Sunday, January 24, 2021

Follow Me - Third Sunday After Epiphany

Third Sunday After Epiphany - January 24, 2021

The Collect
 
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 


Old Testament Jonah 3:1-5, 10
 
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. 

 Psalm 62:6-14  
6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; * 

truly, my hope is in him. 
7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, * 
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken. 
8 In God is my safety and my honor; * 
God is my strong rock and my refuge. 
9 Put your trust in him always, O people, * 
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge. 
10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, * 
even those of low estate cannot be trusted. 
11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, * 
all of them together. 
12 Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride; * 
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it. 
13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, * 
that power belongs to God. 
14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, * 
for you repay everyone according to his deeds. 


The Epistle 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. 




The Gospel Mark 1:14-20 

After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. 


A Sunday Litany

Great Creator who moves waters and hearts
bringing light and healing to dark places
you shower us daily with love and faith
your abundance is without limit or charge.
O Lord, help us to turn and follow You.

Our hearts have been broken so often
loss piled on loss, violence shattering peace
we go through the motions and try
our daily routines seem empty and shallow.
O Lord, help us to turn and follow You.

The cold winds blow on a frozen land
fear and disease have bound us all
our country totters, our people cry
yet You have promised to remake us again.
O Lord, help us to turn and follow You.

You called fishermen and tax collectors
out of the midst of their daily lives
shake us up, help us to turn to you
give us new hearts and new vision today.
O Lord, help us to turn ad follow You. Amen.



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