So good to see you all!
Enjoy the beautiful day and give thanks to the Creator of the creation we are so often in awe of.
Talked a lot about fear and calling today, where do stand in your discernment? The Creator has called you too.
Blessings,
Pastor Chris Lee
Order of Worship Service, Sunday, February 6, 2022
Prelude: “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore,” – Carter.
Meditation
The fifth Sunday after Epiphany continues to highlight unlikely instruments and circumstances appointed to reveal God’s glory. “Who will go for us?” God asks. A person of unclean lips, a former persecutor of the church of God, and three fishermen who couldn’t catch a thing. More surprising still, perhaps, is that we are also called.
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who creates us, redeems us, and calls us by name.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you and your beloved children. We have turned our faces away from your glory when it did not appear as we expected. We have rejected your word when it made us confront ourselves. We have failed to show hospitality to those you called us to welcome. Accept our repentance for the things we have done and the things we have left undone. For the sake of Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us and lead us, that we may bathe in the glory of your Son born among us, and reflect your love for all creation.
Amen.
Rejoice in this good news: In ☩ Christ Jesus, your sins are forgiven. You are descendants of the Most High, adopted into the household of Christ, and inheritors of eternal life. Live as freed and forgiven children of God.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: ELW 413- “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty,” all verses.
Prayer of the Day
Most holy God, the earth is filled with your glory, and before you angels and saints stand in awe. Enlarge our vision to see your power at work in the world, and by your grace make us heralds of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-13
Through a vision in the temple, the eighth-century prophet Isaiah is called by God to announce judgment against Israel. Aware of his sinfulness and shortcomings, Isaiah is initially hesitant. But when God calls, Isaiah responds, “Here am I; send me!”
1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. 2Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
6Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.” 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” 9And he said, “Go and say to this people:
‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
keep looking, but do not understand.’
10Make the mind of this people dull,
and stop their ears,
and shut their eyes,
so that they may not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and comprehend with their minds,
and turn and be healed.”
11Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is utterly desolate;
12until the Lord sends everyone far away,
and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.
13Even if a tenth part remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak
whose stump remains standing
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Paul delivers in a nutshell the story of the gospel that was given to him. In the lineage of the Christian faith, we have received the good news of God’s love from generations of believers before us, and we continue to tell this story to the world.
1Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, 2through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.
3For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
Jesus’ teaching of God’s word has begun to draw great crowds. For Simon, James, and John, Jesus’ teaching inspires hospitality, then obedience, and then risk. After Jesus’ creative power is revealed, fear and amazement leads these three fishermen to leave everything behind to become apostles.
1Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee
Hymn of the Day: ELW 876- “Let the Whole Creation Cry,” all verses.
Prayers of Intercession
The Spirit of the Lord is poured out upon us in abundance; so we are bold to pray for the church, the world, and all that God has made.
Equip your church to proclaim the good news that we have first received: the forgiveness and grace shown to us through Jesus Christ. Send us out as apostles, sharing the hope of your salvation with a waiting world. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Holy are you, O God of hosts. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Reveal your splendor in fiery sunsets and in deep blue twilights. Teach us to recognize you in the beauty of our natural world. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Soften the hearts of rulers and governments that they perceive and tend to the needs of their people. Remove corruption and the impulse toward violence, especially the escalating threats of violence in Russia, Ukraine, and Korea. Protect first responders and military personnel who risk their lives in service of others. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
The disciples received help from partners as they brought in an abundant catch of fish. So strengthen this congregation’s partnerships with community organizations and ministries. Multiply our shared efforts and bring joy to our relationships. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon those who look to you for hope and healing. Bless doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, and all caregivers. Draw near to those who are scared, sick, or in pain especially Ruth Mortland; Richard Mowery; Melvin Neu; Sky Stoutt; Gary Berg; Jeanna LaRue; Bruce and Sandy Wright; Betty Lee; Paige Wheeler; Julie Prenatt; David Neu; Sheri Stoutt; Nan Hibbs; Britta Maddox; Everett Noah; Libby Hofsas; Noah Stoutt; Shelley Collis; Richard Hotchkiss; Nancy and Bob Bosco; Charysse and Adean Heritage and Family; Randy McIntyre; Karen Bemowski; Marilyn Hubbard; Helen Schubert, and all those we name before you now, aloud or in our hearts…
Give them tangible signs of your steadfast love. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
We give thanks for our ancestors in faith who boldly answered your call, especially Dick Utsch and Brenda Pinske. By their example give us courage to live in faith and to proclaim your mercy until the day that you gather us into your glory. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Since we have such great hope in your promises, O God, we lift these and all of our prayers to you in confidence and faith; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Peace
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Communion: ELW 574- “Here I Am, Lord.”
Communion: ELW 584- “The Son of God, Our Christ.”
Prayer after Communion
We give you thanks, gracious God, for we have feasted on the abundance of your house. Send us to bring good news and to proclaim your favor to all, strengthened with the richness of your grace in your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Blessing
God, who leads you in pathways of righteousness, who rejoices over you, and who calls you by name, ☩ bless your going out and your coming in, today and forever.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: ELW 575- “In Christ Called to Baptize,” all verses.
Dismissal
Go with Christ into a weary world. Share the good news.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude: ELW 798- “Will You Come and Follow Me.”
Facebook link to worship service for Sunday, February 6, 2022:
https://www.facebook.com/190629367619921/videos/1632882383739147
Image credits: Miracle of Fishes, blogspot.com and Fishers poster, redbubble.com
Music credits:
Miriam Anderson: Song Leader
Pam Edwards: Music Director/ piano
“Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore,” – Carter. Text and music © 1979, 1987, Cesáreo Gabaráin. Words and Music – ©1979,1987 Oregon Catholic Press. Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” Text: Reginald Heber, 1783 – 1826, alt.. Music: John B. Dykes, 1823 – 1876. Public domain.
“Let the Whole Creation Cry.” Text: Stopford A. Brooke, 1832 – 1916, alt.. Music: Jakob Hintze, 1622 – 1702; arr. Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685 – 1750, adapt.. Public domain.
“Here I Am, Lord.” Text: Daniel L. Schutte, b. 1946. Music: Daniel L. Schutte. Text and music copyright 1981 OCP Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“The Son of God, Our Christ.” Text: Edward M. Blumenfeld, b. 1927, alt.. Music: Alfred M. Smith, 1879 – 1971. Text copyright 1957, ren. 1985 The Hymn Society, admin. Hope Publishing Company. Music copyright 1941 Historic Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, NJ. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“In Christ Called to Baptize.” Text: Ruth Duck, b. 1947. Music: Welsh traditional; arr. John Roberts, 1807 – 1876, alt.. Text copyright 1995 Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Will You Come and Follow Me.” (The Summons). Text: John L. Bell, b. 1949. Music: Scottish traditional. Text copyright 1987 Iona Community, admin. GIA Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted/ streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006904. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or valid license from the copyright administrator.