Can Anything Good Come out of Nazareth?

The readings for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany were:
1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20) – The calling of Samuel.
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51 – The calling of Philip and the conversion of Nathaniel

The readings today were all about being called to discipleship. So, that’s what the hymns were about. Our introit hymn was from our supplemental hymnal, The Faith We Sing.
The Summons by John Bell.The hymn tune is a traditional Scottish folk tune called Kelvingrove

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known?
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around
Through my sight and touch and sound in you, and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

The first hymn was Be Thou My Vision The words to this ancient Irish hymn were translated by Mary Byrne in 1905 and versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912.

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
Thou and thou only the first in my heart;
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

The second hymn was also from The Faith We Sing
Would I Have Answered When You Called the text was written by Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. The hymn tune is Kingsfold, a traditional English melody harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Our handbell choir has a wonderful anthem based on this hymn tune in our repertoire.

Would I have answered when you called, “Come follow, follow me?”
Would I at once have left behind both work and family?
Or would the old, familiar round have held me by its claim
and kept the spark within my heart from bursting into flame?

Would I have followed where you led through ancient Galilee,
on roads unknown, by way untried, beyond security?
Or would I soon have hurried back where home and comfort drew,
Where truth you taught would not disturb the ordered world I know?

Would I have matched my step with yours when crowds cried, “Crucify!”
When on a rocky hill I saw a cross against the sky?
Or would I too have slipped away and left you there alone,
A dying king with crown of thorns upon a terrible throne?

O Christ, I cannot search my heart through all its strangled ways,
Nor can I with a certain mind my steadfastness appraise.
I only pray that when you call, “Come follow, follow me!”
You’ll give me strength beyond my own to follow faithfully.

Our anthem was a setting of Psalm 139 by by Allen Pote

Lord, you have searched me and known me, you know everything I do.
When I rise up and lie down, you are with me through and through. Before
a word is on my tongue, you know what I will say; your presence follows
me day by day Where can I flee from your spirit? Where can I run away? If
I go to heaven or live in hell, you are there. Search me, O God, and know
me, try me and know my heart. See if there be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.

The final hymn was Lord, You Give the Great Commission by Jeffrey Rowthorn © 1978 by Hope Publishing Co. The hymn tune is Abbot's Leigh by Cyril V. Taylor.

Lord, you give the great commission:"Heal the sick and preach the word."
Lest the Church neglect its missionand the Gospel go unheard,
help us witness to your purpose with renewed integrity;
with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you call us to your service:"In my name baptize and teach."
That the world may trust your promise,life abundant meant for each,
give us all new fervor,draw us closer in community;
with the Spirit's gifts empower usfor the work of ministry.

Lord, you make the common holy:"This my body, this my blood."
Let your priests, for earth's true glory, daily lift life heavenward,
asking that world around us share your children's liberty;
with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you show us love's true measure:"Father, what they do, forgive."
Yet we hoard as private treasure all that you so freely give.
May your care and mercy lead usto a just society;
with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you bless with words assuring:"I am with you to the end."
Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend,
and, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity;
with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.