On Eagle's Wings

On Eagle's Wings is our worship theme for the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, February 5, 2012. Our focus scriptures are Isaiah 40:21-31 and Mark 2:1-12. Isaiah's wonderful poem proclaims the eternal power of God to help us soar like eagles. And Mark tells of Jesus using that power to forgive the sins of a paralyzed man so that he rises up from his stretcher and walks home. 

In our service we will explore how God empowers us. What happens when, like the rulers of this world, we put our confidence in our own abilities to succeed? What does it mean for us to trust in God instead? How is forgiveness our bridge to God? And when we live each day in relationship to God, what energy does God give us? How do we rise up and soar?

Our Call to Worship will be based on the passage from Isaiah. As usual, please feel free to use or adapt anything in this post which is helpful to you.

Call to Worship   (from Isaiah 40:21-31)

         

L:  Do you not know? Have you not heard?

P: God sits above the orb of the earth so high the people look like ants.

L:  God unfurls the heavens like a starry canvass.

P: Kings and rulers are nothing compared to God.

L:  Their years pass, their breath fades, they vanish with the wind.

P: But God’s power is eternal.

L:  Night after night God musters the stars in a divine roll call.

P: Not one is ever lost.

L:  Did you never get word? Do you not understand?

P: God is everlasting; the Creator of the whole earth.

L:  God never tires or runs out of power. God sees into the heart of everything.

P: God empowers the weak.

L:  Even young people lose energy. Even athletes drop out of the race.

P: But those who trust in God receive new strength.

L:  They soar on wings like eagles!

P: They run and never wear out. They walk and never faint.

All: Alleluia! Let us worship God!