13. Year C - Third Sunday after Epiphany

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13. Year C - Third Sunday after Epiphany

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VERSION: 9 April 2002

 

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY, YEAR C

 

In 2004: 25 Jan

In 2007: 21 Jan

In 2010: 24 Jan

In 2013: 27 Jan

In 2016: 24 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.

 

This day is holy to the Lord your God;

do not mourn or weep.

This day is holy to our Lord;

do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

(Neh 8: 9b,10b NRSV alt)

 

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,

look mercifully on our weakness,

and stretch out your mighty hand

to help and defend us;

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,

look in mercy on our weakness,

and stretch out your mighty hand

to help and protect us.

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 for the freedom of the new life God gives us. [silence])

Lord God, set us free

from the bondage of our sins,

and give us the full life

of your kingdom,

which you have made known to us

in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

 

OR, new

(Let us pray that we live by God's word. [silence] )

Life-giving God,

we thank you that your Son brought good news

and set us free from captivity.

Fill us with your Spirit,

so that, as we are made holy,

we live as your holy people.

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.

 

FIRST READING

Nehemiah 8:1-3,5,6,8-10 Ezra reads the law to the people

(After verse 6, resume at verse 8 with 'The Levites read . . . ' (NRSV, NIV) or 'The Levites gave. . . . ' (TEV))

 

PSALM

Psalm 19

Antiphon:

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

(Ps 19:8a NIV)

OR

Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life. (based on Jn 6:63b)

 

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a You are the body of Christ

 

ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 4:18 NRSV alt)

Alleluia, alleluia.

(Jesus said:) 'The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives.'

Alleluia.

 

GOSPEL

Luke 4:14-21 Jesus proclaims God's word at Nazareth

 

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank you for fulfilling the Scriptures

and bringing God's good news.

Lead us to enjoy your salvation.

Amen.

 

OFFERING PRAYER

Saving God,

thank you for setting us free

from darkness, captivity, and oppression,

and making us part of Christ's body.

Help us to live harmoniously,

serving and helping one another,

and being your instruments to bring good news,

healing, and liberty to others.

Amen.

 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Call to prayer

Jesus Christ has been revealed to us in the proclamation of the word. Let us bring our prayers and petitions to the Father in his name.

 

The regular response, OR:

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

 

Suggested intercessions

*

for all members of the body of Christ, that each may be honoured for the gifts they offer in service to the whole

*

for layreaders and others who read the word of God in worship

*

for those disabled by blindness or other physical disabilities

*

for those caught in poverty or oppression, and for those who are unjustly imprisoned

*

for all the nations on earth, that they may live in peace with one another

 

Concluding prayer

Lord, may your word be heard wherever your people gather, so that they are set free to bring your good news to all the world. We ask this through 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 p6), 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:

 

Lord God, set us free

from the bondage of our sins,

and give us the full life

of your kingdom,

which you have made known to us

in this sacrament

of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

For he lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen.

 

DISMISSAL

From the first reading and the gospel:

 

Go in peace, for your strength is the joy of the Lord.

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

 

OR, from the second reading:

Go in peace; you each belong to the body of Christ.

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: Nehemiah 8:1-3,5,6,8-10

LHS

259

Speak, O Lord, Thy servant heareth* G7

263

Father of mercies, in Thy Word G7

265

How blest are they who hear God's Word* G3

274

Lord, Thy Word abideth G7

500

Blessed Jesus, at Thy word* G5

507

Open now thy gates of beauty* G3

AT

207

As we gather here (The Call)

262

Shine on me, Lord

TIS

427

Lord, your word abiding

430

Your words to me are life and health

437

Blessed Jesus, at your word

 

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

LHS

189

One is our God and Father* G6

191

The Church's one foundation G4

441

With joyful heart your praises bring* G3

797

Blest be the tie that binds  GS

798

Eternal Ruler of the ceaseless round G6

800

May we be one GS

802

One family, we're together GS

803

Peace with the Father G7

805

We are heirs of the Father GS

AT

12

We are family

62

One family

172

May we be one

388

One body

482

His love within the world

TIS

419

Like the murmur of the dove's song

440

Christ, from whom all blessings flow

442

All praise to our redeeming Lord

457

The church's one foundation

466

Peace with the Father

468

We are your people

530

Now let us from this table rise (post-communion)

 

Gospel: Luke 4:14-21

LHS

4

Once He came in blessing* G4

9

Hark the glad sound G6

16

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed G6

219

Jesus shall reign G3

222

Thou whose almighty word G6

241

Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old G7

334

Lord, 'tis not that I did choose Thee* G3

435

Christians, now praise ye G6

465

Praise, my soul, the king of heaven G7

750

When Jesus lived among us G7

818

O Son of God in Galilee G7

AT

128

I am the Light of the world

263

Singing all praises

355

Freedom is coming

389

Light of the nations

407

God has chosen me

450

When Jesus Christ worked here on earth

TIS

134

Praise, my soul, the king of heaven

179

Praise with joy the world's Creator

197

God's Son came to bless us

207

Jesus shall reign

210

O for a thousand tongues to sing

218

Jesus! the name high over all

269

Hark the glad sound! The Saviour comes

275

Hail to the Lord's anointed

447

Lord, your almighty word

474

Here in this place, new light is streaming

688

Come to be our hope, O Jesus

 

PSALM 19

For musical settings of Psalm 19, see Music Packages 3, 5, 6 and 7.

 

TIS 7, The sky tells the glory of God, is a version of Psalm 19:1-6, and TIS 8, God's law is perfect, is a version of Psalm 19:7-11.

 

A short song based on Psalm 19:14 by John Bell (of the Iona Community) may be found in ATO 323 (or in Psalms of Patience, Protest and Praise, page 11). It could be used as a sung congregational response to spoken or chanted verses of Psalm 19. The same could be done with the last verse of the song 'By the rivers of Babylon' (ATA 117).

 

The following metrical paraphrase of Psalm 19 by David Sch¸tz may be sung either to the tune St Denio (LH 392, TIS 143) or Foundation (LHS harmony edition A4, TIS 578). If reproducing this version, please put 'Words (c) David Sch¸tz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

 

Accept now, O Lord, my redeemer, my rock,

the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart.

The heavens are telling your glory and power,

your handwork is shown by the sky all around.

 

Though night teaches night, and though day speaks to day,

no language is heard in the words that they say.

And yet their voice goes throughout all of the earth,

their words are conveyed to the end of the world.

 

God set up a tent for the sun in the sky;

it comes, like a bridegroom, on his wedding day,

and runs, like a strong man, from morning to night,

and nothing is hidden from its burning light.

 

The Lord's law is perfect, reviving the soul;

his precepts are right, making saddened hearts whole.

His teachings are certain, they make us all wise;

and all his commandments give light to our eyes.

 

The fear of the Lord will forever endure.

His judgments are righteous and holy and pure,

far sweeter than honey, more precious than gold;

in them both a warning and promise is told.

 

But no-one can know all the things they've done wrong,

so cleanse me from those secret things that I've done.

From sinning intention'ly, Lord, keep me free,

then holy and blameless forever I'll be.

 

 

NOTES ON THE READINGS

 

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

 

NEHEMIAH 8:1-3,5,6,8-10: Two companies of Jews had been led back to Jerusalem from Babylon by permission and order of the Persian King Cyrus. One was led by the priest Ezra and another by a Jewish court official, Nehemiah. After many discouragements and delays in rebuilding, the completion of the walls of the city ensured the safety of the people. At the first opportunity they requested Ezra to read the law of God to them. Thus their spiritual life could also now be rebuilt. A methodical plan was followed both to read it clearly and to explain it to the large crowd. People wept when they heard this reading and teaching. Ezra and Nehemiah encouraged a joyous celebration, rather than mourning, in view of the momentous occasion and the Lord's gracious delivery.

 

1 CORINTHIANS 12:13-31: This reading continues on from last Sunday's second reading. Jealousy, envy, dissension and rivalry over different functions and gifts were rampant in the Corinth congregation because of members' desired ascendancy over each other. God did not want anyone to be simply self-dependant, but arranged the body of Christian believers in such a way that they need each other. All members of the body, both these prominently gifted and those less gifted, are needed by each other to maintain effective working. Christians therefore treasure all gifts dispensed by God, regardless of importance, not only in order to benefit each other, but above all to advance the kingdom of Christ.

 

LUKE 4:14-21: Jesus had already been preaching widely when he returned to his home town Nazareth. It was normal custom for any competent person to read and comment on the scriptures in the worship service. Given the opportunity, no doubt through his reputation as a preacher, Jesus selected this portion from Isaiah 61. It was a prophecy which was understood to refer to the work of the promised Messiah. His statement, 'This prophecy has been fulfilled in your hearing', meant that he was indeed the promised Messiah dispensing spiritual blessings of forgiveness, sight and freedom.

 

 

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 may be illustrated with a picture of a Levite reading from a scroll. The gospel could then be illustrated with a picture of Jesus reading from a similar scroll.

 

 

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 second reading could be read by five readers: narrator, foot, ear, eye, head. See also under 'Children' below.

 

 

CHILDREN

 

CHILDREN AND THE READINGS

The children could be involved in the second reading in the following way. A drawing of a human body without feet, hands, ears and eyes could be displayed (eg on a pin-up board or flannelgraph). Children could have cut-out pictures of feet, hands, ears and eyes and when these parts are mentioned in the reading they could hold them up and then attach them in their right places to the body. (They could also speak their parts in the reading; the part of the head could be read by Ear and Eye together.)

 

'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: 'The church: one body, many parts (1 Cor 12:12–27)' (to be found in both the original and RCL editions, 3 Epiphany, year C).