Sunday, February 5, 2017 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany Worship at 9:30 AM GATHERING Prelude Confession and Forgiveness Welcome to worship at Vinje Lutheran Church. We want you to know that you are very welcome here. We want this to be a safe place, where we can bring our best and our worst, our peace and our pain. This is a place of healing and reconciliation. And now let us stand as we are able, to confess our brokenness and to hear God s word of forgiveness. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who stretches out the heavens, who sends light to the nations, who gives breath to us all. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Silence for reflection and self-examination. 1
Loving God, we confess that we have turned from your way to follow our own ways. Forgive us for the times we have spoken or acted too quickly; we have not spoken or acted at all; we have hurt those closest to us; we have hurt those we have yet to know; we have thought more about ourselves than others; we have thought less of ourselves than we ought. Turn us around, and give us a fresh start, so that we can live again as your children. Even when we have done wrong, God makes us right. Even when we have messed up, God puts us together. God s love never runs out. God never tires of calling us beloved children. Hear God say to you now: Your sins are forgiven, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Gathering Hymn Gather Us In Hymnal #532 1 Here in this place the new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away; see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day. Gather us in, the lost and forsaken, gather us in, the blind and the lame; call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name. 2 We are the young, our lives are a myst'ry, we are the old who yearn for your face; we have been sung throughout all of hist'ry, called to be light to the whole human race. Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong; give us a heart, so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song. 3 Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth, here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth. Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you; nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true. 2
4 Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away but here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, and now is the day. Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own; gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone. Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950 Text 1982 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission OneLicense.Net A-704219 Greeting 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. Prayer of the Day Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Welcome and Announcements WORD Scripture Reading Isaiah 58:1-9a Bible pg. 600 Shortly after the return of Israel from exile in Babylon, the people were troubled by the ineffectiveness of their fasts. God reminds them that outward observance is no substitute for genuine fasting that results in acts of justice, such as feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and clothing the naked. 1 Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 3
2 Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3 Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice? Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 4 Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9a Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. 9b If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 4
11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. Word of God, Word of Life Thanks be to God Please stand, as you are able Gospel Acclamation Alleluia Hymnal #170 Alleluia. Jesus says, I am the light of the world;* whoever follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia. (John 8:12) Holy Gospel Matthew 5:13-20 Bible pg. 786 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encourages his followers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, doing good works and keeping God s commandments. The Holy Gospel, according to Matthew, the 5 th chapter: Glory to you, O Lord [Jesus said:] 13 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14 You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your 5
light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The Gospel of our Lord: Praise to you, O Christ Please be seated Message The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song Hymn of the Day Drawn to the Light Hymnal #593 1 People who walk in darkness have sought a light in the heart of the darkest night. Just when we thought all would be lost, we were drawn to the light of God. Refrain Dawn is in sight! Gone is the night, drawn to the light and the morning. Glorious and bright, oh, what a sight to be drawn to the light of God. 2 How can we tell a heaven from hell if ev'ryone dwells in the dark of night? Morning dispels, gently compels, and we're drawn to the light of God. Refrain 3 Where is the sun? Oh, there will be none! The Lamb is the one who is shining bright, bids us to come! Life has begun when we're drawn to the light of God. Refrain 6
Text: John C. Ylvisaker, b. 1937 Text 1990 John C. Ylvisaker. Reprinted with permission LicenSing U2675 Apostles Creed Hymnal pg. 105 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. Prayers Hymnal #752 At the conclusion of each petition, the assembly sings: Text and music 1973 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission OneLicense.Net A-704219 Peace MEAL 7
Offering An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. Anthem during the offering True Light Keith Hampton Offertory For Such a Time as This Could it be that we are called for such a time as this? Could it be that we are called for such a time as this? Other verses: that you are called that I am called Jonathan Rundman 2015 Reproduced with Permission CCLI #303098 Offering Prayer Merciful God, receive the gifts we bring, our selves, our time, and our possessions. Through this meal unite us as your body, shining with the light of your justice and mercy; for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Words of Institution In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, 8
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. Music during Communion Lamb of God Hymnal pg. 154 Anthem Eye Has Not Seen Marty Haugen Hymn Be Thou My Vision Hymnal #793 1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art: thou my best thought both by day and by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. 2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word; I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord. 9
Thou my soul's shelter, and thou my high tow'r, raise thou me heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r. 3 Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise, thou mine inheritance, now and always: thou and thou only, the first in my heart, great God of heaven, my treasure thou art. 4 Light of my soul, after victory won, may I reach heaven's joys, O heaven's Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all. Text: Irish, 8th cent.; vers. Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935, alt.; tr. Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1931 Hymn Here is Bread Hymnal #483 Here is bread here is wine Christ is with us He is with us Break the bread drink the wine Christ is with us here In this bread there is healing In this cup there's life forever In this moment by the Spirit Christ is with us here Here is grace here is peace Christ is with us He is with us Know His grace find His peace Feast on Jesus here In this bread there is healing In this cup there's life forever In this moment by the Spirit Christ is with us here Here we are joined in One Christ is with us He is with us We'll proclaim 'til He comes Jesus crucified In this bread there is healing 10
In this cup there's life forever In this moment by the Spirit Christ is with us here 1991 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services) CCLI License No. 303098 Hymn Eat This Bread Hymnal #472 Table Blessing The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in God s grace. Prayer after Communion O Morning Star, fair and bright, you have refreshed us again with heavenly food. You are our dearest treasure. Go with us now today, tomorrow, every day that we tell the story of your never-ending love and sing your praise both now and forever. 11
SENDING Benediction The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Sending Song We are Marching in the Light of God Hymnal #866 We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God. We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God. We are marching, (marching, we are marching, marching,) we are marching in the light of God. We are marching, (marching, we are marching, marching,) we are marching in the light of God. Additional stanzas ad lib: We are dancing... We are praying... We are singing... Dismissal Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. Thanks be to God. Annual Meeting Begins 12