6th Sunday after Epiphany 2-16-2025

6th Sunday after Epiphany
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
02-16-2025 10:00AM Hybrid Worship

+ GATHERING +

THE OPENING RITE:
L Blessed be the holy Trinity, (+) one God,
who creates us and forms us, who redeems us and calls us, who unites us and sends us.
C Amen.
L There are only two ways to live your life, and only one of those ways leads to the truly “good life”.
C Blessed is he or she
who is not self-centered and self-serving,
who does not walk with the crowd or drift after every craze,
who does not lust to be prosperous and pleasured.
L The person whose ultimate concern is the will of God…
C will be like a solid tree
planted in rich and moist soil,
standing sturdy and steady,
nurtured by life-giving water,
and bearing fruitful blessing to others.
L For the good, the better, and the best life ever, let us put our trust and find our hope in God…
C and let us see, accept, and bear the LIGHT OF THE WORLD,
the WORD-MADE-FLESH, the SON OF GOD, our SAVIOR and our LORD, JESUS CHRIST! Hallelujah!
OPENING SONG: “I SHALL NOT BE MOVED” Brown #147
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Father in heaven, give us courage to listen to your Son Jesus… and, in listening, to really hear him…
and, in hearing, to really follow him, no matter where the journey takes us.
We pray so much that the poverty of our human nature may be transformed by the riches of your
amazing grace.
Lord, keep us thirsty in our hearts and busy in our witness. So be it, Amen.
+ THE HOLY WORD +

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 17:5-10
[Our hearts can deceive us, but trusting in God will never deceive us. Are you trusting?]
PSALM: Psalm 1 (responsive reading)
[Choose to be a tree firmly rooted in healthy soil, drawing up clean water, and providing shelter and shade to
others!]
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
[If Christ has not been raised up, then we believers are surely sinking down!]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: Luke 6:17-26
[In that crowd, are you hearing God’s blessings or God’s curses?]

SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “SOME FOLK WOULD RATHER HAVE HOUSES” Brown #236
A CREEDAL STATEMENT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
L Brothers and sisters, last Sunday we prayed in song that God might “order our steps” in God’s Word.
And today we are reminded that we are constantly facing choices in life – to care for the earth or not,
to show compassion toward others or not, to care for myself or not, to be true to Christ or not. You are
invited to join in reciting a simple creed of faith written by South African Bishop Desmond Tutu…
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death;
and victory is ours through God who loves us. Amen.
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 places before us the ways of life and death and bids us to choose. Choose wisely. 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 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.
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: “GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH!” Brown #148
“COME, YE DISCONSOLATE” Brown #186

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 EVERY VOICE AND SING”, verse 3 Brown #296