The Third Sunday after Epiphany
24 January
2016
The Gathering of the Community
Prelude
Processional Hymn
‘I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath’ Common
Praise #346
Introductory Responses for Epiphany
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.
May all the earth
be filled with the glory of God.
Light has sprung up for the righteous,
and joyful gladness
for those who are true-hearted. [i]
Hymn of Praise
Collect
Let us pray.
God of freedom,
make us impatient to greet the time fulfilled,
the poor lifted up, the oppressed set free
and your love made manifest in Jesus Christ,
the Anointed Servant. Amen.
[iii]
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
A Reading from Nehemiah (8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10).
1 All
the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of
the law of Moses, which the Lord
had given to Israel. 2
Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and
women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh
month. 3 He read from it
facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the
presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears
of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of
all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened
it, all the people stood up. 6
Then Ezra blessed the L Lord, the
great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands.
Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the
ground.
8 So they read from the book, from the law of
God, with interpretation. They gave the
sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the
Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the
words of the law. 10 Then he
said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions
of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy
of the Lord is your strength.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm
Psalm 19 with the
refrain from Songs for the Holy One
Refrain (sung
twice): The
heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.
1
The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows the handiwork of the Lord.
2
One day tells its tale to another, *
and one night
imparts knowledge to another.
3
Although they have no words or language, *
and their voices are not heard,
4
their sound has gone out into all lands,
*
and their message
to the ends of the world.
Refrain: The heavens are telling the Holy One’s
glory.
5
In the deep has God set a pavilion for the sun; *
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of
the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
nothing is hidden
from its burning heat.
7
The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure
and gives wisdom to the innocent.
8
The statutes of the Lord are just and
rejoice the heart; *
the commandment
of the Lord is clear
and gives light
to the eyes.
9
The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
the judgements of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More
to be desired are they than gold, *
more than much
fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, *
than honey in the comb.
11
By them also is your servant
enlightened, *
and in keeping them
there is great reward.
Refrain: The heavens are telling the Holy One’s
glory.
12
Who can tell how often they offend? *
Cleanse me from my secret faults.
13 Above
all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; *
let them not get
dominion over me;
then shall I be whole and
sound, *
and innocent of a great offense.
14 Let
the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight; *
O Lord, my
strength and my redeemer.
Refrain: The heavens are telling the Holy One’s
glory.
Second Reading
A Reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (12.12-31a).
12
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the
body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were
all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all
made to drink of one Spirit.
14
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because
I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less
a part of the body. 16 And if
the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that
would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye,
where would the hearing be? If the whole
body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the
members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member,
where would the body be? 20
As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand,
“I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of
you.” 22 On the contrary, the
members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and
those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater
honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24
whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the
greater honour to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no
dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one
another. 26 If one member
suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice
together with it.
27
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the
church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then
gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of
tongues. 29 Are all apostles?
Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing?
Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Gradual Hymn
‘Let’s Sing unto the Lord’
Common Praise #417
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (4.14-21).
Glory to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
14
[Jesus], filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report
about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their
synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the
synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the
scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found
the place where it was written: 18
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good
news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the
oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
20
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on
him. 21 Then he began to say
to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
The Sermon
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us affirm our faith.
Christ is the image
of the invisible God,
the firstborn of
all creation;
for in Christ all
things in heaven and on earth were created,
things visible and
invisible.
Christ himself is
before all things,
and in Christ all
things hold together.
Christ is the head
of the body, the church;
he is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead.
For in him all the
fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
and through him God
has reconciled us to God’s very self.
Blessed be the holy
and undivided Trinity, one God.
Blessed be God for
ever. [iv]
The Prayers of the Community
Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings
The Exchange of the Peace
May the peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Communion
The Offertory Hymn
‘The Kingdom of God Is Justice and Joy’ Common
Praise #631
Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray.
Good and loving God,
we rejoice
in the birth of Jesus,
who came
among the poor
to bring
the riches of your grace.
As you have
blessed us with your gifts,
let them be
a blessing for others.
With the
trees of the field,
with all
earth and heaven,
we shout
for joy at the coming of your Son,
Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. [v]
Thanksgiving at the Table
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the
Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give
our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and
praise to you,
almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus
Christ.
By the leading of a star he was shown forth to all nations;
in the waters of the Jordan you proclaimed him your beloved
Son,
and in the miracle of water turned to wine he revealed your
glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy
Lord,
God of power and
might,
heaven and earth
are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the
highest.
Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord.
Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:
Blessed are you for the birth of creation.
Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.
Blessed are you for your promise to your people.
Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.
Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.
Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
[Therefore let] us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come
again.
With this bread and cup we remember
your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.
We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.
We look with hope for his coming.
Come, Lord Jesus.
Holy God, we long for your Spirit.
Come among us. Bless
this meal.
May your Word take flesh in us.
Awaken your people. Fill
us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.
Come, Holy Spirit.
All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,
Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.[vii]
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in
heaven,
hallowed be your
name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in
heaven.
Give us today our
daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the
time of trial,
and deliver us from
evil.
For the kingdom,
the power,
and the glory are
yours,
The Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world
God here among us,
light in the midst
of us,
bring us to light
and life.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
The Communion
The Hymn after Communion
‘Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song’ Common
Praise #635
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Radiant God,
with our
eyes we have seen your salvation,
and in this
meal we have feasted on your grace.
May your
Word take flesh in us,
so that we
may be your holy people,
revealing
your glory made known to us
in Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and Lord. Amen. [ix]
Glory to God,
whose power,
working in us,
can do infinitely
more
than we can ask or
imagine.
Glory to God from
generation to generation,
in the Church and
in Christ Jesus,
for ever and
ever. Amen.
Closing Hymn
‘Eternal, Unchanging’ Common Praise #394 (sung to #393)
Dismissal
The Deacon dismisses
the Community with an appropriate Dismissal.
[i] The Book of Alternative Services (1985),
96 alt.
[ii] Lang Carol Mass.
[iii] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’ 10.
[iv] Colossians
1.15-20 edited for liturgical use by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.
[v] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’
13.
[vi] Lang ‘Carol
Mass’.
[vii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p.
110.
[viii] Common Worship #744.
[ix] Liturgy Task
Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for
Year C: Advent 1 through Epiphany 6,’
13.
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