SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY 19 FEBRUARY 2017 ST. MARK S LUTHERAN CHURCH 1900 ST. PAUL STREET BALTIMORE, MD 21218 Phone: 410.752.5804 Fax: 410.752.4074 On the web at: stmarksbaltimore.org Follow us on Facebook A Reconciling in Christ Congregation Staff Clergy Pr. Thomas Davison, Fr. Henry Hammond, Pr. Lee Hudson Administrator Stephen E. Kohler Cantor James Harp Deacons Connie Lisch, Sue Romanic Sexton Jeffry Spangler MISSION STATEMENT The Mission of St. Mark s Church is to embrace diversity, practice hospitality, and make known Christ s presence in Word and Deed. All worshipers are invited and welcomed to receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord in the sacrament of All baptized worshipers are invited and welcomed to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord in the sacrament of Holy Communion. The wine may be received from the common cup (gold chalice) or by intinction from the silver chalice. PARTICIPATING IN TODAY S LITURGY: Presider Assisting Ministers Chalicist Crucifer Acolyte Lector Prayer Petitioner Greeters Tellers Rev. Lee Hudson Woodland Pomeroy Louise Ricketts John Schultz Alexis Hunter Teri Bennett Brad Schlegel Barbara Hanson, Audrey Huka Joan Hoyle, Audrey Huka Copies of our Prayer List are available in the narthex. Please take a copy home with you and remember these persons who have asked for our prayers.
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany 19 February 2017 VOLUNTARY Prelude in the Form of a Pastorale Charles Villiers Stanford ANNOUNCEMENTS -The Assembly will please stand- REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM P. In the name of the Father, and of the Son (+), and of the Holy Spirit. P. God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily worship your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. P. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another (silence), merciful God, C. we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. P. God s good news is that God gives his Son for us, and for Christ s sake God forgives all our sins. As a minister of the church of Christ, and according to his word, I forgive your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. THE HYMN Please refer to the following page.
GREETING P. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C. And also with you. CANTICLE OF PRAISE PRAYER OF THE DAY P. The Lord be with you. C. And also with you. P. Let us pray: God of compassion, you invite us into the way of holiness along the path of forgiveness, humility, and peace. Let us love our enemies, and transform our words and deeds to be like his through whom we pray, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. -The Assembly will please sit- FIRST READING: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18 The Holiness Code in Leviticus urges people to be holy since God is holy. Holiness is lived out in partiality for and consideration of the poor and the weak. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. 1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. 9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and
the alien: I am the LORD your God. 11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD. 13 You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. 14 You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. 15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD. 17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. Lector: Assembly: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM: Psalm 119:33-40 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your teaching; I shall keep it with all my heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire. 36 Incline my heart to your decrees and not to unjust gain. 37 Turn my eyes from be- holding falsehood; give me life in your way. 38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, which is for those who fear you. 39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, because your judg- ments are good. 40 Behold, I long for your commandments; by your righteousness en- liven me. SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23 Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church and its ministry. We are God s temple because God s Spirit dwells in us, and we belong to Christ. Hence we are called to build wisely upon this sure foundation not for our own benefit but for others to experience Christ s benefits. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. 16 Do you not know that you are God s temple and that God s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God s temple, God will destroy that person. For God s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He catches the wise in their craftiness, 20 and again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile. 21 So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future all belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. Lector: Assembly: The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. -The Assembly will please stand-
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION GOSPEL: Matthew 5:38-48 The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares an end to the law of vengeance. God s people will respond to evil with love and forgiveness. Jesus said to the disciples: 38 You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON THE HYMN -The Assembly will please sit- -The Assembly will please stand-
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 truly 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 with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic 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. Amen. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Petition response: Hear our prayer. 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, PEACE OFFERING SENTENCE -The Assembly will please sit-
ANTHEM Charles Villiers Stanford Beati Quorum Via Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1 THE HYMN -The Assembly will please stand- OFFERING PRAYER A. Let us pray: C. Merciful Father, receive these gifts we bring, our selves, our time, and our possessions. In this meal unite us as Christ s risen body, shining with the light of your Kingdom s justice and mercy; for the sake of the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. DIALOGUE PREFACE HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. -The Assembly may kneel or continue to stand- THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE MYSTERY OF FAITH INVITATION TO COMMUNION P. When we eat this bread we share the Body of Christ; when we drink this cup we share the Blood of Christ. C. Reveal Yourself to us, O Lord, in the breaking of the bread, as once You revealed Yourself to Your disciples. LAMB OF GOD -The Assembly will please sit- CONCLUSION OF THE THANKSGIVING LORD S PRAYER Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION COMMUNION MOTET Ubi Caritas Maurice Durflé Where charity and love are, God is there. Christ s love has gathered us into one. Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him. Let us fear, and let us love the living God. And may we love each other with a sincere heart. NUNC DIMITTIS
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION A. Let us pray: We give you thanks for nourishing us with the bread of life and for healing us with the life of Christ. Send us out now with cheerful hearts, full of faith, to serve the world and all those we meet; in Jesus name. BLESSING P. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. THE HYMN DISMISSAL A. Go in peace. Share the good news. C. Thanks be to God. Please refer to the following page. VOLUNTARY from SONATA CELTICA, Finale Charles Villiers Stanford Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010551. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
THIS WEEK AT ST. MARK S: Today 19 February Seventh Sunday after Epiphany 9:30 AM Choir Rehearsal 10:00 AM Adult Class 11:00 AM Holy Eucharist 12:15 PM Fellowship Hour: Charles Smith 2:00 PM Estonian Service/Fellowship (Lower Social Hall) Tuesday 21 February 6:00 PM Charles North Community Association General Meeting Wednesday 22 February 10:30 AM Clergy Study Group Thursday 23 February 6:30 PM Holy Eucharist Chapel 7:15 PM Dinner Saturday 26 February Transfiguration of Our Lord 9:30 AM Choir Rehearsal 10:00 AM Adult Class 11:00 AM Holy Eucharist 12:15 PM Fellowship Hour: Connie & John Lisch ANNOUNCEMENTS: We extend a warm welcome to our visitors this morning! Please take a moment to sign our Guest Book (in the narthex) and join us for Fellowship in Lehr Hall. If there are persons wanting more information about St. Mark s Church, please speak with Pastor or you may check our website at stmarksbaltimore.org. Thank you to all who stayed to hear Charlie Duff last Sunday and to learn about our surrounding community. If you liked what you heard, talk it up with others in the congregation! MSP News Our next General Meeting will be Sunday, 5 March, following Fellowship Hour. This event will bring together the survey responses and the neighborhood learning session to decide the future of St. Marks. We will be listening through Bible Study, prayer, small group discussions and large group discussions to find out what God has in store for us. The meeting will last about two hours. While this may seem like a long time, it is time needed so that everyone can be heard. When the Israelites were led to the edge of the Promised Land, twelve spies were sent in to find out what kind of place it was. Ten of them reported back on all of the problems they saw in conquering the land, and thought it could not be done. Joshua and Caleb reported back on a land flowing with milk and honey, and all of the good things God had in store for them. At our meeting at St. Marks, we will all be spies to find out what God has in store for us. While we need to consider the difficulties that lie ahead, we need to concentrate on the good things that God has planned for St. Marks. Please plan to attend and know that YOUR input is important to us all! from Sunday, 12 February: Attendance: 65 Offering: $2399.45 Pancakes! Our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Luncheon is coming up! Postcards went out this past week to those on our special mailing list for this event. Fliers are available in the main hall and in the social hall. If you are able to post this flier in your building or neighborhood center, feel free to take a copy or two. And invite friends, family, and neighbors to join us! Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God and in memory of my Mother, by Pastor Tom Davison. Rest in Peace George Kibbe, husband of Sharon Kibbe, and a retired Methodist Pastor, died on Monday, 13 February at Augsburg Lutheran Home. George and Sharon have been friends of St. Mark s for a number of years. We extend our sympathy to Sharon and members of the family.