Grace Lutheran Church February 3, 2019 8:30 am Traditional Worship Fourth Sunday after Epiphany When God talks of love, it is not always a sentimental or sappy love. Sometimes, we are challenged to perform things we do not want to do in the name of love. God s tough love guides us each day. New to Grace? Please stop by our Welcome Center in the entryway. All are welcome to receive Holy Communion as we celebrate the presence of Jesus among us. As you prepare for worship, please fill out worship information sheets in the red folders in each pew. Congregation responses in Bold. *Those who are able, please stand. A children s Wiggle Room is available in the back of the sanctuary. PRELUDE We Gather in celebration The Gift of Love WELCOME/GREET ONE ANOTHER *CALL TO WORSHIP We recognize the presence of Christ among us as we gather in his name. We recognize Christ in one another because we are members of his body. Our faith may begin as a personal relationship with God, but it is supported, strengthened, and increased by our relationship with the Christian community. Let us rejoice in the gift God has given us in one another and in the entire church. God gives us one another to help us grow spiritually. Amen. *GATHERING HYMN *GREETING The boundless grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, and the light of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. 2
*SONG OF PRAISE *PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen 3
we hear God's word READING I Corinthians 13 We hear Paul s famous words about love in his first letter to the people of Corinth. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (NRSV) Word of God. Word of Love Thanks be to God! MESSAGE FOR THE CHILD IN US ALL *VERSE 4
*GOOD NEWS Luke 4:21-30 Good News from Luke. Glory to you, O Lord. 21Then Jesus began to say to the disciples, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, Is not this Joseph s son? 23 He said to them, Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, Doctor, cure yourself! And you will say, Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum. 24 And he said, Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. (NRSV) Good News of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. MESSAGE Pastor Dan Kahl *SONG OF THE DAY 5
*APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *PRAYERS Called by the Holy Spirit into relationship with a loving God, we pray for the church, all in need, and the whole creation. A brief silence. In you, O God, your church takes refuge. Protect those throughout the world who worship you despite the threat of persecution and death. Let your whole creation praise you, O God. Restore the earth to the goodness that you created and that we too often take for granted. Rescue those who call upon you, O God. Call the leaders of the world's nations to be just and merciful and to walk in your ways. Bless and guide those elected to lead this congregation. Inspire them and us to act against injustice and speak out against wickedness. We pray for...comfort the grieving, O God, provide for the homeless and the unemployed, and give healing all those ill or in pain. Help us to put our trust in you in all things. Sustain us, O God, until we gather with all your saints from every time and place in your eternal protection. Help us live in the example of their love. Into your loving hands, gracious God, we place ourselves and all our prayers, spoken and unspoken, trusting in your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. OFFERING How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art Melodibells *OFFERING PRAYER Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen. 6
We invite all baptized believers to share with us in Holy Communion. This morning the method of distribution will be pouring chalice. Gluten free elements available. Please come to the front by the outside aisles and return by the center aisle. *GREAT THANKSGIVING God s light shines! We rejoice in the glory. Jesus' love fills the earth with glory. We rejoice in the good news as we sing a song of praise. *SONG Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee Joyful, joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love! Hearts unfold like flow'rs before thee, praising thee, their sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the gloom of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day. *WORDS OF INSTITUTION *LORD S PRAYER 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. *INVITATION Come to the table. Feast on God's abundant life for you. Thanks be to God. SONGS DURING DISTRIBUTION 7
*POST-COMMUNION PRAYER We thank you, O God, that you have fed us at your banqueting table with bread and wine beyond compare, the very life of Christ for us. Send your Spirit with us now, that we may set the captive free, use your gifts to build one another up, and in everything reflect your glory revealed in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. INSTALLATION OF CONGREGATION COUNCIL Randy Birchall, Jim Blocker, Roberta Bochtler, Janet Carlon, Cheryl Fleming, Paulette Heddinger, Cassie Jordison, Crystal Michael, Jon Nelson, Ilene Olson *BLESSING God Almighty send you light and truth to keep you all the days of your life. The hand of God protect you; the holy angels accompany you; and the blessing of God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever. Amen. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8
*SENDING SONG POSTLUDE Fanfare in D Major Lemmens Portions of the service are from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26869. Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-707336. and under CCLI#1382075. 9
Annual Meeting Election Results Elected to Congregation Council: Janet Carlon, Cheryl Fleming, Cassie Jordison, & Jon Nelson. Elected to the Grace Foundation Board: Natalie Passow & Judy Stilwell. Elected to represent Grace at Synod Assembly: Adults; Jon Nelson & Teresa Myers. Youth; Sabryn Myers & Brandon Shirley. Elected to the Nominating Committee: Linda Birchall, Mark Gustafson, Dave Lemke, Judy Reed, Loren Stilwell, & Marlys Taylor. Souper Bowl of Caring TODAY Service & Mission Team will have helmets to collect your donations for ELCA World Hunger. Please make checks payable to Grace Lutheran Church and all donations will be sent in together. Books of Bible Class Class resumes Wednesday, February 6, at 2 pm Smeltzer Room at Friendship Haven. All are welcome. Bring a friend. Bingo Bash February 10, 2-3:30 pm. Free fun for all ages. Plan to join us in the Lower level Fellowship Hall. Snacks and prizes provided. Hosted by Fellowship Team. Friendship Salad Luncheon February 15, 11-12:30 pm. Ladies come & bring a friend. Plan to enjoy a lovey lunch with wonderful fellowship. Sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. Lutheran Men in Mission Retreat February 15-16 at Lutheran Lakeside Bible Camp. Information on the bulletin board. Sock it to Me Sunday February 24, ARiSE will be collecting sock donations to be donated to AFES, D/SAOC, & UDMO. Grace Foundation 2019-20 College Scholarship Application for 2019 graduating High School Seniors Please pick up the application for the Grace Lutheran Foundation Scholarship in the office, get the needed reference letters, and return all required documents to the church office before the deadline on February 15, 2019. Grace Lutheran Church Foundation Board members: Sandy Alne, Randy Birchall, Nic Huse, Billy Offerman, Kim Motl, Tim Olson, & Natalie Passow 10
THIS WEEK AT GRACE Sunday, February 3 EPIPHANY 4 Council Installation Souper Bowl Sunday 8:30 am Traditional Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Adult Forum (Upper level Library) 10:45 am Creative Spirit Worship Monday, February 4 Tuesday, February 5 Wednesday, February 6 Thursday, February 7 Saturday, February 9 8:30 am Quilting 5:30 pm Bell Practice 7:30 pm FDCS 1:00 pm Knit & Purl 6:30 pm Ministry Teams Meeting 6:45 am Men s Bible Study at ICCC 2:00 pm Books of the Bible, Smeltzer Room at Friendship Haven 5:45 pm Confirmation 5:45 pm ARiSE 7:00 pm Choir 1:00 pm WELCA Board Meeting 6:30 pm Helen s Grace Group 8:00 am Lutheran Men in Mission Sunday, February 10 EPIPHANY 5 8:30 am Traditional Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Adult Forum (Upper level Library) 10:45 am Creative Spirit Worship 1:30-4:30 pm Bridge-A-Rama, Smeltzer Room Friendship Haven 2-3:30 pm Bingo, lower level Fellowship Hall Mission Statement In celebration of God s grace, given through Jesus Christ, we seek to grow through worship, teaching, fellowship and reaching out with our gifts to share the gospel and serve the needs of all people. 11