Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C, Luke)
Like you, I’m in ministry. What a calling! I like to help others who serve God and the church by sharing what I create. I hope it helps.
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Call to Worship
One: Before we were formed in the womb, God knew us.
All: Before we took our first breath, God had consecrated us.
One: Today, we gather to worship the One who calls us, the One who equips us.
All: Let us trust in God, who is our refuge and strength.
One: Come, let us lift our hearts and voices to the Lord in praise.
All: We will worship the God of love and grace!
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, we confess that we often speak without love and act without compassion. We focus on our own desires and forget your call to serve others. We have doubted your word and resisted your truth, fearing rejection or failure. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have turned from your way. Fill us with your Spirit, so that we may speak with kindness, act with humility, and live in love as your faithful servants. .
Assurance of Pardon (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
Beloved, now we see in a mirror, dimly, but soon we will see face to face. Now we know in part, but soon we will know fully, even as we have been fully known. Faith, hope, and love abide, and the greatest of these is love. In Christ, you are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God!
Prayer of Illumination
Holy God, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we hear your word today, open our hearts and minds to receive it. May your Spirit inspire us to respond with courage, love, and faithfulness. Guide us into the truth that sets us free, and empower us to live as your people. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
God of love and generosity, we dedicate these gifts to your service. May they be used to proclaim your word, share your love, and bring hope to the world. Bless our offerings, and use our lives to reflect your grace and truth in all we do. Amen.
Bible Passages for the Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
Jeremiah 1:4-10 – The Call of Jeremiah
God calls Jeremiah before his birth, appointing him as a prophet to the nations. Though Jeremiah feels inadequate, God reassures him with the promise of divine presence and power. This passage reminds us that God’s calling equips us, even when we feel unprepared.
Psalm 71:1-6 – A Prayer for Refuge
This psalm is a heartfelt plea for God’s protection and strength, celebrating God’s faithfulness throughout life. It reminds us to trust in God as our refuge and to declare God’s praise for sustaining us from birth.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 – The Greatest is Love
Paul’s famous passage on love highlights its centrality to the Christian life. No gift or action has value without love, which is patient, kind, and enduring. This passage calls us to live out love as the defining mark of faith.
Luke 4:21-30 – Jesus Rejected in Nazareth
After proclaiming the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus faces rejection in his hometown. His words challenge expectations, as he highlights God’s inclusion of outsiders. This passage calls us to examine our own biases and embrace the radical love of Christ.
Themes for the Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
God’s Call and Equipping
Jeremiah’s calling reminds us that God knows and calls us before we are ready, equipping us with what we need for the journey. This theme invites us to trust in God’s plan and purpose for our lives.
Faithful Love in Action
1 Corinthians 13 challenges us to embody love in all we do. Love is not just a feeling but a way of living that reflects God’s own nature. This theme calls us to prioritize love as we serve and interact with others.
Radical Inclusion
Luke 4 reveals Jesus’ message of salvation reaching beyond traditional boundaries. His words challenge us to embrace the fullness of God’s kingdom, which includes those we may overlook or exclude.
