CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH 255 West Douglas St. South St. Paul, MN

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH 255 West Douglas St. South St. Paul, MN 55075 651-451-0309 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY Is Christ Divided? January 22, 2017 Blended Service 10:30 a.m. AS WE GATHER In his great Reformation hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Martin Luther describes our life situation this way: With might of ours can naught be done, Soon were our loss effected; But for us fights the valiant One, Whom God Himself elected (LSB 656:2). At the Jordan River in His Baptism, Jesus was anointed by the Spirit as the One who will do battle for His people. The prophetic job description of God s special servant is realized in Jesus. In the weeks of the Epiphany season, we rejoice to see Him fulfill that special role for us. PRE-SERVICE MUSIC THE WELCOME THE RITE OF FRIENDSHIP OPENING SONG As We Gather (sing 2 times) As we gather may Your Spirit work within us, as we gather may we glorify Your Name. Knowing well that as our hearts begin to worship, we ll be blessed because we came, we ll be blessed because we came. Our Mission Creating a community gathered together to joyfully worship our God... to grow in faith and knowledge... to support one another... and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ INVOCATION PREPARATION P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Psalm 27:14 adapted; 1 Corinthians 6:19 P: In peace let us pray to our heavenly Father, confident of His forgiveness for Jesus sake. Silence for reflection on God s Word and for self-examination P: Heavenly Father, 2

C: we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have failed to live in the fruit of Your Holy Spirit, in our thinking, speaking, and acting. We have not loved You completely or our neighbors as ourselves. We have let the turmoil in this world subvert the peace You have provided us. We have not let our hearts take courage and waited for the Lord. Our Lord Jesus revealed His person and ministry through His words and actions. In Your great mercy, forgive, renew, and lead us so that we may be revealed as His faith-filled followers to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. P: Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. WORD INTROIT Psalm 22:27 31; antiphon: Psalm 22:22 P: I will tell of Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You. C: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. P: For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations. C: All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before Him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. P: Posterity shall serve Him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; C: they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn, that He has done it. 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. P: I will tell of Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise You. KYRIE Lord, have mercy upon us Christ, have mercy upon us Lord, have mercy upon us. THE SONG Blessed Assurance Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation purchase of God, Born of His Spirit washed in His Blood. Chorus: This is my story this is my song, Praising my savior all the day long; This is my story this is my song, Praising my savior all the day long; Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending bring from above Echos of mercy, whispers of love. Chorus Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. Chorus SALUTATION P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 3 4

THE SONG As the Deer GRADUAL Psalm 117:1 2a; 96:8 As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield. You re my friend and You are my brother even though You are a King. I love You more than any other, so much more than anything. You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield. I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy. You alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye. You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield. OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 9:1 4 (A great light is shining.) But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; 3 they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. 5 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts! EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:10 18 (Let there be no divisions in Christ s Church.) I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos, or I follow Cephas, or I follow Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. ALLELUIA AND VERSE Mark 1:11b Alleluia. From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Alleluia. HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 4:12 25 (Jesus calls His first disciples.) P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fourth chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord. 12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 6

15 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. NICENE CREED All: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. 7 He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. HYMN OF THE DAY O Christ, Our True and Only Light LSB 839 SERMON OFFERING THE SONG Give Thanks Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ, His Son Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ, His Son. And now let the weak say, I am strong! Let the poor say, I am rich. Because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ, His Son Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ, His Son. Give thanks. Give thanks. 8

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH SILENT PRAYER The congregation is encouraged to take a few moments to pray silently for anything that weighs heavily on our hearts. We are also encouraged to pray for those in our lives who do not know Christ that the Holy Spirit may work powerfully to bring them to saving faith. SACRAMENT We believe, teach and confess that in the Lord s Supper, Christ comes to us and his body and blood are really present to forgive our sins and assure us of everlasting life and salvation. We, as baptized believers, prepare for Communion by examining ourselves, repenting of our sins, anticipating our Lord s forgiveness and drawing on Christ s power in the Sacrament to help us live an amended life for Christ. To those who share this confession with us, we invite you to join us as we welcome you to the Lord s Table. P: The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22 C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. [Colossians 3:1] C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136] C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise. PROPER PREFACE P: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; for what had been hidden from before the foundation of the world You have made known to the nations in Your Son. In Him, being found in the substance of our mortal nature, You have manifested the fullness of Your glory. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying: SANCTUS Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow r and might Heaven and earth are full of Your glory, Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. 9 PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING P: Blessed are You, Sovereign Lord, for in Your great mercy You sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to be our Savior. You have graciously given us the gift of faith and endowed us with the gifts of the Spirit, deigning to allow us to carry forward Your Son s ministry. Grant that we remain strong in faith and at peace with one another as we approach the Table of the Lord and receive the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation, which come to us in His body and blood. THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9 13) C: 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. PAX DOMINI P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. 10

AGNUS DEI Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS O Lord, We Praise Thee LSB 617 Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread LSB 625 What Is This Bread LSB 629 POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE Sent Forth by God s Blessing LSB 643 POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING P: We give thanks, heavenly Father, that You have refreshed us through this Sacrament, and we pray that the one cup and loaf will ever remind us of the unity we have in the one Christ; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. BENEDICTION P: 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. Numbers 6:24 26 Serving In God s House Pastor: William L. Keller II Organ/Piano: Beth Ekblad Choir Director: Virginia Flo Education Coordinator: Cathy Johnston & Joleen Macioch Usher Captain: Bruce Avenson Elder: Lay Reader: Bruce Avenson Greeters: John & Jan Wilke Altar Guild: Bruce & Gail Avenson THE SONG Go out with Joy (sing 2 times) Go out with joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills shall break forth singing. Go out with joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills shall break forth singing. And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. The Lord Almighty shall be praised. And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. The word of the Lord shall be forever. Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 1. Copyright 2016 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Scripture quotations, unless noted otherwise, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 11 12