ONLINE SERVICES 3RD Sunday after Epiphany 01-25-2026
3RD Sunday after Epiphany
01-25-2026 10:00AM Online Worship (snow)
+ GATHERING +
THE GREETING, CONFESSION, AND FORGIVENESS:
L We people who have walked in dark shadows have seen a great light.
The grace of (+) Jesus Christ, the mercy of the Holy One, and the Spirit of the living God be with you all.
C And also with you.
L Let us come before our holy, merciful, and loving God, confessing our sin and our desire to be renewed.
C Lord Jesus, you have called us to leave the life we know and to follow You.
But sometimes we are too afraid or too distracted and stay far off.
Lord, You have commissioned us to fish for other people.
But too many people have mistreated and hurt us, or they just seem very different from us.
So our hearts have hardened, our lips are sealed, our feet are frozen, and our hands are still.
But dare we act like no light has dawned on us, as if no word has been addressed to us?
Lord, break into our lives once again, interrupt our routines, and save us for our divisive ways. Amen.
L My sisters, my brothers, once a person meets Jesus Christ on the road of life and dares to follow, that
person is changed. God has broken through the bonds and barriers that keep us from realizing our own best
selves, forgiven us in Christ (+), and called us to step forward in faith and faithfulness. Nothing else matters
more than that you see, accept, and bear the light of Jesus Christ in the shadows of a sin-sick and troubled
world. May you seek the Word, say the Word, and do the Word – for a day and for a lifetime!
C HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!
OPENING SONG: “THE LORD IS MY LIGHT” Brown #61
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Mighty God, You sent your Son Jesus to embody, reveal, and announce your Kingdom.
He has come looking for us, tracked us down, reached out to us, called and invited us.
Help me to see that, through Jesus, my search for meaning ends and my mission begins.
Help me to drop my net, follow Him, and embody, reveal, and announce the Kingdom of God.
Lord, keep me thirsty in my heart and busy in my witness. Amen.
+ THE HOLY WORD +
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 9:1-4
[A word of hope – LIGHT shining into the darkness of suffering and exile.]
A RELECTION BASED ON PSALM 27:
L I tell you, I’m not so scared and I’m not so afraid in my daily living…
C because the Lord is my light and my help, my strength and my salvation!
L In the past, when bad things happened to me, when the wicked came up against me…
C my trust in God somehow kept me and delivered me!
L In the present, no matter the trials and temptations of this earthly life…
C I seek to set my eyes, my heart, and my feet on the safe and solid rock of God’s love!
L And in the future, unknown and uncertain, I am confident of this –
C I can take courage, step out in faith, rest in God’s grace,
and let God have his way with me! PRAISE GOD!
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18
[A word of reprimand – UNITY in the cross of Christ!]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 4:12-23
[A word of call – FOLLOWING to fish for people!]
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG SELECTION
THE PRAYERS… We pray that the joy and light of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives!
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We have been blessed by GRACE to be a blessing of GRATEFUL GENEROSITY!
If LIGHT has dawned upon us, we want to share it! If there is GOOD NEWS to tell, we can’t help but say it! If God’s SON has summoned us, we can’t help but follow! And if God’s SPIRIT has
touched us, we can’t act like nothing happened. So let’s make an offering of ourselves, each and
every one of us. The good news of Jesus Christ should be the very essence of who we are now
and seek to become… it’s too exciting and too important to keep to ourselves. Don’t ignore the love and call of our Lord Jesus or your responsibility to think, say, and do right. God
is always looking for disciples as daring as the first ones – men and women who will leave all and follow Jesus.
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE”
(1) This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
(2) Ev’rywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X) (3) Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
OFFERING PRAYER by the Communion Assistant:
O Lord our God, You have anointed us to bring good news and to proclaim liberty, to bind up the
brokenhearted and to liberate the oppressed. Help us to shine forth always and in all ways with the
bright glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.
MUSIC SELECTION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
+ SENDING +
BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!
CLOSING SONG: “I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY” Brown #228