January 24, 2021 | The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Isaiah 49:6b

Confession of Sin

Dearly beloved, we have come together in the presence of Almighty God to set forth God’s praise, to hear God’s holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation. And so that we may prepare ourselves in heart and mind to worship God, let us begin in silence, and with penitent and obedient hearts confess our sins, that we may obtain forgiveness by God’s infinite goodness and mercy. Silence

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.

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

O God, let our mouth proclaim your praise.

And your glory all the day long.

Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

The Holy One is in our midst: O come let us worship.

The Invitatory (Psalm 95:1-7, the Venite)

Come, let us sing to the Holy One; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving and raise a loud shout with psalms. For you, O God, are a great God; you are great above all gods.

In your hand are the caverns of the earth, and the heights of the hills are yours also. The sea is yours, for you made it, and your hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee, and kneel before God, our Maker.

For you are our God, and we are the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. Oh, that today we would hearken to your voice!

The Psalm of the Day (Psalm 62:6-14)

For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly, there is my hope.

God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken. In God is my safety and my honor; God is my strong rock and my refuge.

Put your trust in God always, O people,

pour out your hearts before the One who is our refuge.

Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, even those of low estate cannot be trusted. On the scales they are lighter than a breath, all of them together.

Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride; though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, that power belongs to God. Steadfast love is yours, O God, for you repay everyone according to their deeds. Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

The Lessons Jonah 3:1-5, 10

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great

city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

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

Holy is Your Name                                                         Martha Caruso and Phaedra McNorton

Refrain: And holy is your name through all generations!

Everlasting is your mercy to the people you have chosen, and holy is your name.

First Corinthians 7:29-31

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

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

Mend                                                                                                                            Nate Bennett

Mark 1:14-20

After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

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

The Sermon                                                                                         The Rev. Lisa Green

A period of silence follows the sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

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, now and for ever. Amen.

Show us your mercy, O God;

And grant us your salvation.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

Let your people sing with joy.

Give peace, O God, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Keep this nation under your care;

And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;

Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

Collects

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: Here I am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry All who dwell in deepest sin, my hand will save

I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them. They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame I will set a feast for them; my hand will save

Finest bread I will provide, ‘til their hearts be satisfied I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain

Intercessions and Thanksgivings The General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Announcements

Prayer of St. Chysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

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.