First Service
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Called Saints
January 18, 2026
AS WE GATHER
People often speak about a person’s calling in life. They are describing a unique purpose or vocation according to interests and talents. Often, trying to determine a person’s “calling” or “destiny” is defined by some innate ability or giftedness found within ourselves, something we were born with or somehow born to do.
Today we hear of God calling otherwise ordinary fishermen Andrew and his brother Simon Peter. They were called by God through John the Baptist to follow the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. They were called to be disciples and eventually to be sent on Christ’s mission as apostles. The prophet Isaiah says even the Savior, the servant of the Lord, was called from the womb by God, “that Israel might be gathered to Him,” and called “as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Isaiah 49:5–6). Saul of Tarsus was “called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,” and Saul, now named Paul, reminds the church at Corinth and us that we are “called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:1–2). This calling differs from merely surveying interests or abilities within us; it comes to us from outside of ourselves, from the living God, our creator and Redeemer. This calling comes from God to everyone. It is the call of salvation, the divine call that transforms us from sinners into saints. Therefore, this calling depends not on anything within us but solely and totally on the grace and mercy and love of God.
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN My Hope is Built on Nothing Less TLH 370
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant, and blood Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 43:4; 1 Corinthians 6:11
Pastor: I will go to the altar of God,
People: to God my exceeding joy.
Pastor: You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified
People: in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
PRAISE SONG There Is a Redeemer CH308
There is a Redeemer – Jesus, God’s own Son, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Refrain: Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done.
Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names, Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain. (Refrain)
When I stand in glory, I will see His face. There I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place. (Refrain)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 49:1–7 (The servant of the Lord)
Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” 5 And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him—for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:1–9 (God’s calling)
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
HOLY GOSPEL John 1:29–42a (Jesus calls the first disciples.)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SONG In Christ Alone
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when striving cease.
My comforter, my all in all, here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone – who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Til on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine –
bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the pow’r of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from His hand.
‘Til He returns or calls me home, here in the pow’r of Christ I stand.
SERMON
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, we give You praise and thanks for all Your mercies to us and the whole world, especially for salvation and the call to restored holiness through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Make Your Gospel to sound forth throughout the world, causing many to turn to You in true repentance and faith for their eternal salvation. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Bless and defend Your whole church, providing pastors and ministers according to Your will, and make it perfect in love and all good works, established in the faith delivered to the saints. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Preserve our nation in spiritual righteousness and honor. Grant health and protection to all who bear office in our land, that they may know and obey Your holy will. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Comfort all who are in sorrow or need, sickness or adversity. Guard and defend those who suffer persecution for the faith. Have mercy on all to whom death draws near. Give consolation to those who mourn. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Remembering those who have served You in years past and who now rest from their labors, keep us in fellowship with all Your saints, and bring us at last to the joy of Your eternal kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.