The Bulletin is at: 01-14-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 01-14-2018 – Ephiphany 2 Service
or the service is as follows:
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 14, 2018
AS WE GATHER: Christmas lights may be coming 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. Today Jesus has an encounter with Nathanael, a man that was at first quite skeptical of Jesus. By the conclusion of their meeting, Nathanael boldly declares, “(Jesus), you are the Son of God!” You may relate well to Nathanael. You may be filled with skeptical thoughts and questions about God. Today is your chance to meet Jesus and be overwhelmed with his presence.
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, we prepare our hearts and minds in silence for today’s worship.
by Pepper Choplin
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: O Lord, You have searched me and known me!
C: You know when I sit down and when I rise up.
P: Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?
C: If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there!
P: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
C: Even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
CONFESSION/FORGIVENESS
P: God, whose Word establishes reality,
C: We admit that we have turned from the face-to-face relationship of love with You for which we have been created. Sin infects us through and through. Yet, we trust in Jesus alone whose life, death, and resurrection bring Your healing power to bear on our grace condition. Hear us, and heal us by Your love for Jesus’ sake.
~Silence for reflection~
P: “The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.” Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Jesus and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
SONG OF TRUST: “All Through the Night”
Sleep my child and peace attend the. . .All through the night.
Guardian angels God will send thee. . .All through the night.
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and vale in slumber sleeping.
I my loving vigil keeping. . .All through the night.
While the moon her watch is keeping…All through the night.
While the weary world is sleeping…All through the night.
O’er thy spirit gently stealing, Visions of delight revealing.
Breathes a pure and holy feeling…All through the night.
Love to thee my thoughts are turning…All through the night.
All for thee my heart is yearning…All through the night.
Though sad fate our lives may sever, Parting will not last forever.
There is hope that leaves me never…All through the night.
P: Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days. We pray this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Lesson: I Samuel 3:1-10
“Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.”
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.
At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down.
And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.
And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
Epistle: I Corinthians 6:12-20
We are not our own, for we are bought with a price.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Jesus Meets Nathanael.
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
SERMON HYMN: “Open My Eyes, That I May See” TOSB 159
- Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in y hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Read, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
- Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Tou sendest clear;
And while the wave-notes fall on my ear,
Ev’rything false will disappear;
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Read, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
- Open my mouth, and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Read, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
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 to the dead.
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 catholic church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERINGS GATHERED
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
COLLECTING MITES
P: God, who shatters the silence, open our ears like Samuel’s to listen to Your living voice as You speak to us in life and Your Word. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: God, who shatters the silence, You have told us that we are not our own, but we were bought with a price—not gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Jesus. Help us to live as Your redeemed and beloved people and to share Your love with others in our various callings and positions. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: God, who shatters the silence, we ask You to speak healing over all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, or spirit, (especially…). Trusting that Your Word accomplishes the purposes for which You send it, whether now or in eternity, we trust You to bring Your healing purposes to completion in all lives. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: God, who shatters the silence, be with our ministry partners and speak to them. We especially pray for Zion Lutheran School and their ministry. We thank you for teachers and students who love You and desire to learn more about You. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of Your Son, Jesus, our Lord.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
CLOSING SONG: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.
When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call; Hold my hand lest I fall,
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.
When the darkness appears And the night draws near
And the day is almost gone,
At the river I stand; Guide my feet, hold my hand,
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!