We turn to the apostle Paul and one of his most famous letters, to the church at Corinth. He’s mediating a dispute about who is “top dog” in the community, and, like Jesus would, he turns the question on its head.
Join us this morning for another glimpse of God light shining through God’s people in the early church. Worship with us in our sanctuary, or join us right here online if you are traveling or joining us from home. God’s light shines for you, too. You are invited!
Online Bulletin
3rd Sunday After Epiphany
God-Light 3: Gifts for Sharing
Union Presbyterian Church
January 23, 2022
Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
Liturgist: Becky Conklin Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube
Prelude Colin DeLap, piano
“This I Believe,” Ben Fielding and Matt Crocker
©2014, Hillsong Music Publishing
Used by permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847
Welcome Rev. Pat Raube
Call to Worship Becky Conklin
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come into God’s presence with singing!
For the Lord is a gracious God,
whose mercy is everlasting;
and whose faithfulness endures to all generations.
Hymn #647 W & R
“We Have Come to Join in Worship,” George Atkins, Ken Bible, William Moore
©1997, Integrity’s Hosanna Music
Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847
We have come to join in worship
And adore the Lord our God.
Let us come in prayer, expecting
God to speak his mighty Word.
All is vain unless the Spirit
Of the Holy One comes down.
Christians, pray, and holy manna
Will be showered all around.
See them gather all around you,
Those he bought at such a cost;
See the weary, see the hurting,
See the lonely, see the lost.
Be his hand, and touch the needy;
Be his gospel, let it sound!
Be his body, and sweet manna
Will be showered all around.
Let us love our God supremely;
Let us love each other, too.
Let us care for all his people
Till our God makes all things new.
Christ will call us home to heaven;
At his banquet we’ll sit down;
Christ himself will rise and serve us
Living manna all around.
Call to New Life
Prayer for Wholeness and Peace
God our Creator, you have made us, and endowed us with unique constellations of gifts. We move through this world with the imprint of your love and blessed to be a blessing upon your people! We admit that we have failed to use the gifts we have been given. We have settled for less, and shied away from letting your love shine through. Fill us, loving Creator, with your peace. Lead us, our God, with your vision. Keep us, Holy One, as one with you and your will for our lives. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, for God has anointed us.
“I have called you by name, and you are mine,” says the Lord.
God’s love and faithfulness endure from age to age.
God speaks to us, and declares, “You are my beloved child.”
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us. Let us be at peace.
Emmanuel: God is with us. Thanks be to God.
Sharing of the Peace
The God of all creation is with us, and cares for us as beloved children.
There is nothing that can separate us from God’s love.
May the peace of God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.
Scripture Psalm 19 Becky Conklin
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the sky proclaims its Maker’s handiwork.
One day tells its tale to another,
and one night imparts knowledge to another.
Although they have no words or language,
and their voices are not heard,
their sound has gone out into all lands,
and their message to the ends of the world,
where God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again;
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
The teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
and gives wisdom to the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
and gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, and endures forever;
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold;
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
By them also is your servant enlightened;
and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can detect one’s own offenses?
Cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me;
then I shall be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube
Music: "Spirit Song” (Public Domain)
Scripture 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:
Thanks be to God!
Meditation “Gifts for Sharing” Rev. Pat Raube
Anthem
“Christ Has No Body Now But Yours,” Steven C. Warner
©2003, World Library Publications, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
No hands but yours to heal the wounded world,
No hands but yours to soothe all its suffering,
No touch but yours to bind the broken hope of the people of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
No eyes but yours to see as Christ would see,
To find the lost, to gaze with compassion;
No eyes but yours to glimpse the holy joy of the city of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
No feet but yours to journey with the poor,
To walk this world with mercy and justice.
Yours are the steps to build a lasting peace for the children of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
Through every gift, give back to those in need:
As Christ has blessed, so now be his blessing,
With every gift a benediction be to the people of God.
Christ has no body now but yours, no hands but yours.
Here on this earth yours is the work, to serve with the joy of compassion.
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Prayer Response #173 W & R
“Sing Out My Soul – Magnificat,” Jacques Berthier, Taizé
©1979, GIA Publications, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Sing out, my soul. Sing out, my soul.
Sing out and glorify the Lord who sets us free.
Sing out, my soul. Sing out, my soul.
Sing out and glorify the Lord God!
Call for Offering
Doxology
“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Tune: Public Domain
Text: Brian Wren, ©1989, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures high and low.
Praise God, in Jesus fully known:
Creator, Word, and Spirit one.
Prayer of Dedication
God our Creator, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until we rest in you. We thank you for the blessings you have given us, and offer now the gifts we hope will bless others. Take these gifts, and by your Holy Spirit, let them move into your world to give your children hope, peace, joy, and love. We pray in your holy name. Amen.
Hymn #335 PH
“Though I May Speak,” Hal Hopson
©1972, Hope Publishing Company, All rights reserved.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.
License #A-728112. All rights reserved.
Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.
Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.
Benediction
Go out into the world in peace;
have courage;
hold onto what is good;
return no one evil for evil;
strengthen the fainthearted;
support the weak, help the suffering;
honor all people;
Let us love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Postlude Colin DeLap, piano
“Holy, Holy, Holy,” John Bacchus Dykes
©2019, Hope Publishing Company
Used By Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847