The Bulletin is at: 01-15-2017 BULLETIN
The Service in PDF format is at: 01-15-2017 Second Sunday after epiphany
or the service is also as follows:
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 15, 2017
THEME: God gives us a sense of joy not found elsewhere in the world.
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, we prepare our hearts and minds in silence for today’s worship.
Pastor: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
People: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
CONFESSION/FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Let us go to our heavenly Father rejoicing, confident of His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
Silence for reflection
Pastor: Heavenly Father,
People: we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have failed to exhibit joy, the fruit of You Holy Spirit, in our thinking, speaking, and acting. We have let the sorrows of this world mask the joy inside. We have not always told “the glad news of deliverance.” Our Lord Jesus revealed His person and ministry through His words and actions. In Your great mercy, forgive, renew, and lead us so that we may be revealed as His faith-filled followers to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: The God whose glory is revealed in the human life of Jesus hears your confession, and for Jesus’ sake freely forgives you. 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.
People: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE They’ll Know We Are Christians
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other,
We will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
All praise to the Father,
Whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus,
His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
Pastor: The message that Jesus shared with His disciples had one special benefit. It brought them joy. As He talked with His disciples, our Lord said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
People: Included in Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. In writing to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul recalls that they “received the word……..with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 49:1-7
God’s servant is to bring light to the nations
Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. he made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.”
And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him—for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
We are not lacking in any spiritual gift
Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Holy Gospel: John 1:29-42a God’s Lamb takes away the world’s sin
The next day [John] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel. And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ), He brought him to Jesus.
CHOIR ANTHEM We Will Walk in the Light! By Don Besig
This means that despite my circumstances, I feel inner contentment and understand my purpose in life.
SERMON HYMN “Red Book” 59 The Trees of the Field
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.
The mountains and the hills will break forth before you, There’ll be shouts of joy,
And all the trees of the field will clap, will clap their hands,
And all the trees of the field will clap, will clap their hands
The trees of the field will clap their hands,
And all the trees of the field will clap, will clap their hands
While you go out with joy,
You shall go
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.)
Pastor: Sovereign God, when people anywhere are in conflict, are driven by hate, or are living in countries with cruel taskmasters or brutal regimes, surround them with Your love. Use us to bring word of Your compassionate embrace so that they may endure until relief is realized. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Lord Jesus, we pray for all who face this day in sadness or grief, are facing sudden crisis or long-term ill, or are mourning the loss of a loved one. {We remember especially……..} Restore joy to them through those who care about them—professionals, family, and friends—all who know the joy of Your gracious presence. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: O Holy Spirit, open doors of opportunity for people of peace so that nations will not raise up sword against one another, societies may be ordered for the good of all, and Your kingdom of grace may be extended without persecution. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Loving Lord, help us to act in gentleness toward the forgotten in society, the invisible poor, the forgotten in prison, those about to be born, and those nearing their end of days. Open our eyes to opportunities to serve their needs in Your name. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: 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.
LORD’S PRAYER
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
DISTRIBUTION
“Red Book” 108 I’ve Got Peace Like a River
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a
River, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a
River, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an
Ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean, I’ve got love like an
Ocean, I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a
Fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain, I’ve got joy like a
Fountain, I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
“Red Book” 150 I Have the Joy
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the joy, joy,
Joy, joy, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.
I have the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the peace that passes
Understanding, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.
I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the love of Jesus,
Love of Jesus, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.
“Red Book” 66 Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord, He is holy and just, By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true, By His mercy He proves He is love.
Chorus:
Great is the Lord, And worthy of glory, Great is the Lord, And worthy of praise.
Great is the Lord, Now lift up your voice, Now lift up your voice:Great is the Lord Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord, He is holy and just, By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true, By His mercy He proves He is love
Chorus
Great are you Lord, And worthy of glory Great are you Lord, and worthy of praise.
Great are you Lord, I lift up my voice, I lift up my voice: Great are you Lord! Great are you Lord!
CLOSING SONG Let There Be Peace on Earth
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With ev’ry step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, family are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With ev’ry step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Pastor: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!