Epiphany 3 Year 1

Color: Green
Closest RCL Sunday(s): Epiphany 4A and Epiphany 5A
Readings: Beatitudes Sermon text – Matthew 5:1-20 Companion text – Psalm 1:1-3
Prayer of the Day (WorkingPreacher): Loving God, your son Jesus taught many things that helped people know how deeply you love humanity. Help us to live in your love, so that we might be beacons of light for others. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Suggested hymns based on the Sermon text:

ELW #461. All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly
ELW #314. Arise, Your Light Has Come!
ELW #557. Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun
ELW #728. Blest Are They
ELW #715. Christ, Be Our Light
ELW #654. The Church’s One Foundation
ELW #528. Come and Fill Our Hearts
ELW #607. Come, Ye Disconsolate
ELW #361. The Day of Resurrection!
ELW #520. Dearest Jesus, at Your Word
ELW #753. Dona nobis pacem
ELW #812/3. Faith of Our Fathers
ELW #605. Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive
ELW #532. Gather Us In
ELW #428. Give Thanks for Saints
ELW #673. God, Whose Almighty Word
ELW #574. Here I Am, Lord
ELW #450. I Bind unto Myself Today
ELW #699. In Deepest Night
ELW #712. Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
ELW #661. I Love to Tell the Story
ELW #599. Lord Jesus, Think on Me
ELW #397. Loving Spirit
ELW #572. Now It Is Evening
ELW #886. Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
ELW #873/4. Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!
ELW #677. This Little Light of Mine
ELW #720. We Are Called
ELW #719. Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
ELW #514. O Word of God Incarnate
ELW #817. You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore (Tú Has Venido a La Orilla)
LBW #488. Breathe on Me, Breath of God
LBW #238. God Has Spoken by His Prophets
WOV #783. Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
WOV #753. You Are the Seed
Various Hymnals Bring Forth the Kingdom (1986) by Marty Haugen
Various Hymnals Great God, Our Source (1982) by George Utech
Various Hymnals Make me a channel of your peace (1967) words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi
Various Hymnals We are the light of the world (1966) by Jean Anthony Greif
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship; WOV=With One Voice)

Suggested hymns based on the companion text(s):

ELW #834. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
ELW #694. Sing to the Lord of Harvest
ELW #785. When Peace like a River (It Is Well with My Soul)
Various Hymnals Be Still and Know
Various Hymnals Happy Are They Who Walk (1976) by Erik Routley
Various Hymnals Step by Step (1991) by David “Beaker” Strasser
(ELW=Evangelical Lutheran Worship)

Other (mostly contemporary) options based on both:

“10,000 Reasons” By Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman.
“Blessed Be Your Name” By Matt Redman, Beth Redman.
“Build Your Kingdom Here” By Rend Collective Experiment.
“Mighty to Save” By Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan.
“We Are” By Chuck Butler, Ed Cash, et al.
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.

Bless the church, O God, with eyes to see your face in all people and ears to hear your call to love and service. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless the resting fields, O God, with renewal and regeneration that the coming year be a fruitful one. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless the leaders of the nations, O God, with a deep sense of justice and an earnest desire for peace. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless the mourning, O God, with the knowledge of your loving presence and hope-filled future. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless the suffering, O God, (especially,…) with health and healing, endurance and peace. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless this congregation, O God, with deep and authentic community built on care self sacrifice. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Bless the faithful dead, O God, with rest in you and resurrection light. 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.