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January 26, 2025 10:00 AM

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

GATHERING FOR WORSHIP

As the bell sounds, may we quiet ourselves and allow the music of the  prelude to lead us into a worshipful place in our hearts and minds.

* Those who are able, please stand.

Prelude Jesus Shall Reign

John Hatton, arr. Cindy Berry

Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit

Call to Worship (based on James 5:13-15)

Leader: Are any among you suffering?

People: We should pray for them.

Leader: Are any cheerful?

People: We should sing songs of praise.

Leader: Are any among you sick?

People: We should pray over them in the name of the Lord.  Leader: The prayers and songs of the faithful connect us to God,  People: and the Lord will raise us up!

*Opening Hymn O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Prayer of Invocation

Faithful God, you draw near to us in our joy and in our grief, in our  hope and in our despair. When we are bowed down, you raise us anew.  We turn to you now in search of your healing touch. God of compassion  and love, move among us this hour. Open our eyes, dispel our fears, and  show us the real life you have to offer. We pray this in the name of the  Risen One, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

SHARING GOD’S WORD

Scripture Reading Hebrews 10:19-25 Pew Bible Page 976 Leader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

Musical Interlude

THE COMMUNITY AT PRAYER

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Call to Prayer (#593) Lead Me, Lord

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness, make thy way plain before  my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.

Pastoral Prayer

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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from  evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

*Hymn of Preparation Come and Find the Quiet Center

SERMON The Power of Two Rev. Ritts

THE SERVICE OF OFFERING

Collection and Offertory

*The Doxology (#46)

* Unison 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 FORTH TO SERVE

*Hymn of Parting He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought!

*Benediction (Colossians 3:16-17)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one  another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with  thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed,  do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the  Father through him.

All: And now, may we bear fruit as we go forth in peace to love and  serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.

Congregational Response Go Now in Peace

Go now in peace. Never be afraid, God will go with you each hour of every  day. Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true. Know He will guide you in  all you do. Go now in love, and show you believe. Reach out to others so all

the world can see. God will be there, watching from above. Go now in  peace, in faith, and in love.

Postlude He Keeps Me Singing

Luther Bridgers, arr. Mark Hayes

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THE POWER OF TWO (OR MORE)

Near the end of his ministry, Jesus tried to explain and comfort his followers concerning the presence of the Spirit that would continue after he was gone.
From the 18th chapter of Matthew, and quoting from one of the modern language versions, The Message by Eugene Peterson:
“Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there…”

On this third Sunday after Epiphany, we continue our study of Jesus' 3 year ministry throughout Israel. Despite being the “son of God,” the messiah, emmanuel, king of the Jews, etc, we can rest assured that Jesus did not act alone.

In our culture, “The Power of Two” is common reference:
Lifted up in the Media

3 Movies by that same title
2 Songs Neil Diamond & Indigo Girls
Several Books on various subjects with that same title:
Marriage Twins
Working in pairs Tutoring
Several Novels A comic book series

As well as:
Bicycles built for 2 An algebraic expression
Partners assigned a task or on a mission

Just being human is an experience in the power of being together, no matter what kind of interaction we have:

Love: Eros, Filial, Agape
Most of our emotions stem from human interactions: anger, joy, laughter, sadness,

And those emotions known even more acutely when the connections are missing: lost, lonely, depressed
Personal connections live at the core of our being.  We cannot survive without them. Togetherness can have power.
In Jesus’ lifetime, his baptising cousin, John and he were both revolutionaries; both eventually arrested and executed for their radicalism, pushing back against the egotistical authorities of their day.

The Power of Two.

Throughout the Bible runs the theme of the nation of Israel as God’s favored people.  He cares for them, punishes them, guides them, gives them strength and courage.
Jesus and his disciples expand that notion to embrace the entire human race, focusing more on the attributes of love, forgiveness and compassion.
From Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians

“As we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too.
Blessed be the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
We have so often known God’s comfort as we gather in this church.
Moments of the peace of Christ have touched us as well.  Jesus words to his disciples the night before his crucifixion:
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give . . Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Paul, in his letter to the Hebrews , urges us to carry on, working to energize each other, like the circling of the team as the games begin.
“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, even more as you see the Day approaching.”
As any “day” of challenge and the yearning for companionship approaches, the Bible urges us to be together, to be strong, to be compassionate.
Jesus, at the very beginning of his ministry, chose 12 disciples to follow him, learn his teachings and, in the end act on his behalf, “spreading the Gospel/the good news.”

The Power of Two - or more!

So, what must we do to keep the faith alive and moving forward within our own congregation?

Turning again to the example of the life Jesus lived, he turned to God in moments of struggle, conflict and heartache. The Power of Two - Jesus and God, inseparable from the very beginning.

Likewise, It starts, initially, within each of us, with God and self; God and me - each of us connecting with God: the power of two.  And then, with the filling, God within, “entheos” (enthusiasm) it just overflows from there, out into the world.
Our church can be a wonderful, compassionate, home; a shelter from the storm.  The Power of two or more gathered in his name.

We need to continue to pay attention to one another.  We often share our stories of family and friends, allowing us to “vent”, to relieve some of our own pressure.  Comfort and peace.
It’s so very encouraging to note that “The Power of Two or more” gathered,  is actually built into the nature and structure of the church.

Worship, funerals, weddings, various rituals built around coming together for comfort, celebration and empowerment.

The designated groups that gather for “activities” - committee meetings, monthly meals together; actually become times of sharing.

The behind-the-scenes card-sender, (by calling or default); through the simple act of sending a card, the church’s embrace is extended, uplifting and comforting.
Our meetings and gatherings often include times of inquiries and concerns about others in our church “family.”
For many, the church is the only true home where they can find comfort and support.  The very tangible example of the Power of Two or more. Perhaps our main challenge is to make sure that that gift is extended, with open arms, especially to those being ostracized these days, who may be in immediate need of God’s comfort.

The Power of Two was ever present in Jesus life: Cousin John, 12 Disciples and God, the Father.

Following his son’s example, God’s love and power become palpable.  Whenever we gather and share and care, The Power of Two (or more) gathered together - Jesus is with us.
We have all known and experienced the power of two - and are called to be about creating and enhancing that environment in this place, in all our get-togethers

and wherever God’s children may need shelter and food and healing and nurturing: God’s love in action. The Power of Two of More.

A music critic has this to say about The Indigo Girls song, “The Power of Two”:
“Although at times this song could be seen as bordering on the trivial, the phrase, “adding up the total of a love that's true, multiply life by the power of two,”
hits a deep chord in everyone's psyche about the need for love and the power that love holds.”
The chorus of the song: with a little twist to sound like words from our brother, Jesus:
So we're okay, We're fine.
(Child of God,) I'm here to stop your crying,
Chase all the ghosts from your head,
I'm stronger than the monster beneath your bed,
Smarter than the tricks played on your heart.
We'll look at them together, then we'll take them apart;
Adding up the total of a love that's true,
Multiply your life by the Power of Two.

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"Judy's Corner" "The Power of Two (or More)

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"Judy's Corner" "The Power of Two (or More)