Bulletin for January 24

 

Marshall Presbyterian Church

 

January 24, 2021, 3^rd Sunday after the Epiphany

Carol Ann West, Pianist

Rev. Melissa Upchurch, Pastor

 

ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME

 

wELCOME

* CALL TO WORSHIP

 

One: For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from God.

All:    God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

One: On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

All:    Trust in God at all times, O people; God is a refuge for us.

 

* Opening Prayer

 

* HYMN  Red Hymnal #63    All Creatures of Our God and King

 

CALL TO CONFESSION

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Merciful God, you have called to participate in your reconciling, justice-seeking work in a broken world plagued by pandemics of race, class and political division. Yet we acknowledge that we have fallen short of that calling.  To be honest, we are inclined to hate our enemies rather than to love them as you love them.  We quickly discern the sins of others, but fail to acknowledge our own.  We seek accountability for others, but not for ourselves. …silent prayers of confession…We confess these sins, O God.  Help us to hear your call to repent, to reorient our lives to your purposes and to believe in the gospel.  Amen.

 

* ASSURANCE OF PARDON

 

One:   God’s mercy abounds, forgiving us, restoring us and setting us on right paths of justice and peace.  Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:  In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and empowered to live into God’s kingdom as it continues to break into the world even now!

All:      Thanks be to God; Amen!

 

* Gloria Patri

 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.  Amen.  Amen.

 

* PASSING THE PEACE

 

HEARING AND RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

 

prayer for illumination

 

THE Scriptures

 

Old Testament:     Jonah 3:1-5, 10                 See bulletin

Psalm                      62:5-12                               See bulletin

Epistle:                   1 Corinthians 7:29-31   See bulletin

Gospel:                   Mark 1:14-20                   See bulletin

 

One:    The Word of God for the people of God!

All:      Thanks be to God!

 

TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES

Message:                                                      Rev. Melissa Upchurch

 

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (adapted fr. Confession of 1967, 9.15)

 

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. 

 

* HYMN                Red Hymnal #526                    The Solid Rock

 

SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS            (See bulletin insert)

Prayers of the People

 

Sharing the Gifts of God 

  Offertory

*Doxology (ca. 1500s)

  Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

  Praise him all creatures here below;

  Praise him above, ye heavenly host;

  Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

 

*Prayer of dedication And thanksgiving

 

Gracious God, we offer our gifts to you that may they be sanctified and dedicated to ministries of reconciliation and justice in our church, our nation and our world. Receive these gifts as a sign of our commitment to follow Jesus as his disciples. Amen.

 

THE EUCHARIST

 

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

 GREAT THANKSGIVING

 One:    May the Creator of heaven and earth be with you!All:      And also with you!One:    People of God, lift up your hearts.
All:      We lift them to the One who gave his Heart to heal us.

One:    Let us give thanks to the One who made everythingand called it 'good'.

All:      How right it is to give our thanks and praise to the One who calls us 'Beloved.'

 

The minister continues…So long ago, you spoke to chaos…

we lift our thanksgiving songs to you:

 

All:      Holy, holy, holy!  Creator of Light and life.

Heaven and earth sing forever of your love and joy.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes to be baptized

       by water and the Holy Spirit.

Hosanna in the highest!

The minister continues…We glorify your name, Holy God…and the hope which is ours in that mystery we call faith:

 

All:   Bathed in your tears, Christ died for us; washed in the resurrection waters, Christ rose for us; bringing the waters of life to us, Christ will come again.

 

The minister continues…You spread the Table before us…As our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

 

breaking the bread

 

the communion of the people

 

Prayer after communion