Sixth Sunday of Epiphany Worship Bulletin | 2-12-23

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

6th Sunday after Epiphany

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

02-12-2023     10:00AM Hybrid Worship

 

+   Gathering   +

THE CALL TO WORSHIP:

L   The WORD became flesh and, full of grace and truth lived among us.

C We have seen his glory, the glory which he received as the SON OF GOD!

L   The world tells us this, the world tells us that, about “the way things are”…

C but today we are silent, today we are still, today we want to let God speak to our hearts.

L   We want to be right, to do right, to go beyond religious regulations and get deeper than just our actions…

C by reaching all the way down into our personal thoughts and motives.

L   We want to fully embody the kingdom of God beyond our hearts…

C by reaching all the way out with respect, honor, and care in our homes, communities, and world.

L   Come as you are, each and all, to meet God in Christ Jesus in this worship hour…

C but leave this place touched, redeemed, and transformed by the power of God.

L   Sisters and brothers, the time is fulfilled, God’s Kingdom is at hand! And there is much to do in Jesus’ name!

C Let us meet Him in worship, proclaim Him in service, and love Him forever,

JESUS THE CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR AND LORD!  Alleluia!

OPENING SONG: “COME AND GO WITH ME TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE”                               Brown #141

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (beginning with words 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.

Lord, no matter what the world shouts, I want to listen for Your voice.

Lord, no matter what the world offers, I pray that I will not betray Your trust in me.

Lord, keep me thirsty in my heart and busy in my witness.  Amen.

+   The Holy Word   +

FIRST READING:   DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20    [The believer has a clear choice: choose life rather than death.]

30:15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.

30:16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.

30:17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them,

30:18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,

30:20 loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

SECOND READING:   1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-9    [The church community has a clear standard: Stop the jealousy and the fussin’!]

3:1 And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

3:2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready,

3:3 for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?

3:4 For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human?

3:5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.

3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

3:7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

3:8 The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.

3:9 For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

GOSPEL VERSE:   

“Always remember Jesus, Jesus.

Always remember Jesus, Jesus.

Always keep Him on your mind.”

THE GOSPEL:   MATTHEW 5:21-37    [Jesus gives new ethic: Embrace a righteousness that exceeds legal righteousness and traditional expectations.]

5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’

5:22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

5:23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

5:24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

5:25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.

5:26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

5:31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

5:32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

5:33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’

5:34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

5:35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

5:36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

5:37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir

THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil

 

SONG RESPONSE: “LOVE ROUND” 

  • Love… love… love… love. (2)  Joy… joy… joy… joy

The gospel in one word is love.       The gospel in one word is joy.

Love your neighbor as yourself.       Joy that fills to overflowing.

Love… love… love.       Joy… joy… joy.

(3)  Peace… peace… peace… peace.                            (4)   Jesus… Jesus… Jesus… Jesus,

The gospel in one word is peace.       Can I tell you how I feel?

Peace that passes understanding.                                         You have given me your Spirit.

Peace… peace… peace.           I love you so. 

OUR CONGREGATION’S “BLACK HISTORY MONTH” AFFIRMATION:    

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.

THE PRAYERS…   We pray that the joy and light of JESUS CHRIST will touch all lives! 

+   The Holy Meal   +

OFFERING OF TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS…  Deuteronomy tells us that we should choose life, love the Lord, choose the good, and hold fast to God, that we may flourish.  

SONG SELECTION: All Saints Choir

THE OFFERTORY SONG: “THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE”                    

  • 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 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 BLESSINGSAll 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: Brown #288 Brown #87  

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: “I SHALL NOT BE MOVED”                                                                        Brown #147