WORSHIP@HOME

January 31, 2021 • 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Parish or Diocesan Leaders, please read this!

Preparation

Just Before You Begin

INTRODUCTORY RITES

Opening Song

Introduction

Leader: Today we gather together to continue hearing stories
from the early days of Jesus' ministry.

Greeting

Leader: ┼ In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Leader: Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be God forever.
(The response is: Blessed be God forever.)

All: Blessed be God forever.

Leader: We gather together as a family
to learn how to live more like Jesus.
One with all of our sisters and brothers throughout the world,
let us now listen to God's Word and join in prayer.

All: Amen.

Litany in Praise of God's Mercy

Leader: As we prepare to hear a story from our faith,
let us remember that God is love. Lord Jesus, you know that we don't always act out of love:
Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Lord Jesus, you know that sometimes we don’t speak up when we see something wrong:
Christ, have mercy.

All: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: Lord Jesus, we don’t always have the courage to do the right thing:
Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Leader: Let us pray

Leader: God of Love,
you stand for justice and peace
and ask for our help in building your Kingdom in this world. May we work peacefully toward a better world,
seeking what is best for all,
And having the courage to act and respond out of love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Alleluia

Gospel

Reader 1: In today’s reading, we hear about Jesus healing a man. We now do this action prayer together: May the Lord be on my mind, ┼
on my lips, ┼
and in my heart ┼
as we hear the Gospel today. A reading from the holy Gospel of Mark.

Reader 1: Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum.
Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching.
Everyone was amazed at his teaching.
He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses.
Suddenly a man with an evil spirit in him entered the meeting place and yelled,
“Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are! You are God’s Holy One.” Jesus told the evil spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!”
The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left. Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other,
“What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.”
News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee.

Reader 1: Then they came to Capernaum,
and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching,
for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said,
“Quiet! Come out of him!”
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another,
“What is this?
A new teaching with authority.
He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reader 1: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Video Reflection

Reflections on the Readings

  1. When the people heard Jesus teaching in the synagogue they were amazed at what a great teacher he was. They said he was a better teacher than their usual teachers who were called “scribes.” You’ve probably had some great teachers and some that weren’t as good. Talk about the best teacher you’ve had: what made him/her such a good teacher? That’s how Jesus taught—only probably even better!
  2. The man with the unclean spirit was someone who was very sick in his brain. The sickness made him talk and act very strangely and probably made most people scared to be around him. Notice that Jesus wasn’t scared to be near him, and right away Jesus wanted to make him better. Who do you know who is like Jesus and isn’t scared of other people, no matter how they look, act, or talk?
  3. Take a minute or two of silence now and say thank you to God for those people who are good teachers and who aren’t afraid of others. Then ask God to help you be more like them.

General Intercessions

Leader: Now let’s pray together to God for what we need.

Reader 2: We pray for the United States government, its elected officials, and everyone who works for it,
that they may be servant leaders who seek the good of all,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: We pray for all those who are sick,
and for all the doctors, nurses, caregivers and essential workers
who are caring for them, that they remain healthy,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: We pray for all those in public safety—police, fire, and other security—
that they can remain safe as they protect us,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: We pray for students who are struggling to learn or stay connected to friends
while the coronavirus keeps some schooling virtual,
that they can stay focused until they can gather in person again,
let us pray to the Lord.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Reader 2: For what else and for who else shall we pray?

Lord's Prayer

Leader: Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:

All: 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.

Sign of Peace

Leader: Let us now offer each other a sign of peace.

A Litany for Spiritual Communion

Leader: The response is: Lord, bring us closer to you!

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Leader: Lord our God,
we wish we could gather today with our parish community,
but we gather here out of love and concern for others.
You teach us that when two or three are gathered in your name,
you are there.
Together, we pray:

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Leader: Christ Jesus, you are present in a special way
when bread and wine are turned into your Body and Blood.
Since we cannot receive you in this way today,
We ask that you enter our hearts
so that we may receive you spiritually.
Together, we pray:

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Leader: Lord our God,
watch over your family
and keep us safe in your care,
for all our hope is in you.

All: Lord, bring us closer to you!

Concluding Rite

Blessing & Dismissal

Leader: Go in the peace of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.

Closing Song

After the Service

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