The Bulletin is at: 01-26-2020 – Bulletin
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THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
January 26, 2020
AS WE GATHER…In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us how four of the disciples of the Lord were called. In some ways, Peter and Andrew, James and John were unlikely choices. They were not students of the Scriptures or from the nobility of Jerusalem. But Jesus had plans for them. Immediately they left their nets—and it made all the difference in their lives. Hearing the call of Jesus makes a difference in our lives as well. We, too, may be unlikely choices of our Lord. But He has great plans for each of us as well.
L: We thank You, God. Each one of us has been made in a special way by You. You have given us skills and abilities so that we can serve You and also so that we can care for each other. Bless our time together in worship that we may be strengthened to live in peace and be strengthened to share Your love and peace with others. We ask that Your presence be with us in our time together—Father, + Son and Holy Spirit. In Your name we pray.
C: Amen.
TIME TO REFLECT
L: In peace let us pray to our heavenly Father, confident of His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination
L: Heavenly Father,
C: we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have failed to live in the fruit of Your Holy Spirit, in our thinking, speaking, and acting. We have not loved You completely or our neighbors as ourselves. We have let the turmoil in this world subvert the peace You have provided us. We have not let our hearts take courage and wait for the Lord. 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.
L: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C: Amen.
OPENING SONG OF PRAISE: “Here’s My Heart” By: I Am They
Performed by Praise Team
L: In concluding 2 Thessalonians, Paul has special words of benediction: “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you.” For God’s people, peace has always been a focus of prayer and of living. To live with a sense of inner peace is the greatest of blessings.
C: The final word we hear in the Benediction is “peace” as the blessing spoken by Aaron over the children of Israel is recited.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 9:1-4
A great light is shining.
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
R: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Epistle: I Corinthians 1:10-18
Let there be no divisions in Christ’s Church
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas ”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
R: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “Shelter in the Storm” By Thomas A. Dorsey
There’s a shelter in the storm. There’s a light in the darkest night.
There’s a rock that will stand through the ages.
There’s a shelter in the storm.
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help 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. Lead me home.
Lead me Home. Lead me home. Precious Lord, lead me home.
There’s a shelter in the storm.
(When my way grows drear, precious Lord,)
There’s a light in the darkest night.
(linger near, when my life is almost gone;)
There’s a rock that will stand through the ages.
(hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I)
There’s a shelter in the storm.
(fall: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.)
There’s a shelter in the storm. There’s a light in the darkest night.
There’s a rock that will stand through the ages.
There’s a shelter in the storm.
There’s a shelter, a rock of ages, there is a shelter in the storm.
Take my hand, be my shelter, lead me home, lead me home!
Jesus calls His first disciples.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
ALL: 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 Christian 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.
OFFERING SONG: “Praise and Thanksgiving” LBW 409
Praise and thanksgiving, Father we offer
For all things living, Created good:
Harvest of sown fields, Fruits of the orchard
Hay from the mown fields, Blossom and wood.
Bless, Lord, the labor We bring to serve you,
That with our neighbor We may be fed.
Sowing or tilling, We would work with you,
Harvesting, milling For daily bread.
Father, providing food for your children,
By your wise guiding Teach us to share
One with another, So that, rejoicing
With us, all others May know your care.
Then will your blessing Reach ev’ry people,
Freely confessing Your gracious hand.
Where all obey you, No one will hunger;
In your love’s sway you Nourish the land.
INSTALLATION OF CHURCH OFFICERS
L: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all
people according to their needs.
L: We pray for the Church, that the light of the Gospel of salvation be
proclaimed and the gifts of God be shared. Lord of the Church,
C: in mercy, hear our prayer.
L: We pray this day for our nation and for all nations of the world, that there be an end to hostilities and that times of peacefulness everywhere prevail. Lord of all times and all people,
C: in mercy, hear our prayer.
L: We pray for our ministry partner, We Care of Benton County. Give them discernment and wisdom in how they bring care to those they serve. Guard them from being overwhelmed with the challenges they see in the people they serve. Grant that we walk in the light of Christ and together praise our gracious God for all He has done for us. Lord of all generations,
C: in mercy, hear our prayer.
L: We pray this day for the churches in Philomath and specifically for the gathering today at Living Faith Community Church. Give them renewed energy this year as they seek to serve their members and also the Philomath community. Strengthen our bond of unity in Jesus. Grant that we walk in the light of Christ and together praise our gracious God for all He has done for us,
C: in mercy, hear our prayer.
L: We pray for all sorts and conditions of people, especially for the hospitalized and those who are shut in during this season. We pray for those whose lives are in transition, the unemployed, those who are downcast or grieving, and all those for whom our petitions are desired, [including . . .]. Lord of care and grace,
C: in mercy, hear our prayer.
L: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
CLOSING SONG: “In His Time” TOSB 98
In his time, in his time, He makes all things beautiful, in his time
Lord please show my ev’ry day as you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say, in your time.
In your time, in your time, you make all things beautiful in your time,
Lord, my life to you I bring, May each song I have to sing,
Be to you a lovely thing, in your time.
HEARING FROM A MINISTRY PARTNER Thrivent Financial
DISMISSAL
L: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!