12. Year A - Second Sunday after Epiphany

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY, YEAR A

In 2002: 20 Jan

In 2005: 16 Jan

In 2008: 20 Jan

In 2011: 16 Jan

In 2014: 19 Jan

- - -

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Epiphany season and time after' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

SENTENCE

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

The Lord says: 'I will give you as a light to the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'

(Isa 49:6 NRSV)

OR, use the standard Epiphany Sentence in the document 'Epiphany season and time after', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)

Traditional

Almighty and eternal God,

ruler of all things in heaven and earth:

Mercifully hear the prayers of your people,

and grant us your peace

all the days of our life;

through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, modernised traditional

Almighty and eternal God,

you rule over everything in heaven and on earth.

In mercy listen to the prayers of your people,

and give us your peace in our times.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, alternative

(Let us pray that God will keep us true to our calling as his followers.[silence])

Almighty and merciful God,

it is by your loving kindness alone

that you accept us

and call us to serve you.

Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit

and make us worthy of our calling.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

OR, new

(Let us pray to be made clean. [silence])

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world.

Take away our sin

and make us your holy people.

For you live and reign

with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

FIRST READING

Isaiah 49:1-7 God's servant a light to the nations

PSALM

Psalm 40:1-11

Antiphon:

Here I am; I delight to do your will. (Ps 40:7,8 NRSV)

OR

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

(Ps 40:8 NRSV)

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Grace and peace from God in Christ

ALLELUIA VERSE (John 1:29 NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia.

John said, 'Here is the Lamb of God

who takes away the sin of the world!'

Alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 1:29-42 Jesus the Lamb of God

(Begin: 'John saw Jesus coming . . .')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ,

thank you for revealing yourself as the Lamb of God.

Help us to follow you and to lead others to you.

Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER

Faithful God,

we thank you for calling us to be your holy people,

in fellowship with your Son.

Take our lives and our possessions

and use them for your service.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Paul reminds us of our true identity as God's holy people. We can therefore come into his presence and present our petitions and thanksgiving. So let us pray for the church, the world, and those in need.

The regular response, OR:

Sing the song 'In our darkness' (ATE 275, TIS 725)

Suggested intercessions

Concluding prayer

Almighty Lord, you have called your church to witness to your reconciling love for the world in Christ Jesus. Help us to be true to our calling and proclaim the good news of your love, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

PREFACE

For these non-festival Sundays after Epiphany, either no seasonal preface is used, as in the Service with Communion (LHS p 6), or the following Epiphany preface may be used.

It is indeed right and good,

Lord God, holy Father,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You have sent your only Son

to appear among us as a human being,

and through him

you have fully revealed

the light of your presence to us.

And so, with angels and archangels,

and with all the company of heaven,

we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION

The following Epiphany invitation or one of the two general invitations below may be used.

Epiphany

Jesus says:

'The bread that God gives

is he who comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

General

1  Jesus says:

'I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

2  Jesus says:

'My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood

remain in me, and I in them.'

(Thanks be to God.)

Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

If the third prayer listed above under 'Prayer of the day' has not already been used, it may be used in this modified form as a post-communion prayer.

Almighty and merciful God,

it is by your loving kindness alone

that you accept us

and call us to serve you.

Strengthen us by this sacrament

and make us worthy of our calling.

We ask this through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

CLOSING SENTENCES (for use before or with the blessing)

The following sentences, from the second reading for the day, may be used before the blessing. It may be spoken entirely by the minister or responsively as indicated.

God will strengthen you to the end,

so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He is faithful,

for by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:8,9 NRSV)

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Our Lord Jesus Christ will keep you strong to the end.

Thanks be to God. OR, In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS

Please note:        * =        Modernised version available

      G3, G4 . . . =        Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .

      GS =        Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

LHS

AT

TIS

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

LHS

AT

TIS

Gospel: John 1:29-42

LHS

AT

TIS

PSALM 40:1-11

For musical settings of Psalm 40:1-11, see Music Package 1. See also TIS 23 I waited patiently for the Lord.

The following metrical paraphrase by David Sch¸tz could be sung to the tune 'Moscow' (LH 222, TIS 221). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

I waited patiently;

my heart yearned for the Lord

to hear my prayer.

He turned and heard my cry,

he raised me from the pit,

he set me on a rock,

and helped me stand.

He taught my mouth to sing

new songs of joy and praise,

thanking our God.

Let all around me see

what he has done for me,

and let the hearts of all

trust in the Lord.

Those who trust in the Lord

and who reject false gods,

happy are they.

You, Lord, have done great things,

and plan great things for us.

None can compare with you,

O Lord our God.

I could not hope to tell

all that you've done for us,

but this I know:

you don't want sacrifice

for all the things you've done,

yet you have given me

an open ear.

So I say, Here am I:

your book contains my words:

'I will delight

to do your will, O Lord;

your law is in my heart.'

I will tell all the world

of your good news.

I do not seal my lips,

I do not hide your help.

I speak of you,

and of your faithfulness,

and of your steadfast love!

Your mercy, truth and love

will keep me safe.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

ISAIAH 49:1-7: In this second of the four 'servant songs' of Isaiah, the servant makes known his unique formation and call from the time of his conception, and his hidden powerful qualities intended by God to restore Israel, the people of God. Though Isaiah expresses the futility of his efforts, the Lord says that he will not only restore Israel but will reach out to bless all the world with salvation. Looking back from our point in history, we see that the prophecy was never completed in its entirety until the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:1-9: Paul had learnt of divisions and abuses within the life of his beloved Corinthian congregation. It was because of this that he wrote this letter to its members. Yet in the words of the greeting and following introduction he affirms only their high calling. They are called to be saints and to be in the fellowship of Jesus Christ our Lord. He refers to the high degree of the spiritual gifts with which God had endowed the congregation. He is confident that the testimony of Jesus Christ will keep them until that day when he comes to be the judge of all.

JOHN 1:29-42: John the Baptist had already witnessed the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus when he had baptised him. Here he tells the assembled crowd that Jesus is the one to whom he had been pointing in his preaching and baptising ministry in preparation for the coming Messiah. The reference to Jesus being the Lamb of God points to the central nature of the Messiah's work, namely the forgiveness of sin of the world. Two of John's disciples followed Jesus from this time and brought others, seeing him because of John's words to be the promised Messiah.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS

Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the first reading could be illustrated by a picture like the one in the TEV for Psalm 40:9; and the gospel by a picture like the one in the TEV for John 1:32 (as for last Sunday).

SYMBOL

A Lamb of God symbol could be used on a banner or a poster for this day.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'

See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

DRAMATISING THE READINGS

The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance,the first reading could be read by two readers: Isaiah, the Lord; and the gospel by four readers: narrator (the pastor), John, Jesus, Andrew.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could draw/display a symbol of Jesus as a lamb.

TALKING WITH THE CHILDREN

Jesus as the Lamb of God could be discussed.

'COME AND SEE JESUS'

The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is: 'Jesus' first disciples (John 1:35-51)' (to be found in both the original and RCL editions, 2 Epiphany, year A).