5th 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):
Hallelujah! Happy are they who have great delight in the Lord's commandments!
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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 5, 8th 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>
SALT OF THE EARTH <PAUSE> LIGHT TO THE WORLD <PAUSE>
Just pause for a moment to reflect upon some of the people who, in your lifetime, have made life on earth “taste” better or who have shone Christ’s light into the world. Maybe famous people. Maybe someone personal to you. <PAUSE>
Never forget those people. <PAUSE>
It is almost ten years ago but I remember this as if it were just yesterday.
In 2016, the body of 71-year old Fr. Rene Robert was found, riddled with bullets, in woods in Georgia, in the US. Fr. Rene had spent his life ministering to some of society’s most troubled people - criminals, convicts and the mentally disturbed. His archbishop said of him, “He was well aware of the potential violence that might involve his ministry, but he cared for all those people nonetheless.”
Fr. Rene’s killer faced execution.
22 years before his death, Fr. Rene wrote a letter in front of his lawyer and had it notarised to make it a legal document. Fr. Rene appears to foretell his death in these words, “Should I die a violent death, I request that the person found guilty of homicide for my killing not be subjected to or put in jeopardy of the death penalty under any circumstances. No matter how heinous their crime or how much I may have suffered.” <PAUSE>
Jesus clearly expects each of us to, FIRST AND FOREMOST, be an ambassador of the Kingdom … and I think we are all aware of how hard that can be at times!
Jesus tells us, ”You are the salt of the earth.”
Jesus tells us, ”You are the light of the world.”
Today, if we - as followers of the Christ - are going to impact the world - WE HAVE TO BE USEABLE SALT, used to “improve the taste of our world”.
Today, if we - as followers of the Christ - are going to impact the world - WE HAVE TO SHINE WITH THE LIGHT OF CHRIST. When Jesus says these two things, Jesus IS talking to US, He’s talking DIRECTLY to you and me … so let’s go ahead and take it personally.
WE ARE to be the salt of the earth. WE ARE to be light to the world.
Jesus reminds us that some salt can become adulterated and useless sidetracked, putting the pursuit of all that ‘earthly stuff’ - ahead of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
BUT - Christ calls US to put God first.
Are we, as individuals, as a faith community, REALLY perceived as the useable “salt” of Christ’s kingdom and shining His light into our wider communities? <PAUSE>
“You are the salt of the earth.” Lord, I pray, do not let our salt become unusable. <PAUSE>
“You are the light of the world.” - Lord, I pray, do not let us hide Your light. <PAUSE>
Earlier, when you paused to remember the people that Christ placed in your lives and consciousness, the salt He let you you taste and the light He shone into this world through them … then you must be thankful and uplifted by their examples and strive to bring that salt and that light into the lives of others. <PAUSE>
Today, as I remember Fr. Rene Robert … I know, I just know, I can “be saltier”. <PAUSE>
SALT OF THE EARTH - taste those words that Fr Rene wrote before his murder!
LIGHT TO THE WORLD - look at how brightly Fr. Rene’s words shine with the Christ light! TO THIS DAY!!
So, when you walk out into your world… GO OUT AND LIVE YOUR LIFE AS A “SALTY, SHINING CHRISTIAN” … and to God will be the glory. <AMEN>
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:
Holy God, sometimes our lives are so full of worries that we forget how You look after us through every aspect of our lives. When our worries begin to spiral out of control, help us turn them into a conversation with You, confident that you will calm our anxiety and give us hope for the future. AMEN.
<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
Gracious God, we pray for Your faith communities around the world asking that there will be a growing desire to get together. We give you thanks for those who come up with fresh ways of making Your name known to the wider community.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God, thank you for our world and the places where we live. Help us all to be mindful that we are all created equal in your sight and accept our deep regret that despite this there is still so much inequality to be found.
Help us to remember that You want us to be good stewards of your creation, living responsibly in the lands and seas of the earth. May all future growth be sustainable and may we ensure that its abundance is fairly shared for the good of all.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, we thank You for the joy of human love, and for all those among whom we live and work. We pray particularly for loved ones who worry us with their health, or circumstances, or life direction. We pray for those among our friends and families who do not know You, or whose faith has been shaken.
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we pray for all who bear the burdens of pain, bereavement, worry and depression. We pray for those whose illness stems from anxiety. We pray that they may have an awareness of Your presence and an understanding that You are bearing those burdens with them and always working towards their healing and wholeness.
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
Merciful God, through Your love and mercy You turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life. Comfort those who grieve in their sorrow and those who are worried about how they will cope on their own and reassure them that You will never leave them to carry the burdens of life unaided.
We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed sisters and brothers, Sofia (Chile), Mike (Australia), Pete (Canada).
<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
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
Everlasting God, we ask You to lead us into the coming week, Help us to believe and know that You are close by us, keep us from making mistakes and help us never to disappoint You through our words and actions.
(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: 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.
