Sunday 30 January 2022 | The cost of discipleship

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Theme: Stand with us in the conflict, strengthen our resolve to bear with joy the cost of our discipleship COLLECT O God, the strength and refuge of all who serve you: when we are brought to the time of trial, stand with us in the conflict and strengthen our resolve to bear with joy the cost of our discipleship; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen. READING from 1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. GOSPEL according to Luke 4: 21-30 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" 24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to noneof them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. BENEDICTION Go now to all to whom God sends you, and speak whatever words God gives you. Rejoice in the truth and do not be afraid. Let all that you do and all that you say be filled with love, for love never ends. The Blessing And the blessing of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you always. Amen COMMISSIONING/SENDING Go in peace with courage, to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.