Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 22, 2017

Transcription

1 Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 22, 2017 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN Church Office: (651) Fax: (651) stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Michael Albrecht malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Ralph Rokke rrokke@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com

2 WELCOME TO WORSHIP! THE TITLE FOR TODAY S SERMON IS: The Cure for Fear. What are you afraid of? Why do you fear it? What is the cure for fear? Third Sunday after the Epiphany January 22, 2017 GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Grab a pencil and write down your fears: people, possible future events, loss, health, whatever you dread. Then read Isaiah 51:6-8. How does that change your perspective? Pray for God s eternal perspective. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in both locations. 2

3 THE ORDER OF SERVICE PRELUDE: Arabesque... Louis Vierne GATHERING HYMN: LSB #589 Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens Those able, please stand for final stanza Public domain PASTORAL GREETING Pastor Critchley INVOCATION PSALM: Psalm 27:1-9 P: 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; C: whom shall I fear? P: The LORD is the stronghold of my life; C: of whom shall I be afraid? P: 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, C: it is they who stumble and fall. P: 3 Though an army encamp against me, C: my heart shall not fear; 3

4 P: though war arise against me, C: yet I will be confident. P: 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: C: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. P: 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; C: he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. P: 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, C: and will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. P: 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; C: be gracious to me and answer me! P: 8 You have said, Seek my face. C: My heart says to you, Your face, Lord, do I seek. P: 9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. C: Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! Please be seated God comforted His people through Isaiah and fulfilled His promise through Christ, so we can be confident that He will keep His promise to shine the light of His love into our lives as well. PRAYER OF THE DAY OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 9:1-4 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! THE EPISTLE LESSON: 1 Corinthians 1: I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united 4

5 in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, or I follow Cephas, or I follow Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! When we put our trust in humans, problems arise. The Christians in Corinth divided their allegiances instead of uniting under Christ. How often do human leaders divide us when God alone is our shelter? VERSE RESPONSE: Christian Worship, p. 40 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 4: Now when [Jesus] heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! Those able, please stand Jesus is the same God Who protected Israel. He showed His power in His ministry and gives us comfort and healing with that same power today. 5

6 Please be seated Children are invited to come forward during the final chorus HYMN OF THE DAY: Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) Verse 1 Song Leaders You hear me when I call You are my morning song Though darkness fills the night It cannot hide the light Whom shall I fear You crush the enemy underneath my feet You are my sword and shield Though troubles linger still Whom shall I fear Chorus - All Verse 2 My strength is in Your name For You alone can save You will deliver me Yours is the victory Whom shall I fear Whom shall I fear (Whom shall I fear) Chorus All Bridge (And) nothing formed against me shall stand You hold the whole world in Your hands I'm holding on to Your promises You are faithful You are faithful (REPEAT) Chorus - All Chorus - All 6

7 SERMON: Text: Psalm 27:1-9 Theme: The Cure for Fear CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: Please come with me before the throne of the Almighty to seek His mercy. C: Hear, O Lord, when we cry aloud, and answer us according to Your mercy. We fear much in Your creation and do not fear, love and trust in You above all things. My heart says to you, Your face, LORD, do I seek. Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! P: Sing and make melody to the Lord! The Lord has lifted you high on a rock, the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and for the sake of His merits, suffering, and death, He has rescued you from your enemies of sin, death, and the devil and shelters you in His presence. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen Those able, please stand APOSTLES CREED: Christian Worship, p 41 OFFERING: Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your income. Proverbs 3:9 OFFERTORY: Prayer René Vierne Please be seated Give online at give.4gvn.us You can find step by step directions in the I Give Online card available in the pew racks. HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #443, stanzas 1, 5, 6 Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing Those able, please stand PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS Please be seated LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION Those able, please stand SENDING HYMN: Christian Worship #323 Almighty Father, Bless the Word POSTLUDE: Grand Choeur Theodore Salomé Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House. 7

8 SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Dale Critchley (preaching) Pastor Ralph Rokke Organist: Tom Rowland Evening SonRise Ensemble Ushers: (8:00) Loren Bahls and Team #5 (10:30) Virginia Gen and Team #6 Audio Video Team: Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Becky Martinez, Lorna Redding, Leif Thune and Gil Ude Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Dennis & Marie Grover, Earl & Ruth Grundei, LaJene Ihfe, Lee Hubler Stewardship Thought Your Word have I hidden in my heart. ~ Psalm 119:11 (Contributed by a Saint James member) Living as a Local Missionary MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for The Lutheran Heritage Foundation, as they translate Lutheran theological works into 88 different languages, publishing and introducing them into 70 countries around the world. FLOWERS The flowers in the chancel vases are given in honor of Marge Minea s 92 nd birthday on January 22 nd, and in memory of Lynn Rahn, who entered her eternal home 20 years ago. If you would like to order FLOWERS to be placed in the chancel, please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Kathy Stadler at or stadlerek@comcast.net. Find a local event that would appeal to one of your neighbors, even if you re not as interested. Offer to take your neighbor, and ask lots of questions to learn what s so interesting about it. 8