February 4 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Flowers from Sandra Jordan

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

(Link to today's worship service recording)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Let’s head ... to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there too. That’s why I’ve come.” —Mark 1:38 (CEB)

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Hyeji Park / “Come into His Presence” by Lynn Baird

*Call to Worship (Psalm 147:1, 20c, CEB)...Bob Muckle

Praise the Lord! Because it is good to sing praise to our God. Because it is a pleasure to make beautiful praise! Praise the Lord!

*Hymn...“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (UMH #139)

Bread and Justice (UMH #639)...Bob Muckle -- 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.

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations                   Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Epistle Lesson: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23...Bob Muckle

Choral Anthem...“We Gather at Your Table, Lord” by Walter Ehret

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 40:21-31...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 (UMH pg. 13)

*Hymn...“We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” (UMH #569)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

Postlude...Hyeji Park / “Majesty” by Jacki W. Hayford