Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!
PRELUDE “In the Bleak Midwinter” Allen Gibbs
CONFESSION AND FORGIVNESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the
sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
our creator,
our protector,
our wellspring of life.
Amen.
Trusting that God receives our words and the meditations of our hearts, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
you speak blessing and compassion into the
world.
Forgive us for the ways we act
with judgment, cruelty, or indifference.
We ignore the needs of our neighbors;
we resist your call to oppose injustice;
we give in to scarcity and fear;
we assume the worst about one another.
Cleanse us from our faults
and release us from their grasp.
Show us your lovingkindness.
Restore our hearts and repair your world,
that we may live in Christ’s ways.
Amen.
God proclaims these words of assurance:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name. You are mine.”
In + Christ, you are forgiven.
In the Spirit, you are made free.
Refreshed by the waters of mercy,
live anew as beloved children of God. Amen.
HYMN Arise, Your Light Has Come #314
GREETING
The grace of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also
with you.
KYRIE
HYMN OF PRAISE “Rise, Shine You People”
v. 1
First Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
1 All the people [of
Israel] gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told
Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, Ezra the
priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who
could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh
month. 3 He read from
it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in
the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand, and the
ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5 And Ezra opened the book
in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people, and
when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed
the Lord, the great God, and
all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed
their heads and worshiped the Lord with
their faces to the ground. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of
God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood
the reading. 9 And
Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites
who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or
weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them,
“Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to
those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy
of the Lord is your
strength.”
Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
Psalm: Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the
sky proclaims its | maker’s handiwork.
2 One day tells its
tale | to another, and one night imparts knowledge | to another.
3 Although they have
no | words or language, and their voices | are not heard,
4 their sound has gone
out into all lands, and their message to the ends | of
the world, where God has
pitched a tent | for the sun.
5 It comes forth like a
bridegroom out | of his chamber; it rejoices like a champion to | run
its course.
6 It goes forth from
the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the
end of | it again; nothing
is hidden from its | burning heat.
7 The teaching of
the Lord is perfect and
revives the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is
sure and gives wisdom | to the simple.
8 The statutes of
the Lord are just and
rejoice the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is
clear and gives light | to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever;
the judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous | altogether.
10 More to be desired
are they than gold, more than | much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, than honey | in the comb.
11 By them also is your
servant enlightened, and in keeping them there is | great reward.
12 Who can detect
one’s | own offenses? Cleanse me from my | secret faults.
13 Above all, keep your
servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get
dominion | over me; then shall
I be whole and sound, and innocent of
a | great offense.
14 Let the words of my
mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable | in your sight,
O Lord, my strength and | my redeemer.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
12 For just
as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body,
though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in the one Spirit we
were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all
made to drink of one Spirit. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member
but of many. 15 If the
foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that
would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear would
say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not
make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where
would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of
smell be? 18 But as it
is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single
member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members yet one
body. 21 The eye
cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the
feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the members of the body that
seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body that we
think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable
members are treated with greater respect, 24 whereas our more
respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving
the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no
dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one
another. 26 If one
member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all
rejoice together with it.
27 Now you are the body of
Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first
apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then deeds of power, then gifts of
healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of
tongues. 29 Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work powerful deeds? 30 Do all possess gifts of
healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31a But strive for the
greater gifts.
Word of the
Lord. Thanks be to God
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke the 4th
chapter. Glory to you O Lord.
14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit,
returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding
region. 15 He began to
teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath
day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written: 18 “The Spirit
of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the
poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight
to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of
the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he
rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of
all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to
them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O
Christ.
SERMON
HYMN Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness #843
APOSTLES
CREED
I believe in God, the
Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born
of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day
he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right
hand of the Father, and he will come 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
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, PEACE, OFFERING
THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD Stand
Let us pray.
Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made
all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and
brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks
and praise.
By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.
Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.
Amen.
LORD'S PRAYER
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
BLESSING
HYMN We Are Marching in the Light #866
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE “We Are Marching in the Light” Robert Farlee
Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659
