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Epiphany 2 - Year B
WE GATHER BEFORE GOD (Psalm 139:1-6)
Lord God, you know me through and through;
you know my sitting down, and my getting up.
You sense what I am thinking from far away;
you understand my journeying and my resting.
In fact, you are familiar with the way I do everything;
even before I speak, you know what's on my mind.
You are in my past, and in my future,
you surround me with your love 
and your reassuring hand is upon me.
This wonderful knowledge is beyond my understanding;
it surpasses everything, and is beyond my grasp.

PRAYER OF APPROACH (including Ps.139:13-18)
Ever present God of grace,
by your Spirit you gather us to worship you;
you who formed my very consciousness,
and wove me together in my mother's womb
you who are so awesomely wonderful
you whose creativity is so marvellous.
Lord God, you know me through and through;
even my bones, being formed in secret,
in the depths of the earth, were not hidden from you.
Your eyes saw my embryo
and in your book are all written down 
days that were planned before any of them occurred .
Your thoughts of me, Lord God, are difficult to comprehend
and far beyond counting
If I tried to count them, they would be more than grains of sand
and if I came to the end, I would not have summed you up.
Engage us by your word and change us:
open our ears to hear you
open our eyes to see what we might become
open our hearts to follow in the way
you have shown to the world in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000.
A CREATIVE MOMENT - Psalm 139:1-18 (rather than omitting verses 7-12)
Materials/Preparation:
(a) images for projection which illustrate aspects of the psalm;
(b) a screen or wall space for the projection of these images
(c) a means of projection e.g. overhead transparency projector, 35mm slide projector, data projector;
(d) have two people prepare the psalm as an antiphonal reading (For the most part this will mean "verse and verse about", but verses 5-14 have natural divisions which invite the use of alternating voices);
(e) darken or dim the worship space as you are able.

Project the images while the psalm is being read. An unhurried reading, with brief pauses at the end of each verse/line will enable the congregation to reflect momentarily on the words and projected images.


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Looking for contemporary music and song resources? Try David MacGregor's Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening's Sing the Psalms

HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EPIPHANY 2 - YEAR B
 		   
All praise to our redeeming Lord TIS 442 AHB 367
Be thou my vision TIS 547 AHB 455
Breathe on me,breath of God TIS 407 AHB 320
Christ be my leader by night as by day TIS 624 SA 17
Christ whose glory fills the skies TIS 212 AHB 140
Far beyond the mind's grasp and our tongue's TIS 542 SA 30
Father of peace and God of love TIS 482 AHB 407
God has spoken by his prophets TIS 158 AHB 92
God of mercy, God of grace TIS 452 AHB 379
Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult TIS 589 AHB 505
Just as I am TIS 584 AHB 497
Let him to whom we know belong TIS 563 AHB 146
Master speak, thy servant heareth TIS 597 AHB 516
This is the day the Lord has made TIS 368 AHB 289
Thou art the way; by thee alone TIS 226 AHB 161
To God be the glory, great things he has done TIS 147 AHB 85

   
1 Samuel 3:1-10 11-20
  
God has spoken by his prophets TIS 158 AHB 92
I, the Lord of sea and sky TIS 688
Master, speak, thy servant heareth TIS 597 AHB 516
Praise the Spirit in creation TIS 415 AHB
Take my life and let it be TIS 599 AHB 520

   
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
    
I am alone, yet not alone TIS 605 AHB
Immortal, invisible, God only wise TIS 143 AHB 80
Lord of creation, to you be all praise TIS 626 AHB 557
O love that wilt not let me go TIS 602 AHB 525
One God, one living God TIS 742 AHB
You are before me, Lord, you are behind TIS 87 SA 97

   
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
    
Blest are the pure in heart TIS 448 AHB 376
Breathe on me, breath of God TIS 407 AHB 320
Far beyond our mind's grasp TIS 542 SA 30
Let him to whom we now belong TIS 563 AHB 146
May the mind of Christ, my Saviour TIS 609 AHB 537
The royal banners forward go TIS 332 AHB 251
To God be the glory, great things he has done TIS 147 AHB 85

   
John 1:43-51
    
Christ be my leader by night as by day TIS 624 SA 17
Help us accept each other TIS 648
Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult TIS 589 AHB 505
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun TIS 207 AHB 136
Just as I am, without one plea TIS 584 AHB 497
We have a gospel to proclaim TIS 245 AHB 189

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