February 8, 2026 – The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany

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At Grace, all are welcome, which means we affirm people of every age, race, language, nationality, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, family structure, or economic, social, immigration, and marital status.

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Welcome to Grace UMC! We’re blessed by your presence for worship. Please register your attendance using the red attendance pads in the Sanctuary or the link above. If you are in-person and need an assisted listening device, they are available at the back of the Nave. Please ask an usher or greeter. During worship, we use three hymnals: The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and Worship & Song.

 

+Please rise in body or spirit

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Welcome

 

Prelude-Anita Lockwood

“Solemn Melody” by H. Walford Davies, arr. by John E. West

 

+Opening Hymn-TFWS 2130

“The Summons”

 

+Opening Prayer

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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+Gloria

Glory to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: as it was in the beginning is now and forever, Amen! Amen! Amen!

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Prayer of Confession 

God of mercy, you have marked us as your own and called us into a way of life shaped by love. Yet we confess that we often resist that calling. We settle for comfort when faith asks for courage. We turn inward when you invite us outward. We forget the promises spoken over us and the grace that continues to claim us. Forgive us, renew us, and draw us back to the waters of our baptism, that we may live more faithfully as your people in the world. Amen.

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Silence for personal confession and assurance of pardon. ​

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+Passing the Peace 

May the peace of Christ be always with you. And also with you.

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First Lesson- Isaiah 58:1-9a (CEB)​

Shout loudly; don’t hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their crime, to the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day, desiring knowledge of my ways like a nation that acted righteously, that didn’t abandon their God. They ask me for righteous judgments, wanting to be close to God. “Why do we fast and you don’t see; why afflict ourselves and you don’t notice?” Yet on your fast day you do whatever you want and oppress all your workers. You quarrel and brawl, and then you fast; you hit each other violently with your fists. You shouldn’t fast as you are doing today if you want to make your voice heard on high. Is this the kind of fast I choose, a day of self-affliction, of bending one’s head like a reed and of lying down in mourning clothing and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Isn’t this the fast I choose: releasing wicked restraints, untying the ropes of a yoke, setting free the mistreated, and breaking every yoke? Isn’t it sharing your bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless poor into your house, covering the naked when you see them, and not hiding from your own family? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and you will be healed quickly. Your own righteousness will walk before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say, “I’m here.”​

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This is the word of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

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Praise the Lord! Those who honor the Lord,

who adore God’s commandments, are truly happy!

    Their descendants will be strong throughout the land.

    The offspring of those who do right will be blessed;

     wealth and riches will be in their houses.

Their righteousness stands forever.

They shine in the dark for others who do right.

    They are merciful, compassionate, and righteous. R.

 

Those who lend generously are good people—
as are those who conduct their affairs with justice.
    Yes, these sorts of people will never be shaken;
    the righteous will be remembered forever!
They won’t be frightened at bad news.
Their hearts are steady, trusting in the Lord.
    Their hearts are firm; they aren’t afraid.
    In the end, they will witness their enemies’ defeat.
They give freely to those in need.
    Their righteousness stands forever.
   Their strength increases gloriously.  R.

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+Hymn of Preparation-UMH 593

“Here I Am, Lord” vs. 1, 2

 

+Second Lesson - Matthew 5:13-20 (CEB)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. “Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them. I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there becomes a reality. Therefore, whoever ignores one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. I say to you that unless your righteousness is greater than the righteousness of the legal experts and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.​

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This is the word of God for the people of God. 

Thanks be to God.

 

+Hymn of Preparation-UMH 593

“Here I Am, Lord” v. 3

 

Sermon-The Rev. Seth O’Kegley

Sent Into the World (Click here to read text)

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Baptismal Remembrance​

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Prayers of the People 

God of belonging, hear our prayer.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

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, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. 

 

Parish Announcements​​

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Offertory-Chancel Choir

“Go Out and Serve Him!” by Don Besig

 

Filled with the Spirit, filled with God's grace, filled with the friendship we find in this place; called as disciples, go now in faith. Jesus will show the way. Go out and serve Him, serve Him. Carry His word into all of the world. Go and serve Him, serve Him. Go out and serve our Lord.

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-Today’s loose coin offering is for Family Promise Static Site-

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+Doxology -Lasst Uns Erfreuen

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below: Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts.

Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts.

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia.

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+Hymn of Discipleship- TFWS 2176

“Make Me a Servant

 

+Benediction

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+Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 

Postlude- Anita Lockwood

​"Make the Sounds of Praise” by Robert J. Hughes

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Worship Leaders

The Rev. Seth O’Kegley, preaching

The Rev. Stacy Collins, John Haien, liturgists

Steven Burchard, Director of Music

Anita Lockwood, pianist and organist

Chancel Choir