FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY, YEAR C

2019 - 10 February
2022 - 06 February
2025 - 09 February
2028 - 06 February
2031 - 09 February
2034 - 05 February
2037 - 08 February

Note: For explanations and suggestions on the various resources provided, see the documents 'General notes and resources' and 'Epiphany season and time after' in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

LITURGY

Sentence
See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder for suggestions on using a Sentence.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.  (Isa 6:3 NRSV)

OR, use the standard Epiphany Sentence in the document 'Epiphany season and time after', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

OR, use one of the general Sentences in the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Sentence', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

PRAYER OF THE DAY (COLLECT)
Traditional
O Lord, 
watch over your family 
with your constant loving-kindness, 
so that those who rely solely 
on the hope of your heavenly grace 
may always be defended by your protection; 
through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Lord, in your constant goodness 
watch over your family. 
May we who rely solely 
on your undeserved love for us 
always be defended by your power. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for faith in Christ. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God, 
you sent your only Son as the word of life 
for our eyes to see and our ears to hear. 
Help us to believe with joy 
what the Scriptures proclaim. 
We ask this through your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, 
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

OR, new 
(Let us pray that we will be faithful followers of Jesus. [silence])
Our Saviour Jesus Christ, 
you died for our sins 
and were raised from death, 
and you call people to follow you. 
Make us faithful disciples, 
and use us to draw others to you. 
For you live and reign 
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13) Isaiah's call to be a prophet
(Note the link between this reading and the 'Holy, holy, holy' in the communion liturgy - attention could be drawn to this, eg in the sermon)

PSALM 
Psalm 138
Antiphon: 
In the presence of angels I sing your praises. (Ps 138:1b CEV)

SECOND READING 
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 The resurrection of Christ

ALLELUIA VERSE (Luke 5:10b NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
(Jesus said:) Do not be afraid; 
from now on you will be catching people. 
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 5:1-11 Jesus calls the first disciples

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Thank you, Lord Jesus,
for revealing God's generosity.
Help us to show God's love to others.
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Great and loving God,
thank you for making us your holy people.
Strengthen our faith,
and make us ready to go out
and do whatever you want us to do,
knowing that with you we can do anything.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
As people who have been cleansed of our guilt, let us come into the presence of God in the name of Jesus, to pray for the needs of the church and the whole world.

The regular response, OR:
Lord, hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.

Suggested intercessions
*	for the church, that it may be faithful to the tradition which it has received from the apostles
*	for all members of our congregation, that we might be fishers of people
*	for those who are called to serve as prophets in our land today, that they may be faithful to their calling even if their message is not welcome
*	for all who are burdened by guilt and sin, that they may know the forgiveness of Christ
*	for all people, that they may be diligent in their proper vocation
*	for those who are seeking employment, and for those who are preparing to enter the work force
*	for the fishing industry, that it may use the resources of the sea wisely
*	for those who are sick or dying, that they may know the presence of the Lord.

Concluding prayer
Lord, let us hear you as you call us into your service, so that wherever we live or work, we may be witnesses to you. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

PREFACE
For these non-festival Sundays after Epiphany, either no seasonal preface is used, as in the Service with Communion (LHS p6), or the following Epiphany preface may be used.

It is indeed right and good, 
Lord God, holy Father, 
that we should at all times and in all places 
give thanks to you, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Who, sharing our life,
lived among us to reveal your glory and love, 
that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. 
And so, with angels and archangels, 
and with all the company of heaven, 
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
The following Epiphany invitation or one of the two general invitations below may be used.

Epiphany
Jesus says:
'The bread that God gives
is he who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

General
1  Jesus says:
'I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

2  Jesus says:
'My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
remain in me, and I in them.'
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
If it has not been used already, the third prayer under 'Prayer of the day' above may be modified as follows and used as a post-communion prayer.

Almighty and merciful God,
you sent your only Son as the word of life
for our eyes to see and our ears to hear.
Help us by your gifts of word and sacrament 
to believe with joy what they proclaim.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Hold firmly to the word of God.
Thanks be to God.  OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.

HYMNS AND SONGS

FOR THE READINGS
Please note:	* =	Modernised version available
	G3, G4 . . . =	Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . . 
	GS =	Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH

First reading: Isaiah 6:1-8(9-13)
LHS 
140	Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty G5
143	Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright G6
246	Father, be Thy blessing shed* G8
269	Speak forth Thy Word, O Father G4
373	Lord, speak to me that I may speak* G5
428	We sing Thy praise, O God (see Matins, LHS) 
456	The God of Abraham praise G7
457	Mighty God, we praise Thy name G6
501	God Himself is present* G3
822	God has spoken by his prophets G6
845	Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands (post-communion) G5
884	We worship you, O God of might G7
896	Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old 
AT 
63	Holy, holy, holy Lord (Ylvisaker)
78	Holy, holy, holy Lord (Schmidt)
273	Holy, holy (Beaumont)
295	Here I am, Lord (Newton)
296	Here I am, Lord (Schutte)
305	Thuma mina
380	Holy, holy (Iona)
381	Holy, holy, holy (trad. Argentina)
TIS 
98	We praise, we worship you, O God
99	God, we praise you, God, we bless you
121	God himself is present
125	The God of Abraham praise
127	Holy God, we praise your name
132	Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty
158	God has spoken by his prophets
193	God, you are clothed with light
426	Spirit of truth, essential God
449	Stand up and bless the Lord
461	God, your glory we have seen in your Son
496	Strengthen for service, Lord, the hands (post-communion)
497	Let all mortal flesh keep silence (pre-communion)
658	I, the Lord of sea and sky
722	Holy, holy, holy Lord (Taize)
723	Holy, holy, holy (trad. Argentina)
749	Thuma mina
764	Holy, holy (Iona)

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
LHS 
142	We all believe in one true God* G3
156	Jesus, our Saviour, of true joy the giver* G3
296	My Maker, be Thou nigh* G5
300	Let me be Thine forever* G5
763	Now is eternal life (alt tune 176, G9)
767	This joyful Eastertide G7
791	O love, how deep, how broad, how high G5
AT 
227	Allelu!
338	God in human shoes
344	The New Road
455	All this I believe
TIS 
194	O love, how deep, how broad, how high
208	Jesus has come and brings joy as our Saviour
381	This joyful Eastertide
385	Now is eternal life
435	We all believe in God, who made

Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
LHS 
366	Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult G7
519	While yet the morn is breaking (esp vv 1,5)* G4
AT 
348	Sing hey for the carpenter
401	Follow me
413	The summons
TIS 
104	While morning still is breaking
589	Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult
598	Dear Father, Lord of humankind

PSALM 138
For musical settings of Psalm 138, see Music Packages 7, 9 and 10. TIS 86, With my whole heart I will praise you, is another version of this psalm.
Here are two metrical paraphrases of Psalm 138 by David Schütz. If reproducing either of these versions, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm. The following may be sung to the tune of 'The Greatest Commandment' (ATA 175).

I give you thanks, Lord, with all my heart;
before the angels I will sing your praise.
I worship you in your holy place
and always thank and praise your holy name.
	For you are loving, and faithful too;
	your name and your word have been glorified.
	And when I called on your holy name,
	you gave me your answer and made me strong.

All kings and rulers shall praise you, Lord, 
when they have heard your words of truth and love;
and they shall sing of the ways of God:
'Tremendous is the glory of the Lord'.
	Yet, though exalted, he keeps his watch
	with love and compassion upon the poor.
	The rich and proud, he will still observe,
	but like one that watches from far away. 

And you preserve me throughout my life,
though trouble meets me everywhere I go.
You stretch your mighty right hand to save,
and fight the anger of my enemies.
	The Lord fulfils his promise to me; 
	forever and ever your love endures.
	Do not forsake what your hands have made,
	remember you made me and I am yours.

This second version could be sung to the traditional tune Dir, dir, Jehovah (LH 218):

With all my heart, I give you thanks, Lord.
Before the angels I will sing your praise.
I worship in your holy temple
and always thank and praise your holy name.
For you have shown your love and faithfulness,
Your holy name and word are glorified.

And on the day I called upon you,
you gave me answer and you made me strong.
The kings of all the earth shall praise you,
when they have heard your words of truth and love.
They all shall sing about your ways, O Lord:
'Tremendous is the glory of the Lord'.

Yet, though the Lord is high in heaven,
he still regards the lowly of the earth.
He does not overlook the haughty,
but watches them like one who's far away. 
Though trouble meets me everywhere I go,
your right hand saves me from my enemies.

The Lord will keep his promise to me; 
your steadfast love, O Lord, will always last.
Stretch out your hand and come to save me!
Do not forsake the work your hands have made.
With all my heart, I give you thanks, O Lord.
Before the angels I will sing your praise.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

See the document 'General notes and resources', under 'Notes on the readings', in the 'General and seasonal' folder.

ISAIAH 6:1-13: In his vision of the Lord, Isaiah sees seraphs (fiery beings among the angels) filling the temple with their overwhelming presence and voices which praise and emphasise the holiness of God. Isaiah's despairing sense of sin in the presence of God is set aside by the cleansing of his lips to speak the Lord's word. Even so, this awesome vision stands in stark contrast to the rejection which Isaiah is warned must follow. Israel will be confirmed in growing spiritual barrenness and wilful spurning of the Lord's word during the prophet's whole lifetime. This does not mean that God's word will be any less effective. Isaiah must know, though he may seem to experience failure only, that from what seems a burnt-out stump will come again one day the seed of life.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11: It would seem that in some way the resurrection of Christ was being denied at Corinth. Paul makes it very clear that all the truths of the gospel rest upon and are bound together with the absolute fact of Christ's bodily resurrection. He attests to its authenticity through citing the wide undeniable witness of those who personally saw the Lord alive after his death and resurrection. There were individuals like Peter and James, the twelve apostles as a group, not to mention also over five hundred disciples. Paul, although a persecutor of the church and an enemy of Christ, was halted by his appearance and call to apostleship on the way to Damascus. Whoever had seen him alive had no alternative but to preach the truth of salvation that it might be believed.

LUKE 5:1-11: Jesus had become a public figure throughout Galilee through his miracles and preaching. In this instance Luke tells us that the crowds pressed him because he taught what was clearly discerned to be the word of God rather than that of human beings. The order to put the boat out and put down the nets was a real test to Peter's faith. From professional experience it was foolish to think of catching fish. The inexplicable success of his obedience was in terms of a miracle. Peter, like Isaiah in the first reading, considered himself a sinful man when confronted with the evident presence of deity. However, the Lord's gracious promise of true success in catching people guaranteed that the disciples' labours for him in the Kingdom would never be in vain.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. For instance, the second reading could be illustrated with a picture of the open tomb (with an angel). The gospel could be illustrated with a picture like that in the TEV Bible for Luke 5:6.

ANGELS
The reading from Isaiah reminds us that in worship we are 'in the presence of the angels'. Angel figures could be made and hung above the sanctuary as a visual reminder of this reality.

DRAMA

'MEGA DRAMA'
See a drama for the day in Mega Drama resources (Openbook Publishers), originally included in these worship resources when they were released on disks.

dramatising the READINGS
The readings can be read by more than one person to make the dramatic meaning of the text clearer. For instance, the first reading could be read by four readers: narrator, seraph ('flaming creature' in TEV), Isaiah, voice of the Lord. The gospel could be read by three readers: narrator (the pastor), Jesus, Simon. The gospel could be mimed as it is read. 

KNEELING FOR THE 'HOLY, HOLY, HOLY'
The hymn of the seraphim, 'Holy, holy, holy', is repeated in Revelation chapter 4. There, when the angels sing this hymn, the 24 elders, representing the church, prostrate themselves before the one seated on the throne. This is the origin of an ancient custom of bowing or kneeling during the 'Holy, holy, holy' in the communion liturgy, a custom that is reflected in the rubric before the 'Holy, holy, holy' in the Service - Alternative Form. Today could be a good day to introduce this practice - even if it is just a 'once off' for today.

CHILDREN

Children and the READINGS
Children could be included in making angel figures and/or miming the gospel. 

'COME AND SEE JESUS'
The Come and See Jesus curriculum published by Openbook Publishers has a wealth of material and ideas that may be adapted for use in worship. Please note that a new edition of this material is now available for the Revised Common Lectionary.

This week's story is: 'Jesus calls his first disciples (Luke 51–11)' (to be found in both the original and RCL editions, 5 Epiphany, year C).