Our lessons this week center around one of the most important facets of discipleship-worship of God. Our gathering to hear the Word, sing praises, say prayers, and receive the Eucharist is the well from which flows our hope and strength. This is the wellspring of our experience of grace. Through it, we are bound together in the Body of Christ.

    The Old Testament lesson from Deuteronomy is taken from the second address to the Israelites by Moses in the wilderness. He is expounding upon the Law established in God's covenant with them. A foundational element of the covenantal Law concerns the proper worship of God. God's people are not to rely upon pagan diviners. Rather, they are to know the God will raise up true prophets from among them, prophets whose words will be accomplished through God's own purposes. Moses' words speak to us today as an affirmation of the sufficiency of God's Word, as it is received and taught within the household of God; for us, this means the Church.

    The passage that we read from Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church should also hearten us. Often we think that if only we knew more, if we had more knowledge about scripture and matters of faith we would be somehow closer to God. Paul writes, "Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but everyone who loves God is known by him." Three intertwined truths are contained here: our claims to knowledge are futile (even misguided); love, our love of God, is essential; through that love we are known by God. Our being known is what important to God-and it happens when we offer ourselves to God in worship. The Psalmist writes, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." This means that our desire to worship, please, and follow the commandments of God is the route to wisdom.

    In our gospel lesson, Jesus enters the synagogue at Capernaum and teaches there. All who hear him are astonished at his authority. Someone with an "unclean spirit" enters the synagogue, and Jesus heals him, freeing him from the impediment that has separated him from God. Thus, he is freed to worship God with his whole being.

    What are the distractions and impediments that keep you from worship? I hope that as often as you are able you will come and join with the Body in worshipping God. Love builds up community, Paul tells us-and worship will build up our love!

The organ prelude is Pax Vobiscum by Garth Edmundson (1892-1971), an American organist of some fame during his lifetime but sadly forgotten today. Pax vobiscum is a Latin phrase meaning "peace be with you". Rather than setting a hymn or chant, Edmundson created an original melody, a tone-poem of sorts, designed to transmit the feeling of peace. While some dismiss music in this style as overly sentimental or picturesque, there is a certain charm found in this music. Edmundson was a prolific composer who studied in Paris and Leipzig with some of the best pedagogues of the day before returning to the states and working as a composer and church musician. His large body of music is out of print, but luckily, I've been able to collect several of his books from different sources. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do! In Sunday's Gospel, Christ brings peace to the afflicted man. How do we experience the peace of Christ?

Our processional hymn, Songs of thankfulness and praise, is one of the most often used and easily recognizable Epiphany hymns. Each verse refers to one of the highlights of the season and ends with the phrase, "God in man made manifest." In this hymn text, everything is addressed from the star of Epiphany day to the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. While singing this hymn, take time to reflect on the wonderful manifestations of Christ and how they may speak to us today. Verse three speaks of Christ's miracles, and even specifically references Sunday's Gospel. Jesus, fully human and fully God, works a miracle by freeing the Capernaum man from the bondage of his brokenness. Do we see miracles today that can heal us as well? 

Our offertory motet, Ave Verum Corpus, was composedby W. A. Mozart (1756-1791). A fine example of his sacred music, this piece sets a very old Latin text translated as follows: 

 

Organist and Choir Master
CPowell@christchurchcathedralmobile.org

 

WE PRAY FOR: 

Members:
Brink Brinkley, John Wade Thurber, Nick Nichols, Butch Trawick, Billie van der Giessen, Peter van der Giessen, Patti Biel, Alice Carwie, Raymond Fields, Lisa Williams, Fairley Morton, David Sanders, Katherine Deaton, Marolyn Kruse, Holly Hall

Friends & Family:
Leland Moore, Sr., Deborah Beverley, Peggy Naughton, Gary Davis, Harrison Leff, Michael Cameron, Nancy & Don Cameron, Rob & Amy Archer Ellis, Dottie McCord, Joyce Lee, Davis Nelson, Michael Sumrall, Gwen Cook, Alfred Showers, Michael Daves, Michael Sumrall, Jim Elia, Anne Brown, Mark Brown, Harriett Lillich, Bonnie Orillion, Dave Carlyn Block, Rachel McClanahan, Tom Cunningham, Francis Grace Hirs, Norma Beazley, Curtis Bullock, Valerie Boatman, Ann Jones, Hank Wozniek, Lisa Thompson, Stella Phillips, James Thomas, Ted Fraiche, Mark Miles, Susan Guilian, Tot Swanson, Art Swanson, Hayden Jenkins, Maggie Jenkins, Betty Ruth Patek, Carolyn Pryor, Merle Findley, Louise Douglas, Shirley & Dunlap Peeples, Steve Harris, Sandy Fortner, Johnny McLeod, Marian Macpherson Currie, Jim & Dianne McCall, Mary Lou Peake, Bill Goodloe, Kit & Roger Geil and the Geil family, Angel & Larry Torres, Kathy Boucvalt, Bill Stevens, Mancil Lee, Ginger Simpson, Karen Sentilles, Lila Fisk, Tracey Johnson, Joe Lowrey, Temple Webber, Celeste Hall, Joel Hopper, Betty Browder, David Lannie, Allan Tucker, Wyatt Ison, Curt Kennington, Kathy Sanders, Davis Sarrett, Clarise Waters, Glenn Hill, Leslie Ellis Sharbel, Cora Lemmon, Dewey Hardeman, Humphrey Godfroy, Marian Hall, Homer Kemp, Jane Behlen, Katie Sippel, Dan Jones, Florence Tucker, Betty Larison, Kathy Brook Palefsky, Mike Barnett, Eleanor Taylor, Carrier Yankie, Carolyn Graham, Ralph and Catherine Neal, Willie Stanton, Jr., David Zimlich, Willie Thomas, Mark Mason, Anita Stead

For Those Serving in the Military:
Darrien Gibson, Kelley Hood, Evan Sizemore, The Rev. Bowen Woodruff, Daniel White-Spunner Reed, Jonathan Duralde, Ron Lansong, Sam Garcia, Chris Marslender, Jerry Olin, Abby Hutchins, Tyler Gamble, Jean-Michael Lemieux, Michael Nassar, Josh Power, Ryan Anthony Thomas, Randy Johnson, Susan Reniewicz, Brian Caselton, Brian Hudson, Keith Moss, Ryan Walker, Tyler Oubre, Brian Pennell, John Snyder, Louis Coggin, Jason Norris, Conner Thigpen, Zack Miller, Parker Hollinghead, Todd & Jordana Mouthaan

Repose of the Soul: The Reverend Coleman Inge

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Luwero, Uganda
Cathedral Cycle of Prayer: St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze, Florida; Sara Phillips, Pastoral Leader, St. Mary's, Coden

Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer: The Church in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and for Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile

Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer: Walton County Jail, De Funiak Springs, Florida

Flowers: The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the wedding anniversary of Ponnie and Peggy McClelland and in loving memory of Elizabeth Brutkiewicz.