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Call to worship
In the beginning was the Word: Spoken, and Creating the world.
Jesus; you are the Word of God.
The Word gives life. That life is light.
Jesus; the darkness cannot put out your light.
At the beginning of our time: Speak. Shake our worlds.
Jesus; we're hungry for your words of life.
We cannot live by food alone,
We wait on the words
that come from the mouth of God.
The Word became flesh and blood
and moved into our neighbourhood.
It's time for us to put flesh on your word
That we might be your hands & feet & Heart,
in our homes, jobs and streets.
We will worship the Lord and serve him only.
We will let our light shine in the darkness:
That the world might see, and be transformed
And praise our Father in heaven.
Introit to Epiphany
I wandered so aimless, life filled with sin
I wouldn’t let my dear Saviour in.
Then Jesus came like a stranger in the night
Praise the Lord! I saw the light!
I saw the light. I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord! I saw the light.
Welcome and land acknowledgement
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Concerns & Celebrations
Happy Birthday to you! Happy Anniversary to you!
May God bless you & keep you the coming year through
Opening prayer and the Lord's prayer
Loving God, when we come to you hungry,
Perhaps it's because we haven't fed properly from your word.
Word of God, feed me.
There are times when we lose our way and we feel like
we’re going round in circles, unsure of our next steps:
Word of God, lead me.
When we’re stuck in repetitive habits, we know
that you have more for us outside of this mediocrity.
Word of God, shake me.
Part of our hearts are cold towards the world you love.
Fill us with your compassion.
Word of God, break me.
“The word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword.”
Feed me with your wisdom,
lead me with your love,
shake me with your reality,
break me with your perspective
and rebuild me with your Holy Spirit's power.
Amen
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn: Immortal, invisible God only wise
VU 264
1
Immortal, invisible, God only wise;
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes;
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
2
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.
4
Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light;
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render, O help us to see
'tis only the splendour of light hideth thee!
Greeting Christ in All of Us - Passing the Peace
Children's hymn: Spirit open my heart
MV 79
Refrain:
Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.
As you love my I love, in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
1.
God, replace my stony heart
with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear
to your grace I now surrender.
2.
Write your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory.
3.
May I weep with those who weep,
share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ,
may we welcome one another.
The offering
The Offering “We give thee but thine own”
VU 543
We give Thee but Thine own, whate’er the gifts may be;
All that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee.
Today's scripture: Psalm 139:1-14 & St. John 1: 1-5,14
O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night’, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you. For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
May God bless to our understanding this reading of Holy Scripture.
Amen
Sermon: Blankety-Blank Poetry
Vizzini: “No more rhymes now! I mean it!”
Fezzik: “Anybody want a peanut?”
- From the movie “The Princess Bride”
Hymn: Love divine, all love's excelling
VU 333
1
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
2
Come, almighty to deliver;
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
3
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.