25 January - Third Sunday after Epiphany – Year

The Faith Action Programme would like to thank Rev Anna Gobledale, retired Minister of the United Reformed Church and Editor of the Worship Words website, for her thoughts on the third Sunday of Advent.

Introduction

A good place to start worship preparation is with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Today this image might better portray the preacher holding their e-device highlighting online news sources! Whatever our news sources, join me to consider what God might be saying to us this week.

Are God's words comforting? Challenging? Empowering? Confronting? Assuring? What does God want us to hear? What does God want us to say? What do we (I) want to say? What is the message for our congregants to hear? What is the nugget of God's Truth that worshippers will take away with them?

As we delve into the Word and the news, and consider these questions, what other voices are available for us to listen to and consider? I make use of extensive online resources: websites of contemporary biblical scholars, preachers and liturgists; comedians on YouTube offering a fresh perspective on the news; church websites sharing articles by colleagues. While some worship leaders may be tempted by AI, I am keen on tuning into God's voice, not Google's. I encourage you to trust your own path for hearing and sharing God's word this week.

First, I read a variety of translations and versions of the passage, starting with the New Revised Standard Version. I also read more interpretive versions including The Message and The Good News Bible, to hear language not bound by literal translation and often easier to understand.

Secondly, I read related liturgy from my library or on the internet. I start with related prayers on both Vanderbilt's website and Worship Words, one American and one British.

Initially, for me, this week's readings cry out concerning ‘light in the darkness', providing a profound assurance that the darkness will not have the last word. But I think to myself, the darkness of our world is so deep, so vast, so frightening, will a congregation truly believe what can sound like a hollow promise from Isaiah, the psalmist and Paul? Or is this the reminder they need?

There's Jesus, His cousin in a Roman prison, not having an easy time of it. Maybe identifying with the sorrow and fear Jesus might have been feeling could be a place to start, moving from there to His buoyancy and commitment to move on, even in the face of personal tragedy and societal violence and oppression.

What about ‘Chloe's people'? Are they examples of whistle-blowers of their day? Is Paul calling disciples to be truth-tellers, revealing the wrong doing of others?

Part of me wants to focus on something more traditional, highlighting Paul's reiteration of his assignment to ‘proclaim the Gospel' (1 Cor 1:17) and Matthew's happy chapter-ending describing Jesus ‘proclaiming the good news of the kingdom'. (Mt 4:23). But might that be an easy-out, an avoidance of today's harrowing news?

I invite you into prayer as the week unfolds, letting go of fear and opening ourselves to God's guidance and the illumination of our hearts and minds.

Isaiah 9:1-4

Words expand and images take shape in my mind as I read the words of the prophet, commentary and related worship resources.

Questions arise:

• ‘No gloom', no ‘anguish', no ‘deep darkness' - what would that look like in today's world? What would it feel like? How might it relate to mental strain, challenge and illness? Is it even possible? The promise of light in the darkness might provide the framework for opening words.

• Do I need to learn more about Zebulun, Naphtali and ‘the day of Midian'? Do people need to know that the phrase ‘the way of the sea' was used in Medieval times to refer to a major trade route from Egypt to Syria that runs along the Israeli coast?

• What does it mean that God brought lands ‘into contempt' (NRSV)? King James version refers to God's ‘affliction' of these lands. The New International Version offers the phrase ‘humbled' which sounds much less harsh of an act for God to undertake. What am I to do with our God who afflicts entire groups of people?

• The following verses, 6 and 7, prophesy, for many Christians, the Christmas story. Will I be tempted to conclude that Isaiah actually had Jesus, the babe born in Galilee thousands of years later, on his mind? Will I be able to discipline myself to stick to this week's reading?

• Isaiah's words find themselves partially quoted in the Matthew lection for today. How important is that to mention in the service?

Psalm 27:1, 4-9

First, I read the psalm aloud, replacing ‘LORD' with ‘Eternal One', a respected translation of the Hebrew less likely to be confused with ‘Jesus'. This will clear my head to better hear the voice and meaning of the ancient Jewish Psalmist, free of any New Testament overlay.

The composition of this psalm moves from proclamation of faith to a plea not to be forgotten by God, the Eternal One. In modern jargon one might say, ‘I know you are there supporting me, but I would really appreciate some tangible evidence of this. I'm having a hard time here.'

As with the Isaiah passage, the promise of light emanates from these verses. Yet it stands alongside the confession that we often live in doubt and darkness. We do fear. We are afraid. And often we struggle to offer ‘shouts of joy' or ‘make melody' to God. These two passages encourage me to acknowledge both the joy and trust of our faith and the reality of our doubt and fear. Sections of this psalm might be incorporated into both the Call to Worship and the Prayer of Confession. One might explore with the congregation the sensation of feeling ‘forsaken'.

Matthew 4:12-23

They followed Jesus. The Greek word translated as ‘follow' also means ‘accompany' and ‘travel with' (according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). Disciples, yes, but also companions. How might this relate to ‘followers' today? Do people see themselves walking with Jesus or behind Him, accompanying or following? I often imagine myself following Jesus, watching the heels of His feet as He ascends a rocky path, placing my foot where His foot has been. In my image, the path is too narrow to climb side-by-side. What if we walked next to each other on a broad pathway? Rather than merely trudging, there might be more room for joking and laughter. Perhaps this passage is offering disciples the opportunity for both: following and accompanying, seeking guidance in times of trial and walking together in times of joy.

This passage can be seen as a call to action. Jesus's cousin has been arrested, but rather than withdraw permanently into the darkness of despair, Jesus takes up John's mission to call people to repentance. An interpretation of ‘the kingdom' (kin-dom) that I find helpful focuses on God's realm in the here and now, rather than after death. In this understanding, our responsibility is to repent for the darkness we have spread, or allowed to spread, and open ourselves to the light of forgiveness, to change our ways by choosing to follow/accompany Jesus today.

What are our congregants' experiences of repentance and forgiveness? What are their daily practices of repentance? This service might present the opportunity to share daily practices of repentance, perhaps in the Prayer of Confession.

Then there is the radical concept of giving up everything to follow/accompany Jesus. ‘Immediately they left the boat and their father.' (verse 22). James and John walked away from family, employment and security, seemingly without concern for the consequences for themselves or others. What does that mean for faithful Christians today? The concept of ‘sacrifice' does not always sit well with our congregants, but this reading opens up the possibility of talking about it, the opportunity to at least ask thought-provoking questions: What have you given up to follow Jesus? What are you holding on to? Is Jesus calling you to give up more?

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

What a human and earthy passage – describing squabbles, whistle-blowers and power plays. What is a leader to do?! Paul reveals the early church in Corinth to be similar to our congregations today, often riddled with petty concerns and personality clashes. This passage opens up possibilities to look at current disagreements in one's own congregation, appealing for agreement, for knitting together ‘in the same mind and the same purpose.' If one takes this tact, one must resist the temptation to suggest which side of the disagreement is the ‘better' choice.

One might focus on ‘Chloe's people', the whistle-blowers in this account. By naming them and not keeping them anonymous, Paul seems to commend them for providing accurate accounts of events to leaders and those in authority. How might the community in Corinth have felt toward ‘Chloe's people' upon receiving Paul's chastising letter? Countering the popular attitude that ‘silence is golden' when it comes to informing may rub some the wrong way, for many of us have been brought up calling truth-tellers ‘rats' and ‘tell-tales'. But in this age of ‘fake news' and AI, one might encourage faithful Christians to speak out when truth has been twisted or even buried. How might this relate to world events today? When is it acceptable, even imperative, to ‘tell' on others, to uncover falsehoods? Who are famous whistle-blowers? How were they received? What happened to them?

In verse 18 Paul reminds us, as do the Psalmist and Isaiah, that even if we feel like we are perishing, even when it is difficult to believe that there is light in the darkness, even when we feel hopeless and helpless against the powers of evil in our world, ‘the power of God' is ours through our faith. In our faith we find unity.

Sermon ideas

Numerous possibilities for worship themes and sermons arise from the readings. I offer sermon/message ideas focusing on two of these themes: ‘Light in the darkness' and ‘Follow Jesus: be truth-tellers'.

1. Sermon Theme: Light in the Darkness
Primary text: Matthew 4:12-23
Secondary texts: Isaiah 9:1-4 and Psalm 27:1, 4-9

Ask congregants, in pairs, to share their fears. (If your people are reticent to share, give them time to think to themselves. They might be encouraged to write down their fears.) Where does the world feel dark for you? What are you afraid of? What worries you? What makes you anxious? These might be personal, related to a health concern, for example, or they might be fears for our children, our community, our world. You might hold up a newspaper, suggesting people consider the news of the day.

Give them each 1 minute to share.

Reflect on Jesus's situation in Matthew – grieving the arrest of His cousin, facing the injustices of the empire in which He lives.

Describe how Jesus responds to His grief and fears with action and hope. He can do nothing about John's imprisonment, but He can help others.

Refer to the Psalm and Isaiah passages that speak of light in the darkness.

One might include an example from the news, a film or history, in which someone has transcended their suffering to bring light into the world for others.

Ask congregants to return to their partner and share what light might be shining into their fears? What action might they take? How might they re-direct their fears and anxiety into helping others? This time two minutes each should be ample.

Finish by reading Psalm 27:1, 6-7 followed by a prayer for light in our darkness, courage in our fear, hope in our despair. Strips of paper might be distributed onto which people write their plan of action and either keep them or bring them forward as an offering and a commitment.

2. Sermon Theme: Follow me – be Truth-tellers

Primary texts: Matthew 4:12-23 and 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

‘Follow' is an action word. We are people of the Way, not just people of the Word. What actions in our lives demonstrate that we are ‘following' Jesus? Truth-telling is one way in which we follow Jesus. Truth-telling often involves personal risk and even sacrifice. How can we be or support truth-tellers in our society and world?

I often use films for my sermon examples, hoping that at least a few people in the congregation will have seen or heard of the film in question. Numerous films relate accounts of true events in which a person, or group of people, speak out against injustice. A sermon might focus on Katherine Gun, featured in the 2019 film, ‘Official Secrets', the GCHQ worker who exposed classified information in an attempt to prevent the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Or the American Erin Brockovich whose story was revealed in the 2000 award-winning film ‘Erin Brockovich' . A list of several true whistle-blower films has been published by Transparency International: ‘the global coalition against corruption'.

An example of truth-telling in literature is ‘The Emperor's New Clothes,' in which a small child ‘blows the whistle' on the emperor who, in fact, dons no clothes at all. This story might be incorporated into a children's message about secrets and the importance of telling the truth. One might focus on the principle that Jesus wants us to see with the eyes of truth. One could close the children's message singing ‘This little light of mine,' emphasising that Jesus wants us to illuminate the truth.

‘Chloe's people' appear to be the truth-tellers in Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. How do you think people felt about ‘Chloe's people' after the church received Paul's chastising letter? When might ‘tell-tales', ‘rats' or ‘whistle-blowers' be doing God's will by speaking out?

Jesus's ministry often involves ‘whistle blowing'. In Matthew 4:17, Jesus seems to blow the whistle on everyone in the crowd, suggesting that everyone has done something requiring repentance. For both Jesus and John (His cousin), their confrontational truth-telling, often unpopular with the authorities, leads to their ultimate sacrifice.

One might ask the congregation, ‘Who are the whistle-blowers of today?' Who is proclaiming God's truth in the face of public criticism and even condemnation? What unpopular truths are we, individually and as a congregation, willing to proclaim and defend?

One might include an introduction to Protect, Transparency International, or a similar truth-telling organisation. Transparency International‘s mission is ‘to stop corruption and promote transparency, accountability and integrity at all levels and across all sectors of society' . The mission of ‘Protect', a UK whistleblowing charity started in 1993, has been to ‘stop harm by championing safe whistleblowing.' Their Advice Line has ‘supported more than 3,000 individuals each year and handled over 50,000 cases, working to shape laws and policies to ensure no whistleblower goes unheard'

Prayers

Firstly, as I read the Bible texts, I look for one or more verses to incorporate in a prayer. I usually find a line or phrase in the psalm which easily works into a responsive reading, as a single line that the congregation repeats. Today that line arises from Isaiah and I use it in the response in the Prayer of Intercession. In the first Call to Worship, rather than a single line from the psalm, I've incorporated several words and phrases.

Secondly, as I identify the primary text and the day's theme, and as the sermon takes shape, I incorporate related words and phrases into the prayers. Thus, as the themes ‘Follow me: truth and truth-tellers' and ‘light in the darkness' developed, I wrote the second and third Call to Worship. While I found the 1 Corinthians passage especially useful for the foundation of both the Prayer of Confession and the Prayer of Thanksgiving, I have incorporated a mention of both truth-telling and light shining in the darkness, so that if these prayers are sent early in the week to be printed, they will connect to the theme, whichever direction I take in my sermon preparation.

I often work in sets of three, thus the three responses in the first Call to Worship: we gather to worship, to thank and to be faithful. This pattern is also evident in the third Call to Worship: we gather to follow, to walk and to celebrate. In the Prayer of Thanksgiving, the pattern includes three ‘we thank…' lines followed by one ‘we marvel…' line, and God is the God of community, light and wisdom.

Once hymns/songs are chosen for the service, I often incorporate words, lines and images from a hymn/song directly preceding or following a prayer.

Lastly, I avoid saying ‘Let us' (as in ‘Let us pray') as the joke about ‘lettuce' always seems close to hand. I tend to invite people to pray, saying, ‘Pray with me,' ‘Will you pray with me?' or ‘Join me in prayer.'

Prayers: Gather Prayer / Call to worship

1. Arising from Psalm 27:1, 4-9

To be read responsively, congregation's lines in bold.

Praise God, our light and salvation.
We gather to worship God, the stronghold of our lives.
Praise God, our shelter in times of trouble
We gather to thank God, our light in the darkness.
Praise God, our protector and source of strength.
We gather to be God's faithful people.

Pray with me.
Gracious God, reveal Yourself to us [this morning] during this time of worship.
Open our hearts and minds to Your truth.
Bless us with understanding and renew our commitment to follow Jesus,
in whose name we pray. Amen.

2. Theme: Light in the darkness
To be read responsively, congregation's lines in bold.

‘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.' (Isaiah 9:2)
Thanks be to God for the light that shines in the darkness!

Pray with me.
Eternal One, we gather in this house of worship to sing and make melodies to You, to lift our voices in joyful praise.
We set our burdens, our tiredness, our fears and our worries before You,
seeking renewal, relief and assurance.
Open our minds to hear Your living Word and receive Your wisdom.
Open our hearts to welcome the radiance of Your love.
Shine Your light upon us as we worship You. Amen.

3. (Theme: Follow me – be Truth-tellers) (arising from Matthew 4:12-23)
To be read responsively, congregation's lines in bold.

Come, follow Jesus!
We gather together to follow in the way of Christ.
Come, walk with Jesus!
We seek to walk together in the truth of Christ.
Come, trust in Jesus!
We celebrate the revelation of Christ in our world.

Pray with me.
God of truth, we gather today to receive guidance and strength from You.
May we discover, in this time of worship, illumination for our pathway ahead
and companionship for the journey.
May Your Word be revealed through the liturgy, the songs and the silence.
May Your call to action, Your call to follow Jesus, be made clear as today's truths are revealed to us.
Bless our time together. Amen.

Prayers: Prayer of Confession (arising from 1 Corinthians 1:10-18)
Worship leader reads introductory paragraph as a call to confession.

Paul appeals for unity amongst the faithful in Corinth saying, ‘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 knit together in the same mind and the same purpose.'
Our world and our lives are often riddled with disagreement and division.
While we often may blame others for stressful situations, we are called to confess our role, repent and open ourselves to God's forgiveness.
Join me in our prayer of confession.

Forgiving God,
we come together to admit our wrongs and ask your forgiveness.
We have quarreled. Nations fight. Families dispute. Congregations argue.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.

We have blamed others when we, too, have been at fault.
We have tried to convince others to side with us against our opponents,
even when we are of one family, one community or one church.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.

We have said untruths, bolstering our views.
We have maligned and offended others who have stood in our way.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.

We have been afraid to say important truths,
worried about consequences, especially what others will think or say about us.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.

We have upheld division over unity.
We have polarised and poisoned relationships.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ.

Forgiving God, save us with Your powerful mercy.
Shine Your light into our darkness.
Open our hearts and minds to Your embrace
that we might embrace others in love and friendship.
Eternal One, forgive us.
Knit us together in Christ. Amen.

Prayer: Thanksgiving / Gratitude (arising from 1 Corinthians 1:10-18)

Pray with me.
Gracious God, we raise our voices in thanks to You.

God of community,
thank You for Your spirit hovering in our midst,
knitting us together as a community of faithful disciples.
Thank You for unravelling threads of untruth, distrust and darkness.
Thank You for casting on threads of truth, caring and compassion.
We marvel at the patterns of friendship, community and cohesion You have created.

God of light,
thank You for your spirit persistently shining amongst the shadows.
Thank You for boldly breaking through the darkness.
Thank You for illuminating the path before us.
We marvel at the bright beams of love, hope and possibility You have created.

God of wisdom,
thank You for Your spirit quickening our minds and hearts.
Thank You for calling us to follow in the way of Jesus.
Thank You for never giving up on us.
We marvel at the power of Your word to change the world.

Gracious God, we raise our voices in thanks to You.
Amen.

Prayer: Prayer for others / Intercession

Prayer of Intercession (arising from Isaiah 9:1-4)
Throughout this prayer, specific concerns from the congregation or the news might be added. The line, ‘We lift up…' might be inserted in any or each section before the responsive line.

The worship leader reads the introductory paragraph as a call to prayer.

God's light shines upon us and all creation,
yet darkness often seems eager to extinguish that light.
As God's faithful people, we earnestly pray for our world,
believing that God's light will always continue to shine, even in the darkness.
We are a people of hope and our prayers for the world express that hope.
Join me in our prayers of intercession.

God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of light,
we pray for people who find themselves in gloom and anguish,
for families living with war and violence,
for children alone and afraid,
for women shipped into slavery.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of compassion,
we pray for people afflicted by poverty,
homelessness and lack of clean water,
for communities unable to secure safety for their children.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of abundance,
we pray for people whose homes and communities have been plundered,
who know only scarcity and suffering,
who no longer experience joy.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of hope,
we pray for people who carry great burdens,
who trudge through life with a yoke across their shoulders,
for carers, for over-worked medical personnel.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of liberation,
we pray for people who live broken by the rod of their oppressor,
for those abused by partners or parents,
for those slaving away at underpaid jobs,
for those excluded from activities and opportunities.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of truth,
we pray for people afraid to speak out,
afraid to reveal injustice and oppression,
fearful of consequences and retribution.
God of the nations,
shine Your light into the darkness.

God of light,
show us how to shine Your light more brightly into our world,
to relieve the suffering of others and to celebrate Your presence,
even in times of trial.
Thank You for walking with us, and all Your children, through the challenges of life.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Prayer: Blessing / Closing prayer/Sending Forth

I look at the gathering words (whether a prayer or Call to Worship) and the closing words (whether a prayer, blessing or sending forth) as bookends for the service. Therefore, the latter will ideally echo the former, using the same or similar words and images. If a service has altered its focus since the liturgy was printed, I use this opportunity to always refer to what I consider ‘the nugget' of the service, the primary message that I feel God is speaking through the service, which means I may write out unprepared words of closing during the last hymn.

Closing Prayer
Pray with me.
Gracious God, thank You for opening our hearts and minds to Your truth.
Bless us with understanding and renew our commitment to follow Jesus,
in whose name we pray. Amen.

Pray with me.
God of truth, thank You for this time together,
to re-group as individuals and as a congregation,
to re-establish our footing on the path of discipleship.
Unite us in our common purpose for the week ahead,
to share Your truth, Your light and Your love with everyone we meet.
Keep us close to Jesus. Amen.

Blessing/Sending Forth:
People of God,
go to proclaim God's truth,
shine Christ's light
and celebrate the Spirit amongst us!

Followers of Jesus,
as you travel through the week ahead,
choose the path of truth, hope and goodness.
Go in peace.

Go filled with the knowledge that God's light shines upon you and all the world. Amen.

Go to follow Jesus in truth, light and hope.
Go to be the people of God!

Musical suggestions

God Welcomes All (GWA) is the new supplement to Church Hymnary Fourth Edition. This exciting new collection features over 200 hymns and songs in a wide range of styles by writers from Scotland and around the world.

The full music and words-only versions are now available; and digital resources, including the expansion of the existing Church of Scotland music website, will be published in due course, with streaming functions and further information on each song; backing tracks; and lyric videos. God Welcomes All is available to order from https://chbookshop.hymnsam.co.uk/books/9781786225573/god-welcomes-all

Our online music resource is on the Church of Scotland website; you can listen to samples of every song in the Church Hymnary 4th edition (CH4) and download a selection of recordings for use in worship. You will also find playlists for this week and liturgical seasons and themes on the Weekly Worship and Inspire Me tabs.

You can find further musical suggestions for this week in a range of styles on the Songs for Sunday blog from Trinity College Glasgow.

Hymns for the readings above from God Welcomes All:

• GWA 63 – "Here, as we meet" – looks at the light motif of Isaiah
• GWA 82 – "Here and now we're bound together" – sense of call to follow, from Matthew
• GWA 134 – "Called to be saints!" – sense of call to follow, from Matthew
• GWA 137 – "In the darkness, we were waiting" – dark and light motif from the passages above, in a modern worship style

I usually choose 4-5 hymns/songs for a service: opening hymn, prayerful/pastoral hymn, hymn relating to the theme to precede the sermon, and closing hymn. A fifth hymn might be sung as children leave for Jr Church, for communion Sunday or on another special day.

George Stuart of Australia is one of my favourite contemporary church hymnists. All of his hymns are copyright free and available for free download. Many of his hymn can be found on Worship Words at Singing a New Song – George Stuart, Australia | Worship Words.

Gathering Hymns – I tend to use a triumphant hymn proclaiming that we are gathering to worship God or one reminding us that we have come to learn how to be better disciples of Jesus. Whatever the service's theme, such hymns remind us of the big picture of our faith and usually touch on elements of the day's liturgy/theme.

‘We gather in this place'

Author: George Stuart, Australia

Tune: Crimond https://www.hymnary.org/search?qu=Crimond , most familiar as ‘The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want')

Copyright of lyrics: public domain (free to use with acknowledgement)

Link to lyrics: Gathering hymn — George Stuart, Australia | Worship Words

This hymn provides both words of gathering and reminders of what lies ahead in the service.

We gather in this place today
To hear a word we need;
From Jesus' teaching we gain strength;
We listen. We take heed.

We come with open hearts and minds
To hear a word we need;
To sing of hope; to pray for peace,
For loving is our creed.

We come to lift our spirits high;
To hear a word we need
To help enrich the lives we live;
And then in faith proceed.

We come concerned about our world,
To hear a word we need
To prompt us work for equity;
Stand up for those who bleed.

We gather in this place today
To hear a word we need
To stir us into love and care,
And go where Christ will lead.

With praise and elation

Writer: George Stuart, Australia
Tune: To God be the glory
Copyright of lyrics: public domain (free to use with acknowledgement)
Link to lyrics: Praise & Elation, hymn — George Stuart, Australia | Worship Words
A triumphal opening hymn.

With praise and elation we greet the Divine
In beauty of love that we just can't define;
The mystery is wondrous; it captures our soul;
It gives our life purpose; it makes us feel whole.

Chorus: Praise and sing; praise and sing
Of compassion and care;
Praise and sing; praise and sing;
Let us be well-aware
When love is encountered by you and by me
Our souls can take flight, and our spirits are free.

Compassion inspires us to act in like ways;
When we are forgiven our guilt then decays;
We know that with love we can rise to great heights;
With love as the spark much more good-will ignites.

Chorus

The Sacred within us, as Jesus has shown,
Lights up the desire to let love be known;
His love points the way to have true liberty,
To real inner peace, singing God's melody.

Chorus

• CH4 198 – "Let us build a house where love can dwell" – related to 1 Corinthians
• CH4 543 – "Longing for light, we wait in darkness" - related to themes in Isaiah 9, Psalm 27 and Matthew 4
• CH4 540 – "I heard the voice of Jesus say" - related to Isaiah 9, Psalm 27 and Matthew 4; speaks of ‘this dark world's light'.
• CH4 619 – "Sprit of the living God fall afresh on me" –

1. Title: O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer
Author: Communaute de Taizé
Lyrics & music and copyright information: O Lord, Hear My Prayer | Hymnary.org

2. Title: Safely home

Author: Sam Goodman, UK
Tune: Eventide, Abide with me
First line: Hold us in love
Link to lyrics: Safely home, hymn — Sam Goodman, UK | Worship Words
Copyright: public domain (free to use with acknowledgement)

Sam Goodman, recently ordained and a prolific hymnist, writes a new hymn almost every week. He offers fresh inclusive lyrics to accompany familiar tunes. Several of Goodman's hymns are posted for free use Contributors – Hymnists | Worship Words

Hold us in love
Enfold us in your arms
Guide us through troubles
Keep us safe from harm
Please let our fellowship
Stay strong and true
Hold us in love
And hold us close to you

Lighten our darkness
Be our beacon still
Comfort those grieving
Heal and help the ill
And let your mercy
Rest on those who strive
Lighten our darkness
Keep the flame alive

Shepherd your flock
Teach us to know the way
Gently redeem us
When we go astray
Bring us together
Don't leave us alone
Shepherd your flock
And bring us safely home

Sermon/theme hymns

Title: Call to Discipleship
Author: George Stuart, Australia
Arising from Matthew 4:12-23, particularly verses 18-22
First Line: Near by the Sea of Galilee
Tune: St. Columba
Copyright: public domain (free to use with acknowledgement)
Link to lyrics: Call to Discipleship, hymn — George Stuart, Australia | Worship Words

Near by the Sea of Galilee
Where Jesus called to some
To follow him, to fish for folk,
He said God's reign had come.

We may not have a boat to leave,
No fishing nets to mend,
But when compassion guides our path
We see God's reign extend.

We may not have the gifts to heal;
We may not wish to preach,
But gentleness and deep concern
Are both within our reach.

God's reign is couched in deeds of love
For those who suffer pain;
This love, for those who need relief,
Leads straight to God's domain.

As Jesus called disciples then,
He calls us still today;
God's reign is seen in us each time
We follow Jesus' way.

CH4 509 – "Jesus calls us o're the tumult" - highlights Jesus' call to Andrew and Simon to ‘follow me,' - relates to Matthew 4.

Closing hymns

1. Title: Call to action (This might be used for the sermon hymn.)
Author: George Stuart, Australia
Tune Wir Pflugen
First line: When bad laws are not questioned
Copyright: public domain (free to use with acknowledgement)

George Stuart's lyrics echo the message of the sermon regarding following Jesus by being truth-tellers. They might lead into a call to action followed by a commitment to action from members of the congregation.

Link to lyrics: Call to action, hymn — George Stuart, Australia | Worship Words

When bad laws are not questioned,
Good policies not tried,
Then God is kept in heaven,
And God within denied.
For when we sit in silence
Much wrong can go unchecked;
We need to speak out loudly,
Make governments reflect.

We may voice opinions
Although with censored voice;
Let shouts be strong against all wrong;
We really have no choice.

The Jesus we have heard of,
Was always strong to state
That he was for the weak ones,
The poor and not the great.
He challenged all the leaders;
Would not be overawed;
He saw injustice rampant,
And equity ignored.

We should voice opinions
To gain a listening ear;
Let shouts be strong against all wrong;
We need to interfere.

If we are Christ's disciples,
We cannot turn our backs
When called into the battle
To follow in his tracks.
For Jesus it was costly;
The enemy was strong.
When power is corrupted
We're charged to combat wrong.

We shall voice opinions;
We too shall not succumb.
Let shouts be strong against all wrong;
And we shall overcome.

2. Title: Hope and light
Author: George Stuart, Australia
Tune: To God be the glory
First line: The story of Jesus brings light to each one
Copyright: public domain (free to use with acknowledgement)
Theme: The light of Jesus overcomes darkness (relates to Matthew 4)
Link to lyrics: Hope and light, hymn — George Stuart, Australia | Worship Words

The story of Jesus brings light to each one;
Excites and inspires us by what he has done;
In Jesus the battle with darkness is won;
'The Light of the World' can transform everyone.
Hope abounds; light surrounds;
So our life overflows;
Hope abounds; light surrounds
When our love blooms and grows;
The sacred within us compels us to strive;
With Jesus we flourish; in God we're alive.

When darkness surrounds us, we look for the light
That points the way forward and out of the night;
We still have to struggle with all of our might
To stop fears prevailing and put them to flight.
Light empowers; hope is ours
If we give it a chance;
Light empowers; hope is ours
When we join in the dance.
With God as our partner and with a friend's care
We keep up the rhythm; dispel our despair.

Another beginning; life beckons once more;
And hope still arises; it bids us explore,
With courage and boldness to open each door;
With God as our future, we need not withdraw.
Hope ignites; light invites
Us to take the right course;
Hope ignites; light invites
Us to look to its source;
And looking to Jesus, such light fills our soul;
With Jesus we flourish; in God we are whole.

CH4 530 – "One more step along the world I go" - a familiar hymn that emphasises discipleship, travelling with God, through difficult times.

God of grace and God of glory
Author: H.E. Fosdick
A traditional rousing hymn for leaving worship.
Link to lyrics and tune: God of Grace and God of Glory | Hymnary.org

Other hymn options:

Title:This Little Light of Mine
This might be taught to children as part of a children's message time.
Source:African-American
Copyright:Public Domain
Link to lyrics and tune: This Little Light of Mine | Hymnary.org

Numerous verses have been written for this song. These three fit well with the theme of ‘Light shining in the darkness'.

1. This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine…
2. Ev'rywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine…
3. Jesus gave it to me, I'm gonna let it shine…

A suggested playlist of songs from CH4 throughout Epiphany can be found on the Church of Scotland website

Reflecting on our worship practice

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the way we worship has changed and we need to reflect on the changing or newly established patterns that emerged and continue to emerge as a result of the disruption.

We can facilitate worship for all by exploring imaginative approaches to inclusion, participation and our use of technologies in ways that suit our contexts. This is not an exhaustive list, but some things we could consider are:

• Framing various parts of the worship service in accessible language to help worshippers understand the character and purpose of each part. This is essential for creating worship for all (intergenerational worship) that reflects your community of faith.
• Holding spaces for reflection and encouraging prayer to be articulated in verbal and non-verbal ways, individually and in online breakout rooms.
• In online formats the effective use of the chat function and microphone settings encourages active participation in prayer, e.g. saying the Lord's Prayer together unmuted, in a moment of ‘holy chaos'.
• While singing in our congregations is still restricted, we can worship corporately by using antiphonal psalm readings, creeds and participative prayers.
• Using music and the arts as part of the worship encourages the use of imagination in place of sung or spoken words.
• Use of silence, sensory and kinaesthetic practices allow for experience and expression beyond regular audio and visual mediums.

The following questions might help you develop a habit of reflecting on how we create and deliver content and its effectiveness and impact, and then applying what we learn to develop our practice.

• How inclusive was the worship?
  Could the worship delivery and content be described as worship for all/ intergenerational?
  Was it sensitive to different "Spiritual Styles"?
• How was the balance between passive and active participation?
• How were people empowered to connect with or encounter God?
  What helped this?
  What hindered this?
• How cohesive was the worship?
  Did it function well as a whole?
  How effective was each of the individual elements in fulfilling its purpose?
• How balanced was the worship?
  What themes/topics/doctrines/areas of Christian life were included?
• How did the worship connect with your context/contemporary issues?
  Was it relevant in the everyday lives of those attending and in the wider parish/ community?
  How well did the worship connect with local and national issues?
  How well did the worship connect with world events/issues?
• What have I learned that can help me next time I plan and deliver worship?

Useful links

You can listen to samples of every song in the Church Hymnary 4th edition (CH4) and download a selection of recordings for use in worship in our online hymnary.

You are free to download, project, print and circulate multiple copies of any of this material for use in worship services, bible studies, parish magazines, etc., but reproduction for commercial purposes is not permitted.

Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not necessarily the official view of the Church of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.