2nd Sunday in Epiphany Season/Remembering Rev. King

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
2 Nd Sunday after Epiphany
REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
01-19-2025 10:00AM Hybrid Worship

+ GATHERING +

THE OPENING RITE:
L Sometimes our days are so dry and dusty…
and our lives feel as empty and barren as a desert…
and our spiritual throats seem so parched and cracked.
Sometimes it hasn’t turned out like we expected…
and now joy is missing…
and hope has all but disappeared.
C But someone comes to tell us that God’s love is an overflowing fountain!
L And there are people who are crying…
people who are dying…
and people who are too desperate to hold on anymore.
And there is so much depression…
so much despair…
and so much pain here, there, and all over the world.
C But someone comes to tell us that Jesus’ love is a-bubbling over!
L God’s WORD is alive and dwells among us!
C God’s LIGHT is real and shines among us!
L At Cana’s wedding feast, Jesus changed water into wine and extended the joy.
C He is the BEST and the MOST for real living on earth!
L Brothers and sisters, open your hearts and lives to the WORD-MADE-FLESH,
the LIGHT OF THE WORLD,
the SON OF GOD!

C Let us meet Him in worship,
proclaim Him in service,
and love Him forever,
JESUS THE CHRIST,
our SAVIOR and LORD!
OPENING SONG: “WE ALL ARE ONE IN MISSION” [Tune Green #369]
(1) We all are one in mission; we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
A single great commission compels us from above
to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love.
(2) We all are called to service, to witness in God’s name.
Our ministries are diff’rent; our purpose is the same –
to touch the lives of others with God’s surprising grace,
so ev’ry folk and nation may feel God’s warm embrace.

(3) Now let us be united, and let our song be heard!
Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming Word.
We all are one in mission, we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Father in heaven, pour out the Spirit of your Son Jesus Christ upon us and fill us,
so that our flat, stale, watered-down old lives might bubble up with the joy of your love
and overflow with faithful, serving discipleship.
Lord, keep us thirsty in our hearts and busy in our witness. So be it, Amen!
+ THE HOLY WORD +

FIRST READING: Isaiah 62:1-5
[A “battered bride” – the people of the nation of Judah – is embraced by her ever-faithful God!]
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
[A fractured congregation – tormented by large egos and putdowns of others – can be glued by the Holy Spirit.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: John 2:1-11
[Jesus, the “Life of the Party”, makes it happen – bringing joy and thanksgiving!]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
A PLEDGE OF NONVIOLENCE (in the spirit of MLK):
L In preparation for a civil rights march in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama – the state’s largest city and
notorious for its segregation and racial hatred – Martin Luther King, Jr. passed out a box at mass meetings
for the people to deposit razors, knives, ice picks, and pistols. He did this because he and the other
planners understood the deep rage that some felt in response to years of racist oppression and violence. He
also handed out copies of a “Pledge of Nonviolence” that he had written and required all participating
marchers to sign it. Years later, in today’s culture of violence, that “Pledge of Nonviolence” is suited to our
own Christian march through life as we follow and serve Jesus Christ. Let us together make our pledge.
C 1. As you prepare to march, meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.
2. Remember the nonviolent movement seeks justice and reconciliation, not victory.
3. Walk and talk in the manner of love; for God is love.
4. Pray daily to be used by God that all men and women might be free.
5. Sacrifice personal wishes that all might be free.
6. Observe with friends and foes the ordinary rules of courtesy.
7. Perform regular service for others and the world.
8. Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, and heart.
9. Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.
10. Follow the directions of the movement leaders and the captains of the demonstrations.
SONG RESPONSE: “AIN’T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND!”
(1) Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around… turn me around… turn me around!
Ain’t gonna let nobody turn me around!
I’m gonna keep on walking, keep on talking, marching up to freedom land!

(2) Ain’t gonna let segregation turn me around…
(3) Ain’t gonna let persecution turn me around…
(4) Ain’t gonna let no hatred turn me around…
(5) Ain’t gonna let the jail house turn me around…
(6) Ain’t gonna let temptation turn me around…
(7) Ain’t gonna let the devil turn me around…
(8) Don’t you let nobody turn you around… turn you around… turn you around!
Don’t you let nobody turn you around!
Just keep on a-walking, keep on a-talking, marching up to freedom land!
THE PRAYERS… We pray that we may see, accept, and bear THE LIGHT OF CHRIST in our lives!

+ THE HOLY MEAL +

TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We have been blessed by GRACE to be a blessing of GRATEFUL GENEROSITY!
God is a generous giver of gifts that flow like a river from the fountain of life. Our giving of self,
time, and resources helps change the lives of those who feel forsaken and are thirsty for
some GOOD news! Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share
their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those that are farther away might:
mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time
donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896
and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a
blessing! In the month of January you might consider an additional offering, the Lutheran
Charity Appeal, in support these three Philadelphia area social ministries: KenCrest Services;
Lutheran Settlement House; and Gemma Services. In 2024 we received about $1200 to be
divided among them.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE”
(1) This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
(2) Ev’rywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
(3) Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
OFFERING PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
O Lord our God, You have anointed us to bring good news and to proclaim liberty, to bind up the
brokenhearted and to liberate the oppressed. Help us to shine forth always and in all ways with the
bright glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C AND ALSO WITH YOU!
L Lift up your hearts! C WE LIFT THEM UP IN LOVE FOR GOD!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God! C IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE GOD THANKS AND PRAISE!
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous
distribution” with wafers and either wine or grape juice. CHRIST COMES TO US IN BREAD AND WINE AND BLESSING,
BRINGING US PEACE, UNITY, STRENGTH, AND HOPE!

COMMUNION SONGS: “COME LET US EAT” Brown #117
“IN CHRIST THERES IS NO EAST OR WEST” Brown #214

THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.

+ SENDING +

BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us TO SHINE with the Light of Jesus Christ in a shadowy world!
CLOSING SONG: “LEAD ME, GUIDE ME” Brown #70

+
SIGNS

John writes in his Gospel that Jesus turning water to wine at the wedding at Cana was
the “first of his signs”. What did John mean? That it was Jesus’ first miracle, the first
revealing of his glory, the first indication that he was something more than Joe the plumber or
even just Jesus the carpenter from Nazareth? Who knows, maybe it marked the beginning of
that ticking clock counting down to his suffering and sacrificial death. John writes, “And his
disciples believed in him.” What about the rest of the wedding guests? Were they even aware?
What did they see, what did they think?
And what about YOU? What do you see in Jesus through your life’s journey? Do you
experience his glory… does he inspire your faith… are you seeking to be filled with joy and
meaning and power and celebration and the gift of meaningful community… do you want to be
really alive?
And when people look at you, do they see the light of Christ? Are you a sign of his real
love? What are you being urged, called, or summoned to do in faithful living?
Tomorrow we remember the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who was born on January 15,
1929 and was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the age of 39. Dr. King was the speaker of a
dream shared by many of racial equality, justice, and world peace. A young man inexperienced in
matters of public leadership, his theological diploma still wet with ink, he was nevertheless
called to help give direction to a march for freedom that would change his nation, that would
change the world, that would stand out in in human history. He was a living, breathing, willing
sign of God’s presence, peace, power, and promises. He didn’t just dream.
Tomorrow our nation will also inaugurate its 49th (actually the 47th, but apparently facts
and reality don’t matter as much, so I didn’t correct my mistype) President of the United
States. He is a convicted felon and a man returning to this powerful office (these are facts). He
has assembled a team of helpers that “everybody admires and respects”. He has bragged about
100 executive orders planned for the first day. He has promised much, including “grocery prices
coming down real fast”, end of the war between Russia and Ukraine in his first 24 hours,
shutting down our borders and evicting thousands of “illegals”, pardoning all January 6 rioters
who are now in prison, etc. Then there are the big tariffs against other nations, dismantling the
Department of Education, Greenland, the Panama Canal, Canada, etc. As time and “Trumpworld”
unfold, what signs of God’s presence, peace, power, and promises will be revealed?
Let the love and lordship of Jesus stir your personal and our shared ministry out
there in the world in public and on purpose!