Worship and Devotions

Fourth Sunday After Epiphany

February 1, 2026

Welcome visitors and old friends. Welcome regardless of belief, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, age, abilities, or life situation. Welcome believers and doubters as well as doubting believers. Welcome to share the fullness of Christ's love for the world! (Adapted from The welcome message from the Thomas Community in Finland. "Celebrating milestone moments" by Rev. Jukka Joensuu. Canada Lutheran January/February 2024 Vol. 39 No. 1; chorus of ELW 523)

Who are the blessed ones of God? For Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who mourn, and those who hunger for righteousness. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving.

Music

Look Who Gathers At Christ’s Table

Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table (with lyrics) - ELW/ACS 977 - YouTube

Prayer of the Day

Holy God, you confound the world’s wisdom in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in our words and deeds the world may see the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

Readings

Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Gospel - Matthew 5:1-12

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount by naming those who are blessed in the reign of God.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he began to speak and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Praise to you, O Christ.

Music

Let Streams Of Living Justice

Let Streams of Living Justice - ELW 710

Sermon

https://youtu.be/8Yt0Yvtry7Y

Prayers of Intercession

As God's beloved children united in Christ, let us pray for the church, the whole human community, and the well-being of the earth, our home.

A brief silence.

Loving and gracious God, as we affirm and accept your many blessings to us — in our homes, our families, and our church—help us to hold in our hearts and in our prayers those particular places for which we seek the abundance of your blessing—on the people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land; the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina and Uruguay, and the Lutheran Church of Peru. May your ever-present love pour down on these churches; may the blessing which they are to us, and which we are to them, strengthen the reign of love which you continue to show us in this Epiphanytide. Merciful God, receive our prayer. (Adapted from “Global Mission Sunday Prayers” Global Mission Sunday - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)

Holy One, we give thanks that you have called us into a global church—rejoicing with all your children of every continent and island. We offer gratitude for the mission of our church which transcends our own congregation, our own neighbourhood, our own local reality. Thank you for hearing us as we hold up our siblings and friends from across the globe, knowing that we are also held up in prayer by those so near and yet so far. We know the blessing of being part of such a rich diversity of your children; hear us this day as we hold up their whole church in our prayers and thanksgivings. Merciful God, receive our prayer. (Adapted from “Global Mission Sunday Prayers” Global Mission Sunday - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada)

God of wisdom, renew the church in the power of the Spirit, that it may do justice, love kindness, live humbly, and boldly proclaim Christ crucified. Grant wisdom, courage, strength and patience to our leaders, lay and ordained. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God our source, we honour you by caring wisely for your creation. We pray for the health of old growth forests, ice caps, and ocean currents. Preserve the diversity of life on earth. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God our righteousness, your Son Jesus Christ, wept over Jerusalem. Today, we weep over conflicts between and within Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Hamas, Cambodia and Thailand, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States and Venezuela, Iran, Syria, and others; within Sudan, Nigeria, Iran, Haiti, the USA, and wherever there is violence between and within nations. We weep for those uprooted from their homes and lives. We weep for those cowering in basements. We weep for those who have witnessed death and destruction on their streets. We weep for those separated from parents, from children, from spouses and siblings. Raise up visionary leaders who serve with integrity and respect help them make decisions oriented towards just and lasting peace in all lands. Protect educators, journalists, artists and religious activists who are reviled for speaking truth. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God our advocate, you give hope to all who suffer because of persecution, poverty or war. Reunite separated families and bring orphaned children to safety. Comfort any who grieve, are ill or suffer in any way especially: the families of the more than 1,550 people who have died from toxic drug overdoses in BC this past year; the families of all murdered and missing Indigenous persons; the more than 218 homeless here in the Comox Valley; the more than 600 homeless in Nanaimo; and others whom we name in our heart. (A brief silence). Merciful God, receive our prayer.

God our blessing, we pray for the children and youth of this congregation, and for parents, grandparents, mentors, teachers, and youth ministers who model love for their neighbor and care for others. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

God our joy, we give thanks for the lives of those before us who journeyed humbly with you. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Confident that the Holy Spirit receives our prayers and answers us, we commend all for whom we pray to God’s loving-kindness made known to us in Christ Jesus our Saviour.

Amen.

Music

Oh, Praise The Gracious Power

Oh, Praise the Gracious Power - ELW 651

To Be Your Presence

Go Now In Peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQg2XqZcZjIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQg2XqZcZjI