Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Coronavirus
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
02-13-2022 10:00AM Worship
AFRICAN DRUM INTRO: Ira Bond
THE GREETING AND OPENING VERSES: Beverly Morris + Tanya Morris
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 and 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,ñ
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 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” Charlotte Webb Brown #147
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY: Tanya Morris
Let us pray.
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.
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 17:5-10 [Our hearts can deceive us; trusting in God will never deceive us.]
17:5 Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD.
17:6 They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
17:7 Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
17:8 They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.
17:9 The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse– who can understand it?
17:10 I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.
BLACK HISTORY MOMENT: “The Unheard-of Famous Black Historians” Juanita Williams
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-20 [If Christ has not been raised, then you’re surely sinking!]
5:12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
15:13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised;
15:14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.
15:15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ–whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised.
15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
15:18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished.
15:19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
15:20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
GOSPEL VERSE: Olliyah
“Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always remember Jesus, Jesus.
Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: LUKE 6:17-26 [Do you prefer God’s blessings or curses?] Carol Chatman
6:17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon.
6:18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.
6:19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
6:21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
6:23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
6:25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. “Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.
6:26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG SELECTION: “PRECIOUS LORD” Paul Samuel
OUR CONGREGATION’S “BLACK HISTORY MONTH” AFFIRMATION: Riana + Iyanna
In a racist society where even the Church is shamefully divided by color, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church affirms the gifts and celebrates the achievements of African Americans. We affirm that the need for Black History Month has not diminished since the inception of Black History Week in 1925.
We remember with tears the many African peoples and lands that were exploited and enslaved over several centuries. We remember with tears the many Africans who died on slave ships and slave plantations,
in revolts and lynchings, in race riots and freedom marches, and as an ultimate result of continued oppression and internalized despair.
We remember and celebrate the great abolitionists, inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, ministers, soldiers, and educators of the past. We remember and celebrate the great parents, children, grandparents, teachers, leaders, examples, freedom fighters, and achievers of the present. We remember the political achievements of African Americans who paved the way in a country where its people have not always been free, even to vote, and we celebrate the election of the first African American President of the United States.
We remember this congregation’s own journey to become a more inclusive ministry, and we celebrate how the Light of Christ has enabled us to walk together in worship and witness, in love and faith. Not only do we remember and celebrate, but we also commit ourselves to shine forth with the liberating peace and justice of God’s love this day and our entire lives. May the Lord inspire us to be faithful and courageous! Amen.
OFFERING [In various ways we have been blessed – and our blessing is in order to be a blessing to others. Therefore, we give – NOT to be thanked but to thank God. We give – NOT to get ahead but to reach out with a heart and a hand. Our choice to be faithful draws us closer to God.]
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE” Hillsman-Mathis Family
- This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
- Ev’rywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
- Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine… (3X)
OFFERING PRAYER: Caleb
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.
MUSIC SELECTION: “COME, YE DISCONSOLATE” Dennis Fortune Brown #186
THE PRAYERS… We pray that the joy and light of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives! Micah Gillum
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SONG SELECTION: “EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT” Black History Choir
THE BENEDICTION