Worship Service – Sunday, February 2, 2025

4th Sunday after Epiphany
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
02-02-2025 10:00AM Hybrid Worship

+ GATHERING +

THE OPENING RITE, A TIME OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS:
L Today the WORD OF LIFE is appealing to us to love one another.
C And – when we don’t – we are noisy gongs and clanging cymbals. CLANG, BANG! Lord, forgive us.
L Today the WORD OF LIFE is challenging us to enlarge the community of those who experience God’s love.
C We might talk the talk, but we don’t always walk the walk. CLANG, BANG! Lord, forgive us.
L Today the WORD OF LIFE is insisting that we stop being childish in our Christian journey.
C Our faith is nothing without love, and our good deeds are empty without God. CLANG, BANG!
Lord, have mercy on us.
L Today the WORD OF LIFE is encouraging us to grow up, brothers and sisters… to stop acting like we don’t
know… to stop insisting on having our own way… to stop being envious and boastful and rude… to stop
silently and loudly – CLANG, BANG! – rejecting the person and the message and mission of Jesus.
C God loved the world so much that God sent Jesus the Christ to earth as perfect love in flesh and
bone, showing us how to love and willing to die for us so that we might live through him.
L By the grace of Christ (+) you are forgiven, you are loved…
and you are empowered to love as God has loved you. Let’s do it! HALLELUJAH!
OPENING SONG: “THE GIFT OF LOVE” Tan #522
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Father in heaven, you sent your Son, Jesus, to proclaim and embody your saving power, mercy, and
love for ALL people. Anoint us with the power of your Holy Spirit that we, too, may proclaim and
embody love that is just as big and wide as yours. If we do nothing else well as your people, let us
love each other and become your love for others. Lord, keep us thirsty in our hearts and busy in our
witness. So be it, Amen!

+ THE HOLY WORD +

AN AFRICAN SONG SELECTION: “ISHE OLUWA KOLEBA JEO”
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 1:4-10
[Never too young – or too old, too busy, too anything – to live up to God’s truth.]

PSALM: Psalm 71:1-6 (responsive reading)
[A desperate cry for help discovers newness of life gifted by God.]

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
[The truth to that particular – and every – unloving congregation.]

SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR

GOSPEL VERSE: “Always remember Jesus, Jesus. Always remember Jesus, Jesus. Always keep Him on your mind.”

THE GOSPEL: Luke 4:21-30
[The Man who was “too true to be good”! His inclusive love got him excluded and almost executed.]

THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen

SONG RESPONSE: “LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING” Tan #440

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 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: “HE CAME DOWN” Tan #200
“O HOW I LOVE JESUS” Tan #291

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 1 Tan #540