Worship Outline and Sermon 

Worship Outline:  January 18, 2026 - Second Sunday after Epiphany (Holy Communion)

Introduction to the day

Today’s gospel opens with further reflection on Jesus’ baptism. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and the one anointed by the Spirit. In the liturgy we come and see Christ revealed among us in word and meal. We go forth to invite others to come and worship the Holy One and to receive the gifts of grace and peace made known among us.

(* = please stand, as able)

Quiet Time for Reflection and Prayer

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

*Confession and Forgiveness

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Word who spoke life into being, the Wind stirring the waters.

Amen.

Let us turn in confession to the one who knows us completely.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Mighty God, lover of justice,

you call us to life in community, but we have served our own interests. We say the right words, but our hearts are far from you. Turn us to seek your face. Knit us together and give us the mind of Christ, that we may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

The former things have passed away, and new things God now declares: Like a spring of water that never fails, God covers you in the righteousness of Christ, and forgives your sin in ☩ Jesus’ name. May the Spirit give you strength to live for others, and bless you with the gift of peace.

Amen.

*Gathering Song Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (# 859)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wnSShvj8YA

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the God of creation!

My heart is longing to offer up sweet adoration.

Melody make, dulcimer, harp, now awake.

Sound forth your praise, ev’ry nation.

Praise the Almighty, o’er all life so wondrously reigning,

And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.

Have you not seen? All that is needful has been

Sent by God’s gracious ordaining.

Praise the Almighty, who prospers your work and defends you;

See from the heavens the showers of mercy God sends you.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do;

Infinite Love here befriends you.

Praise the Almighty! In wonder my spirit is soaring!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises outpouring!

Let the amen sound from God’s people again,

Gladly forever adoring!

(Text: Joachim Neander; tr. composite. © 2001, Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved. Music: ‘Ernewerten Gesangbuch,’ Part II, Stralsund, 1665, public domain.)

*Greeting

The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you. 

Canticle of Praise (p. 101, sung)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMZrlPTt4aI

Refrain:

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,

whose blood set us free to be people of God.

Power and riches, wisdom and strength,

and honor and blessing and glory are his.

Refrain:

Sing with all the people of God,

and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing and honor, glory and might

be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

Refrain:

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.

Alleluia.

Refrain:

*Prayer of the Day

Holy God, our strength and our redeemer, by your Spirit hold us forever, that through your grace we may worship you and faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7

Here the servant, identified as Israel, speaks and describes their honored mission. Called before birth like Jeremiah and John the Baptist, the servant is not only to restore Israel. The servant’s ultimate assignment is to bring news of God’s victory to the ends of the earth. God in faithfulness has chosen Israel for this task.

1 Listen to me, O coastlands;
  pay attention, you peoples from far away!
 The Lord called me before I was born;
  while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
  in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
 he made me a polished arrow;
  in his quiver he hid me away.
 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,
  Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
  I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
 yet surely my cause is with the Lord
  and my reward with my God.”
 5 And now the Lord says,
  who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
 to bring Jacob back to him,
  and that Israel might be gathered to him,
 for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
  and my God has become my strength—
 6 he says,
 “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
  to raise up the tribes of Jacob
  and to restore the survivors of Israel;
 I will give you as a light to the nations,
  that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
 7 Thus says the Lord,
  the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
 to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
  the slave of rulers,
 “Kings shall see and stand up;
  princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
 because of the Lord, who is faithful,
  the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

  The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Hymn Will You Come and Follow Me (# 798)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSaxSowZDJI

“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown,

Will you let my name be known,

Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”

“Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?

Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile stare,

Should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer pray’r in you and you in me?”           

“Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?

Will you set the pris’ners free and never be the same?

Will you kiss the leper clean,

And do such as this unseen,

And admit to what I mean in you and you in me?”

“Will you love the you you hide if I but call your name?

Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?

Will you use the faith you’ve found

To reshape the world around,

Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?”

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.

Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.

In your company I’ll go

Where your love and footsteps show.

Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

(Text: John L. Bell and Graham Maule. Music: Scottish traditional, arr. John L. Bell. Text and arr.: © 1987, WGRG c/o Iona Community, GIA Publications, Inc., agent. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved.)

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Though God’s church in Corinth is a fractious congregation beset with many conflicts, Paul opens this letter by spotlighting the multiple ways God has enriched and sustained its life as part of the divine call into the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

  2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

  3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

     The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 

*Gospel Acclamation (p. 102, sung)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO3nbnAe3Do

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

*Gospel:   John 1:29-42

The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

John the Baptist’s witness to Jesus initiates a chain of testimony as his disciples begin to share with others what they have found.

  29 [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”

  35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon – Pastor Matthew

*Hymn of the Day I Love to Tell the Story (# 661)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-YgXvw4cJU

I love to tell the story

Of unseen things above,

Of Jesus and his glory,

Of Jesus and his love,

I love to tell the story,

Because I know it’s true;

It satisfies my longings

As nothing else would do.

Refrain:

I love to tell the story;

‘twill be my theme in glory

To tell the old, old story

Of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story:

How pleasant to repeat

What seems, each time I tell it,

More wonderfully sweet!

I love to tell the story,

For some have never heard

The message of salvation

From God’s own holy word.

Refrain:

I love to tell the story,

For those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting

To hear it like the rest.

And, when, in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,

I’ll sing the old, old story

That I have loved so long.

Refrain:

(Text: Katherine Hankey. Music: William E. Fischer. Text and music: public domain.)

*Apostles’ Creed (p. 105)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Prayers of Intercession

Loving Lord, accept the prayers of all your faithful children throughout the world, who call out to you with one mind, one voice, and one heart.

A brief silence.

Shine the light of your righteousness and wisdom on all your creatures. Make us children of light and children of the day, so that we may always live our lives reverently, and become for all the world worthy lampstands for your life-giving light. During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we especially remember those churches in communion with us, including the Anglican Church of Canada and the Moravian Church in Canada, and for the people of Armenia and Artsakh. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Creating God, sustain the web of life on this planet. Protect wild places, endangered species, and vulnerable habitats. Come to the aid of those affected by natural disasters. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Grant us peace, O Loving Lord, and remove the scourge of civil unrest and violence from the face of the earth. Change the hearts of all who make war and touch the wounds of all who are afflicted by war. Comfort all prisoners of war and speedily bring them home. Let the light of your love shine in all the dark places of our world and hasten the day when all peoples dwell in peace with justice. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

O Refuge and Shelter, Lord Jesus Christ, look with compassion on refugees throughout the world, who suffer the agony of displacement and the loss of their homes. Move us to manifest our communion with you, with them, and with each other, through gestures of hospitality and loving help. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Healing God, you lift up those who are bowed down by trouble, oppression, or illness. Those we remember include ... Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Abiding God, listen to our silent prayers … Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Faithful God, you promise to be with us always. We remember who now rest in you. Strengthen us to the end, that we may see you face to face. Merciful God, 

receive our prayer.

For you are our Saviour, and to you be the glory, dominion, and honour, now and always, and unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

*Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Offering (please be seated)

As our offerings are being collected by passing plates down the pews, please join in singing:

Offertory In Christ There Is No East or West (# 650 st. 1-2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agkihl5gt-8

In Christ there is no east or west,

In him no south or north;

But one community of love

Throughout the whole wide earth.

In Christ shall true hearts ev’rywhere

Their high communion find;

His service is the golden cord

Close binding humankind.

(Text: John Oxenham, alt. Music: African American spiritual; adapt. Harry T. Burleigh. Text and music: public domain.)

Offering Prayer

God of majesty, use what we have gathered to feed your world with the reign of God come near, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*Great Thanksgiving (p.107, sung)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG49pxojgjk

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven 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.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Come to the table; taste and see. The body and blood of Christ given and shed for you.

If watching online, when the presiding minister says, ‘The body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you,’ we welcome all to take and eat a piece of bread, remembering and giving thanks for the promises given us in Christ Jesus. Please also do so, taking a glass of wine or another beverage.

During Communion, please join in singing,

Just As I Am, without One Plea (# 592)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuK1Ke2uVP4

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.    

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because thy promises I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am; thy love unknown

Has broken ev’ry barrier down;

Now to be thine, yea, thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

(Text: Charlotte Elliott. Music: William B. Bradbury. Text and music: public domain.)

Prayer after Communion

Radiant God, we have seen your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. In this sacrament you have drawn us to your heart. Send us from this table with delight, that our lives may reflect the beauty of your love, and bear witness to all we have seen and heard. Amen.

*Blessing

May God who comes among us, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, grant you patience in waiting, peace in the darkness, and good news to share today and always. Amen.

*Sending Song What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine 

(# 774)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnZqJjWLkDw

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

Leaning, leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,

Leaning on the everlasting arms;

Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,

leaning on the everlasting arms?

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

(Text: Elisha A. Hoffman. Music: Anthony J. Showalter. Text and music: public domain.)

*Dismissal

Go in peace. Do justice. Love mercy.

Thanks be to God!

From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2026 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Sermon:   January 18, 2026: Second Sunday after Epiphany

Text: I Corinthians 1:2

       The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity this year comes from the 4th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling”.  We hear similar words in the opening of the same apostle’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians. Paul speaks not only of the unity of the church in one place but throughout the world: “To the church of God that is Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours”. In both writings the church receives the call to live in unity through a shared mission.

       Paul is writing to a church he had established in the southern part of Greece . Unfortunately, he has heard about serious problems they are facing. In his opening greeting he reminds them that through their union with Christ God has made them holy. United by Christ, they are members of the fellowship created through grace. Together, they are set apart for relationship as agents of God’s mission in the world.

       Paul goes on to outline the various conflicts dividing that young church, that which is preventing it from being united as he envisions. During his arguments,  even as he calls out his opponents, he holds out hope that once more they can be together. If that doesn’t turn out to be possible, Paul calls on at least his supporters in that faith community to live with each other, to continue to hear God’s word, to worship together, and to help one another and others. In this way, at least a partial slice of God’s vision will become visible for others to see, and to join. They also will become a witness to the other churches of what can be accomplished together, even without total unity.

       Over 100 years ago when the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began, there was hope for a huge coming together of Christians, living out this partnership. The sad reality is that such a call to unity today continues to fall short.  We can give thanks for successful efforts at cooperation, of coming together, including the Full Communion agreements of our national church with our Canadian Moravian and Anglican counterparts. Wonderful examples of inter-church partnerships exist in Canadian Lutheran World Relief and in the Lutheran World Federation. Still, God’s church remains divided, with many denominations, leaders, and congregations actively opposing each other.  This call of Paul often seems lost.

       Due to this failure, we can feel the temptation to give up on unity, to retreat into our own religious silos, and fight to hold on.  The thing is, Paul here doesn’t say, ‘You, Pastor Matthew, it’s up to you to break down the divisions among my people!’. He doesn’t announce to this congregation, ‘You, Our Saviour’s, tell the other congregations to shape up!’. He doesn’t say to our denomination, ‘You know you’re right, but find a way to make friends’.  It’s not that those efforts aren’t worthy of our attention. Instead, when we approach church unity in this way, we replace the One who is in the centre. 

Our unity in Christ doesn’t come about because of what we do.  In our Saviour, God has broken down the barriers which exist, not only between humans and God, but between humans and humans. In Christ, as we heard in our reading from John, the Lamb of God has come into this world, has announced God’s forgiveness, and has given us new life.  In the midst of our diversity, in spite of our dysfunction, God continues to be at work, calling us together to live out the good news. 

Paul elsewhere refers to the Holy Spirit as the manifestation of God who sustains this fellowship. The Armenian writers of this year’s resources state that ‘The Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual life and guidance among believers, ensuring that the diverse members of the Church are together in faith and purpose. The Spirit fosters a deep, spiritual connection between believers, transcending differences and creating a bond that reflects the unity of the Holy Trinity. This shared spiritual bond is a basis for reconciliation, guiding believers globally and equipping them for effective witness and ministry. This global guidance helps align diverse expressions of faith with the core mission of the Church … Making “shared hope” the objective of our calling as Christians defines our membership in the Church in terms of worldwide fellowship in the hope of salvation.” This unity, caution these writers, ‘is not about uniformity but a common commitment to the core truths of the Christian faith.  It serves as a powerful witness to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit when Christians of varied backgrounds come together with a shared goal and vision with authenticity and sincerity.’

With this Christ-centered unity still being shared with us through the Spirit, the Armenian writers offer this concluding hope:  “Let us embrace this divine calling to unity, not as an abstract ideal but as a vital expression of our faith. In a world where the Body of Christ is wounded by divisions within and between traditions and confessions, the Apostle’s call to unity is addressed to each of us, not only as separated church communities, but also as individuals within our communities. By living in unity, we not only witness to the love and power of our Lord Jesus Christ but also embody the essence of His teachings. As we support one another and celebrate our diverse gifts and talents, let us reflect the heart of Christ and further his work on earth.’ Amen.