CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING:
Comfort in sorrow,
the light of Christ.
Challenge in lethargy,
the light of Christ.
Courage in uncertainty,
the light of Christ.
Hope when all else fails,
the light of Christ.
     used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2024-2025; David Sparks

All sing: VU 290 “Nothing Can Trouble”

Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Those who seek God shall never go wanting.
Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten.
God alone fills us.

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
In these uncertain times, we come together, searching for peace.
We will be still before the Lord and wait patiently.
We will open our hearts and minds, that the Lord may show us mercy.
When we trust the Lord, we can do good things and live with one another in peace and security.
The Lord is our refuge in times of trouble. In God, we find forgiveness, mercy, and love.
We will be still before the Lord and wait patiently.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Holy One, we come together to pause, pray, and praise. Be with us in this place, that we may touch your mercy. You provide for us; help us claim the power of your love for our lives. Help us to measure out grace, shaking it together with forgiveness and give them to others as you would have us do.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

3. LEARNING TIME:

4. HYMN: “Make me a channel of your peace”   VU 684
1.  Make me a channel of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me bring your love;
where there is injury, your healing power,
and where there's doubt, true faith in you:

2.  Make me a channel of your peace:
where there's despair in life, let me bring hope;
where there is darkness, only light;
and where there's sadness, ever joy.
O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love with all my soul.

3.  Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving to all that we receive,
and in dying that we're born to eternal life.

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Holy God, we have gathered in this place today, wanting to experience something greater than ourselves. We praise your greatness and mercy without hesitation or question. May we be granted the wisdom you offer as we receive the words of your scripture today.  Amen.
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2024-2025; Marie Slivocka

6. PRAYER OF YEARNING:
Lord God, we come to you as imperfect creatures. Like Joseph's brothers, we're afraid of the past and are wary of the future. Yet, we yearn to feel your warm embrace. We long to touch your love and forgiveness, despite our shortcomings. Ease our journey toward mercy, as we grow in faith and love. Help us bless those who curse us and to pray for those who mistreat us. This is your direction for our lives and we will follow as we are able. Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

7.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
God's love and mercy are freely available to all. When we trust and delight in God's mercy, we are better able to show this mercy to those around us. Because God can do this, you can do it. We can do it together.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

8. AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: New Creed, #918 VU

A NEW CREED

We are not alone,

we live in God's world.

We believe in God:

who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others,
by the Spirit.

We are called to be the Church:

to celebrate God's presence,
to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen.
our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us.

9.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
As a sign of our love for God, God's church, and God's creation, let us share our gifts and offerings.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

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

11.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Holy God, we bring this offering of our money, prayer, and labour to advance your work of mercy. We willingly and joyfully celebrate your generosity, by sharing our abundance with the church, our community, and the world. Bless these gifts, as they go forth to do good in your world without judgment or prejudice.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

12. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER

13.  BLESSING:
May the peace of Christ follow you from this place. Remember the grace of Joseph, the mercy of God, and the love of Christ. Go beyond the Golden Rule and forgive first, love first, and give first. Measure out a good amount of grace, for you and others, and prepare a recipe for a merciful life.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

14.  THREE FOLD AMEN.

Next Sunday:  Last Sunday after the Epiphany
        March 2, 2025:
         Exodus 34: 29 - 35;  Psalm 99;
         2 Corinthians 3: 12 - 4: 2;  Luke 9: 28 - 36, [37 - 43a].

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!

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