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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 131)

L: O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high;
P:  I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.

L: But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; P: my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

All: O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time on and forevermore.

 

Call to Worship (based on Isaiah 49)

L: Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
P: break forth, O mountains, into singing!
L: For the LORD has comforted his people,
P: and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

 

Prayer based on the lections             by Frank Schaefer

Almighty and ever-gracious God, at the end of this season of Epiphany, you assure us that your covenant with us is based on your deep love for us. You are faithful to us even when we are not. You are with us even when we fail to  perceive your. presence. You care for us like a mother who nurses her baby You take care of our needs in the same way you give food and shelter to the birds of the sky.  Your love and compassion never come to an end.  Help us to put our whole trust in you and thus empower us to love and care for the needs of all your children .  Amen.
 

 

Creed from 1 Corinthians 15

Leader:
This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand and by which we are saved:

People:
Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, and appeared first to the women,
then to Peter and the Twelve, then to many faithful witnesses.

We believe Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One of God, the firstborn of all creation, the firstborn from the dead, in whom all things hold together; in whom the fullness of God was pleased to dwell by the power of the Spirit.

Christ is the head of the body, the church, and by the blood of the cross reconciles all things to God. Amen.
     

Closing prayer :

Source of all creation, all love, all true joy,
accept our prayer of sincere thankfulness.
Bless us as we go forth to minister to a dying world; and keep each of us ever thankful
for all the blessings of joy;
teach us to be content in all situations,
even amidst challenges that come our way;
through him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.