The Bulletin is at: 02-04-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 02-04-2018 – Epiphany 4
or the service is as follows:
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
February 4, 2018
AS WE GATHER…The Christmas lights are down, but the Light of the world still shines for all to see. We receive this Light during our Epiphany worship today. During the season of Epiphany, we are seeing Jesus for the very first time through the eyes of the Wise Men, Nathanael, Nicodemus, an unnamed woman at the well, and Mary Magdalene. When Mary Magdalene met Jesus after his resurrection, she realized that all things were possible. Like Mary, we have our doubts. Like Mary, Jesus answers those doubts with the empty tomb. Today we meet Jesus and are encouraged with the truth that (with Jesus) all things are possible!
P: Holy God! Fill us this day with new breath! And we shall be living words of praise!
C: Amen.
OPENING UP ABOUT OURSELVES
P: Today we are reminded of Mary Magdalene’s first response in the empty tomb. Standing in the tomb and crying, Mary says, “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.” Mary was filled with doubt and fear. We begin our worship today by admitting that all too often our first response to God’s work done in our lives is doubt and fear.
C: Lord, we confess our lack of faith. We see a glimpse of what we ought to be, and we know we fall short of the goal. We desire faith that is solid and unchanging, yet we crumble under trials and temptations. We want to be strong, but we know our own weakness. Our sinful condition strips us of any spiritual gain that we humanly devise. Lord, forgive us. Accept us as we are, unworthy for the task, yet gifted for Your purposes. Give us Your gift of faith.
Silence for Reflection
RECEIVING GOOD NEWS
P: Our God is a great God and knows our needs for all areas of our life. God knows our weakness and our unbelieving hearts, yet loves us enough to die on a cross and provide forgiveness of our sin. Now the focus is not on the faith that we can muster but on the great gifts that our Lord gives daily as we live in trust. God has given us the gift of faith, faith for the moment, faith for every trial, faith for every temptation, faith for every difficult situation. Praise God for this inexpressible gift of faith.
C: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE “Behold What Manner of Love” TOSB 10 (x2)
Behold what manner of love the Father has
Given unto us! Behold what manner of
Love the Father has given unto us! That
We should be called the children of God. That
We should be called the children of God.
P: We pray…
C: O Lord, today we pray for a strengthening of our faith so that we can rely on You for all things. We pray for this strengthening so that we can be confident of Your almighty power and eternal love in all circumstances.
P: We pray these things through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord.
C: Amen.
HEARING FROM GOD’S WORD
First Reading: I Corinthians 9:16-27
Paul changes his approach to win different people.
For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
We join Mary Magdalene in seeing Jesus.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[a] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
SERMON SONG: “Because He Lives” TOSB 11
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon;
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives
Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a new born baby
And feel the pride and joy He gives;
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
And then one day I’ll cross the river;
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
SERMON “Joining Mary Magdalene in seeing Jesus”
C: I believe in God, who has created all things and continues to create new life within us… I believe in Jesus, son of God, son of man, the Savior of the world. By His life, His death and resurrection, I can know the true depth of human possibility, and experience the true joy of an abundant life…I believe that the Holy Spirit is present, now and always, calling us to faith, giving us gifts and empowering us for service…I believe that the community of believers called the church can experience the fullness of life through the word, the sacraments, and all that we do.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
P: O Lord, You are the Maker of Light and of all that is good. We thank and praise You that You rule all things, that You care for each of us, and that You want all people to know Your mercy and love as it has been revealed in Christ Jesus. Continue to sustain us by Your grace, that we may ever praise You. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Father, let the light of Your Word shine in our midst and into the darkness of unbelief that surrounds us. By Your Word instruct us in Your ways, build up this congregation and all the congregations of Philomath. Bring all peoples to trust in Your salvation and to glorify You. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: God of mercy, hear our prayers on behalf of all those in need. Restore health to those who are ill (especially…), and grant them patience and renewed strength. Raise up helpers for the downcast and distressed, for those who are without sufficient food, and for those who seek meaningful employment. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: God of all compassion, watch over those who suffer the effects of war, violence, and natural catastrophe. According to Your will, provide sustenance to the needy. For those who are being persecuted, bring about a cessation of hostility. Grant to Your Church renewed vigor to take the good news of salvation to all those who are without the hope of eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Till He Comes Again”
We break the bread, we drink the cup;
we kneel before him, he lifts us up.
Our Lord and Master becomes our Friend;
we will remember him till he comes again.
We bow our heads, we seek his face;
we ask forgiveness, he sends his grace.
Our Lord and Master becomes our Friend;
we will remember him till he comes again.
Each time we break the bread of life and drink the cup of grace,
we are rememb’ring His sacrifice in love he took our place.
We look for Him, with eager eyes, when,
on that glad day he breaks the skies;
The Lord, our Savior and dying Friend;
we will remember him, till he comes again,
until he comes again
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“I Love To Tell the Story” TOSB 93
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do
I love to tell the story; I’ll sing this theme in glory
And tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story; how pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story; I’ll sing this theme in glory
And tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
I’ll sing the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story; I’ll sing this theme in glory
And tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
“Jesus, Name Above All Names” TOSB 115
Jesus, Names above all names,
beautiful Savior, glorious Lord,
Emmanuel, God is with us,
blessed Redeemer, living Word.
Jesus, loving shepherd
Vine of the branches, Son of God
Prince of Peace, Wonderful counselor
Lord of the universe, Light of the world
Jesus, Way of salvation,
King of kings, Lord of Lords,
The way the truth, and the Life,
Mighty creator, my Savior and friend.
“Jesus Loves Me” TOSB 114
Jesus loves me—this I know, For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong—They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me—loves me still, Though I’m very weak and ill;
That I might from sin be free, Bled and died upon the tree.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me—He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me—He will stay Close beside me all the way,
Though hast bled and died for me, I will henceforth live for the.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
CLOSING SONG: “Jesus in the Morning”
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning,
Jesus in the noon-time;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down!
Praise him, Praise him, Praise him in the morning,
Praise him in the noon-time;
Praise him, Praise him, Praise him when the sun goes down!
Serve him, Serve him, Serve him in the morning,
Serve him in the noon-time;
Serve him, Serve him, Serve him when the sun goes down.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning,
Jesus in the noon-time;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down!
P: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!