Sunday, January 21st, 2018 THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany

PRELUDE Sarabande from Suite VII Georg Friedrich Händel
Holy Communion (V)
WELCOME

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father, and of the (+)Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
GATHERING SONG: We Are Called (ELW 720)
Stories of the call to discipleship continue as the Time after Epiphany plays
out the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. GREETING
Jesus begins proclaiming the good news and calling people to repentance
right after John the Baptist is arrested for preaching in a similar way. The grace of our Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the
Knowing that John was later executed, we see at the very outset the cost of Holy Spirit be with you all.
discipleship. Still, the two sets of fisherman brothers leave everything they And also with you.
have known and worked for all their lives to follow Jesus and fish for
people. CANTICLE OF PRAISE

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

By your word, eternal God, your creation sprang forth, and we were given
the breath of life. By your word, eternal God, death is overcome, Christ is
raised from the tomb, and we are given new life in the power of your Spirit.
Move me and all your disciples boldly to proclaim this good news in our
words and our deeds, rejoicing always in your powerful presence; through
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
Please be seated.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
FIRST READING: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
The book of Jonah is a comedy starring a reluctant prophet who is given a
one-sentence message: Nineveh will be destroyed in forty days. Much to
Jonah’s dismay, the people of Nineveh repent. The point of the story is to
get the reader to wrestle with the question “On whom should God have
mercy?”
1
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go
to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell
you.” 3So 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. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried
out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5And the people
of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and
small, put on sackcloth.
10
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.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Silence for reflection on the reading.
PSALM 62:5-12
Refrain:
Tone:
5
For God alone I | wait in silence;
truly, my hope | is in God.
6
God alone is my rock and | my salvation,
my stronghold, so that I shall nev- | er be shaken.
7
In God is my deliverance | and my honor;
God is my strong rock | and my refuge.
8
Put your trust in God al- | ways, O people,
pour out your hearts before the one who | is our refuge. R
9
Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath; those of low estate
can- | not be trusted. Placed on the scales together they weigh even
less | than a breath.
10
Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no | empty pride;
though wealth increase, set not your | heart upon it.
11
God has spoken once, twice | have I heard it,
that power be- | longs to God.
12
Steadfast love belongs to | you, O Lord,
for you repay all according | to their deeds. R
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Paul does not disapprove of marriage or other human social institutions.
He does, however, want Christians to live in the present in fervent
anticipation of God’s future, which even now has dawned through the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
29
Brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let
even those who have wives be as though they had none, 30and 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, 31and those who deal with the world as though they had no
dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
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
Verse: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God | has come near;*
repent, and believe in | the good news. (Mark 1:15)
GOSPEL: Mark 1:14-20
As the Gospel is announced, worshippers are invited to trace a cross upon
their forehead, then over their lips, and then over their hearts, silently
praying, “May the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ be ever on my mind, on
my lips, and in my heart.”
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Before Jesus calls his first disciples, he proclaims a message that becomes
known as “the gospel” or good news from God. God is ready to rule our
lives. Those who realize this will respond with repentance and faith.
14
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good
news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God
has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
16
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. 17And
Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And
immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little
farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in
their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately 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.
Please be seated.
SERMON Reverend Libby Buuck
Silence for reflection, then we invite you to stand as we sing:
HYMN OF THE DAY:
You Have Come Down to the Lakeshore (ELW 817)
CREED
As they recite the creed, worshippers are invited to bow beginning with the
words “born of the Virgin Mary,” until the words “he descended to the
dead.”
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 OF INTERCESSION
Confident that God our light and our salvation hears us when we pray, let
us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.
Please sit or kneel as you are able.
Each petition ends with:
let us pray.
Have mercy, O God.
Merciful God, you hear our prayers even before we speak them. Receive
them for the sake of the one through whom you have revealed your
goodness, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
CONFESSION 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.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and
made us alive together through Christ. By grace you have been saved. In
the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God
strengthen you through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts
through and show forth in your lives. Amen.

We invite you to please stand.

PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Please be seated.

ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING

Lord, I Trust Thee Georg Friedrich Händel OFFERING PRAYER

We invite you to please stand. Merciful God, receive the gifts we bring, ourselves, our time, and our
possessions. Through this meal unite us as your body, shining with the light
OFFERTORY HYMN Let All Things Now Living (ELW 881) of your justice and mercy; for the sake of him who gave himself for us,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

DIALOGUE

PREFACE
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Worshippers are invited to bow with the consecration of the Lord’s body
and blood, each time the words “Do this for the remembrance of me,” are
spoken.
Holy God, Creator of all and Source of life, at the birth of time your word
brought light into the world. In the fullness of time, you sent your Word,
born of Mary, to shine in our darkness and to make us your daughters and
sons. 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.
Remembering, therefore, his birth and life among us, his death and
resurrection, we await his coming again when all things will be restored in
him. By your Spirit bless us and this bread and cup, that held and nourished
by you, we may live as your children, shining with the light of your Son.
Through 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
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom, and teach us to pray:
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
To all who receive Jesus, who believe in his name, he gives the power to
become children of God, who are born, not of blood or of the will of the
flesh or of the will of man, but of God. All who wish to die to themselves
and live in Christ, come to the feast.
Please be seated.
All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christ’s body and
blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as
God’s 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 can’t or
don’t wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over
your chest for a blessing as you come forward.
LAMB OF GOD
COMMUNION HYMN I Love to Tell the Story (ELW 661)
After all have communed, we invite you to stand.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Radiant God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation, and in this meal
we have feasted on your grace. May your Word take flesh in us, that we
may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus
Christ our Savior. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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.
SENDING SONG: Spread, Oh, Spread, Almighty Word (ELW 663)
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Bourreé from Organ Concerto #7 Georg Friedrich Händel
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in
memory of the birthdays of my mother Alma Smith and of my
mother-in-law Iris Griffin.
UPCOMING COMMEMORATIONS
Agnes, martyr, died around 304 Sunday, January 21, 2018
Agnes was a girl of about thirteen living in Rome. The details of her
martyrdom are not clear, but she gave witness to her faith and was put to
death as a result, most likely by the sword. The church has honored her as
one of the chief martyrs of her time.
Conversion of Paul Thursday, January 25, 2018
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
Friday, January 26, 2018
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
Saturday, January 27, 2018
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.