Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
January 30, 2022
Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge.
Audre Lorde
You are invited to participate during worship by speaking aloud the bolded text.
Please stand as you are able whenever an asterisk (*) precedes a heading.
Service Order
Welcome
The Reverend Dr. Cathy S. Gilliard
If this is your first time joining us, welcome to Park Avenue! Please fill out a visitor card so we know that you joined us today at paumcnyc.org/visitor.
*Christ’s Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Please remain in your pew and greet one another with non-physical signs of peace.
*Gathering Hymn
United Methodist Hymnal #334
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet, Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove,
stay right here with us, filling us with your love;
And for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise
without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived
when we shall leave this place.
Words & Music: Doris Akers, 1962; Tune: Sweet, Sweet Spirit; © 1962 Manna Music, Inc., from The United Methodist Hymnal, © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; CCLI License #11377965; Streaming License #20189579
*Call to Worship
Isaiah Fish
Our God is a rock of refuge;
A fortress in times of trouble.
God has held us since our very first breath;
So we are never in the full grasp of sin and death.
God saves us in grace and sustains us in love.
Trusting in God, we offer our praise!
*Opening Hymn
United Methodist Hymnal #578
God of Love and God of Power
grant us in this burning hour
grace to ask these gifts of thee,
daring hearts and spirits free.
God of love and God of power,
thou hast called us for this hour.
We are not the first to be
banished by our fears from thee;
give us courage, let us hear
heaven’s trumpets ringing clear.
God of love and God of power,
thou hast called us for this hour.
All our lives belong to thee,
thou our final loyalty;
slaves are we whene’er we share
that devotion anywhere.
God of love and God of power,
thou hast called us for this hour.
God of love and God of power,
make us worthy of this hour;
offering lives if it’s thy will,
keeping free our spirits still.
God of love and God of power,
thou hast called us for this hour.
Words: Gerald H. Kennedy, ca. 1939; Music: Joachim Neander, 1680; Tune: Unser Herrscher; from The United Methodist Hymnal, © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; CCLI License #11377965; Streaming License #20189579
The Gospel Lesson
Adithya Jacob
Luke 4:21-30 from The New Revised Standard Version
Then Jesus began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Rev. Cathy S. Gilliard
Musical Reflection
Prayers of the People
Lord, in your mercy; Hear our prayer.
If you have a prayer request that you wish to share with the church, you may submit one online at paumcnyc.org/prayer or by texting your name and request to (914) 627-9286. If you wish to have your request mentioned during Prayers of the People, please send it by 10:00am on Sunday.
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Solo
Benediction
Choral Benediction
“God Be With You” by Derrick Byars
Acknowledgements
All scripture quotations used during service and listed in this bulletin are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. All music and hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal, copyright © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House; Reprinted by permission. CCLI License #11377965; Streaming License #20189579