Prayer Before Worship:  Heavenly Father, as I come to worship this day, forgive my sin of slowness to love others as myself, and my fear of sharing Your love.  As I confess my sin in worship and receive Your absolution, renew me with stronger love for You and for the people around me.  Since Your love, Lord Jesus, was not just in words, but in actions as You went to the cross for me, so may my love for others be shown in actions of love.  Amen.

IN TODAY’S WORSHIP   As if the lights are being raised ever-so-gradually in a dark room, the Gospel readings for each Sunday in this church season of Epiphany shed a little more light on Jesus and on us. Today, Jesus tells us that we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” Salt seasons and preserves.  As followers of Jesus we are called to season the world with the message of Jesus’ truth and grace, and to preserve the ways of God in an often hostile world. Light shines! The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.