Gathering

Welcome

Thanksgiving for Baptism

P:         Blessed be the Holy Trinity, + one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness.  Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Water is poured into the baptismal font.

We give you thanks, O God,

for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

P:         Through the waters of the flood, you delivered Noah and his family.  Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.  At the river, Jesus, your most holy child, was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.  By water and your Word, you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.  Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

P:         To you be given honour and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.  Amen

Gathering Song                  “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee”                      # 836

1 Joyful, joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee, praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

2 All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird, and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee.

3 Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living, ocean-depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother, all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other,  lift us to the joy divine!

Greeting

P:         The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

P:         Let us pray,

Most High God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service.  Strengthen us by your Spirit, and help us to respond enthusiastically to your call, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen

Word

First Reading

The book of Jonah is a comedy starring a reluctant prophet who first tries to avoid God’s call and then, when he finally carries it out, is disappointed with his own wonderful effectiveness.  Today’s reading proceeds from the point when Jonah has been spat out of the mouth of the large fish and is given a second chance to do as God asks of him.

A reading from the book of Jonah, the 3^rd chapter.

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ²‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ ³So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. ⁴Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ ⁵And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

⁶ When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. ⁷Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. ⁸Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. ⁹Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.’

¹⁰ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

The Word of the Lord. 

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

P:         The holy gospel according to Mark, the 1^st chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ ¹⁸And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Hymn of the Day              “You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore”                 # 817

You have come down to the lakeshore
seeking neither the wise nor the wealthy,
but only asking for me to follow.

Refrain: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes;
kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
now with you, I will seek other seas.

You know full well what I have, Lord;
neither treasure nor weapons for conquest,
just these my fish nets and will for working.

Refrain: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes;
kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
now with you, I will seek other seas.

You who have fished other waters;
you, the longing of souls that are yearning:
O loving Friend, you have come to call me.

Refrain: Sweet Lord, you have looked into my eyes;
kindly smiling, you’ve called out my name.
On the sand I have abandoned my small boat;
now with you, I will seek other seas.

Text: Cesareo Gabarain, 1936-1991; tr. Madeleine Forell Marshall, b. 1946.  © 1979 Cesareo Gabarain, OCP Publications.  Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-736296. All rights reserved.

Apostles’ Creed

P:         We are made God’s people through our baptism into Christ.  Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen

Prayers

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sharing of the Peace

Meal

Offertory                 “Let the Vineyards be Fruitful”  # 182

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.

Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life.

Gather the hopes and the dreams of all; unite them with the prayers we offer now.

Grace our table with your presence, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offertory Prayer

The Great Thanksgiving

P:         The Lord be with you.  And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer

Blessed are you, O holy God: you are the Life and Light of all.

By your powerful word, you created all things.  Through the prophets, you called your people to be a light to the nations.

Blessed are you for Jesus.

He is your Light shining in our darkness and revealing to us your mercy and grace.

A plate of bread in each home may be lifted up.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying: This is my body given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

A cup of wine in each home may be lifted up.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his preaching and healing, his dying and rising, and his promise to come again, we await that day when all the universe will rejoice in your holy and life-giving light.

By your Spirit, bless us and this holy meal, that refreshed with this heavenly food, we may be light for the world revealing the brilliance of Christ;

Through whom all glory and honour are yours with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, now and forever.  Amen

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.  Amen

Distribution

If you are in a group, you may serve one another.  If you are alone, you may serve yourself.  All use these or similar words:

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Blessing

Post-Communion Canticle         “Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise”

Thankful hearts and voices raise; tell everyone what God has done.

Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and bear Christ’s holy name.

Send us with your promises and lead your people forth in joy

with shouts of thanksgiving.  Alleluia.  Alleluia!

Post-Communion Prayer

Sending

Announcements may be made.

Benediction           

Sending Hymn                    “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”                                   # 547         

Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,

the people of God from this dwelling take leave.

The supper is ended. Oh, now be extended

the fruits of this service in all who believe.

The seed of Christ’s teaching, receptive souls reaching,

shall blossom in action for God and for all.

Your grace shall incite us, your love shall unite us

to work for your kingdom and answer your call.

With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living,

the tasks of our ev’ryday life we will face—

our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,

embracing God’s children, the whole human race.

With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;

unite us as one in this life that we share.

Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving

give honour to Christ and his name that we bear.

Text: Omer Westendorf, 1916-1997, alt.  © 1964 World Library Publications.  Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-736296. All rights reserved.

Dismissal

            A:         Go in peace to be the light of Christ!

Thanks be to God!

Coffee Hour Zoom Meeting

Time: Jan 24, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7497720637

Meeting ID: 749 772 0637

Or, phone in by dialing one of the numbers below and entering the Meeting ID number when prompted:

        +1 647 374 4685

        +1 647 558 0588

Meeting ID: 749 772 0637