Sunday 22 January – 3rd Sunday of Epiphany


The service is live-streamed and can be found on the church Facebook page.

Collect

God of all mercy,
your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives,
and freedom to the oppressed:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
and set all your people free
to praise you in Christ our Lord.

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First Reading

Isaiah 9.1-4

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.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.  You 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.  For 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.

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Psalm

27. 1, 4-12

1  The Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom then shall I fear:
 the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

4  One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will require:
 even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to visit his temple.
5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle:
 yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.
6  And now shall he lift up mine head:
 above mine enemies round about me.
7  Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness:
 I will sing, and speak praises unto the Lord.
8  Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto thee:
 have mercy upon me, and hear me.
9  My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face:
 Thy face, Lord, will I seek.
10  O hide not thou thy face from me:
 nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.
11  Thou hast been my succour:
 leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
12  When my father and my mother forsake me:
 the Lord taketh me up.

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Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1.10-18

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.  For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.  What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul, ’ or ‘I belong to Apollos, ’ or ‘I belong to Cephas, ’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’  Has Christ been divided?  Was Paul crucified for you?  Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?  I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.  I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.  For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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 Gospel

Matthew 4.12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:  ‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the 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.’  From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’  As 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 lake – for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.  As 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.  Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.  Jesus 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.

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 Post Communion Prayer

Almighty Father,
whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
may your people,
illumined by your word and sacraments,
shine with the radiance of his glory,
that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed
to the ends of the earth;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.