Preparing for Worship: First Sunday after the Epiphany - January 8

God Calls Us to Worship Him

Call to Worship

"The pagans will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (Isaiah 60:3)

Hymn of Epiphany: "Joy Has Dawned"

Joy has dawned upon the world Promised from creation God's salvation now unfurled Hope for ev'ry nation

Not with fanfares from above Not with scenes of glory But a humble gift of love Jesus born of Mary

God Graciously Renews Us in Christ

Confession of Sin

“We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken You and have served other gods...We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good in Your sight. We do ask that You deliver us from sin.” (Judges 10:10ff)

Forgiveness of Sin through Christ

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.

The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,

to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

He keeps all his bones;

not one of them is broken.

Affliction will slay the wicked,

and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

The LORD redeems the life of his servants;

none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned (Psalm 34:15-22).

Hymn of Assurance: "Fairest Lord Jesus"

Fairest Lord Jesus Ruler of all nature O Thou of God and man the Son Thee will I cherish

Thee will I honor Thou my soul's glory joy and crown Fair are the meadows fairer still the woodlands Robed in the blooming garb of spring Jesus is fairer

Jesus is purer Who makes the woeful heart to sing Fair is the sunshine fairer still the moonlight And all the twinkling starry host Jesus shines brighter

Jesus shines purer Than all the angels heav'n can boast Beautiful Savior Lord of all nations Son of God and Son of Man Glory and honor

Praise, adoration Now and forevermore be Thine

Thanking God for What He Has Done

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:1-5).

Hymn of Petition: "Abide with Me"

Abide with me fast falls the eventide The darkness deepens Lord with me abide When other helpers fail and comforts flee Help of the helpless O abide with me Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day Earth's joys grow dim its glories pass away Change and decay in all around I see O Thou who changest not abide with me I need Thy presence ev'ry passing hour What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be Through cloud and sunshine O abide with me Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies Heav'n's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee In life in death O Lord abide with me

God Instructs Us through His Word

Genesis 37:25-36 (HCSB)

Then they sat down to eat a meal. They looked up, and there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.

Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and they agreed.nWhen Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.

When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?” So they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s robe or not?”

His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard.

God Feeds and Nourishes Us through His Supper

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

"After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this you do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you show the Lord’s death until he comes."

(1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

God Blesses Us and Sends Us Out

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, let Him shield them all day long, let the one the Lord loves rest between His shoulders. That you might be steadfast, immovable and knowing that your toil in the Lord is not in vain.” (Deuteronomy 33:12; 1 Corinthians 15:58)