Welcome

Opening Litany[1]:
The invitation is given to every person by Jesus Christ:
“Come to me! Follow me! Be my disciples!”
We come to this place, to this time, at the invitation of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Christ,
we accept the invitation to discipleship.

In the name of Christ,
as his disciples, we worship and praise God.

In the midst of a world where cruelty abounds,
we proclaim the God of Compassion.

In the midst of despair that threatens to swallow up whole lives, whole peoples,
we proclaim the God of Hope.

In the midst of indifference and apathy,
we proclaim the God of Love.

Come, let us worship together and share our witness of God’s living presence in the world.

Confession and Forgiveness:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + One God, whose voice is upon the waters, whose mercy is poured out upon all people, whose goodness cascades over all creation.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin, trusting in the abundant grace of God.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Holy God,
you search and know us.  You are acquainted with all our ways.  We confess that our hearts are burdened by sin – our own sins and the broken systems that bind us.  We turn inward, failing to follow your outward way of love.  We distrust those who are not like us.  We exploit the earth and its resources and fail to consider generations to come.  Forgive us, gracious God, for all we have done and left undone.  Even before the words are on our tongues, you know them; receive them in our divine mercy.  Amen.

How vast is God’s grace! Through the power and promise of + Christ Jesus, our sins are washed away and we are claimed as God’s own beloved. Indeed, we are forgiven. In the wake of God’s forgiveness, we are called to be the beloved community living out Christ’s justice and the Spirit’s reconciling peace.
Amen.

 

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, 10
¹The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, ²“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” ³So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. ⁴Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” ⁵And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

¹⁰When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

This is the Holy Gospel according to Mark, the 1st chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

¹⁴Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

¹⁶As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” ¹⁸And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

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

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Hymn of the Day

Apostle’s 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 Intercession:
Guided by Christ made known to the nations, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

. . . let us pray.
Have mercy, O God.

Merciful God, hear the prayers of your people, spoken or silent, for the sake of the one who dwells among us, your Son , Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

Announcements

Offering
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

Sending Litany[2]:
The word of God came to Jonah.
The Word of God called the disciples.
The word of God comes to us.

Go, despite your fears.
Speak the truth of God.
Love your neighbor and your enemy.
Forgive as you have been forgiven.
Receive grace upon grace overflowing from the fullness of God.

Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us saying:
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.

Benediction:
God the creator strengthen you;
Jesus the beloved fill you;
And the Holy Spirit the comforter + keep you in peace.
Amen.

Dismissal:
Go in peace. Be the light of Christ!
Thanks be to God!

 

Prayer Requests:
Chris Arnold, Tom Burns, Megan Brodsky, family and friends of Bob Berger, Shirley Hauck-Troxell, Ryan Caris, family and friends of Frank Danowsky, Gretchen Becker, Deb Fern, Kay Keister, Annette Baker, Courtney Price, Cami Zimmerman, Helen Barsh,  Jamie, Matt Koch, Bob Keifer, Peg Swinehart.

 

Portions reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006.  Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress, license #SBL09796L.  Music reprinted from the ELW, by permission of OneLicense, license #A712349.  Scripture quotations are from the 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.

 

[1] From the On Earth Peace website.  http://www.onearthpeace.org/

[2] Adapted from Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/