Worship Bulletin: 5th Sunday after Epiphany (February 9, 2025)
5 th Sunday after Epiphany
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is 95 years old today!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
02-09-2025 10:00AM Hybrid Worship
+ GATHERING +
THE OPENING RITE:
L When our mighty, mighty God comes calling in your life…
C you can’t help but pay attention.
L When the great glory of the Lord shines before you…
C your knees buckle and your heart is humbled.
L When the holy Lord lays his hand upon you…
C it’s not so easy to break free from that grip.
L My brother, stop for a moment! My sister, listen to the message!
Fear not! Bring your imperfections and your sin. God is calling today.
Go ahead, take a chance, humble down, step up, jump in, answer when your name is called, be courageous,
change direction, measure your life by a higher standard, and give yourself over to the message and the
mission of Jesus Christ.
C The Lord brings mercy, peace, grace, and the invitation to a brand new life.
The love of God empowers us, and serving God increases our trust.
Here I am, Lord!
OPENING SONG: “COME, ALL YOU PEOPLE (Uyai mose)” Brown #138
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Let us pray.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, the earth is filled with your glory!
You sent your Son Jesus as the Word of Life for our eyes to see and our ears to hear.
Help us to leave our old lives behind, launch into deeper waters, and embrace the new life of
discipleship you offer.
Lord, keep us thirsty in our hearts and busy in our witness. So be it, Amen.
+ THE HOLY WORD +
FIRST READING: Isaiah 1:4-10 [Unworthy but consecrated to be a prophet. Isaiah was set on fire to “raise hell”!]
PSALM: Psalm 138 (responsive reading) [Humbled to be personally loved by such a mighty God. Trusting the promise gives us courage!]
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 [Unfit but called to be an apostle. Paul was struck down to “stand for Christ”!]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus. Always remember Jesus, Jesus. Always keep Him on your mind.”
THE GOSPEL: Luke 5:1-11 [Sinful but invited into discipleship. Learning how to “fish for people”!]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor David Maddox II (Guest Preacher)
SONG RESPONSE: “HERE I AM, LORD” Brown #230
A CREEDAL STATEMENT DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH (together):
We believe that God has been present with us in our past. In the challenges and triumphs of our
individual and collective narratives, God has been there, God has seen us through, and God has done some
mighty good things. God calls us to retell both the pleasant and the unpleasant, our whole story, lest we
forget whose we are and where we have come from and how we got through.
We believe that God is present with us here and now as we seek to hold onto our identity as God’s
children and our purpose as God’s anointed. We are called to be bearers of light, makers of justice and
peace, and heralds of the good news to all the world. No matter this world’s many trials, tribulations, and
temptations, we will not give in, we will not give up, we will not worry about failure. We are somebody,
created by God, saved by Jesus, and guided by the Spirit… with something to share, special gifts for service,
compassion to offer, a story to live. We don’t believe God brought us this far just to leave us.
We believe that God will be with us as we go forward to shape our story in the days ahead. We will
seek to stay in the path of faithful living and fervent loving that Jesus has demonstrated and commanded.
We will hold onto the promise that, no matter what, everything is gonna be alright… that, one day, hatred
and racism and sin and suffering will cease… and that, now and forever, we are held in the strong, loving,
and tender arms of our God. 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!
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.
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: “LORD, I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN” Brown #234
“I CAN HEAR MY SAVIOR CALLING” Brown #146
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 2 Brown #296