Epiphany 3c – January 24, 2016

Overview

Scripture for the Day:

 Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
 Psalm 19
 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
 Luke 4:14-21

Liturgical Color:

 1st Reading

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 (NRSV)

all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel.Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm

Psalm 19 (NRSV)

The heavens are telling the glory of God;
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
    and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
    their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
    and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them;
    and nothing is hid from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
    and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
    and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors?
    Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
    do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2nd Reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a (NRSV)

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Gospel

Luke 4:14-21 (NRSV)

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Song Suggestions for the Day:

 MY SAVIOR MY GOD  Aaron Shust \ Dorothy Dora Greenwell | 2005 | CCLI Song #4592255

 JOYFUL (THE ONE WHO SAVES)  Brenton Brown \ Jason Ingram | 2010 | CCLI Song #5895580

 HOLY IS THE LORD  Chris Tomlin \ Louie Giglio | 2003 | CCLI Song #4158039

 WORTHY OF AFFECTION  Shane Barnard \ Shane Everett | 2009 | CCLI Song #5627772

 GLORY COME DOWN  Derek Johnson | 2012 | CCLI Song #6338565

 YOUR GRACE IS ENOUGH Matt Maher | 2003 | CCLI Song #4477026

 HERE FOR YOU  Jesse Reeves \ Matt Maher \ Matt Redman \ Tim Wanstall | 2011 | CCLI Song #5925649

 ALL CREATION  Glenn Packiam \ Ross Parsley | 2004 | CCLI Song #4455309

 OUR GOD SAVES  Brenton Brown \ Paul Baloche | 2007 | CCLI Song #4972837

 WE COME TO YOU  Joshua Blakesley | 2005 | CCLI Song #5778078

 BLESS YOUR NAME  Brett Younker \ Eddie Kirkland \ Steve Fee \ Todd Fields | 2009 | CCLI Song #5718234

 THERE IS ONE REASON  Doug Plank | 2011 | CCLI Song #6167547

 ANCIENT WORDS  Lynn DeShazo | 2001 | CCLI Song #2986399

 SPEAK O LORD  Keith Getty \ Stuart Townend | 2005 | CCLI Song #4615235

 THATS WHY WE PRAISE HIM  Tommy Walker | 1999 | CCLI Song #2668576

 ALL THINGS  Glenn Packiam | 2011 | CCLI Song #5881178

 WORD OF GOD  Andi Rozier \ Brenton Brown | CCLI Song #6365930

 SPIRIT SPEAKS  David Leonard \ Drew Cline \ Leslie Jordan | 2010 | CCLI Song #5806627

 BENEATH THE WATERS  Brooke Ligertwood \ Scott Ligertwood | 2011 | CCLI Song #6179573

 NOTHING IS WASTED  Chris Brown \ Jason Ingram \ London Gatch \ Mack Brock \ Steven Furtick \ Wade Joye |2012 | CCLI Song #6447023

 CARIER Jared Anderson | 2009 | CCLI Song #5502725

 SHINE LIKE THE SUN  Matt Maher | 2008 | CCLI Song #5137585

 ONE THIRST AND HUNGER  Jeremy Riddle | 2011 | CCLI Song #5923373

 A MIGHTY FORTRESS  Christy Nockels \ Nathan Nockels | 2009 | CCLI Song #5488935

    This week’s worshipcurrent pick for Holy Communion/Eucharist
    Found exclusively on worshipcurrent

Hymn Suggestions for the Day:

 TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS  Helen H. Lemmel | Public Domain | CCLI Song #15960 | Hymnary

 ONE BREAD ONE BODY  John B. Foley | 1978, John B. Foley SJ and OCP Publications | Hymnary

 BIND US TOGETHER  Bob Gillman | 1976 Thankyou Music | CCLI Song #1228 | Hymnary

 I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY  Horatius Bonar | Public Domain | CCLI Song #43138 | Hymnary

 HAIL TO THE LORD’S ANOINTED James Montgomery | Public Domain | CCLI Song #1875594 | Hymnary

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