SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
5th Sunday after Epiphany
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
February 7, 2021 Ten Thirty in the morning
Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Sheryl Wise
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
PRELUDE Prelude in C Major – Buxtehude
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Matt. 5:14, 16
Jesus said: You are the light of the world.
Let our light shine, giving glory to God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
HYMN “A Prophet Woman Broke a Jar” HYFRODOL
A prophet woman broke a jar, by Love’s divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room, presiding and anointing.
A prophet woman broke a jar, the sneers of scorn defying.
with rare perfume, she filled the room, preparing Christ for dying.
Through woman wisdom, woman truth, for centuries were hidden,
unsung, unwritten, and unheard, desired and forbidden,
the Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire, on free and slave descending,
can tumble our dividing walls, our shame and sadness mending.
CONFESSION
CALL TO CONFESSION
Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our failure to be what you created us to be. You alone know how often we have
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI 579
PROCLAMATION
FIRST LESSON Romans 8:1-8
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN
ANTHEM
“Let All Things Now Living” Traditional Welsh Melody
Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
who guides us and leads to the end of our days.
God’s banners fly o’er us; God’s light goes before us, a pillar of fire shining forth in the night,
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished, as forward we travel from light into light.
The law God enforces, the stars in their courses and sun in its orbit obediently shine;
The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
the deeps of the ocean proclaim the Divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing;
With glad adoration a song let us raise,
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving: to God in the highest hosanna and praise!
SECOND LESSON Luke 7: 36-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and
anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
L: The Word of the Lord.
P: Thanks be to God.
THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise…
…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest…
Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory…
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. Amen
The gifts of God for the people of God.
HYMN 280 “Amazing Grace” AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,
PARTING PRAYER Maria Ware (1798)
Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord do.Hear what we speak not; forgive what we speak amiss; do what we leave undone; that not according to our words, or our deeds, but according to your mercy and truth, all may work for your glory, and the good of your kingdom, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
POSTLUDE Chaconne in C Major Buxtehude