CHRIST CANDLE LIGHTING:
In this season of Epiphany in Canada,
we are still in the depths of winter.
Cold, howling winds and long nights
may keep us inside, and we long for spring.
May this Christ light warm our hearts and light our way,
so that we can be faithful disciples in this time.  Amen.
     Adapted and used with permission from Gathering:   ACE 2025-2026; Beth W. Johnston

All sing: VU 54 “In the Bleak Midwinter” verse 1&4 only seated
1.  In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

4.  What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him - give my heart.

1. CALL TO WORSHIP:
Why are we called to this place?
To be God's people.
What is required of us?
To seek justice, to love kindness, to live humbly with God.
And how shall we do this?
With our prayers, with our thoughts, with our actions, and with our love.
Then, as people who are both blessed and blessing:
Let us worship God!
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026;Richard Bolt

2. OPENING PRAYER:
Creator of All, this is the day that you have given us. We join together this day, each of us coming from our own lives, with our own diverse experiences, to celebrate the feeling of being together as your people. We seek a faith that will create in our hearts the hope found in the blessed promises you have made to us. Our emotions, ranging from joy to sorrow, we offer to you. You know our hearts and welcome us into your presence. Forgive us, guide us, and teach us as we give thanks to you for this new day. Help us to keep you securely within our hearts this day and always. In the name of our Redeemer and Saviour, we pray. Amen
     Adapted/Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Robert J. Murdock

3.  LEARNING TIME:

4. HYMN:  VU 222 “Come, let us Sing”
1.  Come, let us sing to the Lord our song,
we have stood silently too long;
surely the Lord deserves our praise,
so joyfully thank God for our days.

2.  O thirsty soul, come drink at the well;
God's living waters will never fail.
Surely the Lord will help you to stand,
strengthened and comforted by God's hand.

3.  You dwell among us and cause us to pray,
and walk with each other following your way;
our precious brothers and sisters will grow
in the fulfilling love they know.

4.  Deserts shall bloom and mountains shall sing
to the desire of all living things.
Come, all you creatures, high and low,
let your praises endlessly flow.

5. PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION:
Life-Giving God, may the words we receive take on new meaning, so that our lives are full of love. May the thoughts that are stimulated be of justice, kindness, and mercy. May we receive again your call to act boldly and courageously. We pray, trusting in your grace.  Amen. .
     Used with permission from Gathering: ACE 2025-2026; Laura J. Turnbull

6. SCRIPTURE LESSON
Micah 6: 1 -8
The LORD's Challenge to His People
6 The LORD said to his people: Come and present your case to the hills and mountains. 2 Israel, I am bringing charges against you-I call upon the mountains and the earth's firm foundation to be my witnesses. 3 My people, have I wronged you in any way at all? Please tell me. 4 I rescued you from Egypt, where you were slaves. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to be your leaders. 5 Don't forget the evil plans of King Balak of Moab what Balaam son of Beor said to him. Remember how I, the LORD, saved you many times on your way from Acacia to Gilgal.[b] 6 What offering should I bring when I bow down to worship the LORD God Most High? Should I try to please him by sacrificing calves a year old? 7 Will thousands of sheep or rivers of olive oil make God satisfied with me? Should I sacrifice to the LORD my first-born child as payment for my terrible sins? 8 The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”

Responsive Reading Psalm 15 VU page 736
REFRAIN: Within your holy place, O God, who shall a dweller be”

God, who may be a guest in your house,
or who may dwell on your holy mountain?  REFRAIN

One who leads a blameless life,
who does what is right, who speaks truthfully from the heart;
one whose tongue is free from malice,
who never wrongs a friend, who utters no reproach against a neighbour;
one who cannot respect the unworthy, but honours those who fear God;
who stands by a promise given, though it be to personal disadvantage;
one who will not take interest on a loan, nor accept a bribe to testify against the innocent.
Whoever does this shall never be overthrown.  REFRAIN

7.  REFLECTION

8.  HYMN: VU 600 “When I Needed a Neighbour”
1.  When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, were you there?

2.  I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, were you there?

3.  I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, were you there?

4.  When I needed a healer, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, were you there?

5.  Wherever you travel I'll be there, I'll be there,
wherever you travel I'll be there.
And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, I'll be there.

9. SCRIPTURE LESSON
1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 31
Christ Is God's Power and Wisdom
18 The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. 19 As God says in the Scriptures, "I will destroy the wisdom of all who claim to be wise. I will confuse those who think they know so much." 20 What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish? 21 God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him. Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. 22 Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise. 23 But we preach that Christ was nailed to a cross. Most Jews have problems with this, and most Gentiles think it is foolish. 24 Our message is God's power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen. 25 Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else. 26 My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame. 28 What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. 29 God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. 30 You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. 31 So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord.

The Gospel of Matthew 5: 1 - 12
The Sermon on the Mount
5 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.[a] Jesus' disciples gathered around him, 2 and he taught them: 3 God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven! 4 God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort! 5 God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them! 6 God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!7 God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy! 8 God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him! 9 God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children! 10 God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven. 11 God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12 Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.

10.  REFLECTION

11.  HYMN: VU 68 “All poor Ones and Humble”
1.  All poor ones and humble and all those who stumble,
come hastening, and feel not afraid;
for Jesus, our treasure, with love past all measure,
in lowly poor manger was laid.
Though wise men who found him laid rich gifts around him,
yet oxen they gave him their hay,
and Jesus in beauty accepted their duty;
contented in manger he lay.
Refrain: Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him;
our service he ne'er can despise;
whose love still is able to show us that stable,
where softly in manger he lies.

2.  The Christ Child will lead us, the Good Shepherd feed us
and with us abide till his day.
Then hatred he'll banish; then sorrow will vanish,
and death and despair flee away.
And he shall reign ever, and nothing shall sever
from us the great love of our King;
his peace and his pity shall bless his fair city;
his praises we ever shall sing.  Refrain

12.  PRAYER OF YEARNING:
When we feel beaten down by the world. Merciful One, free us from sorrow and grief. When we are wounded by careless words, help us refrain from lashing out in our suffering and hurting the ones we love. Fill us with a hunger and a thirst for righteousness, that we may walk humbly in your ways and be blessing to everyone we meet.  Amen.
      From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

13.  WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
God is stronger than our weaknesses, and greater than our failings. Even when we fall short, God's love embraces us and sets us on the path of life once more.
Thanks be to God!
      From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2026.
     Copyright @2025 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

14.  SUNG RESPONSE: VU 575 “I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” V 1 seated
1.  I'm gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I'm gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

15.  PASSING OF THE PEACE:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. As God's beloved children, let us share the peace that Christ brings with those around us.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

16.  INVITATION TO OFFERING:
With what shall I come before the Lord and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams….He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord requires of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?" In this spirit, let us bring our offerings before the Lord.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

17. OFFERTORY VU 540 “Grant Us, God, the Grace”
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
with a spirit large and free,
that ourselves and all our living
we may offer faithfully.

18.  OFFERING PRAYER:
Source of justice and mercy, work through this offering to bring your gifts to the world: righteousness and peace, love and kindness, hope and joy. May our gifts truly express our gratitude for your many blessings for our church and for your children everywhere.  Amen.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

19. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD'S PRAYER:

20. HYMN   213 MV  “Take Up His Song”
1.  Take up his song of peace And go into the world.
Take up his song of peace
In ev'ry moment. In ev'ry moment of the journey, We're laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in peace, Lay them down, and take up his song.

2.  Take up his song of hope And go into the world.
Take up his song of hope
In ev'ry moment. In ev'ry moment of the journey, We're laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in hope, Lay them down, and take up his song.

3.  Take up his song of faith And go into the world.
Take up his song of faith
In ev'ry moment. In ev'ry moment of the journey, We're laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in faith, Lay them down, and take up his song.

4.  Take up his song of love And go into the world.
Take up his song of love
In ev'ry moment. In ev'ry moment of the journey, We're laying down our lives;
Lay them down, in love, Lay them down, and take up his song.

21.  BLESSING:
Seek justice and discover God's blessings.
We will walk humbly with our God.
Practice kindness and touch Christ's presence.
We will love in Christ's Way of peace.
Share mercy and abide in the Holy Spirit.
We will leave footprints of light and compassion with every step we take.
     From the Abingdon Worship Annual 2025.
     Copyright @2024 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission

22. THREE FOLD AMEN

Next Sunday:  Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
        February 8, 2026:
         Isaiah 58:1 - 9a, [9b-12];   Psalm 112: 1 - 9, (10);
         1 Corinthians 2: 1 - 12, [13-16];  Matthew 5: 13 - 20.

1. SUNDAY, February 1, 2026  Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


2. TUESDAY, February 3, 2026  BIBLE STUDY  10:00 AM  Board Room


3. TUESDAY, February 3, 2026  Jubilation Handbell Ringers  If you are interested in ringing some bells, come out and give it a try;   6:30pm in the Choir Room.


4. TUESDAY, February 3, 2026  “YOUTH ACTIVITY CLUB (YAC)”  7:00 - 9:00 PM.  Logie hall GYM  All Youth 12 years and older are welcome


5. Friday, February 6, 2026  “COMING HOME” / Jenny Jung & Sabina Rzazade  A violin & piano recital  7:00 PM.  Sanctuary  Admission by Donation
[See poster on “HAPPENINGS” tab for full details]


6. Saturday, February 7, 2026  “VALENTINES TEA & PIE SALE”  2:00 - 4:00 PM.  Wesley Hall  Come one. Come All!
[See poster on “HAPPENINGS” tab for full details]


7. SUNDAY, February 8, 2026  Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany   10:45 AM   Rev. Jo-Ann Hills  “RECOLLECTIONS”  ALL ARE WELCOME!


8. SUNDAY, February 15, 2026  SUNDAY BRUNCH   11:30 AM   Wesley Hall  ALL ARE WELCOME!


9. TUESDAY, February 17, 2026  SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER  5:00 - 7:00 PM   Wesley Hall  ALL ARE WELCOME!
[See poster on “HAPPENINGS” tab for full details]