A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS: We extend a warm welcome from Bethel Presbyterian Church! We invite you to participate in signing the Friendship Folders adding your name and address and if you desire a church newsletter or a pastoral call. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say “sins…sin against us” rather than “debts...” or “trespasses…” Prayer requests can be noted on the cards provided in the pew racks. Please put those in the offering plate. The Service for the Lord’s Day Bethel Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 4th Sunday after Epiphany February 1, 2015 - 11:00 AM * Indicates congregation standing if able. Congregational responses indicated in bold. GATHERING AND GREETING OF GOD’S PEOPLE Chiming of the Hour Welcome and Announcements Please sign the Friendship Pad found in your pew, passing it down the pew then back. Prelude Call to Worship (L = Leader, P = People) L: Come! Let us give thanks to the Lord with whole hearts. P: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. L: Glory be to the One whose wonders are to be remembered. P: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. L: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. P: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. L: The Lord feeds the righteous with truth. P: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. L: Come! Let us give thanks to God. Prayer of Invocation Let us pray: Almighty God, Light from Light, who commands the universe and all that is made, your Word is the power that makes whole what is broken, the force of good, and the food of peace. Teach us now as you taught in the synagogue. Heal us now so that in all that we say and do, the freedom we have in you may be for others, too; in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. * Hymn No. 263 “IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE” ST. DENIO * Call to Confession The One who pardons, heals, and strengthens all who repent calls us to name our failings and our hopes. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another. * Corporate Prayer of Confession Holy and all-powerful God, who commands all spirits, comforts those in distress, and casts out destructive forces, we confess that we are unable to do your will. We protect what is familiar and reject what is unknown. We admire those with courage but excuse ourselves when we falter from the truth. We forget that you are always with us, and that with you all things are possible. Forgive us, lead us, make us new. Remove our desire to heed false prophets, and show us your way; …(silent and personal confession) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, Mother of us all. Amen. * Sung Response “LORD, HAVE MERCY UPON US” Lord, have mer-cy up-on us. Christ, have mer-cy up-on us. Lord, have mer-cy up-on us. * Declaration of Forgiveness The God who made you and knows your every thought hears you now and forgives you all your sin. You have been redeemed through Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Savior, who is Alpha and Omega, all in all. Kyrie * Sung Response “HALLE, HALLE, HALLELUJA” Hal-le, Hal-le, Hal-le-lu-ja! Hal-le, Hal-le, Hal-le-lu-ja! Hal-le, Hal-le, Hal-le-lu-ja! Hal-le-lu-ya! Hal-le-lu-ya! THE WORD Children’s Moment Choral Anthem Prayer for Illumination Let us pray: Holy Spirit, your people call out for understanding. Bring to our yearning hearts and minds the truth of your Word; in Jesus’ name. Amen. Readings from Holy Scripture Wisdom Psalm 111 (Praise for God’s Wonderful Works) Pg. 531 Epistle 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (Food Offered to Idols) Pg. 160 Gospel Mark 1:21-28 (The Man with an Unclean Spirit) Pg. 33 Sermon: “Having Authority” The Rev. Wendy Neff RESPONSE TO THE WORD * Affirmation of Faith * Hymn No. 332 The Apostles’ Creed (Trad.) “LIVE INTO HOPE” Hymnal – pg. 14 TRURO THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Invitation to the Offering Do not let idols grow and multiply in your hands, but give of yourselves, your time, and your possessions out of love for this creation and honor toward what you have been given. Offertory * Hymn No. 592 “PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW” * Prayer of Dedication Let us pray: For Earth, which you have molded, for creatures and animals, plants, water, air, and fire, for Jesus who died and rose again, for the breath of life, we give you thanks, O God. Let these gifts be used for good wherever that is need, in the name of all you have given us, especially Christ Jesus, your Son, our Savior. Amen. Invitation to the Lord’s Table This is the table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is to be made ready for those who love him, and who want to love him more. So come, you who have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come, not because it is I who invite you: it is our Lord. It is his will that those who want him should meet him here. Great Thanksgiving (L = Leader, P = People) L: The Lord be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We lift them up to the Lord. L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. P: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Mighty God of Moses and Elijah, you come to us in a whirlwind of mystery, a swirling tempest, a devouring fire. Yet you come to us – speaking faithfulness and mercy, shining light in our darkness, offering forgiveness for our sin. Therefore we praise you, joining the hymn of the six-winged seraphs, who cover their faces as they sing: 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. We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, the light of the world— shining at the dawn of creation, shining in our hearts this day with a splendor that overshadows all the beauty of heaven and earth. In his face we have seen your glory; through his words we have heard your truth; by his living and dying and rising we have come to know the height and breadth and depth of your great love. With thanksgiving, we remember the bread of life— taken, blessed, broken, and given that we might be holy and whole. With thanksgiving, we remember the cup of salvation— your new covenant of grace, poured out in love for the world. Remembering your faithfulness and mercy as we share this bread and cup, we offer ourselves in your service through Jesus Christ our Lord. Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Now let us share in your Holy Spirit— poured out in this place, for these people, upon this bread and cup. By your Spirit, make us one people— one in the promise of Moses, one in the prophecy of Elijah, as we seek to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let our lives shine with Christ’s light— a blessing of joy to the living, a beacon of hope to the dying, the dawning of a new creation. All this we pray to you, O God, through the gift of your Spirit and in the grace of your Word, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer Words of Institution Distribution of the Elements Prayer after Communion Lord Jesus Christ, you have put your life into our hands; now we put our lives into yours. Take us, renew and remake us. What we have been is past; what we shall be, through you, still awaits us. Lead us on. Take us with you. Amen. THE SENDING FORTH * Hymn No. 507 “I COME WITH JOY” DOVE OF PEACE * Benediction Repent and believe the good news that God is with us and calls us for a purpose! May the God of second chances renew your sense of call and inspire you to go out and share the good news of forgiveness and hope! * Benediction Response “SONG OF SIMEON” LAND OF REST This is the Sav-ior of the world, The Gen-tiles’ prom-ised light, God’s glo-ry dwell-ing in our midst, The joy of Is-ra-el. * Postlude