4TH Sunday after Epiphany BLACK HISTORY MONTH 02-01-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
4TH Sunday after Epiphany
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
02-01-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ GATHERING +
A LITANY TO BEGIN OUR BLACK HISTORY OBSERVANCE:
L Compassionate God, you have heard the anguished cries of our ancestors.
Their sounds echo and penetrate time to remind us of our foreparents who were brutally captured and
forcibly enslaved, as they left the peaceful womb of their African homeland.
C “Stony the road we trod.”
L O God, you have seen the millions of dark bodies buried beneath the tumultuous waves of the deep.
Bodies of African men and women who held the seeds of greatness. You have seen women’s dreams for a
united family vanish as they were sold at auction blocks. You have seen the legacy of the African American
family decimated and demeaned by those who have attempted to control our destiny.
C “Bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died.”
L O God, you have ignited the sparks within us into a blazing demand for freedom, equality, and justice.
This quest cost Harriet Tubman sleepless nights, as she led her people to freedom; it was an equality that
Rosa Parks and civil rights activists fought for and gave their lives for; it was a justice that Martin Luther
King, Jr. stood for, as thousands stood with him at the Lincoln Memorial.
C “Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, come to the place for which our parents sighed?”
L O God, you have seen our tears.
You have been pained by the evil of human hearts. Yet, you loved humanity enough that you sent your only
Son to identify with the outcast, the marginalized, and the rejected. As the cries of Jesus pierced your heart,
so have the cries of your people – cries from different cultures and in different languages.
C “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears.”
L O God, you answered us during our exodus from Africa.
You wiped every tear drop during our exile in captivity. Our foreparents dared to dream that one day, on
these shores, we would become politicians, preachers, educators, doctors, writers, scientists, artists, and so
much more.
C “Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee.”
L O God, our ancestors’ hard work, their courage and convictions and belief in you paved the way for us.
But it is clear, you are the One that has liberated us. It is clear that you have set us free. “Free at last, free at
last, thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”
C “Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world we forget Thee.
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, true to our God, true to our native land.”
OPENING SONG: “WE ARE MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD” Brown #63
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Father in heaven, you sent your Son Jesus to include the lowly and pure in heart in your Kingdom.
He has come to offer me His grace and to challenge me with his mission.
This is my purpose, this is our mission – to be different and to make a difference.
Now that I know Him, I want to love Him; now that I love Him, I want to serve Him.
Lord, keep me thirsty in my heart and busy in my witness. Amen.
+ THE HOLY WORD +
FIRST READING: MICAH 6:1-8
[God’s blessed ones: Those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.]
BLACK HISTORY MOMENT – “Lift Every Voice in His and Her Story”
Narrator, Juanita R. Williams
Oseola McCarty presented by Carol Chatman
Cathy Johnson presented by Olliyah Perkins
Song or response presented by Maliek Patterson
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31
[God’s blessed ones: Those who look to “Christ crucified” for life, for power, and for purpose.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 4:1-12
[God’s blessed ones: The lowly and pure in heart, those who work for peace and justice.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “OVER MY HEAD”
(1) Over my head… I see trouble in the air.
Over my head… I see trouble in the air.
Over my head… I see trouble in the air.
There must be a God somewhere.
(2) Over my head… I hear music in the air.
(3) Over my head… I hear singing in the air.
(4)Over my head… I see glory in the air.
THE PRAYERS… We pray that the joy and light of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives!
+ THE HOLY MEAL +
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We have been blessed by GRACE to be a blessing of GRATEFUL GENEROSITY!
Are you committed to doing what is right with your faith, time, abilities, and possessions?
Here in person or online, you can respond to Christ’s love and command right now. Give your
offering with gratitude. If you are farther away than the Sanctuary, you 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 recurring weekly gift to selected categories…or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. Don’t ignore the love and call of our
Lord Jesus or your responsibility to think, say, and do right.
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: “BE NOT DISMAYED” Brown #200
“OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS” Brown #250
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: “LIFT HIM UP” Brown #227