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 —
Call to Worship
Come, hold fast to Christ;
become one in the Spirit.
Jesus calls us: Follow me.
Come, learn from Christ, our teacher.
Jesus calls us: Follow me.
Come, listen and serve.
Jesus calls us: Follow me.
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 Intercession
All-merciful God,
before the words are on our tongues,
you know them completely.
May these prayers honor you.
We pray for those who doubt their worth . . .
Show them they are fearfully
and wonderfully made.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those
who think too highly of themselves . . .
Grant them grace that prompts repentance.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for peace in our time . . .
Cause world leaders to seek the good of all.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for children and youth . . .
Help them to hear you calling their name.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those of advancing years . . .
Hold them in your steadfast love.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those whose hearts are breaking . . .
Grant them wholeness through your Spirit.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
All-merciful God,
we belong to you.
Keep us ever faithful in your service,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
- Lord, Speak for Me, for I Am Yours (PERRY) GTG 723 (O)
- Que mi vida entera esté (HOLLINGSIDE) HP 302 (E)
- Be Still and Know That I Am God (PSALM 46) GTG 414 (O)
- The God of Abraham Praise (LEONI) GTG 49 (OEG)
WORD
- I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (HERE I AM (Schutte)) GTG 69 (O)
- Oh, háblame y hablaré (CANONBURY) HP 268 (O)
- Be Thou My Vision (SLANE) GTG 450 (G)
- Sacred the Body (TENDERNESS) GTG 27 (E)
EUCHARIST
- Bread of the World in Mercy Broken (RENDEZ À DIEU) GTG 499 (E)
- You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (BICENTENNIAL) GTG 523 (OG)
- Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table (COPELAND) GTG 506 (OEG)
SENDING
- O Jesus, I Have Promised (ANGEL’S STORY/NYLAND) GTG 724/725 (O)
- Take My Life (HENDON) GTG 697 (E)
- Lead Me, Guide Me (LEAD ME, GUIDE ME) GTG 740 (OG)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18
Metrical
- You Are Before Me, Lord [SURSUM CORDA] PH 248
- God, Lord of Hosts, Whose Purpose Never Swerving [WELWYN] RIL 432
Responsorial
- I Know the Lord Lay His Hands on Me AAHH 360
- Lord, You Have Searched Me PAS 139C
Organ Music
- “Aria on Psalm 139,” Jan Peter Teeuw, JR Productions, Holland (available at www.KoraalBoek.nl) (M)
- “Jesus Calls Us,” GALILEE, With Praise and Love, vol. 2, arr. Emma Lou Diemer, SAC (M)
- “Prelude for Organ at the Close of the Day,” SLANE, Healey Willan, IMSLP (M)
- “Meditation on BRADBURY” (Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us), arr. Charles E. Callahan, MSM (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Come and See,” Karen Marrolli, GMC, SATB, pno (E)
- “Will You Come and Follow Me,” arr. Tom Trenney, MSM, SATB, pno (E)
- “Search Me, O God,” Jonny Priano, ALF, SATB, acap (A)
- “The Call,” Kenneth Jennings, earthsongs, SATB, acap (M)
- “Psalm 139,” Allen Pote, CGA, SATB, pno (E)
- “Here I Am,” arr. Craig Courtney, BP, SATB, pno, fl (M)
- “Psalm 139,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SSAATTBB, pno, org, hb (A)
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)
