Epiphany 2, Jan 18, 2026 Hybrid Service

Open to All

HYBRID WORSHIP

Minister: Rev. Suzanna Bates

Music: Frances Armstrong

We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

Prelude

Gathering

Hymn: Come Touch Our Hearts                                                 MV #12

Call to Worship

Gentle and patient

God, you are calling.

Careful and persistent

God, you are calling.

In grieving and in praise

God, you are calling.

Through dawn and midday

God, you are calling.

Unexpected and planned

God, you are calling.

In a still small voice and in power

God, you are calling.

Spontaneous and prepared

God, you are calling.

Willing or protected

God, you are calling.

Our God is eager to share with us, wherever we are in our journey.

      We answer the call to be God’s people

      and we live in the ways of Christ.

Come, let us worship God

Opening Prayer

Gracious and all loving God,

you call to us across deep waters and dark places. 

Yours is the light which guides us

and the voice which we follow. 

We pray that you would reveal yourself to us as we worship you.

May those without hope be encouraged;

those who are sad, lifted;

those who are seeking, find you;

and may all things be according to your will.

In the name of Jesus, the Christ we pray. Amen.

Acknowledgement of the Land

Lighting of Candle

We are here. God is here.

This space is holy ground.

Hymn: I Have Called You By Your Name                                 MV #161

Prayers for Renewal                                                  (inspired by John 1:38)

Open our eyes, Jesus, to the world around us.

Show us what we should see but from which we hide our eyes.

Show us how people live in this world and the reality of their days.

Give us courage to do what you ask and to 'Come and see'.

Open our eyes, Jesus, to the shape of your Kingdom.

Show us what life could be like if only we could see in wisdom.

Show us what we could do to change things forever with you.

Give us courage to open our hearts and to 'Come and see'.

Open our eyes, Jesus, to the people all around us.

Show us what we should see, but what we fail to notice.

Show us what people are saying to us and what they long for.

Give us courage to be where you are and to 'Come and see'. Amen.

We Affirm Our Faith: A New Creed

We are not alone we live in God’s world.

We believe in God:

who has created and is creating

who has come in Jesus the word made flesh

to reconcile and make new,

who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church:

to celebrate God’s presence,

to live with respect in Creation,

to love and serve others,

to seek justice and resist evil,

to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,

our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us. We are not alone. 

Thanks be to God.

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture

Living, Speaking God, open our eyes and our hearts that as we hear your word, we may hear your voice calling us by name; 
calling us to serve, calling us to share, calling us to praise, 
so that we never give up on the promise of your kingdom where the world is transformed, and all can enjoy life in all its fullness. Amen.

Scripture: Isaiah 49:1,2,6 (RSV Updated Edition)                       Reader: Don Butt

The scope of God’s Light

Listen to me, O coastlands; pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born; while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. God made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand God hid me. God says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

This is the Word of God

We give thanks for this word today.

Gospel Reading                                                                 Reader: Don Butt

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to John.

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

John 1:35–42 (RSV Updated Edition)

The calling of Simon and Andrew.

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.”  They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

This is the Gospel of Christ.

We give thanks for Good News today!                                          4

Word: Come and See!

 

Hymn of Response: Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness                     VU #375

Life & Work of the Church

The Prayers of the People                                                  Susan Brockley

Light of the world,

            Hear our prayer.

The Prayer of Jesus

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer,

Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope

and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and for ever. Amen

Offering

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn: Jesus, You Have Come to the Lakeshore                   VU #563

 

Closing Words: Words of Releasing           (from Celebrate God’s Presence,

United Church of Canada)

Minister

I thank you, friends and members of Christ Church Gabriola for the love and support you have shown me while I have ministered among and with you.

Let us not forget that the ministry in this place is Christ's ministry entrusted to us as part of his body. Our ministry together always belongs to God and is always on going.

I am grateful for the ways my leadership has been accepted.
I ask forgiveness for the mistakes I have made.

As I leave, I carry with me all that I have learned here.

Congregation

We receive your thankfulness, offer our forgiveness,

and accept that you are now leaving us to minister elsewhere.

We are grateful for your time among us.

We ask your forgiveness for our mistakes.

Your influence on our faith and faithfulness

will not leave us with your departure.

We release you from your duties of ministry here

in our midst, no longer turning to you

as we have when you were in ministry among us.

Minister

I accept your thanksgiving and your forgiveness of me.

I forgive you. May our time together and our parting now be pleasing and acceptable to God.

I now release you from turning to me and depending on me.

I encourage your continuing ministry here and will pray for you.

Blessing & Sending                                                                (Iona Abbey)

May God bless you and keep you;

May the light of God’s presence shine upon you.

May God’s grace go with you in your departing,

and give you peace.

 

May God, who is present in sunrise and nightfall,

and in the crossing of the sea, guide your feet as you go.

May God, who is with you when you sit and when you stand, encompass you with love and lead you by the hand.

May God, who knows your path and the places you rest,

be with you in your waiting; be your good news for sharing

and lead you in the way that is everlasting.

Amen.

Peace and light be with you.

And also with you.

Hymn: May God’s Sheltering Wings                                        MV #214

                                  

Postlude

 

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