The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany February 5, 2023

Opening Hymn #505: O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God

Collect of the Day: 

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 58, Verses 1 – 12

Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.

Yet day after day they seek me
and delight to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;

they ask of me righteous judgments,
they delight to draw near to God.

“Why do we fast, but you do not see?
Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”

Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,
and oppress all your workers.

Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
and to strike with a wicked fist.

Such fasting as you do today
will not make your voice heard on high.

Is such the fast that I choose,
a day to humble oneself?

Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?

Will you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?


Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;

your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.


If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
the restorer of streets to live in.

Psalm 112: 1 – 9

1 Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments!

2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness will last for ever.

4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.

5 It is good for them to be generous in lending *
and to manage their affairs with justice.

6 For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.

7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.

8 Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
until they see their desire upon their enemies.

9 They have given freely to the poor, *
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 2, Verses 1 – 12

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.

Sequence Hymn #497: How bright appears the morning star

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 13 – 20

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Parish Prayer List

Donna, Cheryl, Bill & Barbara, Mark & Kim, Cathy, Kathryn, Mike & Chuck, Karen & Keith, Brent, Susan, Linda, Karen & Daryl, King Family, Polly, Cathy & Gary, Faye, Addie, Betty, Mimi, Dean Family, Annette, Pat, Bruce & Janice, Robin, Debbie

Offertory Anthem: Let there be light

Eucharistic Visit:

Donna Ellway

Communion Hymn:

Closing Hymn #537: Christ for the world we sing!

The Altar Flowers are given Linda & Ray Stark, to the

Glory of God and in loving memory of our Mother, Jeanne Copp.

Serving today:

8:00 A.M.

Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Farnes

Lector: Mary Kay Peterson & Anita Wallinger

Eucharistic Minister: Anita Wallinger

Altar Guild: Dee Ann Goulet

10:00 A.M.

Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Farnes

Lectors: Kelsey Bullinger & Pat Webb

Eucharistic Minister: Pat Webb

Altar Guild: Linda Stark & Holly Melgard

Usher: Laura Harbert & Kelsey Bullinger

Sunday School: Carolyn Cornwall

Music Director: Shauna Emara

Camera: Dean Hagerman

Coffee Hour Hosts: Robin Finch

This Week

Sunday Forum: “How Has Our Thinking Changed: Theology and Worship in the Episcopal Tradition”.  Sundays, at 9:00 A.M. in the parish hall, let’s gather and learn about changes in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition from its roots to the modern day. A lot happens over time! Feb 5 & 12.

St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry:  The Food Pantry is in need of non-perishable items such as peanut butter, tuna, rice, and cereal.

Looking Ahead

On-line Giving:  We have switched from Vanco to Tithely for our on-line giving.  As of March 15th, Vanco payments will no longer go through. Here is the link to sign up on Tithely: https://get.tithe.ly/.  Thank you very much for your generosity!  If you need any help deleting your Vanco account and/or setting up your Tithely account, please come on in Tuesday-Friday, 9-12.

Committee Meeting(s):  Social Justice convenes on February 12th, Buildings & Grounds will get together on February 14th, and Ladies Who Lunch will be gathering on February 16th.

Creation Care:  Our Creation Care committee is in need of your cardboard!  Please bring your broken down boxes to church every Sunday for Dean, Bonnie, Mike, or Sarah.

Parish Lenten Book Read: Lent is coming up soon! For a shared spiritual practice, let’s read Joan Chittister’s The Monastic Heart: 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life. Each chapter is delightfully straightforward and short – five or so pages! – and will give us all something to chew upon for the season of Lent. We’ll discuss it on Wednesday evenings (starting on March 1) at 6:00 pm for anyone who is interested.

Fr. Joseph’s Emergency Message Phone:  If you are in need of pastoral care, please leave a message on Fr. Joseph’s emergency message phone at 208-917-2270.  Include your name, a call-back number, and a detailed message and he will get to you as soon as he can.  You may also text a message to this phone!