Sunday School, February 1, 2026 4 Epiphany A

 Sunday School, February 1, 2026    4 Epiphany A

Theme:

How do we live in a world that sometimes is not fair?

Jesus lived in a world that was not fair for many people.  So how does a person live when life is not always fair?  Do we respond in a cruel way when we are treated cruelly?  Do we try to fight evil by being evil ourselves?

Jesus had some advice which might seem difficult.  He said to love our enemies.  He said we should not use evil to defeat evil; he said we should overcome evil with good.  Why did he say this?

He said this because he believed that God had made us and this world good.  So goodness is what is normal in life.  When people are bad, they are not acting normal.  So we need people who can act with normal good behavior to be examples of how to live.

The Beatitudes are recommended ways for us to learn how to practice a very good life, a happy life, a blessed life.  What are the secrets to happiness?

1-Not being so proud that one thinks that one does not need God’s Spirit.  If we are poor in spirit we will appreciate God’s Holy Spirit in us.

2-We need to be merciful and forgiving and that will help us to know mercy for ourselves.

3-We need to be peaceful and people who make peace with each other.

4-We need to do everything for the right reasons not for selfish reasons.

5-We need to be humbly patient and learn self-control.

6-We need to be willing to suffer for doing the right thing.

7-We need to desire what is right more than food or drink.

When we learn to live this way, we learn to live by overcoming evil with good behaviors.  When we live this way, we have the following rewards: We know we live in God’s kingdom.  We know that we are God’s children.  We know that we can see God at work in our world.  We know that we are God’s children who have inherited all the beauty of this world.  We know that we will have a future reward.  We know that we will have a good afterlife.  We know that we will be forgiven for not being perfect. 

Sermon:

  How do we live when we discover the world is not perfect?  We need some rules to follow?

  And when do we discover that the world is not perfect?  When we find out we cannot get everything that we want.

  As children, we learn that we cannot have everything that we want.  And we cannot do everything that we want.

  At the playground, there may be only two swings; but there are 10 children who want to swing.  What do we do?  We have to learn to share, right?

  Maybe we’re playing baseball, and we want to be the best hitter, but there might be someone bigger and better at hitting the baseball.  Is that fair that someone is bigger and better?  What do we do?

  Maybe we make a mistake and we push someone out of the way to get to a toy…or maybe someone pushes us.  What do we do?  We have to say, “I’m sorry.”  And when someone says, “I’m sorry to us.”  What do we do?  Do we stay angry or do we forgive?

  Remember we might think that a perfect world is where all of our wishes come true and where we get everything that we want.  But there is no such perfect world.  So, we have to live with the one that we have.  So, Jesus gave us rules on how to be happy in a world that is not perfect.

  Jesus said, we can be happy, if we know that we are poor without God and without each other.  We are rich if we have each other and we have God.  So, I should not pretend to be the only person in the world who can get everything that I want.

  Jesus said we can be happy, if we know that we cannot have everything at once.  If God is our father, then we know that in this life and in the next life we will have time to receive the joy of everything.

  Since we cannot have everything, it means that we will lose some things.  We will lose favorite toys, we will lose our health when we get sick.  We lose important pets and people in our lives when they die.  And when we lose, we can learn to be happy when we are able to help other people when they lose things and when they are sad.  There is a joy that comes when we help others.

  Since this world is not perfect and since you and I are not perfect boys and girls or men and women, we must learn how to live with our not being perfect.  So, Jesus said that to be happy we have to forgive and be forgiven.  We have to have mercy.  That means saying, “I’m sorry” when I hurt someone or make a mistake.  That means I don’t stay mad at someone when they hurt me and when they say that they are sorry.

  Since there are so many different people.  And many people want the very same things, and we all believe different things; we can either fight or argue with people.  Or we can be people who make peace.  We make peace by sharing and by being fair.  Jesus said that we will be happy as children of God, if we learn how to make peace.

  Jesus said we will be happy if we have pure hearts.  What does not mean?  I think it means learning to want things in life for the right reasons.  Wanting to be strong to help the weak.  Wanting to be rich to help the poor.  And if we learn to do all things because we care for others, we will see God because that is how God is.  God is loving and caring.

  And then there is a very hard rule.  Jesus said, we are happy if we aren’t the bully.  It is better to be weak than to be strong and hurt other people.  Jesus said that we will find a great reward, if we refuse to be the bully and suffer for doing what is right.

  So, Jesus gave us rules for living in a world that is not perfect.  And we are not perfect either.  But even though we don’t live in a perfect world, we can follow these rules of Jesus and still learn to be happy.

  

Family Service with Holy Eucharist

February 1, 2026 The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

Gathering Songs:

Here  In This Place, Christ Beside Me,  Just a Closer Walk, Peace Before Us

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: Here In This Place (Renew # 14)

Here in this place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away; see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.  Gather us in the lost and forsaken, gather us in, the blind and the lame; call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.

Here we are young, our lives are a mystery, we are the old who yearn for your face; we have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.  Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong; give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth, here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.  Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you; nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, you are able to rule all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear our prayer requests, and especially in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

Peope: Thanks be to God

Please read with me from Psalm 139

Put your trust in the LORD and do good; * dwell in the land and feed on its riches.

Take delight in the LORD, * and he shall give you your heart's desire.

Litany of Thanksgiving: Chant: Thanks be to God!

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Jesus taught his disciples these lessons:  You will be happy in God’s kingdom if realize that you are not the only person in the world, but you are rich with friends and the presence of God.  You are happy and comforted when you help others, because your sad experience now helps you to minister to those who are sad.  You are happy when you don’t hoard the gifts of this earth, since God is your father, you will inherit everything.  You are happy when you desire justice as much as you desire and need food and water, because you will be full of joy.  You are happy when you forgive others because then you will know that God forgives you too. You will be happy when you do everything with the best motive for then you will see God everywhere.  You are happy if you are always making peace, because that proves that you are sons and daughters of God.  You are happy if you are mistreated when you are standing for justice, because doing justice means that you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.  You are happy and can rejoice even when things are said against you because you follow me; remember that you are not alone.  Many great prophets have been mistreated too.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon:

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany of Asking:  Chant: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be sick. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be with you always.

People:                        And also with you.

Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

 Offertory Song:  Christ Beside Me   (Renew! # 164)

1          Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me—King of my heart;  Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me—never to part.

2            Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ all around me—shield in the strife:  Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting, Christ in my rising—light of my life

3          Christ be in all hearts, thinking about me, Christ be on all tongues, telling of me; Christ be the vision, in eyes that see me, in ears that hear me, Christ ever be.

4  Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me—King of my heart; Christ within me, Christ below me, Christ above me—never to part.

Doxology (Stand)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of heaven.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

All are born into the family of God by Baptism.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his family to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we

   Forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

(All may gather around the altar)

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this Holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ; and that his  presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By  Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing, (Children may rejoin their parents and take up their instruments)

Our Father (Sung): (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed by thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration.

Communion Song: Just A Closer Walk With Thee (LEVAS # 71)

Chorus: 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.

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.

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.

When my feeble life is o’er, time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o’er to Thy kingdom shore, to thy shore.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Peace Before Us (Wonder Love and Praise # 791)

1-Peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet.  Peace within us, peace over us, let all around us be peace.

2-Love before us…. 3-Light before us….4-Christ before….

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ. 

People: Thanks be to God!  

Church as Christ Befriending and Fellowship

3 Epiphany A January 25, 2026

Is. 9:1-4 Psalm 27:1, 5-13
1 Cor. 1:10-18 Matt. 4:12-23

Lectionary Link

One of the themes of the Season of Epiphany, is the call of Christ. Epiphany being a manifestation or coming to awareness of the significance of the life Jesus Christ happens because certain people were befriended by Jesus in such a significant way that this special befriending set off a domino effect of continuous cross generational befriending which accounts for the presence of the churches in our world today.

Today, we read the account of the call of Christ coming to fishermen on the Sea of Galilee and Jesus told the fishermen, from now on you will fish for people.

Jesus was a fisherman of people; he fished and caught the fisherman, and told them that they would henceforth be doing the same.  What does this fishing for people mean?

I believe that this metaphor of fishing for people means the special kind of befriending which takes place between people and in this befriending a person becomes persuaded about some new values in one's life that initiates new decisions and often a change of direction in one's purpose of life.  A re-valuation takes place and one's priorities become reassessed.

For church administration reasons and because Christians have perpetual disagreed, the very imitate and charismatic dynamic of befriending gets reduced to administrative acts for standardizing conduct and doctrinal purity.  When we ponder the rite of laying on of hands in what is called apostolic succession, we can make this liturgical event the real meaning church succession and success from generation to generation.  We can easily reduce charisma to administrative office for church discipline.

But when the charism of befriending is replaced with mere office or rite, the church can be but like another secular business and miss the reality of what is involved in apostolic succession.

Why do people become more Christ-like?  Because they are baptized, confirmed, ordained, or absolved in official rites of churches?  I would suggest that the Christ-like charism happens in the wonder of befriending which happens when interior values are exchanged in such winsome ways that another person becomes convinced by those exchanged values which happen in the events of befriending.

One who has been befriended in this wonderful succession of befriending in the mentoring process which accounts for the enduring presence of the communities of Christ, are people who are embraced by the mystical communion of what is called "fellowship"  koinonia.  A fellowship or koinonia is the mystical result of the exchange which happens in the dynamic events of befriending.  One who has been befriended, proves that befriending reality,  in turn, by becoming a befriender of others.  A befriender of others is one who lives in winsome ways with values that make the Christ-like lifestyle attractive and desirable.

And this is what Jesus meant in the saying about making fishermen, fishers of people.  Jesus invited his followers to this wonderful dynamic of befriending, because befrienders are those who have been touched and released to have activated their own gifts and charisms, such that they learn to live winsomely with persuasive values which in turn attract others to the befriending process.

The season of Epiphany means that the befriending dynamic was not limited to race, or nation, but was open to all.  This is why the Christ values became attractive to people beyond Palestine who were not really familiar with the meanings of what it meant to be ritually adherent as a Jew.

Let us today live winsomely in this befriending tradition of Jesus Christ.  Loving our neighbors as ourselves is a winsome lifestyle that will draw others into this befriending dynamic and into the mystical experience of fellowship, communion with God and each other because we experience a deep sense of connection based upon mutual care.

Let this Epiphany season for us be a discovery and re-discovery of this wonderful dynamic of befriending because of the winsome values derived from Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Sunday School, January 25, 2026 3 Epiphany A

 Sunday School, January 25, 2026    3 Epiphany A

Theme:  Speaking the language of fishermen

When Jesus taught people he used language that they could understand.  With farmers he spoke about sowing seeds and about grapevines.  With shepherds he spoke about raising sheep. With fishermen, he spoke about fishing.  Jesus told them that he was a fisherman and he did not fish for fish, he fished for people.  Fishing might be fun to do for recreation but if it is your every day job, it might not always be so fun, especially if the fish are not biting.  Jesus told Peter, Andrew, James and John that he could teach them how to fish for people.  What did he mean by this?  It meant that he would teach them how to make friends in a special way by teaching them how to bring good news to the lives of other people.  Jesus told people God love them and forgave them.  He told them they did not have to fear death because God would preserve their lives after death.  He taught people.  Teaching people makes their lives better.  When we learn new things, we can do new things and it is like light comes on.  Jesus was a teacher and he brought light to James, John, Peter and Andrew.  They saw that Jesus was such a good teacher for them, they wanted to learn how to teach and help others.  So that is how Jesus taught them to fish for other people.

How can you fish for other people?  How can you make friends?  How can you help other people learn about God?

Learning how to be friends with others is learning how we can share good news about God’s love and care.

Sermon

What is the biggest light in our life?  We see it every day unless it is covered by clouds.  What do we call that big light in the sky?  It is the sun.  The sun is really a star that is just close to us than the other stars.  What do we need the sun for?  Many things: heat, light, growing our plants.  If we did not have the sunlight, we could not live. So it is very important.

  Today we have read from the Psalm that God, the Lord is our Light.  And we read in our Gospel story how people called Jesus as great light. 

  How can God and How can people be like a light?

  A light allows us to see things that we cannot see if we don’t have a light.  A light allows us to see things differently.

  When it is dark in your bedroom sometimes a shadow can look like a big tree or something else?  But when you turn on the light you find out it was just a shadow of the curtain.

   God helps us to see things differently.  God’s light is shared with people.  God’s light was in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is light because he showed us how to live better lives.  His life was like a light because he taught people and he healed people and he helped people.

   So you have people who are like lights in your life?  When you lose your toys, your mom says, did you look under your bed?  And her words are like a light shining to help you find your toys.  Your parents are like lights for you because they care for you and teach you new things.  Your teachers are like lights for you because they teach you new things.

  Do you know what Jesus said to his friends?  He said, “You are the lights of this world.”  What did he mean by that?

  He meant that we all have to live in a way to show others how to live better lives.  How do we live our lives to be like lights?  By loving and caring for one another and by making friends.  Jesus told his friends who were fishermen that they should fish for people.  What does that mean?  Does it mean we should try to catch people with a net or try to get them to swallow a fish hook?  No.  Jesus liked to speak in riddles; to fish for people was his way of saying, they needed to become very good at making friends.  How do we make friends?  By loving and caring for them, by helping them,

  Today we have learned how our lives can be like a light.  By teaching others.  And we’ve learn how to fish for people.  By learning how to make friends.

  Okay let turn on our lights now.  Let me see you shine.  And lets go fishing.  Let go and make some friends.

Intergenerational Service with Holy Eucharist

January 25, 2026: The Third Sunday after The Epiphany

Gathering Songs:

I Will Make You Good Fisher Folk; Seek Ye First, Glorify Your Name; Dona Nobis Pacem

Liturgist: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

People: And Blessed be God’s Kingdom, Now and forever. Amen.

Liturgist:  Oh God, Our hearts are open to you.

And you know us and we can hide nothing from you.

Prepare our hearts and our minds to love you and worship you.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Song: I Will Make You Good Fisher Folk (Christian Children Songbook # 58)

I will make you good fisher folk, good fisher folk, good fisher folk.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.  If you follow me, if you follow me.  I will make you good fisher folk, if you follow me.

Hear God calling, come unto me, come unto me, come unto me.  Hear God calling come unto me, I will give you rest.  I will give you rest.  I will give you rest.  Hear God calling come unto me, I will give you rest.

Liturgist:         The Lord be with you.

People:            And also with you.

Liturgist:  Let us pray

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Litany of Praise: Chant: Alleluia

O God, you are Great!  Alleluia

O God, you have made us! Alleluia

O God, you have made yourself known to us!  Alleluia

O God, you have provided us with us a Savior!  Alleluia

O God, you have given us a Christian family!  Alleluia

O God, you have forgiven our sins!  Alleluia

O God, you brought your Son Jesus back from the dead!  Alleluia

A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.

Liturgist: The Word of the Lord.

Peope: Thanks be to God

Let us read together from Psalm 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? * the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

One thing have I asked of the LORD; one thing I seek; * that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life;

Litany Phrase: Thanks be to God! (chanted)

Litanist:

For the good earth, for our food and clothing. Thanks be to God!

For our families and friends. Thanks be to God!

For the talents and gifts that you have given to us. Thanks be to God!

For this day of worship. Thanks be to God!

For health and for a good night’s sleep. Thanks be to God!

For work and for play. Thanks be to God!

For teaching and for learning. Thanks be to God!

For the happy events of our lives. Thanks be to God!

For the celebration of the birthdays and anniversaries of our friends and parish family.

   Thanks be to God!

Liturgist:         The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

People:            Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."  From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Liturgist:         The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Lesson – Father Phil

Children’s Creed

We did not make ourselves, so we believe that God the Father is the maker of the world.

Since God is so great and we are so small,

We believe God came into our world and was born as Jesus, son of the Virgin Mary.

We need God’s help and we believe that God saved us by the life, death and

     resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe that God is present with us now as the Holy Spirit.

We believe that we are baptized into God’s family the Church where everyone is

     welcome.

We believe that Christ is kind and fair.

We believe that we have a future in knowing Jesus Christ.

And since we all must die, we believe that God will preserve us forever.  Amen.

Litany Phrase: Christ, have mercy.

For fighting and war to cease in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For peace on earth and good will towards all. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety of all who travel. Christ, have mercy.

For jobs for all who need them. Christ, have mercy.

For care of those who are growing old. Christ, have mercy.

For the safety, health and nutrition of all the children in our world. Christ, have mercy.

For the well-being of our families and friends. Christ, have mercy.

For the good health of those we know to be ill. Christ, have mercy.

For the remembrance of those who have died. Christ, have mercy.

For the forgiveness of all of our sins. Christ, have mercy.

Youth Liturgist:          The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

People:                        And also with you.

Offertory: Song during the preparation of the Altar and the receiving of an offering

Seek Ye First  (Blue Hymnal, # 711)

1                 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; Allelu, alleluia.  Refrain: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, allelu, alleluia.

2          Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek, and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you; Allelu, alleluia!  Refrain

Doxology

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

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prologue to the Eucharist

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for to them belong the kingdom of God.”

All become members of a family by birth or adoption.

Baptism is a celebration of birth into the family of God.

A family meal gathers and sustains each human family.

The Holy Eucharist is the special meal that Jesus gave to his friends to keep us together as the family of Christ.

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is very good and right to give thanks, because God made us, Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts.  Therefore with Angels and Archangels and all of the world that we see and don’t see, we forever sing this hymn of praise:

Holy, Holy, Holy (Intoned)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might.  Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the Highest.

All may gather around the altar

Our grateful praise we offer to you God, our Creator;

You have made us in your image

And you gave us many men and women of faith to help us to live by faith:

Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachael.

And then you gave us your Son, Jesus, born of Mary, nurtured by Joseph

And he called us to be sons and daughters of God.

Your Son called us to live better lives and he gave us this Holy Meal so that when we eat

  the bread and drink the wine, we can  know that the Presence of Christ is as near to us as  

  this food and drink  that becomes a part of us.

And so, Father, we bring you these gifts of bread and wine. Bless and sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Bless and sanctify us by your Holy Spirit so that we may love God and our neighbor.

On the night when Jesus was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate the memorial of your Son. When we eat this holy Meal of Bread and Wine, we are telling the entire world about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and that his presence will be with us in our future.

Let this holy meal keep us together as friends who share a special relationship because of your Son Jesus Christ.  May we forever live with praise to God to whom we belong as sons and daughters.

By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory

 is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we now sing,

Our Father: (Renew # 180, West Indian Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father who art in heaven:  Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done: Hallowed be thy name.

Done on earth as it is in heaven: Hallowed be thy name.

Give us this day our daily bread: Hallowed be thy name.

And forgive us all our debts: Hallowed be thy name.

As we forgive our debtors: Hallowed be thy name.

Lead us not into temptation: Hallowed be thy name.

But deliver us from evil: Hallowed be thy name.

Thine is the kingdom, power, and glory: Hallowed be thy name.

Forever and ever: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Amen, amen, amen: Hallowed be thy name.

Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant:       Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

People:            Therefore let us keep the feast.  Alleluia!

Words of Administration

Communion Song: Glorify Your Name (Renew! #37)

Father we love you, we worship and adore you, glorify your name in all the earth.  Glorify your name, Glorify your name, glorify your name in all the earth.

Jesus we love you, we worship and adore you, glorify your name in all the earth.  Glorify your name, Glorify your name, glorify your name in all the earth.

Spirit we love you, we worship and adore you, glorify your name in all the earth.  Glorify your name, Glorify your name, glorify your name in all the earth. Glorify your name, glorify your name in all the earth.

Post-Communion Prayer

Everlasting God, we have gathered for the meal that Jesus asked us to keep;

We have remembered his words of blessing on the bread and the wine.

And His Presence has been known to us.

We have remembered that we are sons and daughters of God and brothers

    and sisters in Christ.

Send us forth now into our everyday lives remembering that the blessing in the

     bread and wine spreads into each time, place and person in our lives,

As we are ever blessed by you, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Closing Song: Dona Nobis Pacem (Blue Hymnal # 712)

Dona nobis pacem, pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.  Dona nobis pacem.

Dismissal:   

Liturgist: Let us go forth in the Name of Christ.  

People: Thanks be to God!   

Epiphany: Meanings of Manifestation

2 Epiphany A January 18, 2026
Isaiah 49:1-7 Psalm 40:1-12
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42

Lectionary Link

Epiphany means manifestation.  It is the season to ponder the manifestation of Christ to the world.  It is the season of pondering the manifestation of God in Christ.  We are used to the religious words and they can become so banal in their use that we think we know what they mean.  But what does Epiphany as manifestation actually mean?

We must admit that our faith lives, our biblical lives, our church lives are lived out within the public ground of human language.  To come to language in body language deeds or acts, in speech, or word is to have converted the silent inner world where language derives and to have the mystery of language itself "float" to the known public surface in some language product of speech sound, writing, or body language deed.

Epiphany is based upon some assumptions, namely, that humans have some inner access to an unknown which comes into the inner language sphere and is spoken or written as God.  And this God is so inward, and so beyond language, we can only say we know the emanations or energies which proceed from this great Unknown.  And this coming to language in its many forms is a revelation, an unveiling of the unknown, or an Epiphany.  An Epiphany about God is a Theophany.  Rudolph Otto called these experiences the idea of the Holy.  Epiphany or manifestation is giving specific event context to the holy sublime.

What the Gospel writers and New Testament writers believed is that Jesus Christ gave a positive, public, linguistic manifestation of God for humanity in a most exemplary way.

Imagine God as the Sun and Christ as a mirror bearing the image of the sunlight on earth.  And the reflection of this light is the manifestation.  Jesus, himself as presented within the Gospels is seen first as a reforming reflection of God's light to the people of Israel.  But the Gospels also hint that the direction of reflection of the light on and though Jesus as a mirror of God's light comes to shine beyond the land and people of Israel; he becomes known as the light to world beyond the Jews and Judaism. 

St. Paul believed that his churches were comprised by people who had "revealings" of Jesus Christ.  We can safely say that Epiphany, Revelation, and Theophany  are synonyms for the manifestations of the divine to human beings.  The New Testament is about events of the Holy Sublime which occurred in the lives of people, and these events occurred within the interpretative context of attribution of meaning as being Christ events, or Holy Spirit events.

The Epiphany of Christ is really about how Jesus Christ became publicly manifested as a determining interpretive reason for the experience of the Holy Sublime within community.  Interpretation gives identity to experience.

To explain this, the early church understood this, through the words of John the Baptist, as Jesus being one who baptized people with the Holy Spirit.  Speaking in analogy, God as the Sun, emits rays upon a Mirror, Jesus, who in turn shines on other people who have activated within themselves their God-image and who further become mirrors of the Christ light to others.  Epiphany is about the transmission of the manifestation of the light of God through human history.

The church in history represents people who continue to know this reflected light which derived from Jesus as a founding Word of God event for people, through whom they could begin to interpret their lives differently, as God touched, as holy, as knowing the power of transformation from within because they had received a new power of agency in their lives.

Epiphany or manifestation simply put means ours lives have been made different because the interpretation about the meaning of our lives because of the appearance of Jesus Christ, first in his historic person, and then in the succeeding transmission from person to person of the interpretive framework to give a positive content to the holy sublime event of knowing the mystery of God within us.

Let us be thankful for the emanations, the risings from the holy mystery within us to the Eternal Word of Christ who has given us the language for interpreting our lives as touched by God, loved by God, gifted by God, and then given us freedom to be meaningful servants for the benefit of the good of the world.  Amen.