4th Sunday After Epiphany
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
In his sight the wicked are rejected, but he honours those who fear the Lord.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Epiphany 4, 1st Feb 2026
Welcome sisters and brothers and peace be with you. Take my lips O God and speak through them, take our minds O God and think through them, take our hearts O God and love through them this day. <Amen>
In Matthew 5:1-12, “The Beatitudes”, we hear a series of blessings pronounced by Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount, and Jesus says that word “Blessed” nine times.
We often talk about ourselves or others as being blessed. “I’m blessed.” “She’s blessed.” “We’re really blessed.”
Here’s what I wonder: what does it mean to be blessed? When you tell someone that “you are blessed” what do you mean by that? And when you hear someone else say, “I’m really blessed,” how do you understand that?
I ask these questions because I think what we mean when we talk about being blessed is often not what Jesus means when he talks about our being blessed.
Take a moment and think of one thing,JUST ONE THING, that points to YOUR own blessedness. <PAUSE>
What did you name? What’s a mark of your blessedness? When I hear others talk about being blessed they often describe things like good health, healing from a sickness, well-being, wealth, some good fortune, success, getting through a difficult time, family, love or friendship, receiving support from another, getting something they wanted, things going their way.
That’s often how I’ve thought about it too. These are certainly good things and I pray them for you and myself but is that really what it means to be blessed?
Maybe to be “blessed” is actually better than that. <PAUSE>
How many of you, when I asked you to name that one thing that points to your blessedness, named one of the beatitudes in Matthew’s gospel? <PAUSE>
Nobody ? I’m not surprised because The Beatitudes are not at the top of people’s lists of blessings … oh yes, and I include myself here as well!
I didn’t ask that question as a test, criticism, or judgment but as a wondering that maybe we don’t really get what it means to be blessed.
I suspect most of us think of blessedness as some sort of reward or benefit from God.
We’re lucky or fortunate in contrast to someone who is not.
We’ve received a particular benefit. Maybe our prayer was answered like we wanted. Maybe we even think we did things right as opposed to someone who did them wrong
Yes, maybe we think that to be blessed means we’ve been chosen, picked, favoured, benefitted.
What if that’s not at all what it means to be blessed?
What if blessedness is broader and bigger than that? <PAUSE>
It is to this glory of blessedness that Jesus is leading us towards in some of the most well-known words in Scripture, and some of the most challenging - The Beatitudes.
The Beatitudes are not gentle sayings for quiet reflection alone.
They are a declaration. A manifesto. A description of life in the kingdom of God.
They show us that Jesus’ vision of blessedness is very different from the world’s.
Jesus re-defined “blessed” by saying that it’s not about success, health, status, comfort, and security. Jesus looks out at a crowd that includes the poor, the grieving, the overlooked, the outcast and he says:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit…
Blessed are those who mourn…
Blessed are the meek…”
This is not the world’s idea of blessing.
Jesus is not saying these states are good in themselves. He is saying that God is especially near to those who know their need, their grief, their dependence.
Poor in spirit are those who know they cannot save themselves.
Those who mourn are those who feel the brokenness of the world, and their own hearts.
The meek are not weak; they are those who refuse to grasp for power.
In God’s kingdom, blessing begins with honesty … about who we are and our need for grace. <PAUSE>
It is also VITAL to vote that each beatitude carries a promise:
• “Theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• “They will be comforted.”
• “They will inherit the earth.”
The kingdom belongs to the poor in spirit - not the self-sufficient.
Comfort comes to those who mourn - not those who deny pain.
Mercy is given to those who show mercy - not those who demand their rights.
The Beatitudes show us that God’s grace flows toward openness, humility, and compassion. <PAUSE>
Jesus does more than comfort; He calls.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
This is not about trying to be morally superior. It is about longing for God’s justice, God’s goodness, God’s healing of the world.
“Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Not peace-lovers, not peace-talkers, but peacemakers - those willing to step into tension, to reconcile, to love across worldly divisions of religious and cultural barriers, trade tariffs, national securities, political divides, governmental repressions etc etc.
To live the Beatitudes is to live against the current of the world:
• choosing mercy over revenge,
• humility over pride,
• faithfulness over applause. <PAUSE>
Jesus ends with words that may unsettle us:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.”
Following Jesus, AND PUTTING JESUS FIRST, does not always lead to approval. Sometimes it leads to misunderstanding. Sometimes it leads to rejection.
But Jesus says, do not lose heart. God sees you. God is with you. God’s kingdom is bigger than any one specific moment in time. <PAUSE>
The Beatitudes are NOT a checklist. They are a portrait - of Jesus himself.
He is poor in spirit, trusting the Father.
He mourns over the world’s pain.
He is meek, merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker - even unto the cross.
It is in Jesus that we are invited into this blessed life.
So here and now … hear this good news:
TRUE Blessedness is NOT found in financial success, good health, happy families, getting your own way, etc etc.
BLESSEDNESS IS FOUND IN BELONGING TO, AND GROWING EVER CLOSER TO, GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
I pray that we trust this upside-down kingdom.
I pray that we walk in the way of Jesus.
I pray that we discover that, it is in knowing Christ, we TRULY are blessed.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Jesus went up the mountain, sat down, and taught His disciples, saying,“Blessed are the poor in spirit …” and so, with trust in God’s kingdom, let us pray.
<Longer pause for personal reflection>
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
God of grace, make Your faith communities humble and faithful. Free us from pride and self-reliance, that we may depend wholly on You. Shape us into a community that hungers for righteousness, dares to show mercy, seeks purity of heart, and walks the way of peace.
May we be living signs of Your kingdom in the world, following the path of Christ, who still teaches us from the mountain.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
God of all nations, we pray for the world You love. Where there is violence, raise up peacemakers. Where there is injustice, stir a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Where power is abused, lift up the meek and the voiceless.
Guide the leaders of the nations to govern with honesty, respect, wisdom, compassion, and humility, so that Your justice and peace may take root in every land.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Compassionate God, we bring before you all who are sick in body, mind, or spirit; those who grieve, those who feel lost or overwhelmed, and those who carry burdens unseen.
Surround them with your healing presence. Grant strength to the weary, peace to the anxious, and comfort to all who mourn. Use us as instruments of your mercy and care.
Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Eternal God, we remember before you those who have died, especially those known to us and loved by us. Trusting in your promises, we commend them to your eternal care.
Grant them rest in your heavenly kingdom, where sorrow and pain are no more, and where they behold you face to face.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed brothers, George (England), Maxwell (England), Michael (Australia).
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Faithful God, strengthen us and our faith community in our callings.
When discipleship is costly, give us courage. When faith is tested, give us perseverance. When we are tempted to lose heart, remind us of Your blessing.
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Faithful God, Help us to live the Beatitudes daily, as witnesses to Your grace,
salt of the earth, and light for the world, to the glory of Your holy name.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: trusting in Your mercy and grace, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
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 for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
