CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING:
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
May this light guide our lives, always.
Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth.
May we bring flavour to the lives of all those we encounter.
     Adapted and used with permission from Gathering:   ACE 2025-2026; Beth W. Johnston

All sing: VU 87 “I am the Light of the World” refrain only seated
'I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!'
If you follow and love you'll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
What does it mean to be salt and light to the world?
Salt preserves. Light keeps things from being hidden.
What does it mean to be salt and light to the world?
To hold on to what is good.
To hold on to what is right.
To hold on to what is just.
To shine in the back rooms of oppression.
To shine in the prisons of fear.
To shine in places that have no hope.
This is salt and light to the world.
This is Christ's people- salt and light - hope and wonder- in and with the world!
As salt and light, as hope and wonder, let us worship God!   Alleluia!
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026;Richard Bolt

2. HYMN VU 507 “Today We All are Called to Be Disciples”
1.  Today we all are called to be disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captive free, make ploughshare out of sword,
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst, make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first, our ease and comfort last.

2.  God made the world and at its birth ordained our human race
to live as stewards of the earth, responding to God's grace.
But we are vain and sadly proud, we sow not peace but strife,
our discord spreads a deadly cloud that threatens all of life.

3.  Pray justice may come rolling down as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town to cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for a harmony of peace.

4.  May we in service to our God act out the living Word,
and walk the road the saints have trod till all have seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth may we give thanks in one accord
to God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.

3. OPENING PRAYER:
Gathered in worship, loving God, we offer up our prayers. In prayer, we open ourselves to your grace, your call, your judgment, and your vision for us. Wrap us in your care while listening to our words and thoughts; transform our needs into a call.  Amen.
     Adapted/Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Bill Perry

4.  LEARNING TIME:
“It is well with my Soul” - Jubilation Handbell Ringers

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Life-Giving God, may the words we receive take on new meaning, so that our lives are full of love. May the thoughts that are stimulated be of justice, kindness, and mercy. May we receive again your call to act boldly and courageously. We pray, trusting in your grace.  Amen. .
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Laura J. Turnbull

6.  PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
There are times in our lives when we mess up, when we turn away from God, whether intentionally or unintentionally. There are times when we ignore God's presence in our lives or blatantly speak against God. It is because of these moments that we need to come before God to confess and receive forgiveness, knowing that God's grace is abundant. So Let us pray:
Merciful God, forgive us when we ignore you or your lessons for our lives. Forgive us for allowing oppression and discord to flourish. Forgive us for not feeding those who are hungry. Forgive us for not providing shelter to those who have no place to lay down at night. Forgive us for not repairing the broken places in our community. O Lord, forgive us and then help us do your work of bringing about justice and healing. Shine your light through us, so that all may come to know your abundant love.  Amen
      From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

7.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
When we call out to God, God is there to hear us. Know that your prayers have been heard. Now, receive the grace of God and live in God's abundant mercy.
Thanks be to God!
      From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

8. MUSICAL RESPONSE: “Arabesque” - Jubilation Handbell Ringers

9.  PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Generations before us have shared the peace of Christ with the faithful. Today we here to continue the tradition as we share the peace of Christ with one another. Together, with God's Spirit, let us share the peace of Christ.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

10.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
WE are told that giving freely to help others glorifies God. Let us bring our gifts to God, so that God's love may be made known.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

11. OFFERTORY VU 540 “Grant Us, God, the Grace”
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.

12.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Abundant God, we are grateful for the ways you bless our lives and for the gifts you give us. May these gifts help heal and restore our community, so that all will flourish like a well-watered garden.   Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

Please give by contributing online using “E-transfers” or PAR (Pre-Authorized Remittance) or by placing your offering in the plate.

13. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:

14.  BLESSING:
Go and proclaim the simple message of hope:
that God is Love, always sustaining all creation.
Go and live out the complex reality of faith:
that Jesus calls us to live with compassion and generosity in a world that struggles to perceive Love's power.
Go and become live disciples:
for the Spirit guides and prods and enlivens, but always accompanies us.
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026;Gord Dunbar

15. THREE FOLD AMEN

• Isaiah 58: 1 - 12
  True Religion


• Responsive Reading:  Psalm 112: 1 - 10 VU page 834
  REFRAIN: The just shall trust in God alone”


• 1 Corinthians 2: 1 - 16
  Telling about Christ and the Cross


• The Gospel of Matthew 5: 13 - 20
  Salt and Light

Next Sunday:  Last Sunday after the Epiphany
        February 15, 2026:
         Exodus 24: 12 - 18;   Psalm 2;
         2 Peter 1: 16 - 21;  Matthew 17: 1 - 9.

Note: Don't have a Bible? By Clicking on the button below, you can open a new window in an Online Bible. By entering the BOOK and CHAPTER, you will be able to look up the references in the sermon. Copy and paste will work as long as there is no other words between the book name and chapter number. Try it and Enjoy!

---