Today Is: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Sun, 31 Jan 2021 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: B

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Collect for: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 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. Old Testament Deuteronomy 18:15-20 15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.' 17 And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' 1 Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 111 1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. 2 The works of the LORD are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. 3 His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. 5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations. 7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. 8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. *At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. New Testament 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, 10-13 1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel Mark 1:21-28 Introduction to the Gospel: Deacon:The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from Mark's Gospel chapter 1, beginning at verse 21. 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, 'Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!' 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, and come out of him!' 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, 'What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.' 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says: Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, Lord Christ. Prayers of the People Prayers of the People for: Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Brothers and sisters, with humble hearts and steadfast faith, let us turn to the Lord in prayer, trusting in His grace and mercy. For the Patriarch, all Bishops, Priests and Deacons; that they will live lives holy and pleasing to the Lord as models for their flock. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For the persecuted Church; that they will be supernaturally sustained by God's grace, remembered in our prayers and delivered from their oppressors. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For the nations; that God will raise up righteous men and women who will expose corruption and administer justice. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For the Jewish people; that they will recognize Jesus as the prophet spoken of by Moses. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For our children who have gone astray; that they will be given the grace to repent and return to the Lord. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit and His gifts upon His people. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. For the conversion of Islam and other world religions which are in opposition to the Word of God. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Gracious Father, Holy and Awesome is Your Name. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to have ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart to respond to what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN