in this place.
Continue to nourish and fill us each day,
that we may live as your beloved people;
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
Samuel Relating to Eli the Judgments of God upon Eli’s House
John Singleton Copley, 1780
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Be Thou My Vision (G) SLANE GTG 450
- O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (OE) AZMON GTG 610
- Open the Eyes of My Heart (O) OPEN THE EYES GTG 452
- To God Be the Glory (EG) TO GOD BE THE GLORY GTG 634
WORD
- Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (OEG) NETTLETON GTG 475
- Lord, Prepare Me (Sanctuary) (E) SANCTUARY GTG 701
- Open My Eyes, That I May See (O) OPEN MY EYES GTG 451
- Sacred the Body (E) TENDERNESS GTG 27
EUCHARIST
- Be Still and Know That I Am God (O) PSALM 46 GTG 414
- Bread of the Word in Mercy Broken (E) RENDEZ À DIEU GTG 499
- In My Life (E) LORD, BE GLORIFIED GTG 468
- Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (E) QUEBEC GTG 494
SENDING
- I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (OG) HERE I AM (Schutte) GTG 69
- Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak (OG) CANONBURY GTG 722
- Take My Life (OE) HENDON GTG 697
- Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons) (G) KELVINGROVE GTG 726
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- You Are Before Me, Lord [SURSUM CORDA, HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL]; GTG 28, PH 248, PAS 139D, LUYH 336
- O God, You Search Me [O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME]; GTG 29
- Señor, tú ves mi corazón / Lord, See My Heart [MARTYRDOM]; SSS 56
- Lord, You Have Searched and Seen Me Through [LM]; SGP 207
- My Lord, You Have Examined Me [RESIGNATION]; PAS 139A, SSS 503 (with Spanish translation)
- Oh, Señor, tú me has examinado / Oh, Lord God, You Have Searched Me [Marisol Díaz]; PAS 139F, SSS 664
Responsorial
- Lord, You Have Searched Me; PAS 139C, PSA 143
- Lord, You Have Searched Me Out [TENDER THOUGHT]; HTP2 21
- I Praise You, for I Am Wonderfully Made; LP 80
Organ Music
- “Prelude on ‘Be Thou My Vision,’” A Cotswold Collection, Ian Higginson, LOR (ME)
- “To God Be the Glory,” Favorite Organ Hymns, Donald Hustad, HOPE (M)
- “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” The Essential Dale Wood, Dale Wood, LOR (M)
- “Open My Eyes, That I May See,” The Organist’s Library, vol. 56, Clara H. Scott, LOR (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Psalm 139,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SATB div, pno, ob, hb (A)
- “Known to You,” David Catherwood, JM, SATB, pno (E)
- “Will You Come and Follow Me,” arr. Tom Trenney, MSM, SATB, pno, cong (E)
- “Speak, O Lord,” arr. Lloyd Larson, HOPE, SATB, pno (M)
- “He Comes to Us,” Jane Marshall, CF, SATB, org (M)
- “Search Me, O God,” Heather Sorenson, Brookfield Press, SATB, pno, vc (M)
- “Come and See,” Karen Marrolli, GMC, SATB, pno (E)
Handbell Music
- “Be Thou My Vision,” Cynthia Dobrinski, 3‑6 oct, opt hc, HOPE, 2263, Level 3+
- “Come, Thou Fount,” Casandra Caminiti, 4‑7 oct, cajón, opt hc, opt synth, CGA, CGB1161, Level 4
- “Here I Am, Lord,” Sandra Eithun, 3‑6 oct, opt hc, BP, HB766, Level 3
Art
- The Call to Samuel, Frank Wesley (VDL)
- Samuel Relating to Eli the Judgments of God, John Singleton Copley (VDL)
- Come and See, Jan Richardson (JR)
- A Choice, Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
