“Being One”
Centering Words (Isaiah 9, Psalm 27)
Where there is darkness, there is also light. Look for the light—places of love, joy, grace, and hope.
.Prepare your worship area – a candle, flower, and a cross in your worship area today. If you do not have a wooden or metal cross, it can be a picture or a necklace, even a keychain fob.
Just something to remind you of the cross. If have flowers you could decorate the cross!
If you are joining us from home, prepare your communion elements – some bread, some juice…
If you have a bible at home, bring that to your worship space and follow the readings in your bible!
Prelude Music for Meditation
Responsive Call to Worship
L: The God of all creation makes us one in the flesh.
P: Let us join hearts and voices in praise.
L: In Jesus Christ, we are made one in the Spirit.
P: Let us be united in truth through the same one Spirit.
L: We practice our faith in many different ways.
P: Yet we confess one Lord Jesus Christ.
L: We render different forms of ministry.
P: Yet our calling is one because Christ is undivided.
L: Rejoice, people of God: The Risen Christ is among us, calling us together at his one Table.
P: Praise the Lord!
Unison Invocation
Great God, we acknowledge your presence among us and the ways you connect us as a community. Make us receptive to your voice and instruments of your love in the world. Thrill us with your majesty and inspire us with your humility. We rejoice in this gathering as we bless your Holy Name in the assembly, gathered across time and space as your people. We seek you. We’re grateful to find you. Amen.
1 We are marching in the light of God, We are marching in the light of God
We are marching in the light of God, We are marching in the light of God We are marching, marching, We are marching, Oh We are marching in the light of God We are marching, marching, We are marching Oh –We are marching in the light of God
2 We are living in the love of God, We are living in the love of God
We are living in the love of God, We are living in the love of God
We are living, living, We are living Oh We are living in the love of God
We are living, living, We are living Oh --We are living in the love of God
3 We are moving in the power of God, We are moving in the power of God
We are moving in the power of God, We are moving in the power of God We are moving, moving, We are moving Oh We are moving in the power of God
We are moving moving, We are moving Oh We are moving in the power of God
Scriptures:
Hebrew Scripture Reading Isaiah 9:1-4
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Epistle Reading
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Gospel Reading Matthew 4:12-23
Dr. MannNow when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people."
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.
Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Sermon "Being One” Dr. Sylvia Lee MannPrayer for Transformation and New Life (Unison)
God of unity,
We come before you dismayed at our own divisions. We have struggled as your church to live in unity; but we are divided – along the fault lines of our societies. The ruptures in our families, among friends, among denominations, among nations are wide and deep. When we attempt to get on the same page, we build taller walls and dig deeper trenches. God, help us! We know that Christ is not divided. We know that it is your baptism to which we have been called. It is your service to which we are compelled. You have called us to proclaim the gospel, but we even fight about what that is. Help us, God! Help us give up our power and our privileges. Help us to yield for the sake and cause of the cross of Jesus. Help us to want the unity you share, for you are one; in you, there is no division. Help us to embrace and to live the foolishness of a life emptied of power and given to service, in the likeness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to walk in salvation – in the name of the servant Christ, amen.
Prayers of the People Joys and Concerns
The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen
