Sample Liturgy for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

For prelude, the Epiphany Playlist is played. Then, for the processional hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” is played or sung. Then,

THE ACCLAMATION

Blessed be God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Good morning brothers and sisters, and happy Lord’s Day! I hope that you had a good week in the Lord—that you loved God, loved others, and put into practice the Beatitudes that we looked at last week. As he does every week, the Lord has called us back together this morning to meet with him, to hear his Word, and to share in his Son at the Lord’s Table. “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psalm 95:6–7). Let us pray.

OPENING PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together on this holy Lord’s Day to worship you and to rejoice in your Son, our risen Savior. You see our hearts. You know our desires. All our secrets are exposed to you. Forgive us of all our sins and cleanse our hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may worship you in spirit and in truth, and that we may go from this place to perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name: through Christ our Lord. Amen.

GLORIA PATRI

Then the Gloria Patri is sung (piano track). If it is said, say “Holy Spirit” instead of “Holy Ghost.”

Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

CHORUSES OF PRAISE

• Glorify Thy Name (3)
• I Will Serve Thee (170)
• Lord, Be Glorified (20)

PRAYER BEFORE THE LESSONS

O God, set us free from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Let’s listen attentively to the Word of the Lord.

THE FIRST LESSON: ISAIAH 58:1–9A

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 58, at the first verse:

“Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9a Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

PSALM: PSALM 112

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. 4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. 6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.

7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord.

10 The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

THE SECOND LESSON: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1–12

A reading from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 2, at the first verse:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

HYMNS

Hymn numbers from “Our Great Redeemer’s Praise.”

• Jesus Paid It All (557)
• Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (294)
• Spirit of the Living God (299)

THE GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 5:13–20

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew, Chapter 5, at the 13th verse:

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON

The Minister expounds and exhorts from one or more of the Scripture lessons. Recommended sermon length: 20 minutes.

THE CREED

Let us confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Prayer is offered for the local and universal Church, the nations of the world, their rulers, Christian ministers, the spread of the gospel, the work of the great commission, and all who are in trouble, sorrow, need, or sickness. For sample prayer liturgies, see “The Prayers of the People (Congregational Prayer).”

PREFACE AND INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER

Brothers and sisters, as we come now to the Lord’s Table, I am sure that we are all aware of ways in which we’ve fallen short of God’s perfect law. Apart from Christ, our righteousness is as filthy rags. And so this meal is not only for the perfect; but it is only for those who have trusted in a perfect Savior and answered his call to repent and be baptized and pursue a holy life. Paul warns, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

Let’s have a moment of silence to search our hearts in God’s presence before coming to his holy Table. Think back on this week and confess to God any specific ways in which you have sinned against him or your fellow man.

Music may be played softly in the background. After a minute of silence,

If you truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbors, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from this point forward in his holy ways; draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God.

THE CONFESSION

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and lament our many sins, which we have, from time to time, most grievously committed, by thought, word, and deed, against your divine majesty. We earnestly repent, and are sincerely sorry for our misdoings; the remembrance of them is grievous to us. Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. For the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COMFORTING WORDS AND THE PEACE

When we truly turn to our Savior, he meets us with grace, kindness, and comforting words: Come unto me, all you that are burdened and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Peace be with you.
And also with you.

THE OFFERTORY

Before or during the offertory, a song may be played or sung, and a time may be observed for the People to greet one another in the name of the Lord, extending peace and reconciliation (Matthew 5:23–24).

THE SURSUM CORDA AND THE SANCTUS

Brothers and sisters, let us lift up our hearts to the Lord and give thanks to our great God. It is right and fitting that we should give thanks to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, who took on our mortal flesh to reveal his glory, that he might bring us out of darkness and into his glorious light.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you, and saying,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you, O Lord most high. Amen.

SONG AFTER THE SANCTUS

• Holy Forever

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

Almighty God, our heavenly Father; of your tender mercy, you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. By once offering himself there, he made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, offering, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.

So now, most merciful Father, we humbly ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine; and grant that we may receive them according to the holy institution of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of his death and passion, and be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

In the same night that he was betrayed, he took* bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake* it; and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this* is my Body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise after Supper he took* the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink you all of this; for this* is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins: Do this as often as you shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your 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 yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRATION

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Have mercy on us, and grant us your peace.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Ministers receive the Bread and Cup, and then invite the people to come forward to partake. When delivering the bread to each person, one of the following may be said:

• The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you.
• The body of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
• The body of Christ; take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you.
• The body of Christ; feed on him in your heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
• The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

When delivering the cup to each person, one of the following may be said:

• The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you.
• The blood of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
• The blood of Christ; drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
• The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.

THE POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for nourishing us with these sacred gifts. Help us to faithfully listen to your only begotten Son, that we may be your children—not only in name, but in truth—and let his light shine for all to see. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE DOXOLOGY

Then the Doxology is sung.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.

THE BLESSING AND SENDING

Now may the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.