I ve Got Plans for You! 4th Sunday after Epiphany January 30 & 31, 2016
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431 Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com AS WE GATHER: God has plans for us. Through the words of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord reassures us that He is in control. He has set the course for and shaped the destiny of the world. Knowing that God is in control gives us ongoing opportunity to seek His will and to shape our lives to be in harmony with His Word. God does not just care about people in general; He cares for us individually. Each human life is precious in His sight. As children of the heavenly Father, we live joyfully and securely in all situations. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: Lord Jesus, Holy One of God, You have a gracious plan for our lives. By the working of the Holy Spirit, lead us to seek Your will in all things. Keep us in true faith in the fellowship of Your redeemed people until we are gathered into Your glorious and eternal Kingdom, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE DIVINE SERVICE HYMN To Your Temple, Lord, I Come LW 207 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 2
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION 1 Thessalonians 5:23 24 O God our Father, we admit and confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Have mercy on us, and forgive us, O Lord. We confess that we have not always said in our hearts Thy will be done when we have been faced with decisions in our lives. Have mercy on us, and forgive us, O Lord. We confess that Your love has not reached others through us in every situation, and we admit to being thoughtless in our judgments, hasty in condemnation, grudging in forgiveness, slow to seek reconciliation, and unwilling to help our neighbors as we ought. Have mercy on us, and forgive us, O Lord. We confess that we have not always been defenders of the weak and helpless advocates of those not yet born and those in the final stages of life. Have mercy on us, and forgive us, O Lord. We confess that we have not used every opportunity given us to witness to the faith that is ours and have let the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh set the agendas for our lives and actions. Have mercy on us, and forgive us, O Lord. Upon this your confession and by the command of our Lord, I, by virtue of my office as a called 3
and ordained servant of Christ, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. Amen. INTROIT Psalm 10:16 18; antiphon: v. 12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the afflicted. The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from His land. O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand; forget not the afflicted. KYRIE 4
All: Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us. HYMN OF PRAISE In Thee Is Gladness LW 442 In you is gladness Amid all sadness, Jesus sunshine of my heart. By you are given The gifts of heaven, You the true Redeemer are. Our souls are waking; Our bonds are breaking. Who trust you surely Has built securely And stands forever. Alleluia! Our hearts are pining To see your shining, Dying or living To you are cleaving Now and forever. Alleluia! If he is ours, We fear no powers, Not of earth or sin or death. He sees and blesses In worst distresses; He can change them with a breath. Wherefore the story Tell of his glory With hearts and voices; All heaven rejoices 5
In him forever. Alleluia! We shout for gladness, Win over sadness, Love him and praise him And still shall raise him Glad hymns forever. Alleluia! SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And with your spirit. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 1:4 10 (Jeremiah is called to speak for the Lord.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM Psalm 71:1 6 6
In You, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; You have given the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For You, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon You I have leaned from before my birth; You are He who took me from my mother s womb. My praise is continually of You. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 12:31b 13:13 (Paul writes of the importance of charity and love.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. VERSE Luke 4:18a Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose 7
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. HOLY GOSPEL Luke 4:31 44 (Jesus casts out demons.) The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. (The Gospel is read.) This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. HYMN Son of God, Eternal Savior LW 394 SERMON OFFERING OFFERTORY 8
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9 13) HYMN Now May He Who from the Dead (sung to LW 256) Now may He who from the dead Brought the Shepherd of the sheep, Jesus Christ, our King and Head, All our souls in safety keep! May He teach us to fulfill What is pleasing in His sight, Perfect us in all His will, And preserve us day and night! To that dear Redeemer s praise, Who the cov nant sealed with blood, Let our hearts and voices raise Loud thanksgivings to our God. Text: John Newton, 1725 1807. Public domain. Tune: BUCKLAND, Leighton G. Hayne, 1836 83. Public domain. CLOSING COLLECT 9
Blessed Lord, who has caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by the patience and comfort of Thy holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which You have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. BENEDICTION The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen. Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Part 1. Copyright 2015 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY To our members and guests who are here with us today. We are very glad that you are here for worship services on this Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. May the Lord refresh you with peace and love during our worship services. Please join us here at Ebenezer again soon! Please sign the guest register near the front entrance with your name, address and Church affiliation. ++++++++++++++++++++ 10
Today is the Installation of our newly elected Church Officers: Elder Warren Bauche; President Paul Brune; Vice President Wilbert Baumann; Secretary Mark Kassebaum; Treasurer Don Kappelmann; Board of Trustees Bryan Adams; Board of Education Becky Summers; Stewardship Committee Mary Zastrow; Evangelism Committee Nancy Quinn. Please join us today for our benefit dinner to help our member, Barbara Bolm. Barb lost her home near Church Street in Union due to flooding. This will be a free will donation. All contributions will be used to help Barb get back on her feet. The dinner will be immediately after Church. Serving will be until 1:00 PM. If you would like to make a contribution, please make a check payable to Ebenezer Lutheran Church and mark it for Barb Bolm Fund. Many people have been asking about the physical needs of Barb. She will be in need of bedding for a queen size bed, bath towel sets (Including hand towels and wash cloths), kitchen towels (including dish cloths and pot holders). If you have items that you wish to share with Barb, drop them off at the Church basement and we will store them for her until she needs them. Thank you so much for your help! Recycle Update We are pleased to report the addition of $10.25 for recycle aluminum and $33.40 for recycle paper to our ongoing fund for missionaries. This brings our total aluminum recycle to $4833.75 and our recycle paper balance to $956.01. Thanks to everyone for their help and support of our recycle for missionaries project. Please remember 11
NO CARDBOARD OR PLASTIC BAGS IN THE DUMPSTER! ALUMINUM RECYCLE TO CONTINUE AGAIN We are pleased to report that we will be recycling aluminum cans again. There is a center in Union off of Hwy A that accepts aluminum. It is called Union Recycling at 141 Independence Drive. If you have aluminum cans to donate please place them in the smoke house behind church or if you have a small amount they may be placed in the kitchen (there is a container marked recycle cans). Thank you so much for your help. The funds from the aluminum recycle will continue to go toward our recycle for missionaries project. Annual statements of contributions Annual statements of contributions for 2015 have been e- mailed. Please print your statement immediately and keep it with your tax records. If you do not have e-mail, you can pick up your printed statement from the ushers at the church entrance. Report any address corrections to Mary Sprick. If you do not receive a statement and want one, call Roland Walkenhorst at 573-459-6702. Statements are not prepared automatically for all contributors, and the Internal Revenue Service might not require you to have one. Consult your tax preparer or visit irs.gov/taxtopics/tc506.html. If you received a printed statement but have e-mail, please give us that address so we can send your statements electronically in the future to minimize the congregation s printing and postage expense. Send it to rolandwalkenhorst@gmail.com. Thank you for your financial support of our ministry! 12
Please keep this date in mind We will be having a Chili and Soup Dinner on Sunday, March 6 th serving from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. This dinner is a fundraiser for Alec Ingram who is a 5 th grader at Immanuel Lutheran School in Washington. He was diagnosed with bone cancer last spring and is currently taking chemo treatments. There will be a freewill offering for the dinner. All proceeds will be given to the Ingram family to be used to help with Alec s medical bills. If you are unable to attend, donations may be made. Make checks payable to Ebenezer Lutheran Church Thrivent Group. Please see the complete story about Alec in the February Newsletter! Those Serving Today Organist Saturday Laura Nichols Organist Sunday Ruth Marschel Head Usher Saturday Tracey Bade Head Usher Sunday Marvin Kassebaum Altar Guild Joyce Hohlt and Judy Allmeroth Acolytes Ava Monzyk Trent Huellinghoff Tyler Kasmann Bell Ringer Corey Adams 13
Offerings and Attendance Weekly Contributions $1,223.00 Plate 61.00 Sunday School 18.89 Bolm Fund 30.00 Edna Deppermann Memorials 70.00 Portals of Prayer 10.00 Lutheran Witness Subscriptions 47.96 Cemetery Grave Maintenance 50.00 Janitor Fee 25.00 $1,535.85 Attendance: Saturday Worship 20 Sunday Worship 65 Sunday School: Children 5 Adults 18 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday This Week at Ebenezer Elders Meeting 7:00 PM Confirmation 6:30 PM Adult Confirmation 6:00 PM Worship with Holy Communion 3:00 PM 14