Lectionary Readings
Isaiah 9:1–4
Light shines on those who walk in darkness; the people rejoice.
Psalm 27:1, 4–9
The Lord is my light and salvation; therefore I am not afraid.
1 Corinthians 1:10–18
Paul calls for unity and proclaims the message of the cross.
Matthew 4:12–23
Jesus calls four disciples: Follow me, and you will fish for people.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
In the sea of life’s daily stress and strife,
in the struggle to keep our heads above the waves,
Jesus calls us from the shore:
“Follow me, and be fishers of people!”
God gathers us into new boats
built with room for friend and stranger.
“Follow me, and use your gifts with purpose.
Follow me, and build abundant life.”
We will be weavers of community,
architects of justice,
gardeners of peace.
Prayer of the Day
God our light and our rescue,
our fortress in times of trouble,
when human powers seek to crush us,
protect us in the hidden places of your heart.
Ease our fears and let us rest in you.
When we are safe, but other lives are threatened,
fortify our resolve to be your protection
for all our kin and all your good creation.
When the work is done,
we ask only to live in your house
and enjoy your beauty forever. 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:
Christ calls us to follow, knowing that we are human.
Jesus knows we are not perfect.
He knows we will not always get it right.
All he asks is that we try, learn, and try again.
Let us go to God, telling how we have tried and failed,
that God may teach us what we must learn.
Christ, our Messiah,
you call us to fish for people,
but we are hesitant to leave our boats.
We are afraid to let go of the things we hoard,
believing they make us secure.
We are afraid to put our trust in you,
afraid to follow, afraid we will fail.
Forgive us.
Transform our fear into faithfulness,
and enable us to walk with you,
that we may be part of your work in the world.
Lifting water from the font:
Just as Jesus called the disciples,
so Christ calls us.
Forgiven of our sin
and freed to serve,
let us answer Christ’s call.
Christ calls us, forgives us, heals us, and teaches us.
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, 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 . . .
Make us followers of Jesus and fishers of people,
proclaiming the nearness of your reign
and demonstrating the good news of the gospel.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the earth . . .
Teach us not to plunder the gifts of your creation,
but to share the bounty of the land with all
and preserve your blessings for coming generations.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for all nations . . .
Be the stronghold of the weak
and break the power of the oppressor.
Let those who cry for you see your face.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for this community . . .
Put an end to the divisions among us.
Make us one as you are one,
united in a common vision and purpose.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Be their light and salvation;
shelter those who are in trouble
and protect them from all harm.
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:
In our days of trouble, you smiled upon us with your favor,
shining the light of your glory into our darkness and distress.
Now we rejoice, as when the time of harvest has come.
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 walked among us, proclaiming: Repent, the realm of heaven is near!
He called disciples by the sea—Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
They left their boats and nets and learned to fish for people.
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, make us one in Christ; put an end to our divisions,
so that we might proclaim the gospel, not with eloquent words,
but through your saving power made manifest in our lives.
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
“Hands, All Together”
Georgia, 2007
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
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You Walk along Our Shoreline (G) WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN GTG 170
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Jesus Calls Us (G) GALILEE GTG 720
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Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! (O) MARION GTG 804
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For Such a Time as This (G) COULD IT BE ACS 1003
WORD
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The People Who Walked in Darkness (O) ISAIAH 9 GTG 86
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When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (E) HAMBURG/ROCKINGHAM GTG 223, 224
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You Have Put On Christ (E) BAPTIZED IN CHRIST GTG 491
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Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore (G) PESCADOR DE HOMBRES GTG 721
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Will You Come and Follow Me (G) KELVINGROVE GTG 726
EUCHARIST
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The Church’s One Foundation (E) AURELIA GTG 321
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The Bread and the Wine Are Here (E) LOVE FEAST GTG 512
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For the Bread Which You Have Broken (EG) KINGDOM GTG 516
SENDING
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Light Dawns on a Weary World (O) TEMPLE OF PEACE GTG 79
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From the Nets of Our Labor (G) HAMILTON GTG 751
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Lift High the Cross (E) CRUCIFER GTG 826
-
Make Our Church One Joyful Choir (E) DIX OLOF 452
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 27:1, 4–9
Metrical
- O Lord, You Are My Light [RHOSYMEDRE]; PAS 27C
- Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise [ST. DENIO]; GTG 12
Responsorial
- The Lord is My Light; PAS 27A
- Wait for the Lord; GTG 90
- For with You Is the Fountain of Life; UMH 758
Organ Music
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“As with Gladness Men of Old,” Three Epiphany Preludes, Set 1, Robert A. Hobby, MSM (M)
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“Chorale Fantasia on Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BuxWV 223,” Dietrich Buxtehude, various publishers; IMSLP.org (MA)
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“Jesus, Once with Sinners Numbered,” Epiphany Mosaics, Jacob B. Weber, CON (ME)
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“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright!” A Wittenberg Collection: Lutheran Chorales for Organ, Karl Osterland, AF (M)
Piano Music
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“Prelude in C Major, Op. 11, No. 1,” 24 Preludes, Op. 11, Alexander Skrjabin, HEN (M)
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“Andante cantabile from Sonata in C Major, K. 330,” Sonatas and Three Fantasias, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, KAL (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“The Lord Is My Light,” Jacques Berthier, uni in canon, acap (E)
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“Who at My Door Is Standing?” K. Lee Scott, HIN, 2 pt, pno (E)
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“I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light,” Paul Manz, MSM, SATB, org, opt cong (ME)
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“The Summons,” Tom Fettke, JM, SATB, pno, opt orch (ME)
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“Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies,” Gilbert Martin, LOR, SATB, pno (M)
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“Heavenly Light,” Peter Wilhousky, CF, SATB, acap (A)
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“Light Dawns on a Weary World,” Mack Wilberg, OUP, SATB, 4-hand pno (A)
Art
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Sunlight, Yayoi Kusama, 1998 (WA)
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For Those in Darkness (Light Is Dawning), Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
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Calling of Saint James and Saint John, James Tissot 1894 (VDL)
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Hands, All Together, Avondale Pattillo United Methodist Church, Decatur, GA, 2007 (VDL)
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Christ Calling the Apostles Peter and Andrew, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1311 (VDL)
