BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH Worship Meaningfully; Witness Intentionally; Grow Spiritually; Serve Purposefully; Care Resolutely; Fellowship Authentically THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY January 18, 2015 GGATHERING PRELUDE An Epiphany Suite I. Meditation on Quem Pastores II. Improvisation on We Three Kings III. Toccata on Dix Please use the prelude as a quiet time to prepare yourself for worship. David Lasky CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, as the presiding minister begins. Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who spoke light into creation, who calls us to listen and follow, who sends us to shine like stars. Amen. Let us come before God, confessing our sin. The assembly kneels or stands. Silence is kept for reflection. Holy and merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against our sisters and brothers and against you. We cherish the values of this world. We cause others to stumble. The earth is wounded by our excess. Have mercy, O God. Forgive us, renew us, and raise us up on eagles' wings, that we may do your will with courage and delight. Amen. Hear the voice from heaven: "You are my own, my beloved." God gives power to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Be cleansed, be healed, for in the name of + Jesus Christ, I declare to you the forgiveness of your sins and the revealing of God's reign. Amen. The assembly stands. GATHERING HYMN God Is Here! Hymn #526 GREETING Response: And also with you. HYMN OF PRAISE

2 PRAYER OF THE DAY Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, most merciful redeemer, for the countless blessings and benefits you give. May we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day praising you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. The assembly is seated. WORD CHILDREN S MESSAGE (9:00 & 10:30 a.m.) FIRST LESSON I Samuel 3:1-20 Holy Bible p. 274 (OT) SECOND LESSON Psalm 139 Holy Bible p (OT) The assembly stands. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Response before Gospel: Glory to you, O Lord. GOSPEL John 1:43-51 Holy Bible p. 95 (NT) Response after Gospel: Praise to you, O Christ. The assembly is seated. SERMON Can anything good come out of? HYMN (Please stand) Here I Am, Lord Hymn #574 APOSTLES CREED (8:00 & 10:30 a.m.) Page 105 SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM (9:00 a. m.) Page 227 Madison Ann Hardie, daughter of Dennis & Katie (Hermanson) Hardie, born October 30, 2014 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Response: Lord, in your mercy...hear our prayer. PEACE Response: And also with you. The assembly is seated. 2

3 MEAL OFFERING Lord, Here I Am (8:00 & 10:30 a.m.) For Unto Us a Child Is Born (9:00 a.m.) Jay Althouse G.F. Handel The assembly stands. OFFERTORY RESPONSE (9:00 & 10:30 a.m.) GREAT THANKSGIVING (9:00 & 10:30 a.m.) SANCTUS (9:00 & 10:30 a.m.) 3

4 THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE Page 107 THE LORD S PRAYER Page 112 WELCOME TO THE LORD S TABLE Bethany welcomes all baptized Christians who have celebrated their first communion to join in receiving the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion. An usher will direct you when to come forward for the distribution. You will receive the wafer in your hand which you may then dip in the wine. Communion stations with alcohol free wine (orange communion set) and gluten free wafers (blue communion set) are available at every communion service at the center aisle. You may return by the opposite aisle of your section. Those who would like to come forward but do not wish to commune may ask the server for a blessing. LAMB OF GOD COMMUNION MUSIC Remembrance (8:00 & 10:30 a.m.) O Nata Lux (9:00 a.m.) Matt Maher, Matt Redman Morten Lauridsen COMMUNION HYMN Dearest Jesus, at Your Word Hymn #520 The assembly stands. SENDING BLESSING PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (9:00 & 10:30 a.m.) Response: Amen. Response after prayer: Amen. MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES BENEDICTION SENDING HYMN Will You Come and Follow Me Hymn #798 DISMISSAL Response: Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE Toccata 4 David Hegarty

5 WORSHIP NOTES It all ties together: Sometimes the relationship between the appointed lessons is hard to see, but not today. The Old Testament and Gospel lessons both deal with the theme of listening to and responding to God s call. Musical selections that accentuate this theme include the sermon hymn, Here I Am, Lord, the offertory anthem Lord, Here I Am, and the sending hymn, Will You Come and Follow Me. The relationship between the second lesson (Psalm 139) and the Gospel is more subtle: Verse 16 of the Psalm says My days were fashioned before they came to be, while in the Gospel lesson, Jesus is familiar with Nathaniel before meeting him for the first time. Seriously vintage: The words used at the beginning of the Great Thanksgiving ( The Lord be with you etc.) are known as the Sursum Corda and are one of the oldest liturgical texts, dating at least as far back as the third century. The melody is also very old, though not nearly as old as the text. Sometimes people wonder if there are melodies in existence today which were sung by Jesus himself. The answer is: Probably not. Why? Two thousand years ago, our modern system of scales, as well as major and minor chords, had not even been invented yet. The use of harmony (different notes sounding at the same time) did not even begin until the late middle ages. Ancient music was far more primitive, and the musical octave was divided into intervals which would sound quite strange to modern ears. Prayers of Intercession: The prayers of intercession are one of the ways Christians exercise the priesthood of all believers an important part of Lutheran faith, that we are all called to minister the gospel in our own lives. In the Sunday service, such a prayer can be led by a lay assisting minister. Given her experience working with youth and a belief that voices of all ages belong in worship, Intern Stefanie will be enlisting the help of Bethany youth to write and pray the prayers during worship. Though the idea is to invite youth to participate in a worship where mainly adult voices are heard, if there are adults interested in writing and praying the intercessory prayers, they will be more than welcome! Check your announcement page for developments. WORSHIP LEADERS PREACHER PRESIDERS ASSISTING MINISTER ORGANIST MUSICIANS LECTORS Pastor Russ Britton Pastor Paul Svingen Pastor Debra Engquist Pastoral Intern Stefanie Fauth-Lemke Rick Seaton Darla Reeves, soloist (8:00 & 10:30 a.m.) Chancel Choir, James Kim, Director (9:00 a.m.) Sylvia Boedeker (8:00 a.m.) Ronald Swanson (9:00 a.m.) Elton Winters (10:30 a.m.) JANUARY USHERS COMMUNION ASSISTANTS SOUND TECHNICIANS Bev Beattie, Jeff Finnin, Ken Griepentrog, Noel Hasselgren, Mark Mertz (8:00 a.m.) Colton Clark, Andy Gift, David Laverty, David Malucky, Diane McAllen, Eric Oss, Brian Rulla, Don Westphal (9:00 a.m.) David Clausen, Kenneth Hansen, Gail Luttinen, Andrew Rogge, Steve Rogge (10:30 a.m.) Jeanette Manos, Brian Tennien, Karen Tennien (8:00 a.m.) Alison Betts, Thomas Betts, Diane Herrmann, Laurie Jeddeloh (9:00 a.m.) Brenda Greenwald (10:30 a.m.) Jake Newell, Andrew Wiggans SACRISTAN ACOLYTES Laura Weber-Meyers Mya Akrie (8:00 a.m.) JANUARY ALTAR GUILD NURSERY ATTENDANTS Dottie Colton, Helen Han, Neal Helland, Twila Helland, Gail Hipke, Jean Lindsey, Carol Rankin Kathy Shearer, Lori Braden Liturgical Text, Worship Notes and Music: From Sundays and Seasons.com (c) 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #

6 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES January 18, 2015 TODAY AT BETHANY We welcome any guests worshipping with us today! Please fill out a Connection Card found in the pew rack. Transition Team The Transition Team and leadership of Bethany want to hear from you. We invite you to attend a Town Hall meeting at 9:00 or 10:15 a.m. in Room 208 TO- DAY about Faith Formation and next Sunday, January 25th about Worship. On these same Sundays, visit the table in the Narthex to share your thoughts and questions with members of the Transition Team. See page 8 of your bulletin for further information about worship on January 25th and how you can help shape Bethany s future and our call for a new Senior Pastor. Children s Sunday School Godly Play (ages 2 1/2 - Kindergarten) meets downstairs in the Bethany Early Childhood Center. Kids Light (1st - 5th grade) meets in the Great Hall for music opening at 9:00 a.m. Check the whiteboard next to the elevator for rotating class locations. Adult Faith Formation Join Metro CareRing director, Ryan Galanaugh, TODAY at 9:00 a.m. in Room 210 for an inspiring discussion of anti-hunger efforts in our community. Discover how Metro CareRing is combating the issue of food insecurity in Colorado through comprehensive food-access and self-sufficiency programs, in addition to collaborations with partner organizations and government agencies to increase people s access to healthy, affordable food. Also learn about Metro CareRing s Hunger Relief Center, which was significantly funded by Bethany, and how this new facility will help end hunger in our community. Bethany Café Visit the coffee cart, run by Bethany s youth, in the Great Hall lobby TODAY. Proceeds help offset the cost of mission trips and support youth scholarships. King Soopers, Safeway, Starbucks and Tony s Gift Cards are available in the Narthex TODAY. Your purchase helps support our own Bethany Early Childhood Center! You receive the dollar amount on the gift card and BECC receives 5%. Thanks for your support! Denver Young Artists Orchestra Visit the table in the Narthex for an opportunity to win two tickets to a 2015 DYAO concert! DYAO, founded in 1977, seeks to foster the finest youth orchestra programs through the performance of great works of music. They will be performing at Bethany on January 25 at 4:00 p.m. and January 26 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit Theater & Theology On Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30 p.m. in The Space Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company presents Benediction. This adaptation of Kent Haruf s novel is a powerful drama about three souls searching for meaningful connections despite separation, loneliness and the race against time on the high plains of Colorado. Deadline for ticket purchase is TODAY. Reserve your tickets ($35/each) at the Welcome Center. THIS WEEK AT BETHANY... God s Word for the Week Bible Study, Room 210. Mondays at 9:00 a.m. & Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. XYZ Senior Center Join us each Tuesday beginning at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship, a brief worship service and lunch. Menu for January 20: Beef stroganoff, noodles, salad, peas & carrots, rolls, brownies. Centering Prayer Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. in Room 404 downstairs and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. in the Bethany Library next to the office. Our current book, The Cloud of Unknowing, is an anonymous work on Christian mysticism and contemplative prayer believed to have been written in the late 14th century, describing contemplative prayer techniques used by medieval monks. We will read the book and discuss it during one-hour weekly sessions that begin with a 20-minute period of silent prayer. We welcome new participants! MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meets at Bethany the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 9-11:30 a.m. September-May. Childcare is provided. Join us on January 21st! For more information, please contact Stephanie Davy at or bethanylutheranmops@gmail.com. Deborah Circle Bible Study Join us on Wednesdays from 4:45-6:00 p.m. in the library. We are using "Transforming Life and Faith". Please contact Susan Wiggans at or susanpw4@gmail.com if you have questions. Thursday Women's Study Group Join us on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. in Room 208. We are using James W. Moore s book, "Attitude Is Your Paintbrush". If you have questions, please contact Ginny Miller at augerdogger@aol.com. Metro CareRing Needs Your Help! You are invited to a Volunteer Opportunities Spotlight event Thursday, January 22 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 210. Come learn about the new Hunger Relief Center, opening in April at 18th and Downing and the volunteer opportunities to support their programs. Volunteering is more fun with friends, so bring one along! RSVP to rsvp@metrocarering.org or call Elise at

7 MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES, continued... January 18, 2015 NEXT SUNDAY Scripture Readings for January 25: The lessons are from Jonah 3:1-5, 10 and I Corinthians 7: The Gospel is from Mark 1: Adult Faith Formation Join us at 9:00 a.m. in Room 210 on Sunday, January 25th for the next in our Animate series, Practices: Prayer. Membership Interest Session Sunday, January 25, 12-2:00 p.m. in the Great Hall. Thinking about joining our church but not sure where to start? Come find out what Bethany is all about! RSVP to Janice at janice@bethany-denver.org or Please feel free to attend even if you haven t RSVP d to learn the valuable content. LOOKING AHEAD Bethany Dinner Club You are invited to be part of a great fellowship opportunity to meet fellow church members over lunch or dinner. Dinner Club usually consists of 3 couples, who meet 3 times and each couple brings a salad or dessert, while the host prepares the main course. Hosting duties rotate over the next few months. We have 2 groups per year, February-July and September-January. Contact Dave Nesslage at or bethanydinnerclub2@gmail.com if you are interested. Singles and couples are welcome, as well as any ideas to make it fun and exciting. Please respond by January 28, as we want to release the new groups in early February. Mental Health First Aid Training returns on January 31st. Vicky & Larry Daub will be facilitating Mental Health First Aid at Bethany in the Great Hall on from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Similar to First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid teaches individuals how to help those experiencing mental health challenges or crises. To register, go to mhfaco.org/find-a-class. Questions? Please contact Janet Mortinsen at janet@bethany-denver.org or Scholarship News for Lutheran College Students If you are currently attending a Lutheran or other Christian college in full-affiliation with ELCA, the application deadline for Bethany scholarships is February 1, This $1,000 scholarship is renewable from year to year. The application can be found on the Bethany website. Just mail the completed application to the church to the attention of Janice Lyon or it to janice@bethany-denver.org. Souper Bowl of Caring originated more than a decade ago and takes place annually on Super Bowl Sunday. It is an opportunity to help hungry people in the Denver-metro area. Come to church on February 1 with your dollars. We ll have pots for each team and you can vote for your favorite with your money! We will also be collecting food donations at area King Soopers stores on Saturday, January 31, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. If you would like to help collect food at the stores please contact Carrie Oss at carrieoss@gmail.com or All money and food collected will go to Metro CareRing, Denver s largest hunger-relief program serving families. Since it s Super Bowl XLIX (49) our goals are 7 $4,900 and 4,900 lbs. of food. Let s make it happen! Do You Know what a Food Desert Is? Join Metro CareRing on February 7th from 10:30 a.m. noon at Jake s (3800 Walnut Street) for their quarterly Catalyst gathering. During this town hall meeting, there will be discussion about how to eliminate Denver s 113 food deserts and how House Majority Leader, Crisanta Duran, plans to champion this cause through legislative action. According to the USDA, an urban food desert is defined as a low-income area in which the majority of residents live more than a mile from the nearest grocery store, making food shopping difficult without a vehicle. Come learn what we can do about food deserts locally. Healthy Marriage Workshop Would you like to enrich your marriage as a gift to each other for Valentine s Day? Healthy Marriage will take place in the Great Hall on Saturday, February 14 from 9:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. led by Larry and Vicky Daub, Bethany members. There are no fees for the seminar, lunch or childcare. Sign up at or Contact Janet Mortinsen at or janet@bethany-denver.org if you have questions. Save the date for Be The Blessing! Bethany s day of service is on Sunday, May 31 this year. More information will be available in the coming weeks. Service sites are currently being lined up. If there is a service organization you have loved working with but it wasn t part of Be the Blessing last year, please let us know about it! Feel free to share that suggestion with Sarah Hulslander at sarah@bethany-denver.org. There will also be a board in the Narthex with pens and post-its. You are welcome to share your suggestions there, as well! HOW TO HELP Altar Flowers Flowers today are given by Jo Wells in memory of her daughter, Martha Jo Youngren. Sign up for altar flowers at the Welcome Center. $35.00 donation. Bethany Fund Update: Received January 4 & 11 $ 48,235 January MTD $ 48,235 Fiscal YTD $949,149 Thank you for your continued generous support. If you have not yet completed your commitment for 2015, please do so. Commitment cards are available in the pews or at the Welcome Center in the Narthex.

8 The Transition Team is going full bore in the New Year. After being formed in mid-november the group has organized, formed the three Focus Teams Mission and Vision, Self Study and Staffing Needs - specified in our charter and spent time talking with members of the staff, re-acquainting with the Resource Alignment Study Group (RASG - see for details) and other works and generally getting up to speed. As we ve said our next step is gathering input from you, the congregation, the various groups at Bethany and more extensively from the staff. As one of the background pieces we ve read points out we need to know what the congregation values and what they think. We need your help in several ways. First, attend one or more of our preliminary activities that we ve scheduled to help us all with expressing and clarifying our thoughts and feelings about our vision for Bethany s future. Town Hall Meetings will be held in Room 208 from 9:00 10:00 a.m. and 10:15 11:15 a.m. on the 18 th and 25 th. Each of the meetings will have a focal point: Held on Sunday, January 11 Outreach What impact do we want to make in the world on people s lives? Sunday, January 18 Faith Formation - What should Bethany s youth program look like? How about adults? Sunday, January 25 Worship - What s the future of worship at Bethany? These points will kick the meeting off but all questions and comments are welcome at any of the meetings. We ll have members of the transition team there to moderate the meeting, ask questions, respond as they are able and most importantly listen and take notes. Please come with your questions, insights, input, suggestions, constructive feedback, etc. Table in the Narthex please stop by January 18 and 25 and talk with us more informally - we ll have Transition Team members standing by from 8:45 9:15 a.m. and from 10:00 10:45 a.m. each of those days. Then we will gather as a congregation to engage in what Pastor Paul calls Worshipful Work. Come to service on Sunday, January 25 th where we will worship together as a community and complete our Congregational Questionnaire. As a culminating event to the information gathering the Transition Team is doing in January, this spirit-filled gathering will allow you to help shape Bethany s future and our call for a new Senior Pastor. Please plan to attend worship on the 25 th and prayerfully help us with this very important work! As always you can also reach us via with any thoughts, comments, suggestions or feedback at: BethanyTransitionTeam@gmail.com. Thank you for your careful reflection and prayerful consideration of these topics and, in advance, for your input. Peace, Tom Brook Transition Team Facilitator Bethany Lutheran Church 4500 East Hampden Avenue Cherry Hills Village, Colorado