"Light Has Dawned"

THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

January 22, 2023 11:00 a.m.

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT
Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17

PRAYER FOR PEACE Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

PRELUDE

*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
As we behold the beauty of God’s temple, we see God’s face.
God is our shelter and our shade. We will sing to the God of our salvation!

*HYMN 170 ||| You Walk Along Our Shoreline ||| Wie Lieblich Ish Der Maien

CALL TO CONFESSION
Christ calls us to follow, knowing that we are human. Jesus knows we are not perfect. He knows we will not always get it right. All he asks is that we try, learn, and try again. Let us go to God, telling how we have tried and failed, that God may teach us what we must learn.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Christ, our Messiah, you call us to fish for people, but we are hesitant to leave our boats. We are afraid to let go of the things we hoard, believing they make us secure. We are afraid to put our trust in you, afraid to follow, afraid we will fail. Forgive us. Transform our fear into faithfulness, and enable us to walk with you, that we may be part of your work in the world.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

*THE GLORIA 581

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

 
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Isaiah 9:1-4
1But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. 3You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 4:12-23
12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

SERMON ||| "Light Has Dawned" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 751 ||| From the Nets of Our Labor ||| Hamilton ||| (We Will Rise Up and Follow)

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY 
*DOXOLOGY 606 ||| Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
For the blessings of this and all our days, we thank you, gracious God. Accept, we pray, not just this money but also our lives freely offered in gratitude for all you have done for us. Use them both, in this place and wherever you might take us. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 2129 ||| I Have Decided to Follow Jesus ||| Assam

BLESSING & CHARGE
Beloved children of God, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the blessing of the Lord forever.
Alleluia!

As Jesus called the first disciples, so he calls to us this day: Follow me.
Amen.

POSTLUDE

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist

Worship Liturgist: Jay Ruklic
Usher: Laura Dillman

Web Technicians: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Boersman, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett

 2022 ANNUAL REPORTS ARE DUE! – If you are a church leader, your report is due into the office by Friday, February 3rd. Debra would appreciate reports e-mailed in Word format (14 point, Times New Roman, one inch margins) if you are able to do so. E-mail your annual report to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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WELCOME –.In the name of Christ Jesus, welcome! Here at First Presbyterian Church of Homewood, we recognize one another as forgiven sinners, we honor one another as children of God, and we seek to serve one another as fellow travelers through life. We are so pleased you are here to offer your worship and praise to the God who loves us all. Come again soon…and often!

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Micah 6:1-8 and Matthew 5:1-12.

PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..