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4TH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

  • Greeting & Collect of the Day
  • First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (reading in French)
  • Gradual Hymn: Sing a New Creation S97 – God is Calling through the Whisper (words below)
  • Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
  • Sermon
  • Anthem: If Ye Love Me (T. Tallis)
  • Prayer over the Gifts
  • Lord’s Prayer
  • Doxology & Blessing
  • Hymn: Sing a New Creation S103 – The Call is Clear and Simple

 

God is Calling through the Whisper

God is calling through the whisper of the Spirit’s deepest sighs,
Through a thrill of sudden beauties that can catch us by surprise.
Flash of lightning, crash of thunder; hush of stillness, rush of wonder.
God is calling – can you hear? God is calling – can you hear?

God is calling through the voices of our neighbour’s urgent prayers,
Through the longing for redemption and for rescue from despair.
Place of hurt or face or needing; strident cry or silent pleading.
God is calling – can you hear? God is calling – can you hear?

God is calling through the music of sublime and human arts,
Through the hymns of earth and angels, and the carols of our hearts.
Lift of joy and gift of singing; days and nights our praises bringing:
God is calling – can we hear? God is calling – can we hear?

 

The Call is Clear and Simple

The call is clear and simple: “Love God and humankind;”
But love demands much wisdom and clarity of mind.
“Be wily as a serpent, though gentle as a dove,”
For many are the dangers upon the path of love.

God, help us sort our motives, that loving may be whole.
High aims or base ambition? Compassion or control?
Then help us clear our schedules of every frantic task
That leads away from doing the one thing that you ask.

God, teach us strength and wisdom when false love takes the lead.
Too well we learn submission and silence our own need.
When others would misuse us or lures us toward the wrong,
God temper love with courage to keep our boundaries strong.

O wise and holy Lover, teach us, as seasons turn,
To know ourselves and others – deep honest love to learn.
So may we nurture living in all we say and do,
In strong and gentle giving to humankind and you.