3rd Sunday after Epiphany – January 26, 2025

3rd Sunday after Epiphany
01-26-2025 10:00AM Hybrid Worship

+ GATHERING +
THE OPENING RITE, A TIME OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS:
L Today, my sisters and brothers!
Today we are gathered in worship, gathered to hear afresh God’s living Word.
C Today we are gathered together in unity,
gathered to discern the will of God,
and to depend on one another to carry it out.
L Like the children of Israel, we come week after week to hear a message of God’s love.
Then we leave this hour and this place and neglect to live sacred lives.
This is our time of confession. And so we pray together…
C Dear God,
Whenever we come home to you,
we realize how far we have strayed and how much we have forgotten of your law and your love.
We have not loved you with our whole hearts or loved our neighbors as ourselves.
Forgive us, heal us, and restore us to our relationship with you.
Free us to live faithfully and to love fervently – following Jesus, your Spirit upon us. Amen.
L My sisters, my brothers, today is a new day and a joyous day, for today you are forgiven! God’s Word has
been fulfilled among us in Jesus Christ (+), who cleanses our hearts, revives our souls, and renews our
journey of faithful discipleship. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Walk, then, as
children of light.
OPENING SONG: “WE’RE MARCHING TO ZION” Tan #590
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Father in heaven, you sent your Son, Jesus, to proclaim and embody good news to the least, the
lost, and the lonely. Anoint us with the power of your Holy Spirit that we, too, may proclaim and
embody, may show and tell, good news to all the world – today and tomorrow, here and there,
forever and ever. So be it, Amen!

+ THE HOLY WORD +

FIRST READING: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
[Read it and weep… but then rejoice. There is redemption and release and renewal in God’s Word – if we will receive it
and obey it.]
PSALM Psalm 19 (responsive reading)
[If we are willing, God can teach us so much about living that is guided and empowered.]
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
[A fractured congregation – tormented by large egos and putdowns of others – can be glued by the Holy Spirit.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: Luke 4:14-21
[Jesus’ inaugural speech: This is his ministry. And this must be our mission… with all the urgency of today and now.]

THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen

+ The Holy Word +

SONG RESPONSE: “ANOINTING” Tan #318

Anointing – fall on me. Anointing – fall on me.
Let the power of the Holy Ghost fall on me.
Anointing – fall on me.

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!
Paul reminds us today – Each one of us is essential to the life and the well-being of the
whole body of Christ. So we share our gifts and resources to reach out TOGETHER to
the world that Crist came to save. 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… or 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. In the month of January you might consider an additional offering, the
Lutheran Charity Appeal, in support of three Philadelphia area social ministries: KenCrest
Services; Lutheran Settlement House; and Gemma Services. In 2025 we have received $85 to
date 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: “THIS IS THE DAY” Tan #631
“HOLY, HOLY” Tan #328

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: “THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATI”ON” [alternate words] Tan #337

+

NEHEMIAH 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

1 All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the
scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2
Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and
all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He
read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the
presence of
the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of the people were
attentive to the book of the law… 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people,
for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen”,
lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces
to the ground… 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They
gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites
who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not
mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he
said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to
those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved,
for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”