A Service for the Lord’s Day
January 31, 2021
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship — Psalm 42:1-5
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Prayer of Confession
God of grace, you love us, but we have not loved you. You call, but we have not listened. You teach us to love our neighbors, but we walk away, wrapped in our own concerns, condoning evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed. Help us to admit our sin, so that as you come to us in mercy, we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness anew; through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Friend. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news: Christ our Savior has come! While we were sinners, Jesus was born. Jesus died. Jesus rose in victory. And in him we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Children’s Message
Due to rising cases of COVID-19, in-person worship services are suspended. We will instead be live-streaming the service with a small worship team. Simply visit our YouTube page at 11:00am to tune in! The service will also be saved as a video for you to view later if you wish. We thank you for your continued grace and patience as we try this new endeavor.
Affirmation of Faith – from The Heidelberg Catechism
Question: Why are you called a Christian?
Response: Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in his anointing. I am anointed to confess his name, to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks, to strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation.
Tithes and Offerings
With gratitude for the gospel, we share our time, talents, and resources with the Lord. (You may give financially by visiting www.sylvapres.org/giving, or by dropping a check off at the church or sending one to FPC at P.O. Box 2152, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!)
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
Heavenly Father, by your grace you sent your Son Jesus to seek us and save us. Taking the form of a man, Christ entered into our predicament, died on the cross, and rose again in victory. And now, by your Holy Spirit, he sends us out to live as his missionaries, forgiven and made new, so that we might share your saving love with all whom we encounter. We thank you for this high calling, and we ask the grace to carry it out. It’s as your people that we lift our voices to you now, asking: Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
We pray for…
The nations of the world… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Those in authority… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The needs of the community… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The church universal, its mission, and those who minister… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
The local congregation and its ministry… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Those with particular needs… Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.
We pray together now as Jesus taught us, saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Benediction
May the peace of the risen Lord Christ go with you, wherever he may send you.
May he guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.