After Epiphany 4A – February 1
February 1, 2026
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Micah 6:1-8 | “What is Good”
Call to Worship (Micah 6: 6-8 NRSVue)
One: With what shall we come before God and bow ourselves before God on high?
Many: Shall we come before the Holy One with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
One: Will God be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rams of oil?
Many: Shall we give our firstborn for our transgression, the fruit of our bodies for the sin of our souls?
One: God has told us, fellow mortals, what is good and what is required of us.
All: But to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with our God.
Invocation
Holy One, you aren’t just good, you are The Good. We welcome Your goodness in anyway that it desires to manifest throughout this time of worship. May something be preached, prayed, or sung, that changes us for good, and for good. Amen
Prayer for Transformation and New Life
When we do good, challenges are ever present. Sometimes, the challenges can be overwhelming and so we’re tempted to retreat or stay silent. Help us to remember all that you do for our good so that we can go forth and do the same.
Words of Grace
In a beginning, God looked at all that was created and called creation “good”. In this moment of a new beginning, let us give thanks for the grace that enables us to be doers of good no matter the challenges we face.
At This Table: A Service of Communion
The Invitation
Come, all who hunger. Come all who thirst. Come no matter what’s needed because everyone needs something and everyone needs someone.
At this table, you are included and room is ever being made to include more. More love, more understanding, more food, more drink, more community, and more good and goodness.
Your invitation is eternal for this table belongs to God. We don’t get to decide who we sit next to, but we do get to decide to enjoy whoever is seated.
So come to the table, where strangers become friends, friends become family, and family keeps expanding. Come as you are and leave better than how you came.
Communion Prayer
In the beginning, the earth was formed. It was the first table that all creations were invited to. This table has gone through several iterations and holds steady. Jesus was at this table at some point in history. He lived, he taught, he was put to death, and then he resurrected. In doing all these things, he taught us a new way to look at tables and how to set them inclusively. He showed us that we are included in the heart and mind of God always and he taught us how to include those we might be inclined to label as “other”. For these reasons among many others, we give thanks for this meal.
Words of Institution
We remember that night during the Passover Jesus had his last meal at a table, with those closest to him. There, they shared their love of God and Jesus and of each other.
In the midst of love, Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread and said, something like this, “Take and eat this gift from the earth and from the human hands that prepared it and know that God gives it to you, a blessing for your body and your spirit.”
Later, Jesus took a cup and after blessing it said something like this, “Drink this fruit of the vine, the gift of the sun and labor in the fields. Taste and know the goodness of God.”
Prayer for the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit. Bless this bread and cup and bless each of
us. May these elements transform us. May they inspire and give us courage to
follow the way of Jesus, which is ever inclusive and expanding.
Come, let’s eat this bread and drink this cup together
Hymn – “Taste and See”
Closing prayer: Together we trust in this moment of transformation which is made possible by You. Give us the strength to continue on the journey and to set tables that are welcoming and ever expanding.
Invitation to Generosity
We serve a Good God who has blessed us with good things to share for the good of the kin-dom. Let us revel in that goodness now and give from our hearts as well as our hands. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
Good God may these good offerings be used to get up to good trouble for the liberation of us all. Amen
Benediction
The Good, as we depart this place but not Your Presence, help us to remember that your goodness is running after us. As it gains on us, may we run on and share it with others up ahead. Amen.
What Is Good: Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany was written by Rev. Teña T. Nock, who serves as The Associate Pastor of Digital Ministry, First United Church of Tampa, United Church of Christ. Mystic in the making.
