Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

There are echoes of the Christmas Season in the Gospel story of the wedding feast of Cana, in which God’s glory becomes visible in Jesus, as it did at his Epiphany and Baptism.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening Prayer:

God of wonders, at Cana in Galilee you revealed your glory in Jesus Christ and summoned all humanity to life in him. Show to your people gathered on this day your transforming power and give us a foretaste of the wine you keep for the age to come. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
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Hymn: “God Of Wonders” – Third Day

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 62:1-5 (NLT)
[God’s relationship with us is described in terms of a wedding — God is as close as a bridegroom to a bride.]

Because I love Zion, I will not keep still. Because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.

The nations will see your righteousness. World leaders will be blinded by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth. The Lord will hold you in his hand for all to see — a splendid crown in the hand of God.

Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land.” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God,” for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride. Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
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A Reading from Psalms: Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10 (NLT)

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
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O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him. Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly.
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“Overwhelmed” – Big Daddy Weave (Sand Stories by Heather Curless)

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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (NLT)
[Between now and the start of Lent, the second reading each Sunday is from St Paul’s first letter to the people of Corinth. He wrote to them in response to a request for practical guidance. Today’s reading outlines the different gifts needed by each community, which the Spirit provides.]

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 2:1-11 (NLT)
[The story of the wedding feast of Cana repeats the message of the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord. Jesus’ glory was seen by his disciples.]

The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
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Hymn: “God is able” – Hillsong United

God is able | He will never fail | He is almighty God | Greater than all we seek | Greater than all we ask | He has done great things

Lifted up | He defeated the grave | Raised to life | Our God is able | In His name | We overcome | For the Lord | Our God is able

God is with us | God is on our side | He will make a way | Far above all we know | Far above all we hope | He has done great things

God is with us | He will go before | He will never leave us | He will never leave us | God is for us | He has open arms | He will never fail us | He will never fail us
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Intercessions:

Gracious God; move among your people with wonder-working power as we bring our needs before you.

+ For all who seek to follow Christ – may we not be slow to do what he asks of us…. Lord, hear us.
+ For Christians facing persecution in Africa and the Middle East – draw close to them and show them your glory…. Lord, hear us.
+ For refugees and migrants – provide for their immediate needs and return them home safely, rejoicing at the wonders you have shown them…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those preparing to celebrate marriage this year – that your presence at their wedding may bring them joy and oneness in spirit…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all married couples – that their witness of love may show the world your continuing mercy and presence…. Lord, hear us.
+ For widowed, separated and divorced people – that the support of their friends may help them in difficult times…. Lord, hear us.
+ For our loved ones who have died – that they may sing God’s praises in their eternal home…. Lord, hear us.

Loving God, we proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king’: let your power be seen as you answer our prayers offered through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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Hymn: “How Great Is Our God” – (World Edition) [feat. Chris Tomlin]

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Benediction:

He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen