The Service in PDF format is at: January 24, 2021 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 23, 2021 (Online service only)
THEME: Up until the time of Mt. Sinai, God had spoken to his creation. God spoke through divine decrees and direct address. At Mt. Sinai God began to speak to His people through written word. This is how God guides us today—through His written word, the Bible. Many of us are not privy to personal, divine conversations. Each one of us, however, has God’s clear guidance in His Word. Today we are reminded of God’s promise to guide us through His Word.
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION/FORGIVENESS
Leader: Gracious Lord, by Your name You have called us Your own, and we are to pray, praise, and give thanks to You.
People: Yet we often do not live as You have called us to live as Your own. We do not always honor Your name nor Your calling with our praise.
Leader: We confess our sins to God in repentance, turning from those things that lead us away, turning back to You as we follow in faith.
Time of Silence
Leader: Almighty and ever-compassionate Lord,
People: we are by nature sinful and unclean. We confess our many failures as we have not followed You joyfully and trustingly. We have not loved others as ourselves, and our thoughts, words, and deeds have not been pleasing to You. We have not always welcomed Your call for us to follow You and You alone.
Leader: Hear and rejoice in this Good News. Jesus died for you , and for His sake, God has compassion. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, and in His stead, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen. Thanks be to God!
Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord,
People: praise the name of the Lord!
Leader: Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!
People: From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
OPENING SONG: “Exalted is the Lord”
Choir singing from April 15, 2018
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.
Great is the Lord, and wothy 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!
He is exalted, exalted, 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.
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!
He is exalted, exalted, great is the Lord!
Great is the Lord!
He is exalted, the king of exalted on high; I will praise Him.
He is exalted, forever exalted, and I will praise His name!
He is the Lor; forever His truth shall reign.
Heaven and earth rejoice in His holy name.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high,
Great is the Lord, I will praise Him!
He is exalted the king is exalted, and I will praise His name!
Great is the lord,
He is the Lord; Forever His truth shall reign!
Heaven and earth rejoice in His Holy name!
He is exalted, exalted He is exalted, exalted!
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
He is exalted! exalted!
He is exalted! exalted!
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high!
Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord! He is exalted!
Leader: Let us pray. God, thank you for communicating with your people. I know it is by your truth that I am set free, and I am so grateful that I have access to your truth through your Word.
People: You spoke creation into being. Your word is powerful. What you say is true and good and just. All Scripture has been inspired by you. You have given us your Word in written form so that we might know you and be guided by you.
Leader: Forgive me when I look for guidance outside of your Word. When I ask friends what to do before I open my Bible. When I am resistant to reading your Word because I want to guide myself rather than be guided by you.
ALL: Renew my desire and passion for reading the Bible. I want to get to know you better, and I know I can only do that by reading what you have said. May I learn something new about you and your character each time I read it. May our relationship deepen as I open your Word more and more. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 31:9-13
The Reading of the Law by Moses and the people.
Then Moses wrote this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”
Jesus calls the first disciples to follow him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Leader: Lord, as You have called us as Your own, gathered us together, and enlightened us by Your Spirit through Your Word, we bring to You our prayer and praise. Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Leader: We pray for all people of the world, that the Epiphany light that shines the radiance of Your Son, our Savior Jesus, shine in the hearts and minds of all people. For those who are wayward and lost and for those who have rejected Your call to repentance and faith, we pray You use us in our words and witness to point to You that many more would faithfully follow. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord of comfort and peace, be present with those who face various needs in mind, soul, and body, (especially…). Grant healing according to Your will. Be with those who grieve that the assured promise of Christ’s victory over death and the grave brings hope in times of hopelessness. For those who live in doubt, fear, and distress, extend Your call of grace through Your Word and those who proclaim it. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Lord, we praise Your name for You gave Jesus Christ, whose love for us compelled Him to go to the cross that we by faith are saved. Unite us in Him and in our fellowship together, that in repentance we faithfully receive the gifts of life and grace He gives to us. Help us to draw strength, love, compassion, and mercy through You. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: 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.
Leader: 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.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: “To God Be the Glory”
congregational singing from April 8, 2018
To God be the glory, great things He has done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son.
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Refrain
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father,
Thro’ Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory,
great things He has done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Refrain
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
Refrain
DISMISSAL
Leader: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!