Bulletin – Sunday, February 8, 2026 – Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday, February 8, 2026
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Lighting the Christ Candle

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” May this light guide our lives, always. Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth. May we bring flavour to the lives of all those we encounter.

Announcements

Call to Worship

One:   We are called to bring a new understanding of God: that God so loves the world.
All:      We are the salt of the earth.

One:   We are called to bring a new hope in God: that God gives us new life.
All:      We are the light of the world.

One:   We are called to follow the commandments and the law.
All:      The Law of God is to love God and to love one another.

One:   Come, let us be the salt of the earth, the light of the world.
All:      Come, let us love one another with the love of God. Let us join together in our love of God to worship and follow Jesus.

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “You are Salt for the Earth”

You are salt for the earth, O people:
Salt for the reign of God!
Share the flavour of life, O people:
Life in the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!

You are a light on the hill, O people:
Life for the City of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!

You are a seed of the Word, O people:
Bring forth the reign of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice,
Grow in the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!

We are blessed and a pilgrim people:
Bound for the reign of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
Love is the City of God!

Bring forth the reign of mercy,
Bring forth the reign of peace;
Bring forth the reign of justice,
Bring forth the City of God!

Prayer of Approach and Confession

One:   O God of Grace, may we not have received you in vain. When we pray because we desire other’s good opinion,
All:      Forgive us, Lord.

One:   When we give our gifts for others’ approval,
All:      Forgive us, O God.

One:   When we deny ourselves to get others’ admiration,
All:      Forgive us, Merciful One.

One:   When we fail to do unto others as we would like them to do unto us,
All:      Forgive us, Spirit of Love.

One:   When we put our privileged selves first, before the poor and the needy and disadvantaged of this world,
All:      Forgive us, Creator of Truth.

One:   When we keep for ourselves more than what we need,
All:      Forgive us, Give-Away God.

One:   Forgive us our sins and trespasses and debts.
All:      Only then can our souls be washed clean and spotless. Only then can we be your true servants. Only then will we reach the pure heart of the matter.

Words of Assurance

For the heart of the matter is that we can find our treasures in heaven, and also on earth, so long as we are forgiven and set free of our burdens and sin. Bless God who frees us and lights up our heart-shadows with the fire of love.

Sung Response – “Bathe Me in Your Light” (More Voices #82 verse 3)

Bathe me in your grace, O One of Spirit’s longing;
Teach me of your gentle ways that fill the soul with strength.
Guide me on the pilgrimage that leads to truth and wholeness,
Fill me with your promise of a love that knows no length.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading

The Gospel reading is from Matthew 5:13-20

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “Make Me a Servant”

Make me a servant, humble and meek.
Lord, let me life up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be:
Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today.

Make me a servant, humble and meek.
Lord, let me life up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be:
Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today.

Guest Presentation – Josh Ward, 1JustCity

Anthem – “We are Called to be His Servants”

We are called to be his servants,
To be salt and light;
We are called to point the way to the kingdom.
We are called to be his servants,
To be salt and light;
We are called, we are called in his name.

When a brother is hungry we can offer a meal.
When a sister is hurting we can help her to heal.
When a neighbour is needy we can offer a hand.
We are called, we are called in his name.

We are called to be his servants,
To be salt and light;
We are called to point the way to the kingdom.
We are called to be his servants,
To be salt and light;
We are called, we are called in his name.

If a brother is lonely we can stop for a while.
If a sister is weeping we can offer a smile.
If a burden needs sharing we can make it our own.
We are called, we are called in his name.

We are called to be his servants,
To be salt and light;
We are called to point the way to the kingdom.
We are called to be his servants,
To be salt and light;
We are called, we are called in his name.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

We all love gifts—the gifts we find for others, the gifts we receive, the gifts of love and caring that are shared among strangers for the good of all, and the gift of Jesus. Let us now think about the ways that we ourselves share our gifts of time, money, prayer, and commitment as we seek to enable the ministries that are important to us and support the partnerships that allow us to share in God’s purposes everywhere. Our offering will now be presented.

Offering Sung Response – “In Gratitude and Humble Trust” (Voices United #544)

In gratitude and humble trust
We bring our best today
To serve your cause and share your love
With all along life’s way.
O God, who gave yourself to us
In Jesus Christ, your Son,
Teach us to give ourselves each day
Until life’s work is done.

Offering Prayer

We never know, living Christ, whether what we offer is enough. Still, we present these gifts for your work in the world, trusting that you will bless them—an us—for your purpose. May these gifts seed new life springing out of old stumps. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Gracious God, we thank you for the light that shone in Jesus, revealing unto us your holiness and our righteousness. We deplore this gap, yet we rejoice that you chased the darkness that kept it hidden from our eyes. By your light we are both encouraged and condemned. We are reassured to see your face turned in our direction, bidding us to come unto you. But we shudder at the sight of us turning our backs on you, resisting the light that could mirror your glory.

We thank you, O God, for leaving your light in the world even though we have not always, heeded your summons to become the light of the world.

Instead of illuminating your character, we have blurred it.

You have commanded us to love you with all our being, but we have consigned our love to the pigeonhole of religion.

You have commanded us to love our neighbours as ourselves, but we have been too preoccupied with ourselves to find them.

You have called us to be peacemakers, yet we have encouraged the arms makers with our fears and our fortunes.

You have summoned us to be wall breakers, yet we have supported the wall makers with our silence and our sympathy.

We have seen the light, but we have refused to walk in it.

Yet we long, O Lord, to keep your law and do your will. We ask forgiveness for our rebellion, not merely for the sake of the joy we have denied ourselves, but also for the joy we have denied others.

Keep ever before us the needs of the world into which you sent Jesus and for whose sake he gave himself to the uttermost. Let us feel its pain as our own, seek its good as our own, and work for its transformation in the name and spirit of him who came into the world not to condemn but to redeem it.

We ask for your blessing on those we name in our hearts and those we name here today…

We listen now, O God, for your words. Let its message illumine our minds that we may will as Jesus willed. Let its spirit quicken our hearts that we may love as Jesus loved. Let its power speed our steps that we may do as Jesus did.

Invitation to the Passing of the Peace

Please offer one another the peace of Christ in a way that you feel comfortable and respects others’ space.

The Prayer that Jesus Taught

One:   Please join me in praying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: Our Creator who is like…
All:      Our Mother and Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

We Go Into God’s World

Celebration of Myrna’s time at Windsor Park United Church

Please join in the singing of the hymn – “Ode to Myrna”

Joyful, joyful, God we bring you thanks and voices raised in praise,
for the gift of Myrna’s service, touching lives in many ways.
Twenty years of dedication, friendship that is true and kind;
Heaven-sent through all her music, great joys may she now find.

God, you give us life and beauty, music touches every heart.
In this journey we call living, comes a time when we must part.
Myrna’s journey leads her onward into paths that You bestow:
Family, friends and travel beckon, guide her steps where she may go.

Grateful for the joy you brought us through the anthems and the praise,
May the music still within you bless and guide your future days.
Now we cheer your faithful service as a new theme starts to play,
with our thanks and warmest blessings, for the beauty you have made.

Commissioning

May our love be like salt that makes life tasty and worthwhile. May our Christian living be a light to those who live in darkness. May our Christian communities be cities of light to be seen from afar as signs that God lives and works in his people. And my God bless you all for this mission: the Father, and the Son, the Holy Spirit.

Benediction

Go now, and let the light of Christ shine on all those who live around you. Thanks be to God

Sung Response – “Amen” (Voices United #974)

Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!

(Material taken from re:Worship and the Gathering)