Crandall United Methodist Church

Worship Guide

January 29, 2023

Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

Greetings:

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

Special Music:  “How Far”  Stefanie

Centering Words:

The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

*Call to Worship:

Leader:   Come, let us walk in God’s ways.

People:  Let us listen to God’s words.

Leader:   We will dwell here in God’s tent.

People:  We will sing God’s praises.

Leader:   Let us pray

ALL: Come, Holy Wisdom, and show us your ways. In our confusing world, many voices demand our attention. Teach us to look with your eyes. Help us walk humbly beside you— doing what is right, speaking your truth. You alone are our guide and guardian on paths of peace and reconciliation. Amen.

Hymn: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

I am weak, but Thou art strong;

Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long

as I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

daily walking close to Thee,

let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,

if I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

daily walking close to Thee,

let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

When my feeble life is o’er,

time for me will be no more;

guide me gently, safely o’er

to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

daily walking close to Thee,

let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

Words of Assurance

Jesus speaks words of blessing to those who struggle, offering joy and gladness each and every day.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who make peace; they will be called children of God.”

Blessed be the Lord. Amen.

*Old Testament Reading: Micah 6:1-8

¹     Hear what the Lord says:

Rise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your voice.

²      Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,

and you enduring foundations of the earth;

for the Lord has a controversy with his people,

and he will contend with Israel.

³      “O my people, what have I done to you?

In what have I wearied you? Answer me!

⁴      For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,

and redeemed you from the house of slavery;

and I sent before you Moses,

Aaron, and Miriam.

⁵      O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,

what Balaam son of Beor answered him,

and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,

that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”

⁶      “With what shall I come before the Lord,

and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

⁷      Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

⁸      He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

WORD AND RESPONSE

Special Music: “His Gentle Look” Michael

Time with Young Friends:  “Jesus Loves Me”

Children’s Message:  “Jesus Blesses”

Hymn: “Hymn of Promise”

In the bulb there is a flower;

in the seed, an apple tree;

In cocoons, a hidden promise:

butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter

there’s a spring that waits to be,

Unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence,

seeking word and melody;

There’s a dawn in every darkness,

bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future;

what it holds, a mystery,

Unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning;

in our time, infinity;

In our doubt there is believing;

in our life, eternity,

In our death, a resurrection;

at the last, a victory,

Unrevealed until its season,

something God alone can see

Sermon: “Blessed Are” Matthew 5:1-12

¹ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Special Music: “It is Well with My Soul” Donna

Hymn: “Grace Alone”

Every promise we can make,

every prayer and step of faith,

every difference we can make

is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,

every ray of hope we shine,

every blessing left behind

is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,

strength unknown He will provide.

Christ in us, our cornerstone;

we will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,

every heart we hope to teach,

everywhere we share His peace

is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,

every tear we wipe away,

every sorrow turned to praise

is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies,

strength unknown He will provide.

Christ in us, our cornerstone;

we will go forth in grace alone.

Psalter: Psalm 15

¹    O Lord, who shall abide in your tent?

Who shall dwell in your holy hill?

²    The one who walks blamelessly, and does what is right,

and speaks truth from the heart;

³    who does not slander with the tongue,

and does no evil to a friend,

nor takes up a reproach against a neighbor;

⁴    in whose eyes a reproach is despised,

but who honor those who fear the Lord;

⁵    who does not put out money at interest,

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

The one who does these things shall never be moved.

Doxology: “Glory Be to the Father”

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen. Amen.

Special Music: Stefanie

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns

   Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer

SENDING FORTH

Hymn: “Since Jesus Came into My Heart”

What a wonderful change in my life

has been wrought

since Jesus came into my heart!

I have light in my soul for which

long I had sought,

since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart,

since Jesus came into my heart,

floods of joy o’er my soul

like the sea billows roll,

since Jesus came into my heart.

I have ceased from my wandering

and going astray,

since Jesus came into my heart!

And my sins, which were many,

are all washed away,

since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart,

since Jesus came into my heart,

floods of joy o’er my soul

like the sea billows roll,

since Jesus came into my heart.

I’m possessed of a hope that is

steadfast and sure,

since Jesus came into my heart!

And no dark clouds of doubt now

my pathway obscure,

since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart,

since Jesus came into my heart,

floods of joy o’er my soul

like the sea billows roll,

since Jesus came into my heart.

There’s a light in the valley of death

now for me,

since Jesus came into my heart!

And the gates of the City beyond I can see,

since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart,

since Jesus came into my heart,

floods of joy o’er my soul

like the sea billows roll,

since Jesus came into my heart.

I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,

since Jesus came into my heart!

And I’m happy, so happy, as onward I go,

since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart,

since Jesus came into my heart,

floods of joy o’er my soul

like the sea billows roll,

since Jesus came into my heart.

Benediction