COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
THE WORSHIP OF GOD
THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026
DR. PAUL KOCH
10:00 A.M.
*The congregation will please stand, if able
Our Gathering Music
“Behold the Lamb”
Our Meditation of Preparation
Great God, you are generous and marvelously kind. Give us such wonder, love and gratitude that we may sing praises to you and joyfully honor your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace of Christ
L: The Peace of Christ be with you all.
P: And also with you.
Our Welcome and Announcements
The Ringing of the Bells
Our Prayer of Invocation
The Call to Worship (Responsively)
L: God of life, we rejoice in your love which has filled creation from the beginning and which calls all life into being.
P: We praise you for Jesus Christ who reveals most fully your loving purpose for all people.
L: We bless you for your Spirit who draws all humanity into the circle of your tender love.
P: Gracious God, bless us with your presence so that our worship and our lives may be a true celebration of your love in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
L: Amen.
*Our Opening Hymn #630
“Fairest Lord Jesus”
*The Call to Confession
The proof of God's amazing love is this: while we were sinners Christ died for us. In faith and penitence, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
*Our Prayer of Confession (Unison)
God of mercy: you have called us to be thankful for your good gifts to us, but too often we have taken them for granted as if we deserved them. You have called us to be hopeful through the gospel of Jesus Christ, but too often despair has come upon us, and the cares of the world have weighed us down. You have called us to be joyful in the wonder of your presence among us, but too often we become mired in the mundane and lose the gift of reverence. By your saving power, O God, enable us to celebrate your love for us with joy and thanksgiving.
*Our Silent Prayers
*The Assurance of Pardon
L: The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. In fulfillment of the promises of God I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
P: All glory be to God. Amen.
*The Gloria Patria #581
Our Prayer for Illumination
The Old Testament Readings
Micah 6:1-8 (p. 1447) and Psalm 15 (p. 853)
The Choral Anthem
“What Does the Lord Require of You”
The New Testament Readings
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (p. 1772) and Matthew 5:1-12 (p. 1501)
L: The Word of the Lord
P: Thanks be to God
The Message “Justice and Mercy”
By: Dr. Paul Koch
*Our Hymn of Response #70
“What Does the Lord Require of You”
*Affirmation of Faith (The Nicene Creed)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen
The Sharing of Joys and Concerns
(After each request for prayer the leader will say “We lift this prayer to the Lord” and the people will respond “Lord hear our prayers”. Following each praise the leader will say “We lift this praise to the Lord” and the people will say “Thanks be to God”)
The Lord’s Prayer
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, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
The Choral Amen
The Presentation of Tithes and Offerings
*The Doxology #606
*Our Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
God, you call us to serve with our time, talents, and treasures. Receive these gifts as a response to your call, and bless them to do your work in the world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
*Our Communion Hymn #515
“I Come with Joy”
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
(Both red wine and white grape juice are served. Please take the cup that is appropriate for you. For those who have gluten allergies - the wafers are Gluten-free)
The Invitation to the Table
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Lift up your hearts.
P: We lift them to the Lord.
L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
P: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
L: Eternal God, holy and mighty, it is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, and to worship you in every place your glory abides. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the heavenly choirs and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name. Great is the mystery of faith!
P: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
The Words of Institution & Breaking of the Bread
L: These are the gifts of God, for the people of God.
P: Thanks be to God.
The Communion of the People
The Prayer after Communion
*Our Closing Hymn #839
“Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!” Requested by Karen Smith, Wayne’s Favorite Hymn
*The Sending and Blessing
*The Postlude