The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Gathering
Prelude
Opening Hymn #270 (green hymnal)
“God of Our Life, All-Glorious Lord” v. 1-3
1 God of our life, all-glorious Lord,
be now and evermore adored!
Into the op’ning of this day
bring grace and love and peace, we pray.
2 Make clear our path, that we may see
where we must walk to be with thee
and ever listen for thy voice,
that we may make thy way our choice.
3 Give us thy help in ev’ry task,
nor let us fail of thee to ask
for grace in speech, for love in deed,
from wrongful actions to be freed.
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the Holy One of Israel, the Word made flesh, the Power of the Most High, ☩ one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
P: Gathered in the name of Jesus, let us confess our sin against God and our neighbor.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P: Gracious God,
C: in Christ Jesus you come among us as light shining in darkness. We confess our failure to welcome this light. Forgive us and renew our hope, so that we may live in the light of your grace, and welcome the truth of Christ the Lord. Amen.
P: I bring you good news of great joy for all people: To you is born a Savior, Christ the Lord. Your sins are forgiven in ☩ Jesus’ name.
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. O Lord Jesus, make us instruments of your peace, that where there is hatred, we may sow love, where there is injury, pardon, and where there is despair, hope. Grant, O divine master, that we may seek to console, to understand, and to love in your name, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
The Word
Blessing of the Lector
P: Let us pray. Gracious God, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Send your Holy Spirit upon Chet as he proclaims the word, so that all who receive it will no longer dwell in the shadows, but will have the light of life.
C: Amen.
First Reading: Genesis 45:3-11, 15
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ ” 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalmody: Psalm 31
“Trust in the Lord, Be Good”
Leader: Trust in the Lord, Be Good.
Dwell in His land, enjoy good pasture.
Trust in the Lord, Be Good.
Follow the Way, for God is faithful.
All: Trust in the Lord, Be Good.
Dwell in His land, enjoy good pasture.
Trust in the Lord, Be Good.
Follow the Way, for God is faithful.
1 Your righteousness will shine as dawn;
the just cause, like the noonday sun.
Refrain from anger, and wait patiently.
Your salvation shall be won.
Refrain (All)
2 Why do the wicked seem to win?
Such forces of darkness they invoke!
Yet God sustains us, the enemy shall pass,
and vanish like the smoke.
Refrain (All)
3 Salvation comes but from the Lord:
our stronghold in trouble and despair.
Be patient and true, and God will save you:
God’s our refuge, hope and prayer.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.
42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 6th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus said: 27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
Silence for reflection and meditation
Hymn of the Day
“Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace”
Tune: St. Crispin
1 Lord of all nations, grant me grace
To love all people, ev’ry race
And in each person may I see
My kindred, loved, redeemed by thee.
2 Break down the wall that would divide
Thy children, Lord, on ev’ry side.
My neighbor’s good let me pursue;
Let Christian love bind warm and true.
3 Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred
By loveless act and thoughtless word.
Make me to see the wrong I do
Will crucify my Lord anew.
4 Give me thy courage, Lord, to speak
Whenever strong oppress the weak.
Should I myself the victim be,
Help me forgive, rememb’ring thee.
5 With thine own love may I be filled
And by thy Holy Spirit willed,
That all I touch, where’er I be,
May be divinely touched by thee.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers of Intercession
A: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
After each petition:
A: Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
After the last petition:
A: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
The Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
Offering Prayer
A: Merciful God, receive the gifts we bring, our selves, our time, and our possessions. Through this meal unite us as your body, shining with the light of your justice and mercy; for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
The Meal
The Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
The Lord’s Prayer
P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
P: The True Light has come into the World. Come to his table and be filled with light and life.
The Body of Christ, broken for you.
The Blood of Christ, shed for you.
All eat bread and drink wine or juice at their seat.
Communion Hymn #424 (green hymnal)
“Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us” v. 1-3, 5
1 Lord of glory, you have bought us
with your lifeblood as the price,
never grudging for the lost ones
that tremendous sacrifice;
and with that have freely given
blessings countless as the sand
to the unthankful and the evil
with your own unsparing hand.
2 Grant us hearts, dear Lord, to give you
gladly, freely, of your own.
With the sunshine of your goodness
melt our thankless hearts of stone
till our cold and selfish natures,
warmed by you, at length believe
that more happy and more blessed
’Tis to give than to receive.
3 Wondrous honor you have given
to our humblest charity
in your own mysterious sentence,
“You have done it all to me.”
Can it be, O gracious Master,
that you deign for alms to sue,
saying by your poor and needy,
“Give as I have giv’n to you”?
5 Lord of glory, you have bought us
with your lifeblood as the price,
never grudging for the lost ones
that tremendous sacrifice.
Give us faith to trust you boldly,
hope, to stay our souls on you:
but, oh, best of all your graces,
with your love our love renew.
Table Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
A: O Morning Star, fair and bright, you have refreshed us again with heavenly food. You are our dearest treasure. Go with us now—today, tomorrow, every day—that we tell the story of your never-ending love and sing your praise both now and forever.
C: Amen.
Sending
Announcements for God’s Mission in the World
Blessing
P: God the creator strengthen you; Jesus the beloved fill you; and the Holy Spirit the comforter ☩ keep you in peace.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn #735 (blue hymnal)
“God, When Human Bonds Are Broken” v. 1-4
1 God, when human bonds are broken
and we lack the love or skill
to restore the hope of healing,
give us grace and make us still.
2 Through that stillness, with your Spirit
come into our world of stress,
for the sake of Christ forgiving
all the failures we confess.
3 You in us are bruised and broken:
hear us as we seek release
from the pain of earlier living;
set us free and grant us peace.
4 Send us, God of new beginnings,
humbly hopeful into life.
Use us as a means of blessing:
make us stronger, give us faith.
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
Worship Leaders
The Rev. Jodi Keith, Presiding Minister
Melinda Boyd, Organist
Addy Kruse, Hymn Leader
The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor **away
Kris Keith, Music Director **away
Kate Wollenburg, Organist **away
Carroll Mayhugh, Assisting Minister
Chet Laine, Reader
Upcoming Events
Sunday, February 20: Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
**No Adult Forum**
9 am Sunday School
10:30 am Worship Service
Monday, February 21
**Epistle Articles Deadline**
Tuesday, February 22
5:30 pm Confirmation Class
7 pm Christian Ed Committee
Wednesday, February 23
7 pm Bell Choir rehearsal
Thursday, February 24
10:30 am Bible study (Sunday’s readings)
6 pm BSA Troop Meeting
Friday, February 25
7 pm Faith & Film Fridays: The Chosen
Saturday, February 26
5 pm Youth Group Talent Show
Sunday, February 27: Transfiguration of Our Lord
9 am Sunday School / Adult Forum
10:30 am Worship Service
5:30 pm Gather Cincy Young Adults Bible Study
Monday, February 28
7 pm Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 2: Ash Wednesday
7 pm Ash Wednesday Worship Service
Thursday, March 3
10:30 am Bible study (Sunday’s readings)
Copyright Notices
God of Our Life, All-Glorious Lord: Text by Paul Z. Strodach © 1958 Service Book and Hymnal, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Trust in the Lord, Be Good: Text and music by Stephen J. Pearson © 1996 Psalmistry Music.
Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace: Text by Olive Wise Spannaus © 1969 Concordia Publishing House.
God, When Human Bonds Are Broken: Text by Fred Kaan © 1989 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188.
Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.
Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.