St Clement Church
The Second Sunday of Epiphany Community Service
Good morning
“What are you looking for?”
I wonder how often we ask ourselves that question. I certainly have - and so many times throughout my life.
Too often, my answer has been, ‘I don’t know!’
Why?
Surely the answer has been there all along … not written in any book, not the words of any great theologian … but deep inside me; there for me to see if only I look.
My love to you all
Liz
Lord God, in a universe that seems so immense it is easy to feel insignificant as we stand here today. Yet we know that we are precious in your sight – unique individuals loved and blessed in so many ways. We stand in awe of the one who has created all things and dedicate this time and all our days to your service. Accept this offering we pray, our sacrifice of praise and worship. Amen
We say together:
Glorious Trinity make your presence known in this place, through our worship, our prayer, the reading of your Word and in the fellowship we shall enjoy. Amen
Hymn: 390 Jesus, where’er thy people meet
Prayer of Confession
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you and against one another, in thought, word, and deed.
We are truly sorry for our pride, and for our lack of faith, of understanding and of love.
We repent of our narrow-mindedness, of our bitterness and our prejudices.
Pardon and forgive us, save us, and renew us, that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Readings:
Isaiah 49. 1 – 7
1 Corinthians 1. 1 - 9
Hymn: 200 Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult
Gospel: John 1. 29 - 42
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards him and declared ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”
I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’
And John testified ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’
The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’
The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’
They said to him, ‘Rabbi’
(which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’
He said to them, ‘Come and see.’
They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.
It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
One of the two who hear John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed).
He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’
(which is translated Peter).
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
“What are you looking for?” That’s the question Jesus asks in today’s gospel reading.
We’re now nearly three weeks into the new year and I wonder, what are we looking for in 2026?
I wonder whether what you are looking for today is different from what you were looking for a year ago, three years ago, ten, twenty, thirty years ago. If so, how has it changed? And if not, why hasn’t it changed?
Jesus is asking a question that has the power to reorient our lives and begin changing our world. What if you and I asked ourselves that question every day? What if asking ourselves that question became our morning practice? What are you and I looking for?
Our answers to that question probably reveal more about us, our life, relationships and the world than the things we are looking for. It’s a diagnostic question. Whatever it is we are looking for sets a particular course and direction for our life. It asks something of us. Is your life on course? Are you headed in a good direction? If not, maybe it’s time to change what you are looking for.
How would you answer Jesus’ question today?
Sometimes I’m not sure what I am looking for. The longer I live and the older I get, the fewer answers I have. Life has a way of calling into question our answers. And so does Jesus. I think that’s what he is doing for the two disciples of John the Baptist who are following him. Twice they have stood with John as he has pointed to Jesus and said, “Here is the Lamb of God.” They have their answer and they follow it only to see Jesus turn, look them in the eye, and ask, “What are you looking for?” What do you want?
It’s not enough for them to say, “We’re looking for the Lamb of God.” That’s John’s answer. Jesus is asking them to look within themselves to face themselves, and to answer for themselves. No one else has or can give us our answer. That’s our work to do. It’s part of growing up and taking responsibility for our own lives. And that can be a hard and slow process.
The thing is it’s never about finding the answer, it’s about following the question. We can’t look for a wise man, or woman, who has the answers. They’re already within us. We have to trust our own journey.
We can ask questions because we want to be given a simple answer. Don’t we often wish for, or think that there must be some ‘magical other’ out there who has our answers and can fix our life? I suspect most of us would rather have someone give us the answer (even if we don’t accept or follow it) than to have to bear the question. Yet, throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus rarely gives direct answers. And he doesn’t in today’s gospel either. When the two disciples ask, “Where are you staying?” Jesus doesn’t give them an answer. He doesn’t give them an address or information about where he’s going, what he does, who he is, or how he spends his time. He extends the invitation. “Come and see.”
He's inviting them and us to live and experience his question. It’s a simple question but it’s not easy to answer. I suspect it’s a question we often avoid or deny. To answer his question means facing our deepest desires and longings, feeling our hurts and losses, looking at what we’ve done and left undone, acknowledging the emptiness within, imagining or dreaming a different life, enquiring about what is of ultimate importance, naming what shapes and forms our lives. And that can be risky and scary. It means getting real and being honest, vulnerable, and open. When you consider all that, “What are you looking for?”
Are you looking for healing and wholeness? Come and see.
Are you looking for forgiveness and reconciliation? Come and see.
Are you looking for hope and courage? Come and see.
Are you looking for justice and change? Come and see.
Are you looking for light and clarity? Come and see.
Are you looking for life and life abundant? Come and see.
I suspect you get the idea. In whatever ways you might answer Jesus’ question, his response is the same, “Come and see.” It’s the promise that there is somewhere to go and there is something to see and experience.
I wonder what Jesus’ invitation for each of our lives is today.
What are you looking for today? What would it take and be like to get up and go look?
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with His love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
Hymn: 216 Disposer supreme, and judge of the earth
Our Intercessions
To God who welcomes all in love, let us pray for the good of the Church and the concerns of all those in need.
O God, you spoke your Word and revealed your Good News in Jesus, the Christ. Fill all creation with that Word again, so that by proclaiming your joyful promises to all nations and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples, we may become one living body, your incarnate presence on earth.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
God of every land and nation, you have created all people and you live among us in Jesus Christ. Listen to the cries of those who pray to you, and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name, all people will know the power of love at work in the world. Holy God, although we are sometimes separated by language and culture from the people we live amongst, we long to see your will done here on earth as it is in heaven. We pray for our neighbours, not only with words, but day by day, moment by moment, in the things we do and the way in which we do them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
God, you speak to us in many ways: through the rushing of the wind or in a still small voice, in Scripture’s Word or through your Grace and we in turn find many ways, to hear the world’s insistent voice break through the silence and take your place. Forgive our sin. Help us to hear your voice above the clamour of this world, to recognise the difference and follow only you.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Generous God, for all that sustains us; air to breathe, warmth and light, food to eat, water to drink, we offer you our thanks and praise. For spiritual gifts that bind us together; one people, one body, empowered for service we offer our hands and voices. For the Good News of the Gospel; healing and wholeness, freedom, and justice we offer our hearts in your service.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Holy God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Saviour. Bring healing to all wounds, make whole all that is broken, speak truth to all illusion, and shed light in every darkness, that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ.
Abundant God, be with those of us that desire and need your restoration and healing. As we remember the way your Son Jesus Christ cast out demons, we remember today all those who live in the depths of depression and mental illness. We ask for your blessing and healing touch upon all who suffer in any way – all who are struggling with illness, loneliness, and fear of the unknown. Enfold them in your loving arms and let them feel the assurance that they are never alone. We remember especially: Reverend Diane, Ken, Brian, May, Susan, Tony, Jan, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger and Helen, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Mary, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Coral and Paul, Barbara, Simone, Felicity, Dinah, Daphne and David, David and Jeanette, Stanley, Carol, Rachael, all those known to each of us and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, your love reaches beyond the grave. At the end of our days on earth be with us and with those whom we love. May those who have gone before us rest in your eternal peace. We remember before you those who have died and we pray for all whose life is saddened by the death of a loved one, be with them in their loneliness.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Faithful God, we pray for ourselves; as we go from your house today to start the week ahead, we ask that in all we do, we may walk more closely with you at our side, safe in the knowledge that your fatherly love and care knows no bounds.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Andrew, St Allen and St Clement and all Christian people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
We say together:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Answer His Call by Sara Dagen
I am called.
God made me just as I am
Body, mind, and soul
For his pleasure
For his purpose
For his glory.
No weapon formed against me will stand.
But I will stand
In his strength
Knowing in my very core
That He who lives in me
Is greater than he who is the world.
He transforms my life
Makes me clean
Makes me whole
Makes me willing
To do
To be
To believe
I can
Because He calls.
Who He calls, He equips.
I am called.
The Peace
God is love and those who live in love live in God and God lives in them.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 366 God of mercy, God of grace
The Blessing
May the Father’s hand
Keep you from stumbling,
the footprints of Jesus
give you confidence to follow,
and the fire of the Spirit
keep you warm and safe
in your walk with God this day. Amen