February 5 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

View today's service at this link.

Today’s Meditation Verse: “God has prepared things for those who love the One that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that hasn’t crossed the mind of any human being.” —1 Corinthians 2:9b (CEB)

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude... Hyeji Park / “Come Thou Fount,” arranged by Christy Davis

*Call to Worship (Psalm 112:1, 9, CEB)... Amy Abshire

Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord, who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!  They give freely to those in need. Their righteousness stands forever. Their strength increases gloriously.

*Hymn... “Gather Us In” (TFWS #2236)

Bread and Justice (UMH #639)... Amy Abshire (To be read responsively)

O God, just as the disciples heard Christ’s words of promise and began to eat the bread and drink the wine in the suffering of a long remembrance and in the joy of a hope, grant that we may hear Your words, spoken in each thing of everyday affairs: Coffee, on our table in the morning; the simple gesture of opening a door to go out, free; the shouts of children in the parks; a familiar song, sung by an unfamiliar face; a friendly tree that has not yet been cut down. May the simple things speak to us of Your mercy and tell us that life can be good. And may these sacramental gifts make us remember those who do not receive them: Who have their lives cut every day, in the    bread absent   from the table; in the door of the hospital, the prison, the welfare home that does not open; in sad children, feet without shoes, eyes without hope; in war hymns that glorify death; in deserts where once there was life. Christ was also sacrificed; and may we learn that we participate in the saving sacrifice of Christ when we participate in the suffering of His little ones. Amen.

*Offering/Doxology (UMH #95)

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5:13-20... Amy Abshire

Choral Anthem... “Sweet Hour of Prayer” (UMH)

Second Lesson: Isaiah 58:1-9a... Pastor Charles

This is the Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “What’s the point?”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer (pg. 13)

*Hymn... “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath” (UMH #60)

*Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles

Postlude... Hyeji Park / “Count Your Blessings,” arranged by Terri Hutchings