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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

February 2, 2020

THEME:  We consider today Jesus’ incarnation and presentation in the temple. As Jesus comes down from heaven, the world will never be the same. The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us, changing the world and us. As you listen and sing of God’s salvation this day, consider God’s transformative power. Nothing is too big for Him. He transforms us from sin to forgiveness, and He transforms us again today.

RINGING OF THE BELL

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALLING ON GOD                                                          Matthew 28:19

L: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen. 

TIME TO REFLECT ON OURSELVES & RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

L: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid:  Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and glorify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen. 

L: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence

SONG OF CONFESSION: White As Snow (2x)

White as snow, white as snow,

Though my sins were as scarlet

Lord, I know, Lord, I know

That I’m clean and forgiven.

Through the power of Your Blood,

Through the wonder of Your Love,

Through faith in You, I know that I can be

White as snow, white as snow.

L: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake forgives you all your sins. To those who believe in Jesus he gives the power to become the children of God and gives them the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.                                                    

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L: Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, as Your Son was presented in the temple, You revealed Him as a light to all nations. Grant us courage to share Christ’s light so that all may know that the world is changed; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

HEARING FROM GOD’S WORD

Old Testament Reading:                                               I Samuel 1:21-28

Hannah gives her son Samuel to the Lord’s service.

The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow.

But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the LORD and dwell there forever.” Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the LORD establish his word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”And he worshiped the LORD there.

 

Gospel Reading:                                                                  Luke 2:22-32

Jesus is presented in the temple.

And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

 

SERMON SONG: Great is Thy Faithfulness                              TOSB 55

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

 

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness mercy and love.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

 

SERMON 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

C: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

             Creator of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

             And born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

             Was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

             And is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

             The holy Christian Church,

             The communion of saints,

             The forgiveness of sins,

             The resurrection of the body,

             And the life everlasting.  Amen. 

OFFERING

We give our offerings as a sign of our lives offered to God.

PRAYER OF GOD’S PEOPLE

L: Dear heavenly Father, You sent Your Son to be a light to the nations. Send out messengers and missionaries to every corner of the earth, that people from every tribe, nation, and language would know the saving Light of the world, Your Son, Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

L: Lord, send Your mercy to all who are advanced in years and struggling with their limitations. Today we pray for our homebound members: Fran Winstead, Dixie Crawford, Ginny Held, Don Malcolm, Peggy Bartholomaus, Gary Haworth, Terry Davis, Idafay Curtis. Grant them patience and give them purpose. Help them to share their faithfulness with others, as Simeon and Anna did in the temple. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

L: Lord, You sent Your Son into this world and by doing so changed the course of history. Comfort all those who are struggling to change their lives, those who live with mental illness, addiction, poor habits, and a lack of self-control. Transform their lives and bring them to You, for You make all things new. We also pray for our ministry partner Benton County Habitat for Humanity and their reach into the community to provide shelter for those with this need. We pray that lives are transformed with their projects and that people would be brought to You. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

L: Lord, as Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord’s service, we pray that You would raise up pastors, teachers, musicians, missionaries, and other servants in Your Church. We pray today for the ministry of New Life Fellowship. Bless their work and the lives they impact. Give them perseverance in the challenges they face and joy in the times that lives are reached for Jesus’ sake. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

L: Lord, look with favor upon all who are sick, injured, and recovering, (especially…). Have mercy upon them and heal them according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

L: Lord, we commend all these things to Your infinite mercies, which are new every morning. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer. Amen.

CHOIR ANTHEM: Song of Remembrance                           By: Tom Fettke

Do this in remembrance of me. Do this in remembrance of me.

This bread is my body, this cup is my blood;

share them among you in love.

Do this in remembrance of me.

This is my body given for you;

this cup is the New Covenant, sealed with my blood.

Do this in remembrance of me; and whenever you eat this bread;

whenever you drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death ‘til he comes,

until he comes, until he comes.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

LORD’S PRAYER

AGNUS DEI                                                                            LBW pg. 92

C: Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell ev’ry-one what he has done.

Let ev’ry-one who seeks the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name.

He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy with sounds of thanksgiving. Alleluia. Alleluia.

DISTRIBUTION

DISTRIBUTION SONGS

I’ve Got Peace Like A River                                                   TOSB 108

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

 

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness mercy and love.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!

Rock of Ages                                                                             LBW 327

Rock of  Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee;

Let the water and the blood, From thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure; Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.

 

Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and thou alone.

 

Nothing in my hand I bring; Simply to thy cross I cling.

Naked, come to thee for dress; Helpless, look to thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die.

 

While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyelids close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown, See thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee.

A CLOSING BLESSING

L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ +  and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C: Amen. 

CLOSING SONG: On Our Way Rejoicing                                 LBW 260

On our way rejoicing Gladly let us go.

Christ our Lord has conquered; Vanquished is the foe.

Christ without our safety; Christ within our joy;

Who, if we be faithful, Can our hope destroy?

On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,

Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!

 

Unto God the Father Joyful songs we sing;

Unto God the Savior Thankful hearts we bring;

Unto God the Spirit Bow we and adore,

On our way rejoicing Now and evermore.

On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,

Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!

DISMISSAL

L:  Go in Peace. Serve the Lord!

C:  Thanks be to God!