ST. MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

ST. MICHAEL LUTHERAN CHURCH 118 State Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania PHONE AND INTERNET INFORMATION Church phones: Office: 234-0092 Kitchen: 234-0106 Email addresses: Church Office churchoffice@stmikehbg.com Pastor Hawkins pastor@stmikehbg.com Web site: www.stmikehbg.com Sixth Sunday After Epiphany Sunday, February 12, 2017 10:00 a.m. 16

Welcome to St. Michael Church In a world polluted by noise, we should be able to expect the privilege of silence for meditation and preparation as we enter the space set aside for our public worship. In that spirit, we ask you for silence and offer the devotional aids below for your use as you await the start of the service and during the prelude. Prayers Before Worship Divine Gardener, you give growth to our seeds and to the towering forest trees; you raise to abundant life that which seems dead. Teach us to choose blessing and life rather than death, so that we may walk blamelessly, seeking you through reconciliation with all of your children. Amen and significant others to maintain the relationships important to success once they are released. St. Michael has been offering the same liturgy we follow on Sunday mornings several times a year for the last three years. Our next sponsored service will be February 19. Please plan to join us and lend your voice and presence to a community much in need of the caring and love we have to offer from Christ Jesus. These are held at the CCU office on 19th Street just north of Derry with ample parking. A great opportunity to follow our Lord's command to remember the imprisoned. FREE CONCERT On Sunday, February 19th at 4:00 pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, Camp Hill will be hosting the Harrisburg Youth Symphony & Junior Strings in concert. All are invited to come and enjoy the next generation of fine musicians. Eternal God, who has planted within us the seed of faith, we humbly come to you in prayer. You have set before us life and prosperity, death and adversity. Move mightily in our lives so that we, with the Psalmist, will find happiness walking in YOUR ways. May our obedience to your decrees demonstrate our choice of life. Write the word of your laws on our hearts, we pray, so that our obedience is an expression of our love and faith. Open our hearts to the needs of all people. Direct our response where it is most needed. As the snow banks recede and decline, we remember those who have yet to know relief from the forces of nature this winter. Grant them hope and strength as they seek to rebuild their lives. Worship Notes In today s reading from Deuteronomy we are called to choose life by loving and obeying God. Much of today s gospel reading echoes portions of the Ten Commandments. Jesus instructions to the crowd reveal a pattern of behavior that honors both God and the neighbor, resulting in life and health for the whole community. We, too, are invited to embrace these commandments, not out of fear of retribution, but because God has promised that to do so means life for us. Persons with impairments - St. Michael offers to those with any type of hearing difficulty a small, remote personal speaker which provides the user an amplified, high quality audio of the entire service. We invite our guests who may have the need for such an accommodation to ask an usher for a personal speaker. (They are available upon entering the Nave.) We welcome any comments concerning St. Michael's efforts to accommodate persons with impairments or disabilities. Presiding Minister Director of Music Assisting Minister Eucharistic Minister Cantor Lector Acolyte Greeters Ushers Altar Guild Offering Counters Worship Leaders The Reverend Larry Hawkins Alex Ashman Kevin Hepler Garfield Archer Lindsay Mills Sarah Miller Marissa Archer Shirley and Lloyd Kramer Nancy and Floyd Eberly Angela Tanczos Elizabeth Parker and Guy Kehler 2 15

DISMISSAL Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. Sixth Sunday After Epiphany A Celebration of Word and Sacrament POSTLUDE Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS003333. 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. CALENDAR FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12 Family Promise Pastor s Day Off Congregation Council Choir ONGOING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Helping Hands Ministry Loaves of Love Communion for the Pates Community Aid 14 Today-Next Sunday Monday Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Thursday and Friday at 4:00 p.m. Ongoing food collection Third Sunday of the month Collection Box By water and the Spirit we are baptized into the Body of Christ and made members of his church. We remember and rejoice with those who celebrate their baptismal anniversaries this week: Alison Bell, February 12. The readings for February 19 are Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, Psalm 119:33-40, I Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, and Matthew 5:38-48. WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER the following members and friends of St. Michael in prayer: Kevin Sheets, Clarence and Barbara Hawkins, Roy Smith, Art Cover, Jay, and Diana Pate. CHRISTIAN CHURCHES UNITED SUNDAY SERVICE Every Sunday afternoon at 4:00pm a different church leads the worship service at Christian Churches United (CCU) Harrisburg. About 30-25 men and women serving time in the Dauphin County Prison Work Release program attend these ecumenical services, often with family members present as well, as it is the only time in the week where parents can meet face-to-face with children PRELUDE THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM The Lord be with you. And also with you. +++GATHERING+++ Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Ever-living God, author of creation, we give you thanks for your gift of water that brings life and refreshes the earth. We bless and praise you, for by water and the Word we are cleansed from sin and receive everlasting life. Join us again this day to the saving death of Christ; renew in us the living fountain of your grace; and raise us with Christ Jesus to live in newness of life; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation, and with all your creatures we give you glory, through your Son Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. Almighty God, who gives us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. GATHERING SONG O God, My Faithful God elw 806 GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. 3

HYMN OF PRAISE Glory To God PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION BLESSING +++SENDING+++ The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY SENDING SONG Oh, That The Lord Would Guide My Ways elw 772 4 13

COMMUNION Communion is open to anyone who seeks to respond to Christ's love. To receive communion the assembly follows the choir, approaching the altar rail by the center aisle in two rows. Individuals fill in at the next open spot at the rail on their side of the aisle. You may kneel or stand. The pastor will come around and place the host (bread) in your hand, an assisting minister will have the wine. You may receive the wine either by common cup, or from the pouring chalice. To receive from the pouring chalice take a glass from the tray at the front of the center aisle. After you use the glass you may place it in the tray on the window sill as you return to your seat by the side aisle. COMMUNION SONG +++WORD+++ FIRST READING Deuteronomy 30:15-20 [Moses said to the people:] 15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM Psalm 119:1-8 The refrain is sung by the cantor, repeated by the assembly. The psalm is sung antiphonally by the cantor and assembly, beginning with the cantor. The assembly sings the refrain where marked. COMMUNION HYMN Healer Of Our Every Ill elw 612 SONG AFTER COMMUNION Happy are they whose way is blameless, who follow the teaching of the Lord! Happy are they who observe your decrees and seek you with all their hearts, who never do any wrong, 12 5

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. but always walk in your ways. You laid down your commandments, that we should fully keep them. R Oh, that my ways were made so direct that I might keep your statutes! Then I should not be put to shame, when I regard all your commandments. I will thank you with a true heart, when I have learned your righteous judgments. I will keep your statutes; do not utter- ly forsake me. R SECOND READING I Corinthians 3:1-9 1 Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? 4 For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. 9 For we are God s servants, working together; you are God s field, God s building. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming. Come, Lord Jesus. Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth. Come, Holy Spirit. All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever. Amen. LORD'S PRAYER 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, 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. 6 11

PREFACE It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,...their unending hymn: GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia is sung by all; the cantor sings the proper verse, after which everyone repeats Alleluia. You are the light of the world.* A city set upon a hill can- not be hid. GOSPEL Matthew 5:21-37 THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: Blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets' hopes and dreams. Blessed are you for Mary's openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. [Jesus said to the disciples:] 21 You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, You shall not murder ; and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, You fool, you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. 32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever 10 7

marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord. 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be Yes, Yes or No, No ; anything more than this comes from the evil one. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON HYMN OF THE DAY In All Our Grief elw 615 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 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. 8 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 PEACE Lord, in your mercy, / hear our prayer. The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. OFFERING The assembly shares the Lord s peace with those nearby. +++MEAL+++ OFFERTORY HYMN Here I Am, Lord elw 574, st. 3 OFFERING PRAYER DIALOGUE 9