January 24 – Third Sunday after Epiphany

 

Lectionary

 

Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10

Ezra reads the Torah at the Water Gate.

Psalm 19 (VU pp. 740–741)

The heavens declare the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 12:12–31a

Now you are the body of Christ and each one a part of it.

Luke 4:14–21

Jesus reads from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”

Spark

Consider supplying to each worshipper the Canadian Bible Society pamphlet, Through the Bible in a Year, which outlines readings for each day.

With Children

Gift-wrap a Bible. With the children, talk about what it is like to receive a special gift. After unwrapping the Bible, talk about it as God’s gift to us, to be treasured and read and studied so we learn more about God who loves us and the ways we can be faithful followers of Jesus. God’s Spirit gives us guidance when we read the Bible. It is a wonderful gift to be used, not to be put on a shelf like a fragile piece of china or glass. If you have a library, show Bible storybooks geared to the children’s ages.

Sermon Starter

Do you ever long for the congregation to show as much interest in scripture as people displayed in the Nehemiah reading? For the past two months, I have been visiting with a dying woman who treasures scripture. We read a passage on each visit, and it is a delight to feed each other’s spirits in this way.

Jesus publicly claims his vocation through the passage he chooses to read in Nazareth. Throughout his ministry, Jesus reads, quotes, and interprets scriptures to the people around him, who clearly have knowledge of the scriptures. Becoming more familiar with our scriptures helps us to know the nature of God and our own calling. Paul tells us that together we are the body of Christ; the Spirit provides all the gifts necessary to take up Christ’s mission together. Surely we need the guidance of scripture to discern what that mission is, or we can be misled by preference or outside forces.

Hymns

Linking

VU 389            “God is here”

VU 835            “Praise to the Lord” (Psalm 113)

Hebrew Scriptures

VU 660            “How firm a foundation”

MV 90             “Don’t be afraid”

Psalm

VU 250            “O God of matchless glory”

VU 253            “Sing your joy”

Epistle

VU 402            “We are one”

MV 200           “You are my body”

Gospel

VU 699            “Live into hope”

VU 87              “I am the light of the world”

MV 6               “Holy Spirit, come into our lives”