Epiphany 2 Year 1

Color: Green
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Lent 1A and Epiphany 3A
Readings: Tempted in the Wilderness Sermon text – Matthew 4:1-17 Companion text – Psalm 91:9-12
Prayer of the Day (WorkingPreacher): God of strength, your son Jesus withstood many temptations because his love for you was greater than his earthly desires. Make our love for you so strong, that we might withstand anything that threatens to stand between us and your love. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #314. Arise, Your Light Has Come!
ELW #728. Blest Are They
ELW #515. Break Now the Bread of Life
ELW #553. Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies
ELW #455. Crashing Waters at Creation
ELW #256. Comfort, Comfort Now My People
ELW #520. Dearest Jesus, at Your Word
ELW #696. Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult
ELW #658. O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts
ELW #726. Light Dawns on a Weary World
ELW #322. Oh, Love How Deep
ELW #886. Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
ELW #249. On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
ELW #843. Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
ELW #601. Savior, When in Dust to You
ELW #671. Shine, Jesus, Shine
ELW #310. Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
ELW #334. Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery
ELW #305. When Jesus Came to Jordan
ELW #798. Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)
WOV #783. Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
Various Hymnals Child of Mercy (1991) by David Haas
Various Hymnals Jesus, Tempted in the Desert (1993) by Herman G. Stuempfle
Various Hymnals Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering (1990) by Carl D. paw
Various Hymnals Once When Jesus Christ Was Hungry (1996) by Rusty Edwards
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Suggested hymns based on the companion text(s):

ELW #565. All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night
ELW #756. Eternal Father, Strong to Save
ELW #632. O God, Our Help in Ages Past
ELW #564. God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven
ELW #568. Now Rest beneath Night’s Shadow
ELW #787. On Eagle’s Wings
ELW #864/5. Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven
ELW #858/9. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
ELW #821. Shout to the Lord
ELW #791. We Sing to You, O God
ELW #774. What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine
Various Hymnals He Who Dwells in the Shelter of the Most High (1959) by Marty Haugen
Various Hymnals Now God be with us, for the night is closing (1863) by Petrus Herbert
Various Hymnals Safe in the Shadow of the Lord (1973) by Timothy Dudley-Smith
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“40 Days” By Matt Maher.
“Come Now is the Time to Worship” By Brian Doerksen.
“Here I Am to Worship” By Tim Hughes.
More contemporary suggestions here.

Prayers of Intercession:

(Introduction and Conclusion from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002)

Sisters and brothers, let us lift our hearts in faith to the one who hears all prayers and holds close all those in need..

A brief silence.

God with the church, bless bishops, pastors, deacons, and all leaders of faith communities; work through the church to bring your kingdom near. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God with the wilderness and waters, bless creation with your creative and sustaining love; work through farmers, gardeners, and others to care for what you have made. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God with the nations, bless the world with peace and justice; bring humility and compassion into our systems of governance and justice. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God with the broken-hearted, grant wholeness to those struggling with anxiety, depression, and any other mental illness; make us agents of hope and love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God with the ill, bring healing where it is needed, and peace where healing cannot come; be with doctors, nurses, EMTs, and all others who heal that they may offer comfort to those in need. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God with us, bless our ministries, especially with our youth; deepen our inter-generational relationships and build up our whole community. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

God with the saints, keep us mindful of those who have gone before us; grant us thankful hearts for their witness and proclamation. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring healing to all wounds, make whole all that is broken, speak truth to all illusion, and shed light in every darkness, that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.