Worship Notes for Sunday, February 10, 2013
This morning is the final Sunday in Epiphany with next Sunday being the First Sunday in Lent—the season of reflection, repentance, reconciliation and deeds of mercy before Easter Sunday. This is also our return to the study from the Book of Luke; providentially Luke 9 begins with Jesus sending out the disciples which is the call to be missional and where we left off from the Vision sermons in January—To Be the People of God.We begin with the Call to Worship from Isaiah 12 with the call to make known the deeds of the Lord among the peoples that He may be known in all the earth. We sing Crown Him With Many Crowns acknowledging that the earth and all that is in it belong to Him alone. Our Psalm for February—Psalm 117: From All That Dwell continues the theme of singing the praise of our Redeemer through every land and by every tongue.
The Old Testament Reading from Isaiah 55 reminds us that the Word of God is like seed for us to sow and bread for those that receive it, and joy and peace will result wherever the Word is spread. However, in Ephesians 4, our Prayer of Confession, we remember that too often we seek to build up our own kingdoms instead of living in submission to Christ’s kingdom seeking reconciliation in one hope. We continue by singing Let Children Hear the Mighty Deeds from Psalm 78 in which we acknowledge our call to “make His glories known, His works of power and grace” that generations yet unknown may hope in God alone and practice His commands.
Our final hymn, Be Thou O God Exalted High from Psalm 57, calls us to share the praise of the Lord “to all the listening nations round” that His glory would fill the skies as we bring thankful tribute unto Him. It is out of gratitude for who God is and what He has done that we respond in worship and then share His praise with others.
