01/24/2026
Christ United Evangelical Lutheran Church
116 Church Street, Catawissa, PA
Minister: All members of the congregation
Pastor Gordon Smith, Interim 570-205-9285
Our purpose is to proclaim the good news of Christ through worship, service and growing in discipleship
Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 25, 2026 - 8:00 am
LBW Setting 2
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Welcome to worship and Christian fellowship in the name
of Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Amen.
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*Offering envelopes can be placed in the marked basket*
CANDLE LIGHTING and CHIMES
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
PEW PRAYER: Holy Jesus, give us grace to hear your call in our ordinary lives, and the courage to follow. Amen.
PRELUDE - "Prelude on Joy in the Morning"
Natalie Sleeth (arr. by Joel Raney)
*CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: Most merciful God,
C: we confess that we are in bo***ge to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake God forgives you all your sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
GATHERING SONG ……………………………………………………..…… LBW #233
"Thy Strong Word" (Verses 1,3,6)
*GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
KYRIE
P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
*HYMN OF PRAISE
“Glory to God”
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:
You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
In the glory of God the Father. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray.
C: Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us. Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness that come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4
The northern tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali experienced the gloom of defeat by Assyrian military forces, but they are assured that their condition will be reversed when God makes a light-filled appearance. The joy they will experience will resemble celebrations of great harvests, because God will deliver them from everything that diminishes or oppresses them.
L: The First lesson is from the 9th chapter of Isaiah.
1 There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time [the Lord] brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied exultation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
L: Here ends the reading.
Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 4-9
The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Ps. 27:1)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing I ask of the Lord; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty
of the Lord and to seek God in the temple.
5 For in the day of trouble God will give me shelter, hide me in the
hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high upon a rock.
6 Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies who surround
me. Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of
rejoicing; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
8 My heart speaks your message— “Seek my face.”
Your face, O Lord, I will seek.
9 Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your servant in
anger. Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me
not, O God of my salvation.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Paul calls on the Corinthians to end their dissensions and share the unified outlook of the gospel. Discord arises when we forget that we belong not to human leaders or institutions but to Christ. Indeed, the unifying word of the cross of Christ is the center of the gospel and the power of God’s salvation.
L: The Second Lesson is from the 1st chapter of 1 Corinthians.
10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been made clear to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel—and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
L: Here ends the reading.
*VERSE
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus begins his public ministry shortly after John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod. He proclaims the nearness of God’s reign and calls four fishermen to be his first disciples.
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 4th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON ……………………………………………………………. Mr. Glenn Sadler
*HYMN OF THE DAY ………….…………………………………………. ELW #798
“Will you come and follow me"
“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 the 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 pray’r in you and you in me?”
“Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the pris’ners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the l***r 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 grown in you and you in me.
*THE APOSTLES’ CREED
C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
CHORAL INTROIT TO PRAYER (Spoken by all) ……………..… WOV #775
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us pow’r, send us grace.
*PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH (each petition concludes)
A: Merciful God, C: receive our prayer.
*SHARING THE PEACE
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: Peace be with you.
*GREAT THANKSGIVING
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Life up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right and our joy that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. Sharing our life, he lived among us to reveal your glory and love, that our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn (Spoken by all):
Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might,
Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
*EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
P: Blessed are you, O holy God: you are the Life and Light of all. By your powerful word you created all things. Blessed are you for Jesus, your Son. He is your Light, shining in our darkness and revealing to us your mercy and love.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his preaching and healing, his dying and rising, and his promise to make all things new, we await that day when all the universe will rejoice in your holy and life-giving light.
By your Spirit bless us and this meal, that refreshed with this heavenly food, we may be light for the world, revealing the brilliance of your Son. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.
C: Amen.
* THE LORD'S PRAYER
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
*LAMB OF GOD
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant us peace, grant us peace.
THE MEAL
All are welcome to the Lord’s Table. Come forward by the center aisle, place
a communion card in the basket, and receive the communion wafer from
the pastor. Proceed to the prefilled cups at the end of each front pew.
Return by the side aisle.
P: The risen Christ dwells with us here. All who are hungry, all who are thirsty, come.
MUSIC DURING THE MEAL WOV #654
"Alleluia, Song of Gladness"
*POST COMMUNION BLESSING
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
*POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
A: Faithful God, in this meal you have remembered your mercy,
bringing heaven to earth in the body and blood of Christ. As we wait for the day when all your promises will be fulfilled, sustain us and strengthen us by this holy mystery. Guide us toward your promised future, coming to birth in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
*SENDING HYMN ……….......................................................... LBW #494
"Jesus calls us o'er the tumult” (Verses 1-4)
*BENEDICTION
P: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
*DISMISSAL
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE - "Arise, Your Light Has Come!" Hymn #652
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Please stand, if you are able, at those parts of the service marked with *.
From Sundays and Seasons, copyright @ 2026 Augsburg Fortress. Permission to copy granted by OneLicense.Net; License A-711255. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress under license # SB125473.
Hearing assistance units are available inside the door to the Nave. If you feel you might benefit by their use, pick one up. Please be sure to turn off the unit and return it to the rack following the service.
All our guests or visitors are asked to include their name and address on the communion card. Thanks.
Please be advised that we will keep the names on the list for 4 weeks and then remove them. To have a name remain on the list for longer time, please call Becky and let her know.
Prayer Share: Be sure to sign your name on a card and put it in the box on the front pew. During communion, take a card from the box and pray for that person during the week.
Please notice the yellow Prayer Cards placed in the pew pockets, as well as at the back of the church and by the side door. These cards are for prayer requests for the Pastor to include in the Prayers of the Church. If you have a concern or thanksgiving to share, please give the prayer card to pastor or leave it in the prayer basket before worship begins.
Pastor Gordon Smith is available for emergency situations. He can be reached at 570-205-9285.
ACOLYTE – Michele Edgar
ORGANIST – Dr. Glenn Sadler
ASSISTING MINISTER – Lori Breech
LECTOR – Barb John
This morning we are led in worship by Glenn Sadler, an Authorized Lay Worship Leader of the Upper Susquehanna Synod. Authorized Lay Worship Leaders have received extensive training so as to provide worship leadership and preaching, and also have been authorized by the Bishop of the Synod to preside at the Eucharist in specific situations.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is committed to ordained ministry as the primary means for filling the needs of this church for Word and Sacrament, but at this place in the church’s pilgrimage, the church’s inability to provide all congregations with full time ordained pastoral ministry presents a challenge. On any given Sunday, congregations have needs that cannot be met by available ordained ministers. Therefore, because it is the bishop’s responsibility to meet the Word and Sacrament needs of the congregations in this Synod, synodically authorized lay worship leaders are trained to meet this need. On the behalf of the whole Church, Bishop Miller is deeply gratified by the ministry of these servants of the Gospel.
SPECIAL CONCERNS – Include these in your prayers:
Benji Shires, Rich, Darlene and Margaret Yohey, Michael Butler, Holly Fry, Joanne and Terry Blass, Tom Levan, Judy Hinterliter, Skip Davis, George Fox, Jacob Huebner, Jean Moser, Kelsey Smith, Rebekah and Olivia Gorham, Shirley Stewart, Brenda Kinney, Jay Roberts, Kelly Andress, Tony Kopitsky, Polly Diehl, Jennifer Soule and Becky Marino.
Those who put themselves in danger for the safety of others:
Mark Abshire, Scott Carl, Luke Cisco, Craig Mumper, Nick Hollister, Nijel Carl, Tom McFadden, Nick Nazarchyk, Naithan Long and Sgt. Mitchell Parker Hogue.
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR OUR SISTER CONGREGATION
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Danville
AND THESE OUR OWN MEMBERS:
Sun. – Freda Vastine Mon. – Jeanine Waters
Tues. – Donna Welliver Wed. – Carol Widger
Thurs. – Susan Yodock Fri. – Margaret Yohey
Sat. – Darlene Yohey
The Food for Friends Food Bank will be open the third Thursday of each month, from 4:30 – 6:00pm. We are accepting food donations and the item needed for this month is spaghetti sauce. The Food Bank is open to all residents in the Southern Columbia School District. Monetary donations are also appreciated. The next Food Bank will be on Thursday, February 19th from 4:30 – 6:00 pm.
Since poinsettias were a bit smaller than what was ordered, the cost was only $9 per plant, rather than the $11 that you paid. Please let Becky know by January 18th if you would like a $2 refund for each plant you ordered, or if you would like the extra $2 per plant to stay in the seasonal flower fund as a donation.
2025 Contribution statements are available to pick up on the past pew. If you are a member of the Church Council, your statement is in your mail folder!
Altar Flowers are a special way to celebrate or remember a loved one. Christ United and Amelia’s Flowers in Catawissa have teamed up to make those celebrations more affordable and therefore more frequent. Amelia’s has agreed to the rate of $35 for a center piece altar bouquet. Simply fill out an envelope and include the date desired for the flowers, the $35 fee and list the special occasion and place in the offering plate. Please place your orders at least two weeks ahead of time to be sure your order can be fulfilled! The rest will be handled from the church office. You get to take your flowers home after the service or at your request, the flowers will go to one of the homebound members of the congregation.
Sponsor charts are posted in the narthex. Check it out, choose a date that is special to you, and sign up to sponsor one of the following items:
• Altar Flowers ($35, Becky will order)
• Sunday Bulletins ($10)
• Sanctuary Candles ($5)
• Our Missionary (you designate the amount)
You can also call the church office (356-7312) to sign up!
