Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany and FVL Sunday February 3, 2019

Transcription

1 The Biblical Practice of Close Communion Through the apostle Paul, God speaks of his desire for all of us to reach perfect unity (Ephesians 4:12,13). We members of St. John Congregation certainly share his desire. We seek to express that unity with our current members, with those who desire membership, and also with Christians around the world. Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany and FVL Sunday February 3, 2019 Scripture speaks of two different types of unity. First, Christ has reconciled every single one of us to God through his perfect life and death on our behalf. Even now, God considers us saints and heirs of heaven, clothed with Christ s righteousness. You might think of this as a vertical unity purely between the individual and his or her God. Through Christ, peace with God has been restored. Then, there s also an outward and public unity a horizontal unity as fellow saints worship side-by-side. The celebration of Holy Communion is guided by both types. For communion to be celebrated in a beneficial way, those attending will come united with their God and also with their fellow-communicants. The former is established by repentance a sorrow over sin and a trust in God s forgiveness that he himself produces. It s a matter of the heart. The latter is established by the outward confession of what each of us believes. It s a matter of the mouth. We do not presume to look into the heart, for only God is able to do that. We do, however, seek to establish outward unity by studying God s Word together so that we share a common confession. Our congregation offers a Bible study course that s designed for just that purpose. And so, out of love for God and his Word, we kindly ask that all visitors speak with the pastor about how we can establish that outward unity prior to your attending Holy Communion here at St. John. We desire to make that goal a priority, so that you may receive the Sacrament as soon as possible. May God bless your hearing of the Word today as he reminds you of his full and free forgiveness in Christ! St. John Lutheran Church & School 437 Turner Street, Wrightstown WI, (920) church@stjlw.com pastorgehl@gmail.com (920)

2 By God s grace, we gather to glorify him and grow in his Word, and to go with it into his world. Welcome! We re delighted that you ve joined us today, as the light of Christ continues to shine in our hearts and outward into our lives! Today s Theme: Our human inclination is to listen without faith. This can only lead us to the brow of a cliff and throwing Jesus out of our lives. But the Savior of the Nations comes with his gracious words of redemption and membership in his body. The Word of the Lord is proclaimed through the revelation of his Anointed One. In him faith is rooted, love flourishes, and salvation is known from generation to generation. Today s Service is printed for you in its entirety in this worship folder. It will also be displayed on the projection screen up front. You may also use the red hymnal in the rack in front of you if you wish to view the musical notes for the hymns. Prayer Before Worship: Lord of the Nations, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving-kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts so that, with undivided attention, I may hear your voice and sing your praises. A Friendship Register is located in each row, toward the center aisle. We ask that before worship or during the offering you fill those out completely with all the information requested and pass them down the row to your neighbor. Be sure to check any applicable boxes. Restrooms are located in our lower level. Head down the stairs to the right as you exit the worship space. Activity Bags for younger children are hanging from a rack in the entryway. Feel free to grab one if it can help to keep your little ones occupied during the service. Serving This Week and Next 7:45 10:15 7:45 10:15 Greeters Bea Ambrosius Barb Verbeten Bea Ambrosius Barb Verbeten Marna Johns Judy Wicker Marna Johns Judy Wicker Brenda Pohlman Brenda Pohlman Ushers Monty Reynolds Reece Schisel Monty Reynolds Reece Schisel Terry Schaeuble Roy Schisel Terry Schaeuble Roy Schisel Travis Gilson Perry Schisel Travis Gilson Perry Schisel Eric Olp Troy Schisel Eric Olp Troy Schisel Wed (6 th ) 6:45a Breakfast & Bible Study (95 Theses for the 21 st Century) 3:30p 5 th -8 th Grade Catechism Class 7:30p Adult Choir Practice Thu (7 th ) 6:30p Worship 7:00p Handbells Practice (at Trinity, Kaukauna) Sun (10 th ) 7:45a Worship 9:00a Adult Bible Class (Moses & The Exodus) 9:00a Youth Sunday School (The Young Man from Nain) 10:15a Worship Thu (14 th )& Fri (15 th ) Teachers Conference (at St. Peter, Sturgeon Bay) NO SCHOOL Sat (Feb 16) 12:00p Chili Cookoff (in the fellowship hall) Mon (Feb 25) 7:00p FVL General Board Meeting (at FVLHS) Sat (Mar 2) 2:00-4:00p St. John Talent Show Sun (Mar 3) 2:00-5:00p Daddy-Daughter Dance (at FVLHS) Apple Valley Food Pantry Feb 10 News & Notes This month s collection date is next Sunday. Needed: crackers; canned pasta; cookies; rice; canned fruit; boxed & canned potatoes; frosting; hamburger helper; paper towels; diapers & baby items. Thank you for your generous and continued support and prayers! Annual Chili Cookoff Feb 16 The annual chili cookoff will take place on February 16 th. Have a favorite recipe? Fix up a pot and let us give it a taste test. Prizes will be awarded for the top three chilis. Milk Moola / Box Tops KwikTrip is discontinuing the Milk Moola program after March 31 st. Please turn in all bottle caps / bag strips by March 17 th. You can continue to support St. John School by purchasing KwikTrip gift cards through the Scrip program. Please continue to save Box Tops (worth $.10 each) found on many items. FYI, we recently received $103 for Box Tops. Thank you! St. John s Got Talent Mar 2 God s given all of us a wide variety of talents and abilities. We d like to see em with our own eyes! Plan to attend and participate in a talent show on the afternoon of Saturday, March 2 nd (2:00-4:00p). Every member is invited to demonstrate a talent no matter how ordinary or bizarre for the rest of us. Show us a move; teach us a skill; tell us a tale; sing us a song; play us a piece. If you wish, bring a munchie / snack / treat to share. Used Christmas Tree Available A family has donated a new and easier to assemble tree for in the church sanctuary. If you re interested in the old 9-foot tree, speak with Don Treptow. All proceeds will be donated to the Endowment Capital Building Fund. A/V February s Altar Guild: Pat Vickman, Betty Schmidt, and Tina DeMerritt [2] [11]

3 Closing Prayer We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith, nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit help us to live as your holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Blessing Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and [ ] give you peace. [7:45 only] FVL A Cappella Choir Peace I Leave with You John 14:27; Walter L. Pelz Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. [10:15 only] Closing Hymn Our Children Jesus Calls (CW 296) Last Week s Stewardship of the Means of Grace and the Means for His Work Worshiped: 143 Communed: n/a Adult Class: n/a Youth Classes: 17 Jan 27 YTD (31/53 wks) * YTD Goal Budgetary Income $4, $224, $285, *$4, of this amount is from member directives through Thrivent Choice *$51, of this amount is from St. John School tuition The Week+ Ahead as We Live in God s Grace Today (3 rd ) February Birthdays & Anniversaries Celebrated 7:45a Worship w/ Holy Communion (FVL Sunday / A Cappella Choir) 9:00a Adult Bible Class (Joseph) 9:00a Youth Sunday School (Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man) 10:15a Worship w/ Holy Communion (FVL Sunday / A Cappella Choir) Mon (4 th ) 6:00p English Improvement Opportunities (EIO) Class Tue (5 th ) 9:00a Martha s Circle [10] Processional / Uyai Mose Uyai mose, tinamate Mwari; Uyai mose Zvino. Order of Worship FVLHS A Cappella Choir Alexander Gondo (Zimbabwe Shona) Come all you people, come and praise the Most High (Savior / Spirit); Come now and worship the Lord. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Hugo Distler ( ) Opus 6,2 no. 1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation! All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; Praise Him in glad adoration! Praise to the Lord! Who o er all things so wondrously reigneth, Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth; Hast thou not seen how thy desires e er have been Granted in what He ordaineth? Jesus Loves Me Words by Anna B. Warner ( ) & John A. Ferguson; Music by William B. Bradbury ( ); Arranged by John A. Ferguson; Emmalee Mindock, piano Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; they are weak but He is strong. Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me; the Bible tells me so. Jesus loves me, He who died heaven s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin; let His little child come in. (Refrain) Jesus loves me, this I know, as He loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee saying, Let them come to me. (Refrain) Invocation Confession & Absolution In the name of the Father and of the Son [ ] and of the Holy Spirit. Confession of Sins Dear friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless worrying and selfish pride, for sins of habit and sins of choice, for the evil I have done and the good I have failed to do, you should cast me away from your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive me, for Jesus sake. [3]

4 Announcement of Forgiveness Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In his great mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through his called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son [ ] and of the Holy Spirit. Salutation The Lord be with you. And also with you. Prayer of the Day The Word Let us pray. Lord God, you know that we are surrounded by many dangers and that we often stumble and fall. Strengthen us in body and mind, and bring us safely through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. First Lesson Jeremiah 1:4-10 (EHV) Child-like Jeremiah is called to wield the powerful Word of the Lord. For all who proclaim it, there is comfort that its impact ought not be judged by the preacher. The reception for the Word of the Lord is in keeping with the Lord s intent. For some, the Word of the Lord comes to tear down, uproot, and overthrow. For others the Word of the Lord comes to build and plant in what was once a barren wasteland. 4 The word of the LORD came to me. 5 Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. 6 But I said, Ah, LORD God! I really do not know how to speak! I am only a child! 7 The LORD said to me, Do not say, I am only a child. You must go to everyone to whom I send you and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, because I am with you, and I will rescue you, declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The LORD said to me: There! I have now placed my words in your mouth. 10 Look, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) John 1:29 Distribution Thanksgiving Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) Luke 2:29-32 [sung to the tune of Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (CW 474)] 1. O Lord, now let your servant 2. All glory to the Father, Depart in peace, assured: All glory to the Son, For I have seen your promised All glory to the Spirit, incarnate, saving Word Forever three in one; A Light that will enlighten For as in the beginning, All gloom where Gentiles dwell; Is now, shall ever be, The brilliant, crowning glory God s triune name resounding Of those in Israel! Through all eternity. [4] [9]

5 Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus) Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9 [sung to the tune of I Hear the Savior Calling (CW 560)] 1. O holy, holy, holy 2. Hosanna in the highest! Lord God of pow r and might, How truly blest is he Your glory, earth and heaven Who in God s name is coming In countless ways recite. To set his people free! Hosanna! Come and save us, He comes to bring salvation Lord God of hosts on high, And with his blood outpoured, And in your grace and mercy Deliver us from bondage Receive our fervent cry. Hosanna, mighty Lord! Prayer of Thanksgiving All glory and splendor, thanks and praise are yours, O Lord, heavenly Father. You pierced the gloomy darkness of sin and unbelief with the brilliant light of your Son. You guided the Magi to worship the Christ and revealed the mystery of your eternal plan to save both Jew and Gentile. You declared Jesus your beloved Son at the Jordan River and, with your Spirit, you anointed him to be the Savior of all people. Bless our reception of your Son s body and blood that we may shine with the joy of faith. Use this most Holy Sacrament to illumine our lives and minds with Christ s forgiveness, peace, and comfort. Refresh our faith, and help us to reflect his truth and grace to the world. We ask this that you may receive endless honor, glory, and praise from every tribe and language and people and nation. The Lord s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Words of Institution Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my [ ] body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; this is my [ ] blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. The peace of the Lord be with you always. Verse of the Day Gospel Lesson Luke 4:20-32 (EHV) The gracious words of the Anointed One win admiration but not hearts of faith. When confronted by their own unbelief and the inclusion of Gentiles in spiritual Israel, Joseph s son is driven from the synagogue to be thrown from the cliff. Yet the Savior of the nations passes through the angry mob to continue his mission and reveal himself in Capernaum. The Gospel according to Luke chapter four. Glory be to you, O Lord. 20 He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing. 22 They all spoke well of him and were impressed by the words of grace that came from his mouth. And they kept saying, Isn t this Joseph s son? 23 He told them, Certainly you will quote this proverb to me, Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown everything we heard you did in Capernaum. 24 And he said, Amen I tell you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But truly I tell you: There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three years and six months, while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in Sidon. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was healed except Naaman the Syrian. 28 All those who were in the synagogue were filled with rage when they heard these things. 29 They got up and drove him out of the town. They led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the middle of them and went on his way. 31 He went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were amazed by his teaching, because his message had authority. this is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise be to you, O Christ. [8] [5]

6 True Light FVLHS A Cappella Choir Words and Music by Keith Hampton; This Little Light of Mine traditional spiritual; Additional words by Grigor Narekatzi ( ) This little light of mine, I m gonna let it shine. Almighty God is light. He lives in us as True Light. In the beginning out of the darkness God created True Light. He lives in us as True Light. Almighty God is light. He lives in us as True Light. Don t let the light that You ve given me die, and don t desert my mind. But let the one who serves You praise you again and again. He lives in us as True Light. You are the one who judges right from wrong. Your glory excites no envy. But let the one who serves You praise you again and again. He lives in us as True Light. This little light of mine (Hold on to the True Light / God s love, God s grace) I m gonna let it shine. Everywhere I go, I want the world to know: God gave the world True Light! And Can It Be? Words by Charles Wesley (1738); Music by Dan Forrest; Emma Nolte, piano And can it be that I should gain An int rest in the Savior s blood? Died He for me who caused His pain? For me who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be That Thou my God, shouldst die for me? He left His Father s throne above, So free, so infinite His grace; Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam s helpless race; Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me! No condemnation now I dread, Jesus and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th eternal throne, And claim the crown through Christ my own. [10:15 only] Peace I Leave with You John 14:27; Walter L. Pelz Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Sermon [6] Psalm 78:1-8 (EHV) Rev. Brad Krause is one of the pastors on staff at Fox Valley Lutheran High School. We thank him for his message from God s Word this morning! Give ear, O my people, to my instruction. Turn your ear to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth to share a lesson. I will speak about puzzling problems from long ago, things we have heard and known, things our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants. We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders that he has done. He set up testimony for Jacob. In Israel he established the law. He commanded our fathers to make it known to their children. Then the next generation would know it, even the children not yet born. They would rise up and tell their children. Then they would put their confidence in God, and they would not forget the deeds of God, but they would keep his commands. Then they would not be like their fathers, a stubborn, rebellious generation, a generation that did not keep their hearts steadfast, whose spirits were not faithful to God. Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Thank-Offering Prayer of the Church Preface The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is good and right so to do. The Sacrament It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who came as the Light of the world so that the world may have light and life through him. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song: [7]