February 6
Epiphany 5 and Blessing of Candles for Candlemas
Prelude 435 CP Take My Life, and Let it Be
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love; Take my feet, and let them be swift and purposeful for thee. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee; Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose. Take my will, and make it thine; It shall be no longer mine; Take my heart, it is thine own; It shall be thy royal throne. Take my love: my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store; Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song Yours be the glory 210 CP
Yours be the glory, risen, conquering Son: endless is the victory over death you won. Angels robed in splendour rolled the stone away, kept the folded grave-clothes, where your body lay.
Refrain: Yours be the glory, risen, conquering Son, endless is the victory over death you've won.
See! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom. Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for her Lord is living, death has lost its sting. Refrain
No more we doubt you, glorious Prince of life; what is life without you? Aid us in our strife; make us more than conquerors through your deathless love; bring us safe through Jordan to your home above. Refrain
Gathering Sentences (Bread for the Journey)
Welcome, travelers welcome! Sometimes it is harder to cross an unrepaired sidewalk than travel a thousand miles
Sometimes it is harder to forgive an old friend than to welcome a stranger.
But God teaches us that we should welcome the stranger as we would welcome Jesus Christ
However far we have come this week, we bring gifts of ourselves, our minds, our compassion, our love and our dedication. Let us continue our journey together!
God of the faithful in every time, today you have called us into your church to be one body in Jesus Christ. You have bestowed upon us the gifts we need for your service. Grant that we may willingly take our part; that we may support one another; and that we may seek the greatest gift, which is love. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet, Isaiah (6.1-8)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.’ The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Psalm 138 Responsively
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.
I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your love and faithfulness; for you have glorified your name and your word above all things.
When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.
All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O Lord, when they have heard the words of your mouth.
They will sing of the ways of the Lord, that great is the glory of the Lord.
Though you are high, you care for the lowly; you perceive the haughty from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your mighty hand shall save me.
O Lord, you will make good your purpose for me; your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians (15.1-11)
Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn O love, how deep, how broad, how high 628 CP
O love, how deep, how broad, how high! It fills the heart with ecstacy, that God, the Son of God, should take our mortal form for mortals' sake.
God sent no angel to our race, of higher or of lower place, but wore the robe of human frame, for us, and to this lost world came.
For us he was baptized, and bore his holy fast and hungered sore; for us temptation sharp he knew, for us the tempter overthrew.
For us he prayed, for us he taught; for us his daily works he wrought, by words and signs and actions thus still seeking not himself but us.
For us, by wickedness betrayed, scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed, he bore the shameful cross and death; for us at length gave up his breath.
For us he rose from death again, for us he went on high to reign; for us he sent his Spirit here to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
To God whose boundless love has won
Salvation for us through the Son,
to God the Father, glory be
both now and through eternity.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke (5:1-11)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.’ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
The Homily
Offering Hymn 44 CP I Believe in God Almighty
I believe in God almighty, Father of all things that be,
maker of the earth and heavens, keeper of the sky and sea.
I believe in God’s Son, Jesus, now for us both Lord and Christ,
of the Spirit and of Mary, born to bring abundant life.
I believe that Jesus suffered, scourged and scorned and crucified;
Taken from the cross, was buried – true life there had truly died.
I believe that on the third day Christ was raised up from the grave,
then ascended to God’s right hand. He will come to judge and save.
I believe in God’s own Spirit, bonding all the saints with-in
One church catholic, and holy, where forgiveness fees from sin;
In the body’s resurrection, for the breaking of death’s chains
Give the life that’s ever-lasting: this the faith that I have claimed.
Prayer over the gifts
God of compassion and forgiveness, receive our offering this day, and make us one with him who is our peace, Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen
Prayer of Commitment for Epiphany God of revelation and epiphany— Through the words of the prophets You have shown us the world of your dreaming and longing: A world built on justice, overflowing with plenty, and crowned with joy. And through the coming of Emmanuel – his living and loving, his words and actions— you have shown us how such a world might be fashioned. Help us to take, hold and grow into these understandings; and, like Jesus, may we always be ready to live generously, love expansively, speak boldly and act courageously, that the Kingdom of your dreaming, with its justice, abundance and joy, may become the present reality of all the peoples of this world.
~ originally posted on the Monthly Prayers (now Weekly Worship) page of the Christian Aid website
BLESSING OF CANDLES Please have your Candle and lighter with you (from thisischurch.com) Simeon calls Jesus "a light to enlighten the Gentiles." Accordingly this day was made into Candlemas, a feast of candles. The warm candlelight is meant to be a tangible reminder of that greater light which, for and beyond all time, radiates from the figure of Jesus. We are reminded of the need to be prepared to burn brightly ourselves in the midst of this dark world. We take a light this morning, it is not our own light, no light of our own would be bright enough, rather it is the light of Christ. The light which at the beginning of creation shined in the darkness and which no darkness could overcome. Jesus was a light to lighten the gentiles, all the nations and races and cultures of people. Bless these candles Lord, that through the prayer we offer as we light them, your light may shine brightly in our lives. Together we pray the Candlemas Prayer as we light our candles God, you are the source of everlasting light. Your son, our beloved Lord Jesus was presented in the temple 40 days after his birth. He was recognised by Simeon and Anna, and welcomed as the promised Messiah. May we like them, behold the glory of the Lord Jesus. Grant that we may stand before you with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love. May we serve you all our days and make your name known as we worship you as our Lord. So may we come by your grace to eternal life. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession (from thisischurch.com)
We pray to God our Creator through Christ who is our light and our life.
We pray for the church
God, you sent our Lord Jesus to be acclaimed as the glory of Israel. We are your people, called to serve and worship you. Look with mercy on your church, guide your church in right paths that we may know the tasks to which we are called, and strengthen us, for we know that it is only through You that we are able to fulfil your purposes.
As we pray for the church we remember the mission of our own church here at St. Paul’s.
We give thanks for those who are generous: With prayer
With time,
With money
With consideration
With energy
With kind words
We give thanks all of those who volunteer, and for all of the families who have started attending the service online or in person when able.
We ask Lord Jesus that you would bless this new service and that many more people would be drawn into the fellowship of your people.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
A prayer for ourselves
Simeon was filled with hope when he recognised the presence of Jesus, God had fulfilled his promise.
So dear Lord, we pray that we too would have lives open to the awareness of your presence.
Enable us to carry with us through our daily lives the light of your presence.
May we fear no perils or dangers, knowing and trusting that since you walk with us there is nothing of which we need to be afraid.
Give us a willingness to speak out against evil in all of its forms and to be prepared to stand alongside
those who have voices which are not heard above the clamour of self interest.
Enable our lives to be animated by your love for us that we would find it impossible not to desire to be used in your service.
May our care for the needs of others be energetic, generous and considerate.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
A Prayer for all the people of our world
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world, you transform the darkness of human lives with the light of your salvation. So we pray that your transforming light would drive out darkness and fear and bring hope to the lives of those who do not know your presence with them.
We pray for places in our world where there is anger and bitterness,
where the demands of justice are obscured by individual, national and racial selfishness.
For the Holy Land disfigured by walls of division and bitterness,
for the people of war-torn countries, and countries filled with civil unrest as they try to make progress
in rebuilding their fragmented countries.
We ask Lord Christ that your light would penetrate those dark places which cause people to hate and transform fear into trust.
That the world would awake from the darkness of winter and come into the dawn of your presence.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
A Prayer for those in need
Lord Jesus Christ, for our sake you became poor, You suffered and endured pain in human flesh
Look with pity on those who suffer, be merciful to those who are in need.
We pray for the broken hearted that you would bind up their sorrows
We pray for the sick, that you would heal their infirmities.
We pray for the lonely, that in you they would discover the perfect friend.
We pray for the bereaved that in the midst of unfathomable loss they would know the depths of your love.
We remember especially this day . . .
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which nor darkness can quench we light a candle
to symbolise the light of Christ, which eternally shines and brings hope.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Merciful God, accept these our prayers which we bring to you this day. Amen
We share in saying together the collect for the morning
Lord of the deep waters, you call us from the safety of the shore to an adventure of the Spirit: open wide our arms to embrace the world you dare us to serve; through Jesus Christ your living Word. Amen
And now as our Saviour taught us, we pray together
Creator of all and God of Love, whose life-giving spirit blows through heaven and earth,
and whose various names, known by many, are hallowed,
may your reign be realized in our time;
may your will, plan, and purpose find expression on the earth as they do wherever you are found to be present.
May we accept that there is enough food in the world for all share,
and may we know that you forgive us when we break your heart, just as you call us to forgive those who break our hearts.
May we not feel encouraged to do the wrong that we are capable of doing,
nor be overwhelmed by the evil, suffering, and sin that are always present,
For your reign, your power, and glorious majesty, revealed at the beginning of creation, continue through the ages. Amen."
(© Stephen Fields, November 11, 2021)
The Blessing
May hope be kindled in you.
May it spread as light peeking under door ways and streaming through windows.
May you remember that when you see shadows, it is because the light is still present.
And may you notice the gleam within others.
For the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.
And the blessing of God the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sustainer be with us all this day abd evermore. Amen
Closing Hymn Let all mortal flesh keep silence 48 CP
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly-minded, for, with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to us approacheth, our full homage to command.
King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way as the Light of Light, descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanquish as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph, cherubim with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry: “Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
The Dismissal (A Wee Worship Book)
For all that God can do within us, for all that God can do with out us,
Thanks be to God
For all in whom Christ lived before us, for all in whom Christ lives beside us
Thanks be to God
For all the Spirit wants to bring us, for where the Spirit wants to send us
Thanks be to God
Listen, Christ has promised to be with us in the world as in our worship.
Amen. We go to serve Him! Alleluia!
Postlude Etude in F Major by Stephen Heller
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