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THIRD
SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
PROPER 3
ISAIAH 9:1-4
PSALM
27:1, 5-13
1
CORINTHIANS 1:10-18
MATTHEW
4:12-23
COLLECT
Almighty God,
by grace alone you call us
and accept us in your service.
Strengthen us by your Spirit,
and make us worthy of your call;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
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A
READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the
former time he 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. 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. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its
joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people
exult when dividing plunder. 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.
ISAIAH 9:1-4
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PSALM
REFRAIN The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The
Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? the
Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? R
One
thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; that I may dwell
in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;
To
behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
R
For
in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; he
shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon
a rock.
Even
now he lifts up my head above my enemies round about me. R
Therefore
I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great
gladness; I will sing and make music to the Lord. R
Hearken
to my voice, O Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me.
You
speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." Your face,
Lord, will I seek. R
Hide
not your face from me, nor turn away your servant in displeasure.
You
have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake me, O God of
my salvation. R
PSALM 27:1, 5-13
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A
READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS
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 united in the same mind and
the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people
that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 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." Has Christ been divided? Was
Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did
baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not
know whether I baptized anyone else.) 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. 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.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18
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THE
HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to
Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the
sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had
been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea,
across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - 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." From that time
Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
has come near." 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 fishermen. And he said
to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for
people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
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. Immediately they
left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went
throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming
the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every
sickness among the people.
MATTHEW 4:12-23
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PRAYER
OVER THE GIFTS
Loving God,
before the world began you called us.
Make holy all we offer you this day,
and strengthen us in that calling.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
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PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION
Gracious God,
our hands have taken holy things;
our lives have been nourished by the body of your Son.
May we who have eaten at this holy table
be strengthened for service in your world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
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