Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit 3461 Cedar Crest Blvd. EMAIL Info@holyspirit-emmaus.org Emmaus, PA 18049-1599 www.lchsemmaus.org PHONE 610.967.2220 www.facebook.com/lchsemmaus FAX 610.966.3021 www.twitter.com/lchsemmaus Spirit Alive! upbeat Christ-Centered Stephen Ministry Aden Endowment for Pastoral Care Third Sunday after Epiphany Sunday, January 21, 2018 8:45 The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for Ministry in Daily Life Gathered by God s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we invite and welcome all people to join us on our journey to become more faithful ministers of Jesus Christ in our homes, our communities, and the world.
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ELW refers to the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the red worship book. Page numbers are in the front of the book with hymn numbers following in the middle & end. During worship, please silence all communication devices. *As you are able, please stand. Gathering Gathering and Fellowship Welcome and Theme of the Day Stephen Ministry, Aden Endowment for Pastoral Care Bear Creek Camp Stories of the call to discipleship continue as the Time after Epiphany plays out the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. *Gathering Song We Are Called ELW Hymn 720 *Prayer of the Day Let us pray together. Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us, is with us and follows after us. Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness that come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Word First Reading A Reading from Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13. NRSV Bible Christians share fundamental unity and diversity. Our unity consists in the one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God. Our diversity is expressed in various forms of ministry, whose goal is equipping the saints and building up Christ s one body. I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one 3
body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ s gift. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. After the reading, Word of God, Word of Light. Thanks be to God! Word for God s Children Children ages 3 7 are invited to the All Saints Room. They will return after the Sermon. We encourage at least one parent to be present. *Gospel The Holy Gospel according to Luke 4:14-21. NRSV Bible Open our hearts, Lord Near the beginning of Jesus public ministry, he visits his hometown of Nazareth. In the words of Isaiah, he states and claims his identity, purpose, and mission. Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor. And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. This is the good news! Thanks be to God! Hallelujah! 4
Sermon Pr. Jim Bowers *Word in Song Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ ELW Hymn 674 *Affirmation of Our Mission Let us affirm our mission. Gathered by God s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we invite and welcome all people to join us on our journey to become more faithful ministers of Jesus Christ in our homes, our communities, and the world. *Prayers of the People Called to be a light to the nations, let us pray for God s justice, peace, and healing. After each petition: God of compassion, hear our prayer. Trusting your love and healing, God, we commend to you all for whom we pray, knowing you will hear and answer, through Christ our Lord. Amen. *Share the Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The people greet one another with the peace of Christ. Offering I Will Follow You DiMarco Sue Smith, soloist The assembly responds to the Word of God by gathering an offering for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. The music is offered as a gift to the glory of God. You may give your offering in the offering plate, or by using a credit or debit card at the Giving Kiosk, or Give by Text (610-981-1312), or through Simply Giving, or by sending it to the church office. The table is set. 5
Blessing of Aden Endowment for Pastoral Care Commissioning of Stephen Ministers and Leaders P The following persons have been called and trained to serve as Stephen Ministers for the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities needed to serve, but the same God gives to everyone ability for particular service. The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person, for the good of all. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) You have been trained and set apart to be Stephen Ministers in this congregation. On behalf of your sisters and brothers in Christ, I ask you to affirm this calling: Are you willing to faithfully serve your care receivers? SM Yes, by the help of God. Those being affirmed face the congregation. P People of God, I ask you: Will you support these, your Stephen Ministers, and will you pray for them and support them in this caring ministry of our Lord? C Yes, by the help of God. P We commission you as Stephen Ministers of the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit. God bless you with the Holy Spirit, that you may prove faithful servants of Christ. SM Amen. P Let us pray. Eternal God, through your Son, Jesus Christ, pour out your Holy Spirit on these new Stephen Ministers. Guide, bless, and keep them in their serving, that they may faithfully carry out this ministry of caring that is entrusted to them. May this ministry so reflect your grace that those to whom they minister may come to know your healing love through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Thanksgiving for all Stephen Ministers and Leaders 6
Meal *Word in Meal Creator of all, we give you thanks for the blazing light of your love; be the light in our darkness. You call us by name and surround us with your love to be a light to all people. Redeemer of all, we give you thanks that in the waters of baptism you put to death the darkness of our lives. You offer us a new vision and call us into lives filled with the light of Christ. You gather your people into one church; a community of faith where we are formed in faith and shaped to be your disciples. Sustainer of all, you have revealed to us your servant; your child and our Savior, Jesus, through whom you take away the sin of the world. We are transformed by the mystery of Christ s sacrifice for us. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Words of Institution Spirit of compassion; bless this bread and wine that it may be to us a source of forgiveness and healing, a reminder of your living presence among us and nourishment that enables us to serve the world around us. Amen. *Lord s Prayer Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us: 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 to Communion Come. Be filled with light and life. Thanks be to God! 7
Sacrament of Holy Communion All who are baptized and believe in the presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion are welcome to receive the Sacrament. To facilitate flow, the ushers invite the side sections, the front few rows and then the back rows. The people come forward, using the center aisle in two lines, to receive the bread from the ministers, then go to the side to dip their bread into the wine. Grape juice is used in our celebration so that all may freely receive. In addition, gluten free wafers are available. After receiving the elements, people may kneel at the altar rail for prayer, and return to their seats using the side aisles. Children may receive the sacrament if they have completed instruction with a pastor. Children who do not commune may come forward for a blessing. Communion Songs The assembly sings of the light of the world. Now the Body Broken Words and music on next page. 8
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light ELW Hymn 815 You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore ELW Hymn 817 9
*Prayer Let us pray. Everlasting God, we thank you that you have refreshed us again with heavenly food and fed us with the life and light of your Son. Send us in his name from this place to bring light into dark corners, healing where lives are torn, and nourishment to every hungry heart, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Sending *Blessing The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path. Shine through us as God s gift to the world. The blessing of almighty God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now and always. Amen. *Sending Song Go, Make Disciples ELW Hymn 540 *Dismissal The assisting minister sends the assembly into mission. Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. Thanks be to God! CCLI #678084 One License A-701076 The Toolkit all content Changing Church Forum, Inc. Reproducible for church use only. Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20593. 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. HymnPrint.net License #11804. The Message (MSG) Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission. Some liturgy reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2014. Used by permission. Epiphany Affirmation of Faith written by Nathan Nettleton, 1999, incorporating some lines from "Midwife of our lives" by Kathy Galloway published in Kathy Galloway (ed.) The Pattern of Our Days, Glasgow: Wild Goose Publications, 1996, p.138. from laughingbird.net/seasonalpages/christmas.html. Word in meal Eucharistic prayer submitted to Liturgylink.net by Rev. Elsa Peters, the United Churches of Olympia, WA. 10
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