23 January 2024 – Chapel – Drew Theo Chapel

Gathering Music

“The Summons”
Iona Community/John Bell

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.

Call to Worship

(adapted from enfleshed)

Peasipa Namoa

Leader: Jesus, teacher of radical love, beckons:
All: Come, follow me.
Leader: Jesus, turning empire on its head, challenges:
All: Come, follow me.
Leader: Jesus, full of the Spirit who troubles the waters, calls:
All: Come, follow me.
Leader: Come, we say to one another, follow.
All: We will set one another free.

Opening Song

“Lead Me, Guide Me”
Doris Akers

(Refrain)
Lead me guide me
along the way
for if you lead me
I cannot stray
Lord let me walk
each day with thee
lead me O Lord lead me

(Verse 1)
I am weak and I need
thy strength and power
to help me over
my weakest hour
heal me through
the darkness thy face to see
Lead me O Lord lead me

(Refrain)

(Verse 3)
I am lost if you take
your hand from me
I am blind without
thy Light to see
Lord just always let me
thy servant be
Lead me O Lord lead me

(Refrain)

Opening Prayer

(adapted from Rev. Bob Gibson, London Conference, United Church of Canada)

Esther Inuwa

Leader: You call us,
Wanderer of seashores and sidewalks,
inviting us to sail out of our smug harbors
into the uncharted waters of faith
to wander off from our predictable paths to follow you
into the unpredictable footsteps of the kin-dom;
to leave the comfort of our homes and accompany you
into uncomfortable places and spaces.

As we wait,
Still anchored in our constantly uncertain lives,
As we answer,
As we sail out,

speak to us, Spirit of Grace:
of that hope which is our true anchor;
of that peace which is our rock;
of that grace which is our refuge.
All: Amen.

Scripture Reading – Mark 1:14-20

Brigid Dwyer

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.