Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year BRCL
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

The opening hymn was
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty The text was written by Joachim Neander and translated by Catherine Winkworth. The tune is Lobe den Herren from the Erneuerten Gesanbuch of 1665, harmonized by William Sterndale Bennett.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
who with his love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.

The second hymn was Have Thine Own Way, Lord. The text was written by Adelaide A. Pollard (1862-1934). The tune is Adelaide by George C. Stebbins (1846-1945).


1. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Savior today!
Wash me just now, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

3. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4. Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

Our anthem was On Eagles Wings It was written by Michael Joncas, based on Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

The congregation sang with the choir on all the refrains.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, "My Refuge,
My Rock in Whom I trust."

Refrain
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
And famine will bring you no fear;
Under His Wings your refuge,
His faithfulness your shield.


Refrain
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
You need not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Though thousands fall about you,
Near you it shall not come.


Refrain
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
For to His angels He's given a command,
To guard you in all of your ways,
Upon their hands they will bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.


Refrain
And He will raise you up on eagle's wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

Our Communion hymns were:

Gift of Finest Wheat

This American Catholic hymn was composed for the Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia
1976, hymn tune by Robert Kreutz,text by Omer Westendorf.


You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.
As when a shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice,
so when you call your family, Lord,we follow and rejoice.
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

With joyful lips we sing to you our praise and gratitude,
that you should count us worthy, Lord, to share this heavenly food.
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

Is not the cup we bless and share the blood od Christ outpoured?
Do not one cup, one loaf, declare our oneness in the Lord?
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

The mystery of your presence, Lord, no mortal tongue could tell;
whom all the world cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell.
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

You give yourself to us, O Lord; then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in your name in truth and charity.
You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.


Here Is Bread
Here is bread. Here is wine:
Christ is with us: He is with us.
Break the bread; taste the wine:
Christ is with us here.

Here is grace, here is peace:
Christ is with us: He is with us.
Know His grace; find His peace:
Feast on Jesus here.

In this bread there is healing;
In this cup there's life forever.
In this moment by the Spirit
Christ is with us here.

Here we are, joined in one:
Christ is with us: He is with us.
We'll proclaim till He comes
Jesus crucified.

In this bread there is healing;
In this cup there's life forever.
In this moment by the Spirit
Christ is with us here.

Now Let Us from This Table Rise by Fred H. Kaan. The tune is Deus Turom Militum which we sang last week with the hymn Whom Shall I Send?

Now let us from this table rise
Renewed in body, mind, and soul;
With Christ we die and live again,
His selfless love has made us whole.

With minds alert, upheld by grace,
To spread the word in speech and deed,
We follow in the steps of Christ,
At one with all in hope and need.

To fill each human house with love,
It is the sacrament of care;
The work that Christ began to do
We humbly pledge ourselves to share.

Then grant us courage, Father God,
To choose again the pilgrim way
And help us to accept with joy
The challenge of tomorrow's day.

Our closing hymn was the great Charles Wesley hymn A Charge to Keep I Have set to the tune Boylston by Lowell Mason.

1. A charge to keep I have,a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,and fit it for the sky.

2. To serve the present age,my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will!

3. Arm me with jealous care,as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord,prepare a strict account to give!

4. Help me to watch and pray,and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray,I shall forever die.

The postlude was based on the hymn tune The Ash Grove one of my favorite tunes. Last year our handbell choir played an anthem based on this tune.It was wonderful.