FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY, YEAR B

2018 - 28 January
2021 - 31 January
2024 - 28 January
2027 - 31 January
2030 - 03 February
2033 - 30 January
2036 - 03 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.

The Lord God will raise up a prophet like Moses from among your own people.
He will put his words in the mouth of the prophet 
and you shall heed such a prophet.  (based on Deut 18:15,18)

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
Almighty God, 
since you know that we are set in the midst 
of so many and great dangers 
that we cannot stand upright 
because of the frailty of our nature: 
Grant us strength and protection 
to support us in all dangers, 
and carry us through all temptations; 
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
Almighty God, 
you know that we are placed 
in the midst of such great dangers 
that we cannot stand upright 
because of our human frailty. 
Make us whole in mind and body. 
Support us in all dangers 
and carry us through all temptations. 
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 power to say and do what is right. [silence])
In all our doubts, dangers, and confusion, 
teach us, Lord, what we ought to say and do. 
Give to us, 
who can do nothing good without you, 
the power to speak the truth and do your will. 
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 accept the authority of Jesus. [silence])
Great and loving God, 
we thank you for sending your Son Jesus 
with authority to teach and to heal. 
Make us ready to listen to him 
in all our doubts and confusion, 
and to trust in him 
in all our troubles. 
For he lives and reigns 
with you and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever. 
Amen.

FIRST READING
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 The Lord promises a prophet like Moses
(Begin: Moses said, 'The Lord your God will . . .')

PSALM 
Psalm 111
Antiphon: 
He(/the Lord) has sent redemption to his people. (Ps 111:9a NRSV)

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 Freedom and the conscience of your fellow believer

ALLLELUIA VERSE (Mark 1:27 NRSV)
Alleluia, alleluia.
They were all amazed, and said, 'He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.' 
Alleluia.

GOSPEL
Mark 1:21-28 Jesus teaches with authority
(Begin: 'Jesus and his disciples . . .')

PRAYER AFTER THE GOSPEL
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming
with God's authority and power.
Help us to listen to what you say and to obey you. 
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for sending your prophets,
and especially for sending your Son Jesus, 
with your own authority and power 
to save us from sin and evil.
Help us to listen to Jesus,
and to serve him by serving and helping other people.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Call to prayer
Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks with authority, so that even the unclean spirits obey him. Let us pray to our heavenly Father in Jesus' name.

The regular response, OR:
Lord, hear our prayer,
in Jesus' name.

Suggested intercessions
*	for church leaders and all those who must exercise their authority with wisdom
*	for boldness in confessing Christ's name
*	for places in the world where hatred, violence, and destruction seem to be out of control
*	for those who are oppressed by evil.

Concluding prayer
Lord, only you can deliver us from evil, and keep us walking in your light and salvation. Let us always fear you, so that we may live wisely, and so that we may continually join the whole church on earth and the hosts of heaven as they praise you forever. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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 the third prayer listed above under 'Prayer of the day' has not already been used, it may be used in this modified form as a post-communion prayer.

In all our doubts, dangers, and confusion,
teach us, Lord, what we ought to say and do.
As we have received 
the body and blood of Christ
in this sacrament,
give us the power 
to speak the truth and do your will.
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. Be guided by love, and serve the Lord in freedom.
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 : Deuteronomy 18:15-20
LHS
194	Thy hand, O God, has guided
244	Lord, pour Thy Spirit from on high*
245	Lord of the Church, we humbly pray*
822	God has spoken by His prophets G6
AT
239	Breezes whisper without meaning
244	We have seen the Word of Life
TIS
158	God has spoken by his prophets
258	Praise to you, O Christ our Saviour
431	Thanks to God, whose word
451	Pour out your Spirit from on high
456	Your hand, O God, has guided

Second reading : 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
LHS
139	We all believe in one true God*
337	God from all eternity* (alt tune 276, G5)
357	O God, Thou faithful God* G3
381	O God our Father, throned on high (alt tune 391, G9)
853	A new commandment GS
860	When this earth was created GS
AT
65	A new commandment
99	Pentecost prayer
120	One God
292	Lord Jesus, we belong to you
TIS 
686	Lord Jesus, we belong to you
699	A new commandment
742	One God

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
LHS
47	Songs of thankfulness and praise* G4
159	O for a thousand tongues to sing* G5
161	How sweet the name of Jesus sounds G4
452	O bless the Lord, my soul
795	When Jesus came the demons cried GS
815	O Christ the healer, we have come G6
AT
148	They knew who he was
TIS
64	O bless the Lord, my soul
210	O for a thousand tongues
223	How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
638	O Christ the healer

PSALM 111 
For musical settings of Psalm 111, see Music Packages 4, 6 and 9. Another version appears in TIS, no. 68 Praise the Lord.

Two metrical versions of Psalm 111 by David Schütz are given here. If reproducing either of these versions, please put 'Words (c) David Schütz' at the beginning or the end of the psalm.

Version I: may be sung to the tune Herzlich Lieb (LHS 385) 

Alleluia! Alleluia!
With all my heart I thank the Lord
	before the congregation.
The works of God are great and good,
and all who find their joy in him,
	will seek to understand them.
His noble works and splendid ways,
have won him fame and glorious praise;
for evermore his righteousness
and grace and mercy never cease.
	The Lord our God
provides for those who fear his name,
true to his word, always the same.

The Lord has shown his mighty power
by giving to his faithful ones
	a good land to inherit.
The things he does are right and just,
and all his laws deserve our trust,
	they will remain for ever.
He set his faithful people free,
when we were lost in slavery,
gave us his covenant and word -
holy and awesome is the Lord!
	Alleluia!
Be wise and learn to fear the Lord,
whose praise endures for evermore.

Version II: may be sung to the tune 'I am covered over' (ATA 130)

I will thank the Lord with all
	my heart before the presence of
	his holy ones.
Everything the Lord has done
	is great and wonderful, and
	I delight in it!
He is full of majesty
	and honour, and his righteousness
	will always last forever.
We will not forget him for
	he always shows us tenderness
	and mercy.

He provides the food for those
	who fear him; he will not forget
	his covenant;
he has shown his power to
	his people and he's given us
	a heritage.
All he does is just and true;
	and we can trust his precepts too,
	for they are always steadfast,
they have been set down to be 
	performed in truth and righteousness 
	for ever.

He has freed his people from 
	their chains and he has given us 
	his covenant.
Holy is the Lord our God 
	and awesome is his holy name 
	for evermore.
Wisdom starts with fearing God 
	the Lord, and all who practise it 
	will reach true understanding.
Everyone who loves the Lord 
	our God will praise his name now 
	and forever.

NOTES ON THE READINGS

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

DEUTERONOMY 18:15-22: Moses here predicts a future prophet who, like Moses at Mount Horeb, will establish a new covenant. This prophet will speak the comprehensive will of God. All will be required to receive and believe his word as being the word of God himself. Peter and Stephen both connected this promise with the prophetic ministry of Jesus. Similarities between the life and work of Moses and Christ abound.

1 CORINTHIANS 8-1-13: At Corinth meat was presented for sacrifice to the heathen gods. Some was burnt at the altar, while the remainder was sold in the market as consumable food. Some Christians purchased this meat to eat while others believed that to be wrong because it had been consecrated to the gods. Paul says that as idols do not exist as gods, the meat was not in itself evil, nor its consumption. However, Christians, while free to eat, would not do so if it were to harm the faith of a weaker brother/sister.

MARK 1:21-28: Jesus shows his messianic and divine authority at Capernaum by casting out an evil spirit. The spirit recognised Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus appears in this instance as the true Son of God with authority to fight evil and control it from the very outset of his ministry.

VISUAL

VISUALS FOR THE READINGS
Pictures or visual symbols could be displayed on banners or the overhead screen during the readings. 

SYMBOL
A symbol of the cross and orb, signifying the authority of the cross over the world, could be displayed today.

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 three readers: a reader to introduce and close the reading, Moses, the Lord; and the gospel could be read by four readers: narrator (the pastor), man with evil spirit, Jesus, one of the people.

CHILDREN

'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: 'God saves Moses' (to be found in the original edition in 19 Pentecost year B and in the RCL edition in 4 Epiphany year B).