January 31, 2016 LAKE OCONEE LUTHERAN CHURCH Fourth Sunday after Epiphany A Stephen Ministry Congregation Our vision is to be an expanding community of faith, growing in the Holy Spirit, and practicing before the world a Christ-centered life. Missionaries: All the people of God Pastor: Rev. Andrew L. Schroeder Organist: Dave Heimer Church Secretary: Deb Krahling Church Office: 706-485-4600 Pastor s Cell: 561-512-4844 1089 Lake Oconee Parkway Eatonton, GA 31024 lolcsec@plantationcable.net www.lolc.info Aids for hearing, children s activity bulletins, and large print bulletins are available from the ushers 1
WE OFFER NURSERY & CHILDCARE If you need childcare, please see one of the ushers and we will happily accommodate you. In Preparation of Holy Communion We invite to the Lord s Supper all Christians who are baptized, who have communed in a Christian church, and who share our Lutheran understanding that, along with the bread and wine, we receive the body and blood of our living Lord Jesus for the strengthening of our faith and witness. The glasses in the very center of each tray contain grape juice for those who are not able to drink wine. Communicants may choose to receive the wine in an individual cup, from the Chalice or by immersing the wafer in the Chalice (intinction). It is very helpful to keep your empty glass visible so the Common Cup will not be offered. Children who do not commune are invited to come for a blessing. Pastor asks that they fold their hands to show that they are not communing. Ushers: Keith Mulford and Tom Uehlin Greeters: Rosalyn & Jack Carson Communion Assistants: Peggy Uehlin and Loretta Hayes Janie Fritch invites you for coffee after the service 2
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC: THIS IS A TIME TO TURN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TOWARD GOD IN PREPARATION OF WORSHIP. Welcome: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Welcome visitors. Please Stand The Peace P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. (You are invited to wish those around you God s peace. Please remain standing for the invocation.) Invocation P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. Confession and Absolution P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C: 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 on God's Word and for self-examination. P: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk 3
in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. P: 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. C: Amen. Hymn (To sing harmony, turn to page 729 in the Lutheran Service Book) I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus Public domain Kyrie 4
5
Hymn of Praise Gloria in Excelsis 6
Salutation and Collect of the Day P: Let us pray. O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that, with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sin has brought upon us: through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. First Lesson Jeremiah 1:4 10 Reader: Dick Schneider Psalm 71:1 6 P: 1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; C: let me never be put to shame! P: 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; C: incline your ear to me, and save me! P: 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, C: to which I may continually come; P: you have given the command to save me, C: for you are my rock and my fortress. 7
P: 4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, C: from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. P: 5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, C: my trust, O Lord, from my youth. P: 6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother s womb. C: My praise is continually of you. Second Lesson: Epistle: 1 Corinthians 12:31b 13:13 Reader: Karen Brown Please Stand Alleluia Verse Holy Gospel: Luke 4:21-30 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord. 21 Then he 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 8
tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in 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; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 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. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. Choir Sermon Pastor Andrew Schroeder 9
Hymn: (To sing harmony, turn to page 842 in the Lutheran Service Book) Son of God, Eternal Savior Public domain 10
Please Stand Nicene Creed C: 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. 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. The Offering Please stand as the offering is brought to the altar. Offertory Prayer P: Let us pray P: Blessed are you, C: O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your 11
service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. * Prayer Of The Church (After the pastor ends each petition with, Lord in Your Mercy, the congregation responds with, Hear our prayer. ) The Sacrament of Holy Communion Preface 12
Proper Preface P: It is truly good evermore praising You and saying: Sanctus Prayer of Thanksgiving P: Holy God, mighty Lord, Gracious Father: Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign. You have filled all creation with light and life; Heaven and earth are full of your glory Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations. You rescued Israel, your chosen people. Through the Prophets You renewed your promise; and at this end of all the ages, you sent your Son, who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life. 13
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. For as often as we eat Of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. P: Therefore, gracious Father, With this bread and cup we remember the life Our Lord offered for us. And believing the witness of his resurrection, We await his coming in power to share with us the great and promised feast. C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. P: Send now, we pray, Your Holy Spirit, The Spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection, That we who receive The Lord s body and blood May live to the praise of your glory and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light. C: Amen. Come Holy Spirit. 14
P: Join our prayers with those of your servants Of every time and place, and unite them With the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all. Lord's Prayer 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. C: Amen. Agnus Dei 15
The Distribution P: Take, eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins. C: Amen. P: Take, drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins. C: Amen. In dismissing the communicants, the following is said: P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace. C: Amen. Please Stand Post-Communion Canticle Thank the Lord 16
Post-Communion Prayer P: Let us pray. P: We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. The Benediction Announcements P: Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever. C: Amen. 17
Hymn: (To sing harmony, turn to page 850 in the Lutheran Service Book.) God of Grace and God of Glory Public domain The Sending Forth P: Go in peace, serve the Lord! C: Thanks be to God! 18
+ Post-service Music + MEMORIAL ENVELOPES are available to memorialize loved ones through a financial contribution. The envelopes are on the foyer table. Mention their name and designated either the General Fund or Debt Reduction to which you wish to contribute, and place in the collection plate. GOD S BLESSINGS to all those who are celebrating birthdays or anniversaries this week: Wednesday, Kayleen Ringer will celebrate her birthday; Thursday, Joyce & Harold Huston enjoy their anniversary. Best wishes to all! THE FLOWERS are given today by Barbara Smolinski. LET US PRAY FOR THE FAMILY OF THE WEEK: Dave & Margie Heimer BINGO PRIZES NEEDED: for the Lake Oconee Nursing home. If you are interested in brightening a nursing home resident s day, please drop off small items on the front table that could be used as prizes. GIVING ENVELOPES: Don t forget to pick up your giving envelopes on the foyer table. ATTENTION: NEW OPPORTUNITIES to SERVE The Altar Care Group is looking for a new leader. We will be glad to offer any help and answer any questions during the transition. Please contact the LOLC Elder Linda Jorgensen with any questions. Helping Hands: Judy Cerny, who has coordinated Helping Hands for so many years, is ready to turn over this opportunity to someone else. If you are willing to take over the reins, contact one of LOLC s Elders. 19
WEEKLY CALENDAR Tuesday Elder s Meeting 9:00 a.m. Lake Oconee Quilters Guild 9:00 a.m. Women s Bible Study 10:00 a.m. Thursday Pastor s Bible Study 10:00 a.m. Pastor s Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Saturday ECR Bible Study 4:15 p.m. ECR Service 5:30 p.m. Sunday Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Choir Practice 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 10:30 a.m. UPCOMING EVENTS Sunday, Feb 7 Communion Assistants Training All are invited to come join & learn! Wednesday, Feb 10 @ 7pm service Wed. Feb 17 Mar 17 Lenten Soup Suppers (signup on table) Soup Supper Theme: Spring Cleaning 20
Prayer Requests Ivan Bagby Rosemary Bonnough Dick Braun Barbara Crawford Carol Dunn Martha Glenn Marion & Patsy Mahs Larson family Joan Mulford Leo Sauer Jean Vincent John Zawislak Cathy Chambers (sister of Rosemary Bonnough) Margie Howell (long-time friend of the Andersons) Nadine Haydon (friend of the Uehlins) Peggy & Dan Huck (friends of Linda Horst) Mrs. Hoke Pollack (member of the Proper family) Jean Wagner (friend of the Carsons) Larry Wells (neighbor of the Riesmeyers) 21
OUR VALUES AS A CONGREGATION Word and Sacrament believing in and making faithful and frequent use of the Bible, Baptism, and the Lord s Supper as the means by which God gives and sustains faith and empowers and strengthens us for Christian living. Christian Education providing quality, Bible based instruction to foster greater understanding of God s Word and to better equip members for their discipleship. Evangelism reaching out to others by word and deed to join in the sharing of God s blessings and grace, which is free to all believers. Stewardship utilizing fully our time, talents, and resources to serve and love the Lord, furthering our commission of discipleship. Fellowship caring for and sharing with our church family; fostering greater love, understanding, and concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. The window behind the altar is our EASTER SUNRISE WINDOW. The cross hanging in front of the window is an empty cross, reminding us that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive now to be with us here and always. Every Sunday is a celebration of Easter. The symbol on the front of the ALTAR is a combination of two Greek letters: the chi, which looks like our English x, and the rho, which looks like our p. In the Greek, these letters are the first two of Christ. Combined as they are, they suggest the cross. Superimposed on the cross is a heart, the reminder that God s love for us is the reason Jesus died on the cross. God s love for us empowers us to share his love with others. 22