Opening Hymn I am for you

The Holy Eucharist

According to the use of Enriching Our Worship

There is a mountain there is a sea. There is a wind within all breathing. There is an arm to break every chain. There is a fire in all things living.

There is a voice that speaks from the flame: “I am for you, I am for you, I am for you is my name.”

There is a world that waits in the womb; There is a hope unborn God is bearing, Though the powers of death prowl the night, There is a day our God is preparing.

Sing ‘round the fire to waken the dawn: “I am for you, I am for you, I am for you: we are one.”

Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.

Glory to God for ever and ever.

The Collect of the Day

A Reading from Isaiah (40:21-31)

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 147:1-12, 21c, responsively by half verse

Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to you, O God! *

how pleasant it is to honor you with praise!

For you rebuild Jerusalem; * and gather the exiles of Israel.

You heal the brokenhearted * and bind up their wounds.

You count the number of the stars * and call them all by their names. Great are you and mighty in power; * there is no limit to your wisdom. You lift up the lowly, * but cast the wicked to the ground.

We sing to you, Most High, with thanksgiving; * we make music to you upon the harp.

You cover the heavens with clouds * and prepare rain for the earth;

You make grass to grow upon the mountains * and green plants to serve humankind.

You provide food for flocks and herds * and for the young ravens when they cry.

You are not impressed by the might of a horse; * you have no pleasure in human strength;

But you have pleasure in those who fear you, * in those who await your gracious favor.

Hallelujah!

A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (9:16-23)

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.      Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation    I am the light of the World, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

The Gospel

Lisa: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. People: Glory to you, O Christ.

After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

A period of silence follows the sermon.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People        Response: Christ, have mercy.

The Confession and Absolution

God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will. Amen.

The Peace and Announcements

The altar flowers are given in loving memory of Elaine Hollander Benedict, by her husband, David, her children Catherine and Peter, and in celebration of her wonderful voice lifting up God’s Word in praise and glory.

The Holy Communion (Eucharistic Prayer 3 from Enriching Our Worship)

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 God thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer continues . . . And so as the stars sing your praises we join the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout with joy: 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. Hosanna in the highest.

Eucharistic Prayer continues . . . And so, remembering all that was done for us: the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension, longing for Christ’s coming in glory, and presenting to you these gifts your earth has formed and human hands have made, we acclaim you, O Christ:

Dying, you destroyed our death. Rising, you restored our life. Christ Jesus, come in glory! Eucharistic Prayer continues . . . Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, we worship you our God and Creator in voices of unending praise.

Blessed are you now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer (contemporary words)

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, now and for ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread to share in the Body of Christ.

We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Communion Hymn I have called you by name

Refrain: I have called you by name and you are mine. I will keep you as the apple of my eye. I will hide you in the shadow of my wings. I have called you by name and you are mine.

I know your needs before you ask. Just trust in me to guide your life. When your burdens become too much to bear, Your loving Father waits to hear your prayer. Refrain

I sent my Son, Lord Jesus Christ, to walk as man upon the earth,

to be the way, the truth, the life, leading all of us to the Father. Refrain

Post-Communion Prayer

Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people, forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.

Blessing of Epiphany Closing Hymn God is Love

God is Love: let heav’n adore him; God is Love: let earth rejoice; let creation sing before him, and exalt him with one voice.

God who laid the earth’s foundation, God who spread the heav’ns above, God who breathes through all creation, God is Love, eternal Love.

Dismissal Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Thanks be to God.