20 Jan BULLETIN – SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Third Sunday After Epihany
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CONFESSION and FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, [☩] Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one God who created darkness and light, who came to us as the word of truth and died to save us all. Law and guilt give leverage to sin and with that comes a kind of destructive power. Therefore, let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Silence is kept for reflection.
God, our rock and refuge, we pour out our hearts before you. We know you but don’t always love you. We sometimes wound one another and sin against you. We don’t always recognize your likeness or the presence of your Holy Spirit dwelling in ourselves and others. Renew all that you’ve created. Wholly forgive and forget our trespasses. Make us better able to do your will. Amen.
God’s beloved, listen up. By the victorious sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the power of guilt and death continues to wane. The havoc and destruction of sin is becoming undone. By His authority, in the name of the [+] Father, Son and Holy Spirit, accept complete absolution, that is, release from guilt and punishment from your every sin. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN
I Love to Tell the Story #390
APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57
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.
KYRIE Pages 57-59
🎶In peace let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶For this holy house, and for all who offer here and online their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
🎶Lord have mercy.
🎶Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord.
🎶Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 58-59
🎶Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
🎶Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty God, by grace alone you accept us as your children and into your humble service. Strengthen us by your Spirit. Make us worthy and able to accept the call of your Son, Jesus Christ and immediately respond to our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING JONAH 3:1-5, 10
The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So, Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
PSALM 62:5-12
For God alone I wait in silence; truly, my hope is in God.
God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall never be shaken.
In God is my deliverance and my honor; God is my strong rock and my refuge.
Put your trust in God always, O people, pour out your hearts before the one who is our refuge.
Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath; those of low estate cannot be trusted. Placed on the scales together they weigh even less than a breath.
Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride; though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.
God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, that power belongs to God.
Steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord, for you repay all according to their deeds.
SECOND READING 1 CORINTHIANS 7:29-31
Brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62
🎶Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the 1st chapter.
🎶Glory to you, oh Lord.
GOSPEL MARK 1:14-20
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaim-ing the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
🎶Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY
Jesus Calls Us; O’er the Tumult #494
PROFESSION of FAITH Apostles’ Creed Page 64
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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. Amen.
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
As we celebrate Christ embodied in human form, we pray for God’s blessing on the church, the world, and all of creation.
A brief silence.
God, the church’s foundation and sustainer, don’t let the faithful be shaken. Sort out confusing claims of superior knowledge about you and your will. Reveal truth plainly in the sight of all. Steadfast love and power belong to you, O God. For you alone, O God, we wait in hope.
God, the hope and refuge of creation, help orient us toward the restoration of earth’s most basic elements: land, air and water. Protect living creatures and their habitats from harm or destruction. Steadfast love and power belong to you, O God. For you alone, O God, we wait in hope.
God of judgement and mercy, turn the hearts and heads of leaders to follow your ways. Fill their mouths with words of diplomacy and wisdom. Help them strategize ways to keep peace. Encourage responsibility for the welfare of all. Diminish the role of ego and personal gain. Steadfast love and power belong to you, O God. For you alone, O God, we wait in hope.
God who cares for the suffering, care for survivors of violence or neglect. Sustain those who minister to them. Keep safe any who live under threat, in poverty or pain (especially those on our prayer list). Steadfast love and power belong to you, O God. For you alone, O God, we wait in hope.
God of resurrection and new life, as the first disciples shared the good news, empower this faith community to be open to your call. When we are uncertain, assure us. When we stray, redirect us. Steadfast love and power belong to you, O God. For you alone, O God, we wait in hope.
God who calls us saints, we humbly entrust life itself and every precious loved one into your care. Comfort our grief and guide our efforts to hold on or let go, as necessary. Steadfast love and power belong to you, O God. For you alone, O God, we wait in hope.
Knowing that in all ways and under all circumstances that God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we offer these spoken prayers with hope. Relying upon your steadfast love and power, O God, we give you what lies silently upon our hearts and that which remains as unconscious longings within our soul. Amen.
EXCHANGE OF PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERATORY
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.
LORD’S PRAYER
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 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.
BENEDICTION Page 74
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
O Jesus, I Have Promised #503
DISMISSAL Page 74
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE