Jesus Rejected in Nazareth, impressionist art by Jeff Watkins, 2018 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. Luke 4:29 The Season of Epiphany Share the Light of Christ for all to see February 3, 2019 11 am St. John s Lutheran Church Salisbury NC
Welcome to St. John s! For more information about today s worship and the availability of hearing aids and large print bulletins, please refer to the pew card found in the hymnal. The congregation s responses are in bold. Gathering Welcome Please sign the Friendship Pad and pass it to your neighbor in the pew. Prelude He Comes to Us As One Unknown REPTON Robert J. Powel Prayers of Confession, turning to face the cross of Christ. We make the sign of the cross as a reminder of our baptism. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us pray. Almighty 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 magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Silence for reflection and self-examination. Come, let us return to the Lord and say: O Lord our God, in our sin we have avoided your call. Our love for you is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Have mercy on us; deliver us from our sin; bind up our wounds and revive us; in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Methodist Evening Prayer God s Promise of Forgiveness In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus came to earth to free you of sin and restore your relationship with God. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. Amen. Entrance Hymn 834 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ST. DENIO 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. 2
Kyrie. A centering prayer asking for God s mercy and peace. 3
Hymn of Praise Glory Be to God in Heaven JOYFUL, JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE Glory be to God in heaven; peace, goodwill to all the earth. Mighty God of all creation, father of surpassing worth; We exalt you, we adore you, we lift high our thanks and praise. Saints and angels bow before you, here on earth our songs we raise. Let us pray. O God, full of compassion, we commit and commend ourselves to you, in whom we live and move and have our being. Be the goal of our pilgrimage, and our rest by the way. Give us refuge from the turmoil of worldly distractions beneath the shadow of your wings. Let our hearts, so often a sea of restless waves, find peace in you, O God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please be seated Word First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10 Jeremiah s call and commission The prophet writes: 4 Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy." 7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD." 9 Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! 4
Refrain I Will Sing Psalm 71 Please sing as led Setting by David Haas, 1989 GIA Publications, Inc., CCLI #942521 Second Reading: Psalm 71:1-6 Prayer for lifelong protection and help 1 In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. Refrain 5 For you, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. 6 Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you. Refrain The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! The Holy Gospel Luke 4:21-30 The rejection of Jesus at Nazareth People in Jesus hometown are initially pleased when he says that God will free the oppressed. Their pleasure turns to rage when he reminds them that God s prophetic mission typically pushes beyond human boundaries so that mercy and healing are extended to those regarded as outsiders. 21 Then Jesus began to say to them, "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 5
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; 26yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28When they heard this, all in the Synagogue were filled with rage. 29They 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. 30But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. The Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God! Children are invited to leave for Children s Worship, returning after the sermon. Sermon Pastor Laura Henrik Please stand Hymn 428 Give Thanks for Saints REPTON Apostle s Creed. The three paragraphs of the Creed express our belief in the three-fold nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 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 of Intercession Each petition ends: Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer. Sharing the Peace of Christ The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you Please be seated 6
Meal Collection of our Tithes and Offerings, and Preparation of the Lord s Table. Offertory Anthem Awake, Awake! by F. Crosby and C. Courtney Awake, awake! let every heart in loudest praise adore the great eternal Lord of all, who reigns forevermore. He paints the orient sky of morn. He gives the flower its hue. And gently o er its fragrant leaves he drops the pearly dew. Refrain Strangers, pilgrims here below, he will lead us while we go; Where the cooling waters flow, his hand our steps will guide. Awake, exalt his glorious name; And on this holy day. rejoicing in the house of prayer, your grateful homage pay. As o er the earth the genial sun a radiant luster throws. So in the bosom where he dwells the light of mercy glows. Refrain How sweet when human voices join to sing his pardoning love. While angels waft the joyful strain to purer worlds above. Awake, awake! let every heart in loudest praise adore. The great eternal Lord of all, who reigns forevermore. Refrain Silence for reflection As the gifts are presented the congregation stands and sings the 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. Let us pray. Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us our selves, our time and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. 7
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise.... And join their unending hymn: Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow r and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Eucharistic Prayer The 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. The gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God! Please be seated Distribution of Holy Communion, see pew card for instructions. Hymn Lamb of God, p. 154, front of red ELW Communion Hymns 496 One Bread, One Body 464 Bread of Life, Our Host and Meal 744 Lord, Be Glorified Please stand Blessing, Prayer, and Benediction Sending Sending Hymn 665 Rise, Shine, You People! WOJTKIEWIECZ Dismissal Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God! Postlude 8