ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD LITTLETON, COLORADO February 3, :30 a.m. FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High! AS WE GATHER All three Readings today declare the depth, breadth, and height of God s love for the world. When God s people were drifting away, God sent prophets, such as Jeremiah, to speak God s Word and call the people back to faithfulness. God declares His love for Jeremiah: I formed you in the womb... I consecrated you; I appointed you... I am with you to deliver you (Jeremiah 1:5, 8). God s love is shown forth in Jesus in the Gospel. Jesus casts out a demon from a man, thereby restoring his life. Jesus heals Peter s mother-in-law, and He casts out even more demons and heals more diseases. This all points to the restoration of all creation in God s coming kingdom. The Epistle, often read at weddings, calls us toward lives shaped by the depth, breadth, and height of God s love for us.

2 PREPARATION PRE-SERVICE MUSIC Chariot Spiritual arr. Donald Moore Lutheran High School Men s Choir, Chris Loesel, Director PASTORAL GREETING OPENING SONG WHO YOU SAY I AM Hillsongs Who am I that the highest King Would welcome me? I was lost but He brought me in Oh His love for me Oh His love for me CHORUS: Who the Son sets free Oh is free indeed I m a child of God Yes I am Free at last, He has ransomed me His grace runs deep While I was a slave to sin Jesus died for me Yes He died for me CHORUS In my Father s house There s a place for me I m a child of God Yes I am I am chosen Not forsaken I am who You say I am You are for me Not against me I am who You say I am I am chosen Not forsaken I am who You say I am You are for me Not against me I am who You say I am I am who You say I am CHORUS In my Father s house There s a place for me I m a child of God Yes I am INVOCATION In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

3 OPENING SENTENCES Based on Jeremiah 1:5, 7 8 The Lord says, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. We thank You, O Lord! The Lord says, Before you were born I consecrated you. We adore You, O Lord! The Lord says, Whatever I command you, you shall speak. We praise You, O Lord! The Lord says, Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you. We worship You, O Lord! CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Embraced by the love of God through our Baptism into Christ, we confess our sin before God and one another. A time of silence is observed. Captive to sin, we have waged war against You, God of love, in thought, word, and deed. In Your great love for us in Christ, forgive our sins and renew our lives. We have shown lack of trust in Your loving purpose for our lives. In Your great love for us in Christ, forgive our sins and renew our lives. We have failed to immerse ourselves in Your Word and to speak it freely in the world. In Your great love for us in Christ, forgive our sins and renew our lives. We have failed to love You and to love one another, even using our moral standards as an excuse not to love our neighbors. In Your great love for us in Christ, forgive our sins and renew our lives. Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. WORD Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 (The Lord calms Jeremiah s fear with a promise.) The word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you

4 apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Lector: ALL: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Gracious Father, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways and Your thoughts higher than our thoughts. We do not understand the disregard for the work of Your hands and the wanton destruction of human life that has taken place through the atrocity of abortion. Bring an end to abortion, euthanasia and all other legal means to unjustly take life. Instill in Your people love for life as is pleasing in Your sight. Grant wisdom and strength of conviction to those who make, execute and administer our laws, that they might protect the unborn, the aged and all those whom they govern. In Jesus holy name. Amen. (A prayer from the January 25, 2019 statement of President Harrison.) Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13 (All about love.) And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to

5 face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Congregation, please rise for the Gospel. Holy Gospel: Luke 4:31-44 (Jesus casts out a demon and heals Peter s mother-in-law.) The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, "Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" "Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!" And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's motherin-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ. At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. CHILDREN S MESSAGE Jenna Lawrenz

6 SONG OF THE DAY LIVING HOPE Wickham-Johnson How great the chasm that lay between us How high the mountain I could not climb In desperation, I turned to heaven And spoke Your name into the night Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness Tore through the shadows of my soul The work is finished, the end is written Jesus Christ, my living hope Who could imagine so great a mercy? What heart could fathom such boundless grace? The God of ages stepped down from glory To wear my sin and bear my shame The cross has spoken, I am forgiven The King of kings calls me His own Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever Jesus Christ, my living hope CHORUS: Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in Your name Jesus Christ, my living hope (TWICE) Then came the morning that sealed the promise Your buried body began to breathe Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion Declared the grave has no claim on me Then came the morning that sealed the promise Your buried body began to breathe Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion Declared the grave has no claim on me Jesus, Yours is the victory, (whoa!) CHORUS (1 X) Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in Your name Jesus Christ, my living hope Jesus Christ, my living hope Oh God, You are my living hope

7 SERMON The All Powerful Word Pastor Richard Langness Text: Luke 4:31-44 NICENE CREED Text found in the back of the Hymnal. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH THE SHARING OF THE PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. We share the Lord s peace with one another, saying, Peace be with you.

8 OFFERING Gloria Dan Davison Lutheran High School Men s Choir, Chris Loesel, Director HOLY COMMUNION AT ASCENSION The Lord, our Host, invites to his Supper those who are baptized into the Christian faith, confess him as Savior, have been instructed and have examined themselves, truly repent of sins, believe the Risen Lord is present in the sacrament with his true body and blood, and resolve to live faithfully and obediently. For those with an intolerance to alcohol, the center ring of the tray contains grape juice. Gluten free wafers are available to those with wheat allergies. Children who have not been instructed, yet desire a blessing, are invited to come forward with arms crossed. When receiving the bread and wine, the communicant may respond with Amen!, a word of affirmation and belief.

9 SACRAMENT PREFACE The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22 And also with you. Lift up your hearts. Colossians 3:1 We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Psalm 136 It is right to give Him thanks and praise. THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9 13) Text found in the back of the Hymnal. DISTRIBUTION MUSIC BE THOU MY VISION arr. Dan Forrest Lutheran High School Bel Canto, Chris Loesel, Director

10 LORD I NEED YOU Lord, I come, I confess. Bowing here, I find my rest. And without You, I fall apart. You're the one that guides my heart. CHORUS: Lord, I need You, oh, I need You. Ev'ry hour I need You. My one defense, my righteousness; Oh, God, how I need You. Maher Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more. Where grace is found is where You are. And where You are, Lord, I am free. Holiness is Christ in me. CHORUS So, teach my song to rise to You When temptation comes my way. And when I cannot stand, I'll fall on You. Jesus, You're my hope and stay. CHORUS COME TO THE TABLE Sidewalk Prophets We all start on the outside The outside looking in This is where grace begins We were hungry, we were thirsty With nothing left to give Oh the shape that we were in Just when all hope seemed lost Love opened the door for us, He said: CHORUS: Come to the table Come join the sinners who have been redeemed Take your place beside the Savior Sit down and be set free Come to the table Come meet this motley crew of misfits These liars and these thieves There's no one unwelcome here So that sin and shame that you brought with you You can leave it at the door Let mercy draw you near CHORUS Come to the table Come join the sinners who have been redeemed Take your place beside the Savior Sit down and be set free Whoa... Sit down and be set free Come to the table Come to the table Sit down and be set free Come to the table GENERAL COMMUNION BLESSING BENEDICTION Jeremiah 1:8 Nourished by the Word of Christ and fed by Christ s body and blood, you are sent out into the world to show God s love in word and action. Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24 26 Amen.

11 CLOSING SONG BUILD YOUR KINGDOM HERE Rend Collective Come set Your rule, and reign In our hearts again. Increase in us, we pray. Unveil why we're made. Come set our hearts ablaze with hope, Like wildfire in our very souls; Holy Spirit, come, invade us now. We are Your church; we need Your pow'r in us. We seek Your kingdom first. We hunger and we thirst; Refuse to waste our lives, for You're our joy and prize. To see the captives' hearts released; The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace. We lay down our lives for heaven's cause. We are Your church; we pray, revive this earth. CHORUS: Build Your kingdom here. Let the darkness fear. Show Your mighty hand. Heal our streets and land. Set Your church on fire. Win this nation back. Change the atmosphere. Build Your kingdom here, we pray! Unleash Your kingdom s power, Reaching the near and far. No force of hell can stop Your beauty, changing hearts. You made us for much more than this; Awake the kingdom seed in us. Fill us with the strength and love of Christ. We are Your church; We are the hope on earth. CHORUS CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS

12 Serving in Worship OFFICIANT and CELEBRANT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES YOUTH BAND Pastor Richard Langness Michael Zehnder Ashley Boeding, Brooke Boeding, Larry Boeding, Lilly Brinkman, Kayden Erling, Will Kopriva ELDER 8:00 Bill Redden 10:30 Don Loptien LECTOR 8:00 Lorraine Winckler 10:30 Carol Shepherd ACOLYTE 8:00 Ian Avadissian 10:30 Nolan Pierce USHERS 8:00 Barry Kratzer, Members of the Congregation 10:30 Jason Dierking, Members of the Congregation SERVER 10:30 Les Young ALTAR GUILD Sheila Beu, Dawn Munson, Judy Peterson, Charmaine Rohde FLOWERS Jackie Viren and Adam Wilson, for Adam in hopes of a Patriot victory. CCLI License #