Theme: do something different 

Preparation

Welcome to our on-line worship this morning.

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Opening

Opening Hymn:

 

An Opening Prayer
Loving Lord,
thank you that you meet us where we are,
in the middle and muddle of our daily tasks.
Help us to hear your call,
to recognise your voice,
and to respond to your invitation
to be with you now.
Amen.

Jesus, you came proclaiming the good news of God,
and endured the cross through love for us.
Through your sacrifice, we are forgiven.
May we share this good news
– so that others will know your loving freedom in their lives.
Amen.

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Readings

The Bible Reading:

As Jesus begins his ministry, he asks four fishermen to come with him and immediately they say yes. For them to respond without hesitation requires a lot of courage; it is life-changing. They are prepared to leave what they know behind and learn to ‘fish for people’ with Jesus.

Jesus offers to take their skills and use them for kingdom building. How easy would it be for us to respond to a life-changing call so quickly? Have you experienced God using the skills you have in a new way?

Reflection:

• What do you feel about the idea that you are chosen by Jesus?
• What is it about Jesus that would make you want to say, ‘yes’?
• What might make you hesitate in your response to Jesus?

Audio reflection:

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Anthem:

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Prayer

God of the past and of the future,
we bring to you in prayer those people and places on our hearts today:

We remember the parts of the world
where people are being killed, oppressed and displaced.
We pray especially for the people of Tigray in Ethiopia,
for the people of Dafur in the Sudan,
for the Uighur peoples in China.
May those in power leave behind violence and follow your call to peace.
Amen.

Lord Jesus, you called fishermen as they worked,
so we pray for fishermen today as they struggle to make a living.
We pray for all those who work to bring food to our table
as they struggle with the complexities of legislation and the challenges of extreme weather.
And may those who exploit or abuse leave behind cruelty and follow your call to compassion.
Amen.

We pray for all young people caught up in and trapped by gang violence,
for those who have been stabbed or shot and for their families,
for those who live in fear of being attacked,
for those who have been imprisoned, who have committed murder – and for their families,
for all those who carry weapons.
Help them to leave behind despair and to follow your call to hope.
Amen.

We pray for the people of America as Joe Biden begins his term as President,
and for Kamala Harris and all those entrusted with the responsibility
of re-shaping and re-uniting the states that make up that vast nation,
so divided by race and politics and so ravaged by Covid.
Help them to leave behind ambition and to follow your call to serve.
Amen,

We pray for one another,
for our church families, our communities, and our loved ones,
for those who feel overwhelmed by the challenges of each day,
for those adapting to new ways of living,
for those who are ill,
for those close to death,
for those who are grieving.
Help us all to leave behind all that separates us from you and from one another
and to follow your call to trust and to love –
in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Collects for the Epiphany season:
Creator of the heavens who led the Magi by a star to worship the Christ-Child: guide and sustain us, that we may find our journey’s end in Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of all mercy your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord.

The ‘Our Father’
We draw all our prayers together in the words of –
Our Father who art in heaven…
…for ever and ever. Amen.

An Affirmation of Faith for Epiphany:

We believe in God,
the creator of all things,
the giver of life and breath.

We believe in Jesus Christ,
born Emmanuel, God with us,
baptized and revealed the most beloved Son of God;
he sought to heal humanity by taking our brokenness upon himself,
suffering for us,
dying for us
and being raised from the dead for our sake
and for the sake of all the world.
We believe that he will come again.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
continually poured out refreshing our lives,
leading us into a new day,
ever-birthing the church, the body of Christ in the world.
This Spirit is our soul companion and counselor of truth
reminding us
of the gift of faith,
the ever presence of God
and the promise of eternal life.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

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A sending out prayer
Loving Lord,
thank you that you meet us where we are,
in the middle and muddle of our daily lives.
Help us to hear your call,
to recognise your voice,
and to respond to your invitation
to follow you whatever we might be doing.
Amen.

Blessing:

Closing Hymn:

 

Organ Voluntary: