Sunday, February 16, 2025
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Luke 6:17-26  | "Down with Them"

Call to Worship (Inspired by Psalm 1)
One: Happy are those who delight in the law of the Holy One. Meditate on God's word day and night.
Many: Our Sovereign God watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
One: Happy are those who delight in the law of the Holy One. Plant yourself like a tree and yield good fruit in due season.
Many: Our Sovereign God watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
One: Happy are those who delight in the law of the Holy One. Prosper in all that you do according to kindom measures.
Many: Our Sovereign God watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Invocation
Righteous God, you create us for community, and you commune with us. May we seek your presence anew this day and in the time to come. Help us to recognize you in the sound and feel of our own breath and in the movement or noise of those around us. Embolden us to faith that surpasses understanding and ministry that reflects radical trust in you and the path of abundance, compassion, and connection. Let our worship in song and prayer be a foreshadowing of our worship in action and witness. Transform us from despair to hope, complacency to courage, and indifference to love in your name. Amen.

Prayer for Transformation and New Life
Abiding God, you come near to us. We give thanks that you do not turn away from us when our lives reflect messiness, ungraciousness, and complacency.  Take us deeper, O God, and help us to confront what needs to be known, addressed, and changed within us, our community, and our world. Forgive us and free us from guilt and shame so that we might embrace a life of accountability and transformation for the glory of God and for the hope of humanity. Amen.

Words of Grace
Good creation of God, the Holy One has begun a good work in you and will see it through to completion. You have power to transform and grace to enter the newness of life. God is near and comes down with us. Receive God's mercy, forgiveness, and grace as the gift that has been given. It is available, yours, and enough.

Invitation to Generosity
Blessed are we when we bring forth our gifts for the needs of the poor, the pursuit of justice, the nurturing of community, the honoring of difference, and the goal of the common good. Woe to us when we mistake abundance as scarcity and generosity as a handout. God has given enough gifts for all to be well. By sharing our blessings, we demonstrate faith, trust and love. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
Generous God, you have planted generosity in our hearts. Receive our gifts as part of your redemptive work to save the world from inequities, pain, and despair. May our resources be renewed and magnified so that all needs are met and your name be praised.  Amen.

Benediction
As you go into the world, remember that 
Embodied Love has come down to join you.
God's grace has come down to redeem you.
Spirit has come down to empower and equip you
To also come down with the world
In need of hope and encouragement
In want of witness and public proclamation 
That God is good and still down with us.. 

Down with Them: Service Prayers for the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany was written by the Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, Minister for Worship and Theology for the United Church of Christ.