THE GOSPEL LESSON John 1:43-51
PSALM 139 The congregation sings the refrain before and after the cantor sings each verse.
SERMON "The Sovereignty of God: Ever Pervasive Grace"
WORSHIP NOTES
Welcome to worship at Westminster on this the Third Sunday in Epiphany. Like Westminster, many reformed congregations began to observe a season of Epiphany on January 1 and continue the Epiphany season until Transfiguration Sunday (February 19), which is the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday (February 22) and the start of the Lenten season. The liturgical color for the season of Epiphany is white.
Throughout the Epiphany season, our worship will be based upon the Psalm texts included in the Revised Common Lectionary. The Psalms are among the church's earliest hymns, expressing praise and prayer, lament and thanksgiving. Because these scriptures were envisioned as hymns, we will "sing the Psalms" throughout the Epiphany season. Settings of the Psalms that are sung by the body of Christ assembled are called "the Psalter."
Our worship today builds upon the text of Psalm 139, which proclaims the omnipresence of God and reminds us that God acts in all things. These themes of Psalm 139 are reflected in the hymns and service music through which we worship.
