ORDER OF WORSHIP February 17th, 2019 6th Sunday after Epiphany * indicates please stand as you are able. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE Reminiscence Organ Sigfrid Karg. Elert CALL TO WORSHIP Blessed are those who trust in the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. Baptized and freed, grounded in love, Let us worship God. *SONGS OF WORSHIP BLESSED ASSURANCE, JESUS IS MINE (Hymn #514) Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. (Refrain) Perfect submission, perfect delight; visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending, bring from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain) Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain) (REFRAIN)
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL (Hymn #519) (VERSE 1) When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. (REFRAIN) It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul. (VERSE 2) Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blest assurance control: that Christ has regarded my helpless estate: and has shed his own blood for my soul. (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 3) My sin O, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more: Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 4) And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend: Even so it is well with my soul. (REPEAT REFRAIN) Prayer of Confession If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us. So let us be honest and confess what separates us from God and our neighbors, trusting in God s constant desire to forgive and renew. [Silent Prayer] Declaration of Forgiveness Because Christ has been raised from the dead, sin and death do not have the last word! Our faith is not in vain! Baptized into Christ s death and resurrection, we are forgiven and set free to live for God and neighbor. Thanks be to God. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Peter Blank OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS Invitation to the Offering God places before us the ways of life and the ways of death and bids us to choose. As we prepare to give our tithes and offerings this day, let us choose wisely, guided by the Holy Spirit who dwells among us. *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication Holy One, bless and multiply these gifts we give as tokens of our trust in you. Use them to bless the poor, feed the hungry, and comfort those who weep;
in Jesus name. Amen. We invite you to come forward to light a candle at this time. The children are excused at this time to attend Junior Chapel. OFFERTORY A Flute Song Organ Dennis Eliot READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Diana Blank Psalm 1 (MSG) How well God must like you you don t hang out at Sin Saloon, you don t slink along Dead-End Road, you don t go to Smart-Mouth College. 2-3 Instead you thrill to God s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. 4-5 You re not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people. 6 God charts the road you take. The road they take is Skid Row. SONG OF WORSHIP: WHO IS ON THE LORD S SIDE? (Hymn #666) (VERSE 1) Who is on the Lord s side? Who will serve the King? Who will be his helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world s side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord s side Who for Him will go? By thy call of mercy, by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord s side, Savior we are thine. (VERSE 2) Jesus, thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem, but with thine own lifeblood, for thy diadem. With thy blessing filling each who comes to thee, thou hast made us willing, thou hast made us free. By thy grand redemption, by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord s side, Savior we are thine. (VERSE 3) Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe, but the King s own army none can overthrow. Round his standard ranging victory is secure; for his truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. Joyfully enlisting by thy grace divine, we are on the Lord s side, Savior we are thine. Luke 6:17-26 (MSG) Diana Blank 17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke: You re blessed when you ve lost it all. God s kingdom is there for the finding. You re blessed when you re ravenously hungry. Then you re ready for the Messianic meal. You re blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.
22-23 Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens skip like a lamb, if you like! for even though they don t like it, I do... and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. 24 But it s trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you ll ever get. 25 And its trouble ahead if you re satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it s trouble ahead if you think life s all fun and games. There s suffering to be met, and you re going to meet it. 26 There s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. MESSAGE Rev. Peter Blank Happy is the First Word *SONG OF WORSHIP: JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE (Hymn #20) (VERSE 1) Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day! (VERSE 2) All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays, stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee. (VERSE 3) Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Thou our Father, Christ our Brother all who live in love are thine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine. BENEDICTION Rev. Peter Blank POSTLUDE Cebell Organ Henry Purcell In the pulpit today: Rev. Peter Blank is Knox s Temporary Supply Pastor. He and his wife Diana arrived in Spokane in August 2017 to help take care of Diana s aging father. Peter previously served congregations in central California, rural Nevada and NW Oregon. Peter has become bi-vocational he is both our pastor and a licensed Home Inspector for the Spokane area. Peter has a passion for learning and discipleship training. He is graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. With Diana, they have 5 grown children in their blended family scattered along the west coast; as pet lovers, they have two
dogs and a cat. They love the Spokane area for outdoor hikes and lakeside fun. Today s Lectionary Readings Jeremiah 17:5 10 1 Corinthians 15:12 20 Psalm 1 Luke 6:17 26 Questions for Reflection What is one change you can make in your own life before God that would bring you into closer accord with Jesus understanding of blessedness? Household Prayer: Morning Gracious God, thank you for the gift of this new day. Guide my steps as I face choices to care for the earth or not, to show compassion toward others or not, to care for myself or not, to be true to Christ or not. May each of my choices draw me closer to you. Amen. Household Prayer: Evening Tonight I come home to you in prayer, my God. Thank you for guiding me through this day, even when I was not conscious of it. Now I give this day back to you, entrusting all that I did and all that I left undone to your compassionate care. May I rest in peace Amen.