January 21st and 22nd, 2017

The Third Sunday after Epiphany

Holy Communion
ELW 4
INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY
Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets
and follow him. In Jesus the kingdom of God has come near. We who
have walked in darkness have seen a great light. We see this light
most profoundly in the crossas God suffers with us and all who are
oppressed by sickness, sin, or evil. Light dawns for us as we gather
around the word, the font, and the holy table. We are then sent to
share the good news that others may be caught in the net of Gods
grace and mercy.
CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags
and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed.
An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.
As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate
all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.
We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so
that we may record your presence with us.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW

Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service.
Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

PRELUDE

Andante from Sonata in d-minor, BWV 964

J. S. Bach

INVOCATION
You are invited to stand for the invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
GATHERING SONG: I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (ELW 815)

GREETING
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of
the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
CANTICLE OF PRAISE

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.
PSALM: PSALM 27:1, 4-9
Refrain:

Tone:
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us.
Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness
that come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Please be seated.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:1-4
1

There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former
time [the LORD] brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the
land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness
on them light has shined.
3You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then | shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I | be afraid?
4
One thing I ask of the LORD; one | thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my
life; to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek God | in
the temple.
5
For in the day of trouble God will | give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high
up- | on a rock.
6
Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies | who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of
rejoicing; I will sing and make music | to the LORD. R
7

Hear my voice, O LORD, when I call;

have mercy on me and | answer me.
8
My heart speaks your message | Seek my face.
Your face, O LORD, | I will seek.
9
Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- | vant in anger.
Cast me not awayyou have been my helper; forsake me not, O
God of | my salvation. R
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
10

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among

you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11For it
has been reported to me by Chloes people that there are quarrels among
you, my brothers and sisters. 12What I mean is that each of you says, I
belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas, or I
belong to Christ. 13Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized
none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can 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.) 17For Christ
did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent
wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are
perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand for the reading of the gospel.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
All sing the Alleluia. The choir will sing the verse, all repeat the Alleluia

15Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles
16the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.
17
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven has come near.
18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who
is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the seafor they
were fishermen. 19And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you
fish for people. 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As
he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and
his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets,
and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and
followed him.
23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and
every sickness among the people.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated.
SERMON Pastor Catrina Hawkins Bowles
Silence for reflection, then we invite you to stand as we sing:

Verse:

Jesus preached the good news | of the kingdom,*

and cured every sickness a-|mong the people. (Matt 4:23)

GOSPEL: Matthew 4:12-23

The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
2

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to
Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in
the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken
through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

HYMN OF THE DAY: You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore (ELW 817)

CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, Gods 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 OF INTERCESSION
Called to be a light to the nations, let us pray for Gods justice, peace, and
healing.
Please sit or kneel as you are able.
Each petition ends with:
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Receive these prayers in the name of Christ, the light of the world, who is
one with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS AND PROCLAMATION OF FORGIVENESS

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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 in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for
his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of
the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the
entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the +
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
We invite you to please stand and greet one another in the peace of Christ.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

Please be seated.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING
Come, O Lord, and Overflow Us

Hayford/Schroeder

We invite you to please stand and sing

OFFERTORY HYMN

Let All Things Now Living (ELW 881)

OFFERING PRAYER
God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures
forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine, they
are signs of your love for us. Nourish us with these gifts and move us with
your Holy Spirit that we might be for the world signs of your gracious
presence in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
DIALOGUE

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, Creator of all and Source of lifeThrough him all glory and
honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church,
both now and forever. Amen.
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 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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Please be seated.

PREFACE
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christs body and
blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as
Gods guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of
Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become
part of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you cant
or dont wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over
your chest for a blessing as you come forward.

LAMB OF GOD

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE

Chorale Prelude on I Love to Tell the Story

Wells

The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in
memory of the January birthdays of my mother Alma Smith
and my mother in-law Iris Griffin.
Presented by Shirley Griffin
COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

COMMUNION HYMN:

Will You Come and Follow Me: (ELW 798)

After all have communed, we invite you to stand and sing.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We give you thanks, O God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation. In
this bread and cup of Christ's very body and blood you give us food for our
journey. As you led the magi by a star, as you brought the holy family home
again, guide us on the way unfolding before us. Wherever we go, may our
lives proclaim good news of great joy in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
BLESSING
God Almighty send you light and truth to keep you all the days of your life.
The hand of God protect you; the holy angels accompany you; and the
blessing of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon and
remain with you forever. Amen.
We invite you to please stand.
SENDING SONG:

I Love to Tell the Story (ELW 661)

Conversion of Paul Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The week of prayer begun by the remembrance of Peter's confession now
comes to an end as we recall the pivotal moment in the life of the other
pillar of the early church, the apostle Paul. His encounter with the risen
Christ turned him from persecutor of the followers of Christ to one of their
leaders.
Timothy, Titus, and Silas, missionaries Thursday, January 26, 2017
These three early Christian men were missionary companions of the apostle
Paul. Timothy became bishop of Ephesus, Titus bishop of Crete, and Silas
was imprisoned with Paul at Philippi until they were delivered by an
earthquake.
Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, witnesses to the faith
Friday, January 27, 2017
Women as well as men were important Christian leaders from the
beginning, as demonstrated by these coworkers of the apostle Paul. Lydia, a
seller of purple goods, lent her home for a church; Dorcas was known for
charitable works; and Phoebe was a deacon in the church at Cenchrae.
Thomas Aquinas, teacher, died 1274 Saturday, January 28, 2017
One of the most brilliant and creative theologians in the church's history,
Aquinas worked to bring together scripture and the philosophy of Aristotle.
A member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), Aquinas was also a
hymnwriter.