CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING:
These short days of January, we yearn for light. We must wake up before dawn breaks, and night descends upon us early in the evening. Oh, how we crave light. Into this reality has come Jesus the Christ, the One we call the Light of the World.
It is with that assurance that we light the Christ candle.
     Adapted and used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Laura J. Turnbull

All sing: VU 87 “I am the Light of the World” refrain only
Refrain: 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:
In the quiet darkness of night, God comes to us.
God calls to us, inviting us to a life of deep spirituality and bold discipleship.
And so, we respond to God's call by coming and worshipping this day, that we might be inspired, equipped, and sent forth to live the gospel out in the world, by loving and serving our neighbours.
Let us worship the God made known in Jesus Christ.
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Taylor

2. OPENING PRAYER:
God of abundance and generosity, you call us to celebrate your love each and every day, so love will overcome divisions and build a bridge to unity. You call us to lift our hearts in prayer and praise and to raise our spirits in holy song. Lift our worship to greater heights this day. Make our prayers deep enough to plumb the depths of our souls and bring us to your throne of overflowing grace. Amen.
     Adapted/Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Beth W.Johnston

3.  LEARNING TIME:

4. HYMN:  VU 357 “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus”
1.  Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

2.  First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the lovelight of Jesus' face.

3.  Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea
tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee!
And how the Master, ready and kind,
chided the billows and hushed the wind.

4.  Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas! Jesus is king!

5.  Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain;
and of the cross where my Saviour for me was slain.
Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
God of kindness, may your Spirit gently open our spirits with understanding and our hearts with compassion, as we receive your words to us today.  Amen. .
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Susan Girard

6. SCRIPTURE LESSON
Isaiah 9: 1 - 4
But those who have suffered will no longer be in pain.[a] The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee were once hated. But this land of the Gentiles across the Jordan River and along the Mediterranean Sea will be greatly respected. 2 Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. 3 Our LORD, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken. 4 You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian.

Responsive Reading Psalm 27: 1, 4 - 9 VU page 754
REFRAIN: God is my light and saving health, I shall not be afraid”

God is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear?
God is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked close in to devour me,
it is they, my enemies and my foes, who stumble and fall.
If an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid;
if war should arise against me, even then I will not be dismayed.  REFRAIN

One thing I have asked of God, for which I long: that I may dwell in God's house all the days of my life,
to gaze on your beauty, O God,
and to seek you in your temple. For in the time of trouble you will give me shelter;
you will hide me under the cover of your tent, you will set me high upon a rock.
And now you have raised my head above my enemies round about me.
a sacrifice with great gladness.   REFRAIN

Hear my voice, O God, when I call; have mercy and answer me. Your face, O God, I seek.
Do not hide your face from me; do not reject your servant in anger, you who have been my helper.
Do not cast me off, or forsake me, O God my saviour.
Though my father and mother forsake me,
my God will take me up.   REFRAIN

7.  REFLECTION

8.  HYMN: VU 82 “A Light is Gleaming”
REFRAIN: A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night, living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God's radiant love is burning bright, living in the light.

1.  When light comes pouring
into the darkest place,
it hurts our eyes to see the glow.
Sometimes a word of hope reminds us of our fears, our memories and tears.   REFRAIN

2.  When night is round us
and every shadow grows, a star is there to light our way.
It tells a story of Jesus who came near to say:
'God's light will ever stay.'   REFRAIN

3.  And Jesus showed us a brighter path to walk.
He showed us things we hadn't seen.
Now we, like Jesus, can help creation shine,
and this will be a sign:  REFRAIN

4.  So let us live in the brightness God has giv'n,
and let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here asparkle and ablaze, -
warming all our days.  REFRAIN

9. SCRIPTURE LESSON
1 Corinthians 1: 10 - 18
Taking Sides
10 My dear friends, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don't take sides. Always try to agree in what you think. 11 Several people from Chloe's family[a] have already reported to me that you keep arguing with each other. 12 They have said that some of you claim to follow me, while others claim to follow Apollos or Peter[b] or Christ. 13 Has Christ been divided up? Was I nailed to a cross for you? Were you baptized in my name? 14 I thank God[c] that I didn't baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. 15 Not one of you can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did baptize the family[d] of Stephanas, but I don't remember if I baptized anyone else. 17 Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the good news without using words that sound wise and would make the cross of Christ lose its power. 18 The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work.

The Gospel of Matthew 4: 12 - 23
Jesus Begins His Work
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. 13 But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.[a] 14 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, 15 “Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and across the Jordan. Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles!16 Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them.” 17 Then Jesus started preaching, "Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here."
Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen
18 While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. 19 Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 20 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him. 21 Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus. 23 Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.

10.  REFLECTION

11.  HYMN: VU 352 “I Danced in the Morning”
1.  I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Refrain: Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.

2.  I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came with me and the dance went on.  Refrain

3.  I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,
and left me there on a cross to die.   Refrain

4.  I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it's hard to dance with the devil on your back;
they buried my body and they thought I'd gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on.  Refrain

5.  They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he.   Refrain

12.  PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Dear God, we come to you today, though many of us are tired and discouraged. Give us relief from our distress. Lord, we ask for your guidance and intervention, so that we may be reconciled and made new. We put our trust in you. You know our innermost thoughts and aspirations. We ask you to shine your face upon us and fill our hearts with joy. Let us put our troubles aside. We lay our burdens to rest, safely held in your care.  Amen.
      Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Aaron Palmer

13.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
People of God Jesus is with us today, offering us God's kingdom and healing. God is our light and our salvation, everything we need to be fully alive. We have nothing to fear.
Thanks be to God!
      From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

14.  SUNG RESPONSE: VU 560 “O Master, Let me Walk with Thee”
1.  O Master, let me walk with thee
in lowly paths of service free;
teach me thy secret, help me bear
the strain of toil, the fret of care.

2.  Help me the slow of heart to move
with some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay,
and guide them in the homeward way.

3.  Teach me thy patience; still with thee,
in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sure and strong,
in trust that triumphs over wrong,

4.  in hope that sends a shining ray
far down the future's broadening way,
in peace that only thou canst give,
with thee, O Master, let me live.

15.  PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Jesus calls us to follow him, sharing with one another the good news that God has drawn near to us. Let us begin by greeting one another with the peace of Jesus Christ.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

16.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
God has come to us as light, shelter, and unity, reminding us that the kingdom of heaven is very near to us. Let us respond immediately, offering ourselves and our gifts as signs of our joy.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

17. 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.

18.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Generous God, you have blessed us with your call to follow Jesus. In return, we rejoice as we give our offerings and gifts. May they be used for the work of proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of heaven come near. Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

19.  SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION:
Invitation
Come as people invited to follow Jesus. Come as people who have seen the bright star of Bethlehem not just in the sky. Come as people who gather at Christ's table, for all are welcome and none are excluded.

20. HYMN   12 MV  “Come Touch Our Hearts” Verses 1 - 3
1. Come touch our hearts that we may know compassion,
from failing embers build a blazing fire;
love strong enough to overturn injustice,
to seek a work more gracious,
come touch and bless our hearts.

2. Come touch our souls that we may know and love you,
your quiet presence all our fears dispel;
create a space for spirit to grow in us,
come touch and bless our souls.

3. Come touch our minds and teach us how to reason,
set free our thoughts to wonder and to dream;
help us to open doors of understanding,
to welcome truth and wisdom, come touch and bless our minds.

Call to Give Thanks
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Open your hearts.
We open our hearts to God.
Let us give thanks to God our Creator.
It is right to give God our thanks and our praise.

The Great Thanksgiving
Blessed are you, gracious God, Creator of light, Giver of all life, Source of love. At your word creation dawns. Under your rainbow the floods recede. With a burning bush you hallow the earth. By a pillar of fire, you guide your people. We praise you that you do not abandon us.
We remember that our story is carried within God's good Creation.
You place a child in Mary's womb and a star in the eastern sky. You send Jesus to be a light to all the nations. He brings sight to the blind and healing to the sick, hope to the despairing and justice to the oppressed. And yet we reject him, betray him, crucify him. But you, O God, bring forth light raising him from the grave, the first born of your new creation. Therefore, we join with all creation, and all the heavenly hosts who dwell in light inaccessible, to say:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of God. Hosanna in the highest.
In our worrying about how to make ends meet, we couldn't understand your belief in us, O God. In our desire to continue to do things as we have always done, we couldn't receive your call to transformation. In our need to build ourselves up in order to tear others down, we couldn't pay attention to the Spirit's truth within us.
We forgot our story. We forgot that you, O God, are with us in your gifts of love.
Remembering now, we proclaim,
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
And we open our hearts to you in prayer-both for ourselves and for one another:
(a time of silent prayer)
Yet, fire and division still rend us asunder when we turn away from you.
In Love, in Jesus, you gave your own self-unconditionally- that we might once again remember our story and our identity.
In response to our fear and our divisions, Love Incarnate modelled a different Way.

A Communion Hymn: MV 12 “Come touch Our Hearts”  Verses 4-5
4. Come touch us in the moments we are fragile,
and in our weakness your great strength reveal;
that we may rise to follow and to serve,
steady now our nerve,
come touch and bless our wills.

5. Come touch us now, this people who are gathered,
to break the bread and share the cup of peace;
that we may love you with our heart,
our soul, our mind, our strength,
our all, come touch us with your grace.

Prayer for Transformation
Help us, Loving Spirit, to remember our story-which is your story of love.
As we share these elements at Christ's table this morning,
may you bless us with your constant companionship, with your guiding light, with your embrace of grace, with your inspiration into transformation. Amen.
Let us pray together the prayer that Jesus taught, which reminds us of who and whose we are: “Our Father…”

Breaking of the Bread and Pouring of the Cup
The bread which we break and the cup which we give thanks
is our sharing in the life of Jesus.  Amen.

The Distribution

Prayer after Communion
With thanks, we dedicate our sharing at this table to you, O God,
who is Creator, Christ, and Spirit. Bless all that we give to you,
strengthening us to fashion bridges of understanding across divides.
May what we have shared here transform us, in Jesus' name.  Amen.

20.  HYMN: VU 483 “Now Let Us from This Table Rise”
1.  Now let us from this table rise renewed
in body, mind and soul;
with Christ we die and live again,
his selfless love has made us whole.

2.  With minds alert, upheld by grace,
to spread the word in speech and deed,
we follow in the steps of Christ,
at one with all in hope and need.

3.  To fill each human house with love,
it is the sacrament of care;
the work that Christ began to do
we humbly pledge ourselves to share.

4.  Then give us grace, Companion-God,
to choose again the pilgrim way
and help us to accept with joy
the challenge of tomorrow's day.

21.  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 disciples that live :
for the Spirit guides and prods and enlivens, but always accompanies us.
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026;Gord Dunbar.

22. THREE FOLD AMEN

Next Sunday:  Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
        February 1, 2026:
         Micah 6: 1 - 8;   Psalm 27: 1, 5 - 13;
         1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 31;  Matthew 5:1-12.

1. SUNDAY, January 25, 2026  Third Sunday after the Epiphany / Communion Sunday   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


2. TUESDAY, January 27, 2026  BIBLE STUDY  10:00 AM  Board Room


3. TUESDAY, January 27, 2026  Jubilation Handbell Ringers  If you are interested in ringing some bells, come out and give it a try;   6:30pm in the Choir Room.


4. TUESDAY, January 27, 2026  “YOUTH ACTIVITY CLUB (YAC)”  7:00 - 9:00 PM.  Logie hall GYM  All Youth 12 years and older are welcome


5. SUNDAY, February 1, 2026  Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


6. TUESDAY, February 3, 2026  BIBLE STUDY  10:00 AM  Board Room


7. TUESDAY, February 3, 2026  Jubilation Handbell Ringers  If you are interested in ringing some bells, come out and give it a try;   6:30pm in the Choir Room.


8. TUESDAY, February 3, 2026  “YOUTH ACTIVITY CLUB (YAC)”  7:00 - 9:00 PM.  Logie hall GYM  All Youth 12 years and older are welcome


9. Friday, February 6, 2026  “COMING HOME” / Jenny Jung & Sabina Rzazade  A violin & piano recital  7:00 PM.  Sanctuary  Admission by Donation
[See poster on “HAPPENINGS” tab for full details]


10. Saturday, February 7, 2026  “VALENTINES TEA & PIE SALE”  2:00 - 4:00 PM.  Wesley Hall  Come one. Come All!
[See poster on “HAPPENINGS” tab for full details]


11. SUNDAY, February 15, 2026  SUNDAY BRUNCH   11:30 AM   Wesley Hall  ALL ARE WELCOME!


12. TUESDAY, February 17, 2026  SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER  5:00 - 7:00 PM   Wesley Hall  ALL ARE WELCOME!
[See poster on “HAPPENINGS” tab for full details]