January 30, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. | The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | Williamsburg VA
Opening Sentence
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.
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.
The Invitatory and Psalter
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.
Christ has shown forth his glory: O come let us worship.
Hymn of Praise Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Halle, halle, hallelujah! Halle, halle, hallelujah! Halle, halle, hallelujah! Hallelujah, Hallelujah! (repeats)
Psalm 71:1-6 (in unison)
In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; * let me never be ashamed. In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; * incline your ear to me and save me. Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; * you are my crag and my stronghold. Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, * from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor. For you are my hope, O Lord God, * my confidence since I was young. I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother’s womb you have been my strength; * my praise shall be always of you. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
The Word of God
The First Lesson Jeremiah 1:4-10
The word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
Canticle Day by Day
Day by day, day by day, O dear Lord, three things I pray:
to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day. (repeats)
The Second Lesson 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
Canticle All you need is love
The Gospel Luke 4:21-30
In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, and began to say, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
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.
Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance; Govern and uphold them, now and always.
Day by day we bless you; We praise your name for ever.
Lord, keep us from all sin today; Have mercy upon us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy; For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope; And we shall never hope in vain.
The Collects
Almighty God, who provides for all our needs, known and unknown. You are constantly watching over our health and safety. Bring us love so that we may show your love and understanding to others. Give us strength so that we may help others and ourselves and grant us patience so that we may comfort those in need. We appreciate You and Your generosity. All this we pray through Jesus who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. (written by St. Martin’s youth)
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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.
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen
Hymn Lord, I lift your name on high
Lord, I lift your name on high; Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life; I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way, from the earth to the cross my debt to pay;
from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord, I lift your name on high.
The Prayers of the People (written by St. Martin’s youth)
Prayer Leader: We pray for the health, safety, dignity and equal treatment of all people living in the United States of America. Lord, hear our prayers.
We pray for local and national school districts, first responders, health care workers and those aiding in an end to the pandemic. Lord, hear our prayers.
We pray for those in need of healing, particularly those affected by Covid-19 and other diseases. We pray especially for Samantha, Deb, Betty, Mary, Jaci, Lois, Laurel, Bob and Lisa, Carolyn, Lisa and John, Scott and Sue, and the Hunt, Carson and Weatherstone families. Lord, hear our prayers.
We pray that even through these difficult times your people still have faith. Lord, hear our prayers.
We pray for the departed, especially Marcia Weatherstone and Donald Hunt, and the wellbeing of their families, for people who recently lost or are still grieving a loved one. Lord, hear our prayers.
Officiant: Loving God, we pray especially today for our young people, for their parents and other caregivers, and for their teachers and administrators. In an unsteady and confusing world, surround them with your mercy and hope. Protect and bless them with peace and perseverance, and root them in your love. Guide their discernment and decision-making with your wisdom, and give them strength to hold their faith in you and to keep alive their joy in your creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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. Chrysostom
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.
Dismissal and Closing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.
The flowers on the altar are given in honor and loving memory of our friend,
Satoshi Ito, his integrity, leadership, intelligence and abundant kindness.