z-Liturgy for February 6, 2022

Welcome

Updates

Call to Worship

We gather this day to celebrate life –The life we have been given by God,
(all)
The life we share with one another in community,

The life that Jesus gives in abundance.
Let us be grateful for the joy of life,
(all)
And let us worship God.

Song : Good Good Father

I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
You tell me that you’re pleased and that I’m never alone

You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching for answers only you provide
‘Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Love so undeniable I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I, I can hardly think
As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still
Into love, love, love

Song: Jude Doxology

And now all glory to Him who alone is God
Who saves us through His Son
Jesus Christ, our Lord
For He is able to keep us from falling away
He brings us into His presence
With love and joy

All power, authority, all splendour
And majesty are His from the beginning
And evermore and evermore

And now all glory to Him who alone is God
Who saves us through His Son
Jesus Christ, our Lord
For He is able to keep us from falling away
He brings us into His presence
With love and joy

All power, authority, all splendour
And majesty are His from the beginning
And evermore and evermore

Prayer of Confession

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbour.

(Silence).

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

(All say:)

Almighty God have mercy on us, + forgive us our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

Responsive Reading : Psalm 1

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,  and who meditates on his law day and night.

(all)

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.

Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

(all)

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

New Testament : Luke 6:17-26

17 He went down with them, and took up a position on a level plain where there was a large crowd of his followers, with a huge company of people from all Judaea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They came to hear him, and to be cured from their diseases. Those who were troubled by unclean spirits were healed, 19 and the whole crowd tried to touch him, because power was going out from him and healing everybody.

20 He lifted up his eyes and looked at his disciples, and said:

‘Blessings on the poor: God’s kingdom belongs to you!
21 ‘Blessings on those who are hungry today: you’ll have a feast!
‘Blessings on those who weep today: you’ll be laughing!
22 ‘Blessings on you, when people hate you, and shut you out, when they slander you and reject your name as if it was evil, because of the son of man. 23 Celebrate on that day! Jump for joy! Don’t you see: in heaven there is a great reward for you! That’s what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 ‘But woe betide you rich: you’ve had your comfort!
25 ‘Woe betide you if you’re full today: you’ll go hungry!
‘Woe betide you if you’re laughing today: you’ll be mourning and weeping!
26 ‘Woe betide you when everyone speaks well of you: that’s what their ancestors did to the false prophets.’

Hebrew Scripture : Jeremiah 17:5-10

This is what the Lord says:

‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh
    and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;
they will not see prosperity when it comes.
They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 

‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.’

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

‘“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.”

Doxology

Now to the one who is able to keep you standing upright, and to present you before his glory, undefiled and joyful –  to the one and only God, our saviour through Jesus the Messiah our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all the ages, and now, and to all the ages to come. Amen.

Benediction

Father of Christ who revealed the way of life,

inscribe your law on our hearts that in this life,

we may be the body of Christ. 

Help our hands to hold the sick and suffering. 

Help our feet to walk with the poor. 

Help our ears to listen to those who live in despair. 

May our eyes be affixed upon the suffering of the cross

and the hope of the empty tomb so that we may live as resurrection people.

Open our hearts to gladness, call dry bones to dance,

and restore to us the joy of your salvation. 

We pray these things by: the humble power of God,

the quiet strength of Christ, and the pervasive light of the Spirit, Amen.

Go in Peace…

Share This