Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 49:1–7
The servant of the Lord is given as a light to the nations.
Psalm 40:1–11
I waited for the Lord, who saved me; now I sing God’s praise.
1 Corinthians 1:1–9
Paul writes to the church at Corinth, giving thanks for God’s grace.
John 1:29–42
John says Jesus is the Lamb of God; Jesus calls Andrew and Peter.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We are the church:
sanctified in Christ Jesus,
called to be saints.
We are the church:
together with those in every place
who call on the name of Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you from God our Creator
and our Lord Jesus Christ!
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:
Like the early disciples, we are curious about this Jesus,
this Son of God.
We may be tempted to stay away,
for we know we are not worthy of him.
But Jesus does not care about worth, wealth and power.
Jesus seeks those who would follow honestly,
willing to face their failures in order to grow closer to God.
In that spirit, let us turn to Christ.
God of the ages,
We do not always wait with patience.
We do not always sing your praises.
We do not always recognize your work in our lives.
We would rather take the credit for ourselves.
We would rather take the easy way out.
We would rather step on others
if it means more for ourselves.
Forgive us for all the ways we forget you.
Help us to delight to do your will.
Help us to trust in you
and return us to the path of righteousness.
Lifting water from the font:
The Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world.
The Lamb of God takes away the sins
of each and every one of us.
Christ has mercy on us, forgiving our sins.
Alleluia!
— 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, 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
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 Intercession
We approach God in prayer not as strangers,
but as beloved children, baptized in Christ Jesus.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the church . . .
Strengthen us in our testimony to Christ.
As you are ever good and always faithful,
keep us faithful in the fellowship of the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the earth . . .
A burnt offering is not what you desire.
Keep us from consuming the earth with greed;
redeem and restore your good creation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for all nations . . .
Give dignity to those who are despised
and honor to those who are rejected.
Send your saving grace to the ends of the earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for this community . . .
Make us visible witnesses to Christ in this place,
inviting our neighbors to come and see
the new thing you are doing in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Be a rock for those who are sinking in despair.
Put a new song on their lips and in their hearts,
a song of thanksgiving and praise to you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy One, as you are well pleased with Christ,
help us to live in a way that will be pleasing to you.
As you have called us to listen to Christ,
help us to always heed his word and seek his will.
These things we pray in the name of Jesus,
your beloved Child, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Matthew 3:17, 17:5
— 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:
God of glory,
as people brought gifts to the infant Jesus,
we bring our gifts to you.
May these gifts be used
to lift up those who are oppressed,
to bring deliverance to those who are in need,
to support those who are poor,
and to help those who are in trouble. 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 are the Holy One of Israel, our Sovereign, our Redeemer.
You choose us before we are born, and call us to serve you
as a light to all nations and a sign of your saving love for the world.
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:
You sent him as your holy Lamb, to take away the sin of the world.
He is the one we have waited for, our teacher and our Lord.
Like the first disciples, he calls us to come and see your saving power.
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, strengthen us in the fellowship of Christ’s body.
Empower us with your wisdom and enrich us by your grace,
so that we may be found to be faithful on the day of the Lord.
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
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
“Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew”
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, 1602–1604
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- You Are Holy (G) YOU ARE HOLY GTG 705
- What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine (E) SHOWALTER GTG 837
- We Are Marching in the Light of God (O) SIYAHAMBA GTG 853
- Grace Greater Than Our Sin (E) MOODY SON 111
WORD
- Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song (E) BRIDEGROOM GTG 285, PH 314
- Thy Word Is a Lamp unto My Feet (OE) THY WORD GTG 458
- Lord, When I Came into This Life (OE) LAND OF REST GTG 691, PH 522
- Come with Me into the Journey (G) JEFFERSON Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA
EUCHARIST
- Just As I Am, without One Plea (EG) WOODWORTH GTG 442, PH 370
- Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (G) QUEBEC, JESU DULCIS MEMORIA GTG 494, PH 510, 511
- Your Only Son (G) LAMB OF GOD GTG 518
- What a Great Mystery / Pilipino: Kay Laking Hiwaga (OE) CATUROG NA NONOY STB 82
SENDING
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness (E) FAITHFULNESS GTG 39, PH 276
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (E) HAMBURG, ROCKINGHAM GTG 223, 224; PH 100, 101
- O Gladsome Light (OE) LE CANTIQUE DE SIMÉON GTG 672, PH 549
- As We Go (OG) Jeremy Johnson, WAS 3183
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- I Waited Patiently for God [LEWIS-TOWN, NEW BRITAIN (AMAZING GRACE)]; GTG 651, PAS 40B, LUYH 670
- I Waited Patiently for God [TALLIS’ LAMENTATION]; PLP1 40
Responsorial
- I Will Wait upon the Lord; PAS 40C
- Here I Am, Lord; PAS 40A, SSS 606–607
- Behold, I Come to Do Your Will [OLD 124TH]; HTP1 7
- Here I Am, O God; PND 16
Organ Music
- “Trio No. 1,” Op 49, Book 1, Joseph Rheinberger, Kalmus (ME)
- “We Are Marching in the Light of God,” SIYAHAMBA, Three Global Songs, John Behnke, HOPE (ME)
- “Song of Thankfulness and Praise,” SALZBURG, Carols Before . . . Carols After, Lani Smith, LOR (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Light Everlasting,” Olaf C. Christiansen, KJO, SATB, acap (M)
- “I Believe This Is Jesus,” Undine Smith Moore, AF, SATB div, acap (MA)
- “Lamb of God,” Ronald Nelson, arr. Stephen Caracciolo, MSM, SATB, solo, org (M)
- “Lamb of God,” John Reim, BP, SATB, keybd, opt str trio (ME)
- “Agnus Dei,” Missa Brevis No. 2, Paul Basler, CV, SATB div, pno (A)
- “There’s a Light in the World,” AF, Susanne Bägenfelt, uni, AF, desc, pno (E)
Handbell Music
- “Siyahamba,” Sondra Tucker, 3–5 oct, ALF, 44246, Level 3+
- “Just As I Am,” Sandra Eithun, 3–5 oct, opt fl, AGEHR, 35232, Level 2
- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Sandra Eithun, 3–6 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, CGA, CGB1118, Level 2+
Art
- Agnus Dei, Cláudio Pastro, Brazil (VDL)
- Rock with Cross, altarpiece, Spicak, Czech Republic (VDL)
- Cathedral of Christ the Light, Craig W. Hartman (VDL)
- Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew, Michelangelo Caravaggio (VDL)
