Community United Church

An Open and Affirming CongregationAffiliated with the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and

the Church of the Brethren

The Second Sunday after Epiphany

January 17, 2021:

11:00 AMThe Second Sunday after

Epiphany

Today’s Readings:1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

1 Corinthians 6:12, 19-20John 1:43-51

Theme: The God Who Seeks You and

Calls You By Name

Pastoral Team:Rev. Dr. Rich McCarty, Senior Pastor

Pastor Joy Johnson, Associate Minister

We are now in the Season of Epiphany! The word epiphany means “to reveal.” The season begins

with the story of the three Magi who

followed a star to Bethlehem—the

time at which Christ began to be

revealed to the whole world. For seven weeks we

consider scripture narratives that show how Christ revealed the dynamic nature of the Reign of God, and what it means

to be Messiah, “King,” of such a

kingdom. This is a season for us to

consider how Christ has been revealed

to us—and to remember, Christ is

someone to be encountered, not a simple theology to

believe.

Whoever you are, and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome

here!Prelude Tennessee Backporch

Welcome & AnnouncementsCentering Music

InvocationOne: Grace, mercy, and peace be with you, from God our Creator, Christ our Savior, and

the Holy Spirit our eternal Advocate and friend. All: And also with you.One: As we enter into this time of worship, we come to know God and to be known by

God, through faith, hope, and love. By the Spirit, God will speak to us! All: We open our hearts and minds to receive illumination, to find grace, and to

remember that God knows each of us by name.One: Call to your people, O God, like you did with the Hebrew prophets and the Disciples

of Christ. Call to your people so that they might believe that they are not alone.All: We come to worship with faith and hope that God is with us, now and always.

Amen!

* Opening Hymn “Gather Us In” #649

Here in this place, the new light is streaming, shadows of doubt are 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; our spirits inflame.Call to us now and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young, our lives are a mystery; we are the old, you 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 receive new life in the waters; here we receive 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.

Not just in buildings, small and confining, not in some heaven, light years away,

Here in this place the new light is shining; now is God present, and now is the day.Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own;

Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

* Opening PrayerSong of Praise “Grace Alone ” #436

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.

Chorus: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.

(Chorus)

First Reading The First Book of Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 The LORD called again, “Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 

9 As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Song of Reflection “God Has Spoken By the Prophets” #667

God has spoken by the prophets, spoken the unchanging Word,Each from age to age proclaiming God, the one, the righteous Lord!‘Mid the world’s despair and turmoil one firm anchor holding fast:

God eternal reigns forever, God the first and God the last.

God has spoken by Christ Jesus, Christ, the everlasting Son,Brightness of the Father’s glory, with the Father ever one;

Spoken by the Word incarnate, God of God, ere time was born;Light of light, to earth descending, Christ, as God in human form.

God is speaking by the Spirit, speaking to our hearts again,In the age-long Word declaring God’s own message, now as then.

Through the rise and fall of nations one sure faith yet standing fast;God abides, the Word unchanging, God the first and God the last.

Second Reading Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 6:12, 19-2012 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Responsorial Psalm 139One: O LORD, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when

I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. All: You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my

ways.One: Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely. You hem me

in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.All: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.One: For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s

womb. All: I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your

works; that I know very well. Amen.

*Doxology “Glory Be to God, Creator” #145

Glory be to God, Creator, glory be to God the Son,Glory be to God the Spirit, known as Three, yet God the One

As it was in the beginning, it is now and so shall be,In a world without an ending, glory through eternity.

Holy, holy God Almighty! Holy, holy Prince of Peace!Holy, holy Wind of Presence! Holy, holy, holy! Amen!

*Gospel John 1:43-51The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

One: These are the words of God for the people of God.All: Come Holy Spirit! Thanks be to God!

Message The God Who Seeks You and Calls You by Name Pastor Rich

Song of Response “Spirit Song” #352

O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love.Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.

O let him have the things that hold you, and his Spirit like a doveWill descend upon your life and make you whole.

Chorus:Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.

O come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy.Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name.

O give him all your tears and sadness; give him all your years of pain,And you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.

Pastoral Prayer & Lord’s Prayer One: The Lord be with you.All: And also with you.One: Let us pray: We ask, O God, that you would call each of us by name this week. Reveal

to us our spiritual gifts and how to use them in our lives each day. All: God hear our prayer!One: For those who have felt abandoned by God because of emotional despair, or, from

the wrongful condemnation of others. May they, and we, be filled with the comfort of your presence and the assurance of your love.

All: God hear our prayer! One: For those who especially need your presence, O God, because of sickness, hurt, loss,

desperation, anxiety, or uncertainty. Be the light of heaven and earth you promised to be!

All: God hear our prayer! One: For all that we hold in the silence of our hearts, we come to you in the confidence of

quiet, O God, and lift our petitions privately to you. (Silent prayer)… Almighty God, Sovereign of Heaven, send a double portion of your blessings upon all people! Move the mountains in our lives, or help to move us so that we might be fully at peace. This we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray…

All: “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, the Power, and the Glory forever.” Amen.

OfferingOur offerings are first and foremost what we give to the world through justice, kindness, and

mercy—and these can do every day. Our offerings can also take the form of financial contributions to the church to support our ministries.

Financial offerings are now accepted online at:www.communityunited.church/giving/

Or, if you prefer to mail in a check, that can be addressed to the church at:1011 West 38th Street – Erie, PA 16508

Offertory Music and Time for Contemplation Tennessee Backporch

As the offertory music is played, let us stay together in a spirit of prayer and worship. Open your hearts now to what Spirit is saying to you—and moving you to do in the

days that we have been given.

*Congregational Response #44 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Praise him all creatures here below.Praise him above, you heavenly host!Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

*Departing PrayerOne: Insistent God, by night and day you summon your slumbering people. All: Stir us with your voice and enlighten our lives with your grace that we might

give ourselves fully to Christ’s call, for mission and ministry. Amen!

*Blessing

*Closing Hymn “Let There Be Peace on Earth” #614

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me;Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

With God our creator, children all are we.Let us walk with each other

In perfect harmony!

Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:

To take each moment And live each moment

In peace eternally!

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!

Postlude Cheryl Strecker

Thank you for worshipping with us this morning at Community United Church!

Next Sunday, January 24, 2021:Online Worship:

11:00 AMReadings:

Jonah 3:1-5, 10Psalm 62:5-12

1 Corinthians 7:29-31Mark 1:14-20

The Third Sunday after Epiphany:Fishing for People

Need to contact us for prayer, conversation, or to connect with a small group or church ministry?

1011 West 38th Street – Erie, PA 16508(814) – 864 – 4429

www.communityunited.church