THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2026​

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INTRODUCTION​

Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow
     him. In Jesus the kingdom of God has come near. We who have walked in
     darkness have seen a great light. We see this light most profoundly in the
     cross—as God suffers with us and all who are oppressed by sickness, sin, or evil.
     Light dawns for us as we gather around the word, the font, and the holy table. We
     are then sent to share the good news that others may be “caught” in the net of
     God’s grace and mercy.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY

Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us.
     Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness that
     come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.​

FIRST READING

ISAIAH 9:1-4
The northern tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali experienced the gloom of defeat by
     Assyrian military forces, but they are assured that their condition will be reversed
     when God makes a light-filled appearance. The joy they will experience will
     resemble celebrations of great harvests, because God will deliver them from
     everything that diminishes or oppresses them.

1 There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time [the
     Lord] brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in
     the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the
     Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

 2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied exultation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.​

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PSALM

PSALM 27:1, 4-9
(Response) The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Ps. 27:1)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing I ask of the Lord; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon
        the beauty of the Lord and to seek God in the temple.
5 For in the day of trouble God will give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high upon a rock.
6 Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing;
       I will sing and make music to the Lord.
(Response) The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Ps. 27:1)

7 Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
8 My heart speaks your message— “Seek my face.”
Your face, O Lord, I will seek.
9 Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your servant in anger.
Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not,
        O God of my salvation.
(Response) The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Ps. 27:1)

SECOND READING

1ST CORINTHIANS 1:10-18
Paul calls on the Corinthians to end their dissensions and share the unified
     outlook of the gospel. Discord arises when we forget that we belong not to human
     leaders or institutions but to Christ. Indeed, the unifying word of the cross of
     Christ is the center of the gospel and the power of God’s salvation.

10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus
     Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you
     but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it
     has been made clear to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you,
     my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to
     Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”
     13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in
     the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and
     Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did
     baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I
     baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim
     the gospel—and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not
     be emptied of its power.

     18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
     but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom and cured every
     sickness among the people. Alleluia. (Matt. 4:23)

GOSPEL READING

MATTHEW 4:12-23
Jesus begins his public ministry shortly after John the Baptist is imprisoned by
     Herod. He proclaims the nearness of God’s reign and calls four fishermen to be
     his first disciples.

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.
     13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory
     of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet
     Isaiah might be fulfilled:
     15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
     on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—
     16 the people who sat in darkness
     have seen a great light,
     and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
     light has dawned.”
     17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
     has come near.”

     18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called
     Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers.
     19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”
     20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he
     saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat
     with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately
     they left the boat and their father and followed him.

     23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
     proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every
     sickness among the people.

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LICENSES & EXPIRATION DATES
Worship Service Content is used via permission through Augsburg Fortress Liturgies

Annual License #SB144368. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 2/28/2026.
Our Hymns and Worship Music are used via permission through CCLI One
License #11327166. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 1/31/2027.

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​SERMONS​
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BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2026

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