Community United Church

An Open and Affirming Congregation

Affiliated with the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the Church of the Brethren

The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

February 7, 2021:

11:00 AM

The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

We are now in the Season of Epiphany! The word epiphany means “to reveal.” The season begins with the story of the three Magi who followed a star to Bethlehem—the time at which Christ began to be revealed to the whole world. For seven weeks we consider scripture narratives that show how Christ revealed the dynamic nature of the Reign of God, and what it means to be Messiah, “King,” of such a kingdom. This is a season for us to consider how Christ has been revealed to us—and to remember, Christ is someone to be encountered, not a simple theology to believe.

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 40:21-31

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Mark 1:29-39

Theme:

The Works of Ministry

Pastoral Team:

Rev. Dr. Rich McCarty, Senior Pastor

Pastor Joy Johnson, Associate Minister

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

Prelude Cheryl Strecker

Welcome & Announcements

Centering Music

Invocation

One:Grace, mercy, and peace be with you, from God our Creator, Christ our Savior, and the Holy Spirit our eternal Advocate and friend.

All:And also with you.

One:You, O God, are everlasting—you are the Source of all being, the Love that redeems, and the Wisdom that empowers and enlightens all who wade into the mystery of divinity by faith.

All:We believe in God—the Alpha and the Omega, the Holy One in whom both heaven and earth exist.

One:The Living God cannot tire or expire. The Living God is prodigal with grace, love, and mercy. God is free flowing with inspiration and is abundantly willing to meet us exactly as we are.

All:In you, O God, we take refuge—to be so enfolded by you, that we experience the renewal we need and the transformation that brings true peace. Amen!

* Opening Hymn “God, You Spin the Whirling Planets” #24

God, you spin the whirling planets, fill the seas and spread the plain,

Mold the mountains, fashion blossoms, call forth sunshine, wind, and rain.

We, created in your image, would a true reflection be;

Of your justice, grace, and mercy, and the truth that makes us free.

You have called us to be faithful in our life and ministry.

We respond in grateful worship, joined in one community.

When we blur your gracious image, focus us and make us whole,

Healed and strengthened as your people, we move onward toward your goal.

God, your will is still creating, calling us to life made new,

Now reveal to us fresh vistas where there’s work to dare and do.

Keep us clear of all distortion, fashion us with loving care,

Thus, new creatures in your image, we’ll proclaim Christ everywhere!

* Opening Prayer

A Meditation on Grace:

In the Shelter

(An excerpt from the writings of Padraig O Tuama)

Neither I, nor the poets I love found the keys to the kingdom of prayer

And we cannot force God to stumble over us where we sit

But…. I know that it is a good idea to sit anyway. So every morning I sit. I kneel. Waiting. Making friends with the habit of listening.

Hoping that I am being listened to.

There I greet God and my own disorder.

I say hello to my chaos, my unmade decisions, my unmade bed. My desire and my trouble.

I say hello to distraction and privilege. I greet the day and I greet my beloved and bewildering Jesus. I recognize and greet my burdens, my luck, my controlled and uncontrollable story. I greet my own told stories, my unfolding story, my unloved body, my own love, I greet the things that I think will happen.

And I say hello to everything I do not know about the day.

I greet my own small world and I hope that I can meet the bigger world that day.

I greet my story and hope that I can forget my story during the day.

And hope that I can hear some stories, and greet some surprising stories during the long day ahead.

I greet God. And I greet the God who is more God than the God I greet.

Hello to you all I say, as the sun rises… hello.

Song of Praise “I Stand in Awe” #53

You are beautiful beyond description,

Too marvelous for words.

Too wonderful for comprehension,

Like nothing ever seen or heard.

Who can grasp your infinite wisdom?Who can fathom the depth of your love?

You are beautiful beyond description,

Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of you,

I stand, I stand in awe of you;

Holy God, to whom all praise is due,

I stand in awe of you.

(Repeat All)

First Reading The Book of the Prophet Isaiah 40:21-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; 23 who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25 To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name;because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Song of Reflection “The Power of Your Love” #467

Lord, I come to you; let me heart be changed, renewed,

Flowing from the grace that I’ve found in you.

And Lord, I’ve come to know the weaknesses I see in me

Will be stripped away—by the power of your love.

Chorus:

Hold me close, let your love surround me.

Bring me near, draw me to your side.

And as I wait, I’ll rise up like the eagle,

And I will soar with you; your Spirit leads me on

In the power of your love.

Lord, unveil my eyes; let me see you face to face,

The knowledge of your love as you live in me.

Lord, renew my mind, as your will unfolds in my life,

In living every day—by the power of your love.

(Chorus)

Second Reading Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 9:16-23

16 If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 

20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 

23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Responsorial Psalm 147

One:Praise the LORD! How good is it to sing praises to our God; for the Holy One is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

All:The LORD builds up Jerusalem; God gathers the outcasts of Israel. God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

One:The LORD determines the number of stars; God gives to all of them their names.

All:Great is our Sovereign, and abundant in power; God’s understanding is beyond measure.

One:The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; God casts wickedness to the ground.

All:Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to God.

One:God covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass to grow on the hills. God gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.

All:God’s delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor does God take pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the LORD takes pleasure in those who are reverent to God, in those who hope in God’s steadfast love. Amen!

*Doxology “Glory Be to God, Creator” #145

Glory be to God, Creator, glory be to God the Son,

Glory be to God the Spirit, known as Three, yet God the One

As it was in the beginning, it is now and so shall be,

In a world without an ending, glory through eternity.

Holy, holy God Almighty! Holy, holy Prince of Peace!

Holy, holy Wind of Presence! Holy, holy, holy! Amen!

*Gospel Mark 1:29-39

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

One:These are the words of God for the people of God.

All:Come Holy Spirit! Thanks be to God!

Message The Works of Ministry Pastor Rich

Song of Response “As a Fire Is Meant for Burning” #551

As a fire is meant for burning with a bright and warming flame,

So the church is meant for mission, giving glory to God’s name.

Not to preach our creeds or customs, but to build a bridge of care,

We join hands across the nations, finding neighbors everywhere.

We are learners; we are teachers; we are pilgrims on the way.

We are seekers; we are givers; we are vessels made of clay.

By our gentle, loving actions, we would show that Christ is light.

In a humble, listening spirit, we would live to God’s delight.

As a green bud in the spring-time is a sign of life renewed,

So may we be signs of oneness ‘mid earth’s peoples, many hued.

As a rainbow lights the heavens when a storm is past and gone,

May our lives reflect the radiance of God’s new and glorious dawn.

Affirmation of Faith: APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

COMMUNION LITURGY

Pastor: People of God, as we still journey through the season of Epiphany, we come each week to discover how Christ was revealed to the world. Christ came for us, and for our salvation, to be the living bread of heaven and the cup of eternal life.

All:Our altar table is another place to encounter the living Christ—who meets us once again in the bread and in the cup. Here at this table, food for the body also becomes food for the spirit.

Pastor:This is a table of grace. There is room around it for every soul that was, and is, and is to come.

All:We come to the table as people who are learning the way of Christ. We confess that we are not always right. But we share this faith: that those who trust in Christ Jesus will grow in the assurance of God’s eternal love.

Pastor:And so, here at this Table we take bread and cup and ask the Holy Spirit to make it for us communion with the living Christ, body and blood, love poured out, forever!

All:Here at this Table we remember that Christ indeed gave his entire life as an outpouring of God’s Love—a love that will, one day, renew all things. Amen.

Pastor:Take and eat, the communion of the Body of Christ.

Pastor:Take and drink, the communion of the Blood of Christ.

Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer

One:The Lord be with you.

All:And also with you.

One:Let us pray: For the ministries of this church—and for all churches—that the work of our hands, and the gospel we proclaim, shall ever be defined by unconditional love and prodigal grace.

All:God hear our prayer!

One:For those who have ministered with such love and grace when the church has not. We give thanks, remembrance, and honor.

All:God hear our prayer!

One:For those in whom God is stirring and inspiring to be part of an inclusive and merciful faith community; may we find them, and they find us, and together commit to miraculous works of love.

All:God hear our prayer!

One:For all that we hold in the silence of our hearts, we come to you in the confidence of quiet, O God, and lift our petitions privately to you. (Silent prayer)… Almighty God, Sovereign of Heaven, send a double portion of your blessings upon all people! Move the mountains in our lives, or help to move us so that we might be fully at peace. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray…

All:“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors—and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever.” Amen.

Offering

Our offerings are first and foremost what we give to the world through justice, kindness, and mercy—and these can do every day. Our offerings can also take the form of financial contributions to the church to support our ministries.

Financial offerings are now accepted online at:

www.communityunited.church/giving/

Or, if you prefer to mail in a check, that can be addressed to the church at:

1011 West 38th Street – Erie, PA 16508

Offertory Music and Time for Contemplation Cheryl Strecker

Let us choose to be an offering to the world and to the church, each as we feel guided by God’s Spirit.

*Congregational Response #44

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!Praise him all creatures here below.

Praise him above, you heavenly host!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

*Departing Prayer

One:Everlasting God, you give strength to the powerless and power to the faint; you raise up the sick and cast out all evil.

All:Make us agents of healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation. Amen!

*Blessing

*Closing Hymn “The World is Full of Stories” #558

The world is full of stories, of stories that have passed

To us along the ages; great stories that still last,

To tell of human feelings drawn deep from heart and mind,

More true than fact: their meaning the surest we can find.

The world is full of stories, new stories people tell,

And young and old come under the storyteller’s spell

Which stirs imagination and opens wide our eyes

To duty and conviction, to wonder and surprise.

The world is full of stories that capture and enthrall;

But joyful faith discovers that one transcends them all:

God’s love as told in Jesus, who shared our life on earth,

And human recreation beginning at his birth.

It tells us of the anguish God’s love was bound to bear,

To conquer death and evil and fathom our despair.

As we repeat the story, hope comes to life and thrives,

To make the love of Jesus the story of our lives.

Postlude Cheryl Strecker

Thank you for worshipping with us this morning at Community United Church!

Next Sunday, February 14, 2021:

Online Worship:

11:00 AM

Readings:

2 Kings 2:1-12

Psalm 50:1-6

2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Mark 9:2-9

The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany:

The Transfiguration of Christ

Need to contact us for prayer, conversation, or to connect with a small group or church ministry?

1011 West 38th Street – Erie, PA 16508

(814) – 864 – 4429

www.communityunited.church