13.01.27 Ordinary Time 3A English

Prelude:  Wedding (Graham Fitkin)

Hymn:  I’m gonna march if the Spirit says, “March” (U.S. freedom song)
Call to Worship
Song:  In concrete, brick, and living stone (John Bell / LAND OF REST, U.S. traditional)

Prayer of Confession
Song of Praise:  We are on the road (South Africa)*

Prayer of the Day

Alleluia (Arabic)

Gospel Reading: John 2:1-11

Sermon:  (Matthias Peterson-Brandt)
Hymn:  Jesus, come, for we invite you (Christopher Idle / EM) 

Affirmation of Faith

Prayer Song:  Within our darkest night (Taizé)*
Silent Meditation
Prayers of the People
Announcements

Offerings (regular and food)

Song:  Hava nagila (Israeli traditional)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Hymn:  O sing a song of Bethlehem (Louis F. Benson / KINGSFOLD, English traditional)

*Seasonal for Ordinary Time/Epiphany

Forces:
Soprano

Organ/Piano

January 27, 2013

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Please stand, all who are able.

Song

//I’m gonna march if the Spirit says, “March”.//

If the Spirit says, “March”, I’m gonna march, O God.

I’m gonna march if the Spirit says, “March”.

Call to Worship

One:  God of Life,
All: you are as near to us as our breath.
One: Touch our eyes,
All: that we may see you in one another.
One: Open our ears,
All: that we may hear your voice in the cries of the oppressed.
One: Enter our hearts,
All: that we may be filled with your love toward all people.
One: Come, O God of life and breath and wholeness.
All: Be with us now. Show us the way to new life and grant us the courage to be people of your Way.

Please be seated

Song

1.   In concrete, brick and living stone

God builds a trysting place,

a sign of contradicting love,

an earth and heaven space.

2.  Here, as the doors remain ajar,

the city’s cry and care

inform God’s worship that earth’s care

needs justice joined to care.

3.  Thus, when as friends met in Christ’s name,

the summons comes to each;

some shield the poor, some share their wealth,

some protest, heal or preach.

4.  On these and on their work is sent

God’s spirit, breath and flame,

inspiring each to face the world

and set on it Christ’s claim.

5.  Then, Christ, now come to where I stand

that, grand that words may be,

your kingdom may take flesh and root

in this place and in me.

Prayer of Confession

One:  O God,
All:  we confess the blindness that is not even aware of sinning;
One:  the pride that dares not admit that it is wrong;
All:  the selfishness that can see nothing but its own will;
One:  the righteousness that knows no fault;
All:  the callousness that has ceased to care;
One:  the defiance that does not regret its own sins;
All:  the evasion that always tries to make excuses;
One:  the coldness of heart that is too hardened to repent.
All:  God, we are sinners; be merciful to us.

—Silent reflection—

One:  Almighty God have mercy on us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All:  Amen.

Song of Praise

1.  //We are on the road (wo), we are on the road,//

//On our way to heaven, we are on the road.//

2.  //We shall sing God’s praise (wo), we shall sing God’s praise,//

//On our way to heaven, we shall sing God’s praise.//

3.  //We shall live the word (wo), we shall live the word.//

//On our way to heaven, we shall live the word.//

4.  Hallelujah, amen (wo), hallelujah, amen.

//On our way to heaven, hallelujah, amen.//

Prayer of the Day

NOT ON PPT

O Divine Lover,

who constantly stirs the waters of our souls,

unconcerned with the debris and dirt

which has lain hidden in the depths for so long;

who gently lights the colours and awakens the flavours

which we had forgotten we held within us,

revealing the wine that is our true being;

With relief and gladness, we praise and thank you

for your love and healing;

And in loving response we offer ourselves

to be poured out for other thirsty ones

who long to taste the sweetness

of your generous love.

Amen.

Please be seated

Alleluia

All:  Alleluia, alleluia …

Cantor:  Everyone serves the good wine first, but you have kept the good wine until now.

All:  Alleluia, alleluia …

Gospel Reading

John 2:1-11

NOT ON PPT

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Reader:  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

All:  Thanks be to God!

Please be seated

Sermon

Please stand, all who are able.

Song

Jesus, come, for we invite you,
guest and master, friend and Lord;
now, as once at Cana's wedding,
speak, and let us hear your word:
lead us through our need or doubting,
hope be born and joy restored.

Jesus, come! transform our pleasures,
guide us into paths unknown;
bring your gifts, command your servants,
let us trust in you alone:
though your hand may work in secret,
all shall see what you have done.

Jesus, come in new creation,
heaven brought near by power divine;
give your unexpected glory,
changing water into wine:
rouse the faith of your disciples--
come, our first and greatest Sign!

Jesus, come! surprise our dullness;
make us willing to receive
more than we can yet imagine,
all the best you have to give:
let us find your hidden riches,
taste your love, believe, and live!

Affirmation

One:  The old song said it, Jesus:

What the world needs is love.

But, when we speak of love,

do we mean the same thing that you do?

All:  the infinitely generous,

self-sacrificial,

water-into-wine,

do-whatever-it-takes-to-bring-life-to-others kind of love?

because this is the love we need,

the love the world is dying for.

One:  Teach us this love, Jesus, please;

As those who follow you,

show us how to follow your extravagance in love.

All:  Teach us, when what others need for joy and life has run out,

to use our plenty to sustain them;

Teach us, when others face ridicule or injustice,

to use our influence to protect them;

Teach us, when others despair or die because of cruelty or conflict,

to use our presence to bring them hope and healing;

Teach us to recognise what you, in your extravagant love

have given us,

and to use these gifts

to love those around us extravagantly.

Amen.

Please be seated

Prayer Song

Within our darkest night

///Within our darkest night, you kindle the fire that never dies away,

never dies away.

Within our darkest night, you kindle the fire that never dies away,

never dies away.///

Silent Meditation

Prayers of the People

One: God of grace,

All:  hear our prayer.

News of the People

Not on ppt:

Welcome cards

Service concludes with bilingual celebration

Offerings

(regular and food)

Offertory Song

//Hava nagila

hava nagila

hava nagila ve-nishmecha//

//Hava neranenah

hava neranenah

nava neranenah ve-nishmecha//

Uru, uru ahim!

////Uru ahim be-lev sameach////

Uru ahim, uru ahim!

be-lev sameach.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Please stand, all who are able.

Song

1.  O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them from angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.

2.  O sing a song of Nazareth, of days of joy and sun;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath, and of the sinless One.
For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear Name on all the winds that blow.

3.  O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill,
Of One who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still.
For though like waves on Galilee, rough seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Savior’s word, falls peace upon the soul.

4.  O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay,
Of One who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away.
For Christ who died on Calvary is risen from the grave,
God’s sovereign child, who reconciled, is mighty now to save.

[logo]

//Siyahamba, ekukanyen' kwenkos',

Siyahamba ekukanyen' kwenkos'.//

//Siyahamba, siyahamba, oh,

Siyahamba ekukanyen' kwenkos'.//

//We are marching in the light of God,

we are marching in the light of God.//

//We are marching, we are marching, oh,

we are marching in the light of God.//