SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
January 29, 2023 Ten Thirty in the morning
Ministers: Rev. Susan Lassalle, Rev. Aaron Ochart
Please silence all cell phones.
Please fill out the attendance sheet.
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
* Please stand, in body or spirit
GATHERING
OPENING WORSHIP [GTG 452] “Open the Eyes of My Heart”
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see you, I want to see you. (Repeat)
To see you high and lifted up, shining in the light of your glory.
Pour out your power and love as we sing “Holy, holy, holy.”
Holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy.
Holy, holy, holy, I want to see you.
WORDS OF WELCOME
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP Matthew 5:3-11
*SONG [GTG 172] “Blest are They”
Rejoice and be glad! Blessed are you; holy are you!
Rejoice and be glad! Yours is the Kingdom of God!
CONFESSION
CALL TO CONFESSION Matthew 5:17-20
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Matthew 5:13-16
Let us pray: ‘We are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
‘We are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, we should let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON Matthew 7:7-11
‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
*GLORIA PATRI #579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end, Amen, Amen.
PROCLAMATION
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION
FIRST LESSON Matthew 5:21-26
‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
REFLECTION the Rev. Susan Lassalle
SECOND LESSON Matthew 5:38-42
‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
REFLECTION the Rev. Aaron Ochart
RESPONSE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Matthew 6:1-4, 19-21, 24-34
OFFERTORY “He Knows My Name” by Francesca Battistelli -Kelly
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
*SONG [GTG 444] “Forgive our Sins and We Forgive”
“Forgive our sins as we forgive,” you taught us, Lord, to pray,
but you alone can grant us grace to live the words we say.
PRAYERS Matthew 6:5-18, 22-23
‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
‘Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
*SONG [GTG 444] “Forgive our Sins and We Forgive”
“Forgive our sins as we forgive,” you taught us, Lord, to pray,
but you alone can grant us grace to live the words we say
‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
*SONG [GTG 444] “Forgive our Sins and We Forgive”
“Forgive our sins as we forgive,” you taught us, Lord, to pray,
but you alone can grant us grace to live the words we say.
CLOSING LESSON (Aaron) Matthew 7:1-6, 12-23
‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.
‘Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.
‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.
‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”
CLOSING SONG “In the Secret” Andy Park
In the secret, in the quiet place. In the stillness you are there.
in the secret, in the quiet hour I wait, only for you,
‘cause I want to know you more.
[Refrain] I want to know you, I want to hear your voice,
I want to know you more.
I want to touch you, I want to see your face,
I want to know you more.
I am reaching for the highest goal. That I might receive the prize.
Pressing onward, pushing every hindrance aside, out of my way,
‘Cause I want to know you more. [Refrain]
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION (Susan)
‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’
*RESPONSE [Music in Pew] “Prepare the way of the Lord ”
Prepare the way of the Lord prepare the way of the Lord
And all peoples will see the salvation of our God.
POSTLUDE I Sing the Mighty Power of God Phillip Keveren
Participating in today’s service are The Rev. Susan Lasalle, the Rev. Aaron Ochart; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Sam Garnett Music Director; Kelly Cuppett, Assistant Music Director, and Molly Guinan, Little Farms Music Girector. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service.
The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.
Announcements:
Devotional Spotlight: This week’s devotional is:Tell The Story: 40 Devotions with Reflections on Black History
By: Our Daily Bread. Tell the Story, allows you to hear about visionaries like Opal Lee, Richard Allen, and Benjamin Mays in this 40-day devotional from the Voices Collection of Our Daily Bread Ministries. Each day, inspire your own faith with a different testimony that includes relevant Scripture. Hear how each trailblazer looked to God and, against the odds, maintained dignity, served the community, sought social justice, and grew historic organizations and institutions.
Annual Meeting: our service on February 5th will serve as our annual meeting. This gives us all a chance to celebrate with the session and staff all that was accomplished in 2022, and to look ahead to the coming year. The church budget will be presented, and Aaron’s Terms of Call will be voted on.
Updated Directory: Last Call for updated information for the directory. We need everyone to check all your information and to give us a current picture we can use for the directory. We prefer a digital copy of a picture and can crop a picture as needed. However a hard copy is also okay, just give it to Louise.
All Church Work Day: Would you like to spend some time giving back to the church? Join us for the all church work day on Feb. 4th. We will have sandwiches and snacks. We will have jobs for all skill levels, from painting and weeding to more complicated projects like fixing the leaky sink. Please sign-up in the Narthex or email Louise. Do you have a project around the church you think needs to get done, let us know and we will try to add it to the list.
The Great Key Collection of 2023: If you have a key to the church, fellowship hall or any other building on the grounds that you no longer need please turn it into the office.
2023 Offering Envelopes: Boxes of offering envelopes are available in the Narthex. Grab a box to make your weekly offering a little easier.
