Sixth Sunday after Epiphany 
February 12, 2023
“Be Reconciled”

Call to Worship (inspired by Sirach 15:15-20)
One: Great is the wisdom of the Holy One, powerful and knowing.
Many: God gives us the choice to follow and to be faithful.
One:  Great is the wisdom of the Holy One, powerful and knowing.
Many: God offers fire to warm us and water to quench our thirst.
One: Great is the wisdom of the Holy One, powerful and knowing. 
Many: God considers us with care and knows our ways. 

Invocation
Righteous God. in you we find life and liberty, compassion and care, redemption and reconciliation. You make your ways known to us, and you recognize your people as we are–fully human and made in your image. You come to us, and we come to you. Let us meet in this time and place. Let us bring our hope and our fears, our joys and our sorrows, our successes and our disappointments–the fullness of this glorious and maddening life toward you assured that you meet us here.  Amen. 

Prayer for Transformation and New Life
Holy God, your fire warms our hearts when they grow cold to the pain of the world, shines brightly to illuminate the shadows where we hide from you, and provides fuel to energize us when we grow weary of the work. Revive us again, O God, revive us. Amen.

Words of Grace
God with Us knows the feeling of fatigue, the despair of doing hard things, and the frustration of a world that has turned from the Holy One. God is faithful to refresh us, renew us, and revive us.  

Invitation to Generosity
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 reminds us that, “The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.  For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.” What a privilege to be God’s vessel and participant in kindom nurture and care. Let us give generously knowing we have been given gifts to be used for the building.

Prayer of Dedication and Thanksgiving
God who gives the increase, receive these gifts and magnify them for your kindom. Continually grow generosity in us and be glorified.

Benediction
May you move forward from this gathering with the good news written on your heart, faithfulness embedded in your spirit, and God’s wisdom leading your path. In righteousness, grace, and hope, be reconciled.

Be Reconciled: Service Prayers for the SixthSunday after Epiphany was written by The Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology, United Church of Christ.