Opening Prayers for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year C (February 9 2025)

Part of a series of opening prayers for Sundays in the Revised Common Lectionary. They take their inspiration from the Scripture readings in the Lectionary. Worship leaders are welcome to use them for worship, but if you print or display any part of them, please credit the author. Comments welcome.

The following prayers are for based on the readings for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 9, 2025.

Call to Prayer

The Psalmist says:

On the day I called, you answered me;

you increased my strength of soul.

Psalm 138.3

Let us pray.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God of hosts-

you are the only holy God.

Source of life,

ground of our being,

creator of all:

you alone are worthy of our worship

in this holy place on this Sabbath day

and in loving service to our neighbours

wherever we are, every day of the week.

Above all lesser gods

we sing your praise

exalt your name

and give thanks

for your steadfast love and faithfulness.

We acknowledge that,

in the face of your holiness and power

we feel lost and unclean,

sinful people who feel unfit to be your people.

For we are too often blind and deaf to your call.

In silence, we remember our failings.

silence

Hear the message which has been proclaimed to us:

by the grace of God,

we are what we are-

people set free by God from sin

for the sake of Christ

who died, was buried, and raised to life for us.

Thanks be to God!

Holy God, by your Spirit

your grace is within us.

You will not forsake the work of your hands:

for you promise to preserve and deliver us.

You have brought us through

the waters of baptism

to land us safe with Christ

and now you call us to proclaim his love.

Help us to fish for men and women

who will join us in his boat.

Enable us to fulfil your purpose for us

and deliver us from your troubles.

We pray in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

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Featured image: Albrecht Bouts, Miraculous Draught of Fish, 16th Century. Museum Leuven, Belgium. from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library