The Text of the Service for 30 January 2022 --- The 4th Sunday after Epiphany

 

The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Prelude, Welcome, and Information Hymn #715  Christ, Be Our Light

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Psalm: Psalm 71 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.

The Lord be with you.       And also with you. Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

The Word of the Lord

Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

A reading from the first letter to the Corinthians

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Verse: 

Alleluia. You shall go to all to whom I send you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Alleluia! (Jer. 1:7,8)                                

Gospel Reading:  Luke 4:21-30

A reading from the Gospel of Luke

Then (Jesus) began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon (added at the end of the document)

Hymn #836  Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Thanks and Offertory

Prayers of the Church:  

Relying on the grace of God for all things and in all things, we offer our prayers for the world, the church, and for all people according to their needs.

[Short pause]

Gracious God, Lead us through anger and unbelief when the Gospel message confronts us and our preconceptions. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, watch over our families, loved ones and friends, and keep them well and healthy. Let your presence be known in all things.  Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, bless with the gift of health all who suffer around us from any physical, mental, or spiritual problems. Strengthen those who make their health and care their daily work. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, watch over all our sister congregations in Aylmer. Give their pastors the gifts needed to continually proclaim the good news. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, grant peace to Ukraine and all the troubled spots in our world. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, grant safe travels to all who must be away from home. Remember especially those who farm and who plow snow. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, look with favor on all who minister in the name of your Son. Bless Bishop Susan Johnson and the National ELCIC Office & Support staff Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Gracious God, we trust in your grace and mercy. Hear the prayers we keep in our hearts… * … Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Into your gracious hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your promise of mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.     Amen.

{*Erma Reska, Rose Gotzmeister, Gail Mauer, Bill Ungar}

Hymn#520  Dearest Jesus, at Your Word

The Lord’s Prayer

Finally let us pray for all things as our Lord would have us ask:

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.

Closing prayer & Benediction

Radiant God, with our eyes we have seen your salvation and heard with our ears your Word of life. May that Word take flesh in us, that we may be your holy people, revealing your glory made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.   Amen.

Hymn #359  Where Charity and Love Prevail

Sending

May your holy presence,

Father +, Son, and the Holy Spirit

keep us, guide us, and bless us as we continue our journey with each other and with you. Amen.

God is our refuge and strength.     Amen.

Christ is light for our lives.            Amen.

The Spirit of Love is leading us.    Amen.

Go in peace. Walk humbly with God.   Thanks be to God.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Services for the next few months will be on YouTube and accessible from an email link or our church Facebook page, except for the following:

 Feb 13            Saxonia Hall, 11:00am

Feb 27                        Church

March 13       Saxonia Hall, 11:00am – followed by the Annual General Meeting

March 27       Church, 11:00am

April 10          Saxonia Hall (Palm Sunday), 11:00am

April 15          Church (Good Friday), 11:00am

April 17          Church (Easter Sunday), 11:00am

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

·         This passage from the first letter to the Corinthians is well known and often heard. I can’t tell you how often this is read at weddings… which is really odd since the passage has nothing to do with marriage in particular! Yes, married couples should love one another at all times and they should be examples of love in the world. Yet we know the reality of things. Once I heard about a married couple who said something to the effect that their success as a couple was due to the fact that they each never hated the other at the same time.

·         Paul was addressing a church congregation torn by conflict. (See, it wasn’t just a problem for congregations in our time.) There were a number of controversies over marriage, morality, behavior during the service and, finally, the presence and use of “Spiritual gifts” like leadership, prophecy, and speaking in tongues. Using the analogy of body parts, that was the point of last week’s gospel reading. Paul made his point about every part being necessary to the body. Paul then goes on to say And I will show you a still more excellent way.

·         We all know what comes next in Paul’s talk about love as a collection of intentional actions. Paul is not talking about platonic, romantic, or carnal love, but another sort of love altogether. He is talking about the love that is a gift of the Holy Spirit, a gift that is available to all believers and a gift that out-ranks (if I can dare to use that term) all of the other spiritual gifts. After all, he says But as for prophecies, they will come to an end… And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. With this in mind, the controversy over “gifts” is minimized and possibly laid to rest.

·         If we can take a cue from the first letter of John, namely Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7, 8) Maybe we should turn this whole thing around and look at Paul’s letter as a revelation of the nature of God in Christ.

·         Why don’t we exchange the word “love” for “God” in some of Paul’s writing today. Then we get this:

(God) is patient; (God) is kind; (God) is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. (God) does not insist on (God’s) own way; (God) is not irritable or resentful; (God) does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. (God) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

·         This gives us an interesting view of God in Paul’s letter, doesn’t it? This view of things also weaves Paul and John together in a way I for one never expected. We can be certain that it is the love of God, the love that is God, is the source of our salvation and life.

·         The spiritual gifts that Paul speaks of are great and they up-build the church in many ways. It is love, however, that builds and maintains God’s church here and now. The love we are called to is a reflection and an imitation of the love given to us by God. God remains the active party here and the love we know flows from God. It is grace that saves and we can take grace to essentially mean the love of God. In the end, it is the one thing that “abides” for faith ends with knowing and hope ends with fulfillment, but love continues and is the basis of everything that exists.

·         This is most certainly true.

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

A Moment Aside for 26 January 2022

      Were we to look back over our lives as we have lived them, we might be happy or we might be ashamed. We might be shocked at what we'd left undone or we might be amazed at how far we've come. 

     Looking over our shoulder, what we might miss is what Pastor Bonhoeffer speaks of here. Looking back we might be stunned at the messes we've made or the sins we've fallen into. We might wince and squirm at all the mistakes and missteps. Sometimes those obscure what really has been going on.

     Our pasts are full of God's mercy and not a mercy grudgingly given and sparsely sown. That mercy flows from "the forgiving love of the Crucified."  

     I hope we might all remember that and take courage to live on in the love of Jesus Christ.

Invitation to Sunday's Service of Word & Prayer

 

You are invited to join in this Sunday's Service of Word & Prayer on YouTube for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (30 January 2022) at 11:00am.

Her​e is the link to that Service on YouTube: The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

I hope you'll be able to join in.

Pr. John

The Third Sunday after Epiphany

Prelude, Welcome, and Information Hymn #511  Thy Strong Word

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. Psalm: Psalm 19 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The Lord be with you.       And also with you. Let us pray. Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

A reading from the book of Nehemiah

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra 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. 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. 

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. 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. 

So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

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. 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.”

The Word of the Lord

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

A reading from the first letter to the Corinthians

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. 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. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 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. 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. 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? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 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.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 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. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel Verse: 

Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, and to proclaim release to the captives. Alleluia! (Luke 4:18)                                

Gospel Reading:  Luke 4:14-21

A reading from the Gospel of Luke

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 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, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “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 let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 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. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon (added at the end of the document)

Hymn #886  Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Thanks and Offertory

Prayers of the Church:  

Trusting in our Lord’s continual care and love, we offer our prayers for the world, the church, and for all people according to their needs.

[Short pause]

Faithful God, help us to remember your promises and see your word fulfilled. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, protect our families, loved ones and friends in this time of sickness and confusion. Remind us of your presence through all our distractions.  Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, continue to be merciful to all who suffer around us, whether from physical, mental, or spiritual problems. Strengthen all who care for those in. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, in this week of prayer for Christian unity, renew your call to all Christians to follow your Son more closely and to once again tend to our oneness in Christ. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, watch over students, teachers, assistants, and all involved in education in these days of uncertainty. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, grant safe travels to all who must be away from home. Bless all who work for their safety and health. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, look with favor on all who minister in the name of your Son. Bless Bishop Michael Pryse and the Eastern Synod Office & Support staff. Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Faithful God, we trust in your help. Hear the prayers we keep in our hearts… * … Lord, in your mercy,   Hear our prayer.

Into your gracious hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your promise of mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

{*Erma Reska, Rose Gotzmeister, Gail Mauer, Bill Ungar}

Hymn#843 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness

The Lord’s Prayer

Finally let us pray for all things as our Lord would have us ask:

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.

Closing prayer & Benediction

God of grace and mercy,

of healing and wisdom,

from the shattered pieces of our changed lives

you have brought us together as community,

called and gathered in heart and in the Spirit, wherever we may be.

As you guide us through times of uncertainty, continue to cloak your people with joy and awe.

Send us out to bring light for the world, food for the hungry, comfort to the sick.

And may your holy presence,

Father +, Son, and the Holy Spirit

keep us, guide us, and bless us as we continue our journey with each other and with you.

Amen.

Hymn   #668  O Zion, Haste

Sending

God is our refuge and strength.     Amen.

Christ is light for our lives.            Amen.

The Spirit of Love is leading us.    Amen.

Go in peace. Walk humbly with God.   Thanks be to God.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 We invite you to the in-person services on the following dates (depending on Council and Provincial Action):

·         February 9 (at the Sax) & 20 (at the church)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 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 let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

·         In the Gospel reading today, Jesus proclaims his mission and declares his mission to be fulfilled. We might wonder how this could be possible. To many, it sounds like words rather than deeds.

·         However, when God speaks, things happen. Genesis tells us:  Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. (Gen. 1:3) If Jesus says Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing, then it is somehow fulfilled. The way he speaks about fulfillment is said in a way that describes accomplishment with lasting effects. So it is not just for that time but for all time.

·         The Spirit of God is at work through these words and Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God’s favour to all of creation. That is one way of expressing the lasting effects of Jesus’ proclamation of fulfillment.

·         Step by step, Jesus uses the words of the prophet Isaiah to tell all who will listen about his mission. He is anointed, chosen specially to bring good news to the poor. He outlines some who might be considered among the poor of the land – the captives, the blind, the oppressed, basically anyone who is not perfect. That would be good news to the poor and suffering ones of Jesus’ time. It also remains “good news” to our time and to all of us.

·         Captivity is something only a few of us know personally. Still, don’t we say in our confession that “we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves”? Being captive could apply to any situation where we are unable to break out by ourselves. There are many situations that fit there – addictions, chronic illnesses, issues of mental or spiritual health, any of which could be a sort of captivity and imprisonment.

·         Oppression goes along a similar path and the freedom from oppression is still longed for. Many people are oppressed politically and still more are oppressed socially – for many reasons such as their gender, their nationality, their race, even personal and physical issues - in that they are denied full participation in our world.

·         Blindness in Jesus’ time would exclude a person from society and might even be seen as a result of personal sin. Almost any sickness or chronic illness might be seen that way. We don’t hold to that in this time, even though we know the effect of such an issue in inclusion of a person in all that our society is and does. Jesus proclaims recovery to those suffering.

·         The words of Jesus apply to us right now as well. Although miraculous healing of illness might not be something we’d expect, the freedom, release, and recovery are ours by Jesus’ own words.

·         We may worry about following Jesus and how to conquer sin in our own lives. No worry is needed since Jesus has conquered sin in all of our lives. The free gift of God’s grace and favour makes the difference. In the cross and Resurrection, what is needed has been done.

·         That is easy to forget. Even Luther said that he preached grace in every sermon because his congregation forgot about it all the time! Grace will not leave us and will always overcome sin.

·         In a nutshell, this is what Jesus proclaims in the synagogue that day. What has been promised has been fulfilled. Salvation has been promised and delivered. That is something to depend on and to take joy in.

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 let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.