Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Confession and Forgiveness:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who makes all things new, whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.

Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Holy one, source of our renewal,
we confess that we are wrapped up in sin, and cannot free ourselves.  We have not practiced your righteousness.  Our hearts have turned away from you.  For the sake of the world you so love, forgive us, that we may be reconciled to one another for the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Thus says our God: “The former things have come to pass and new things I now declare.” God’s mercy makes us new. We are forgiven in the name of + Christ our Savior.
Amen.

Opening Hymn:  ELW 815 “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world.
The star of my life is Jesus.

Chorus
In him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus. Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path,
and show me the way to the Father. (chorus)

I’m looking for the coming of Christ. I want to be with Jesus. When we have run with patience the race,
we shall know the joy of Jesus.

Apostolic Greeting:
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.

Hymn of Praise:
Glory be to God in heaven; peace, goodwill to all the earth.  Mighty God of all creation, Father of surpassing worth: we exalt you, we adore you, we lift high our thanks and praise.

Glory be to Christ forever, Lamb of God and Lord of love.  Son of God and gracious Savior, you have come from heaven above; on the cross you died to save us; now you reign at God’s right hand.

Holy One we now acclaim you; Lord alone, to you we call; Holy One in faith we name you, God most high, yet near to all: Jesus Christ, with God the Spirit, in the Father’s splendor bright.

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
Lord God, your loving kindness always goes before us and follows after us. Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness that come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4
¹But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. ²The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined. ³You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.  ⁴For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia! Lord and Savior: open now your saving word.
Let it burn like fire within us; speak until our hearts are stirred.
Alleluia! Lord, we sing for the good news that you bring.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:12-23
This is the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 4^th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ¹⁵“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—¹⁶the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” ¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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

Children’s Message

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: ELW 798 “Will You Come and Follow Me”
“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”

“Will you lwave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare, should your life attract or scare? Wil you let me answer pray’r in you and you in me?”

“Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the pris’ners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen, and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?”

“Will you love the you you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and
sound in you and you in me?”

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the sameIn your company I’ll o where your love and footsteps show. Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Apostle’s Creed:
Let us confess our faith using the 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:
Called together to follow Jesus, we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

We bring to you our needs and hopes, O God, trusting your wisdom and power revealed in Christ crucified.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace:
May the peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

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

Offertory Hymn:
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cups of blessing. Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life Gather the hopes and dreams of all; united them with the prayers we offer. Grace our table with your presence, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offering Prayer:
Let us pray.
Liberating God, you break the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free. Receive these offerings in thanksgiving for all your works of merciful power, and shape us as people of your justice and freedom. You we magnify and adore, through Jesus our Savior.
Amen.

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.  Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations.  Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name?  Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.  For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God.  All praise and thanks to you, holy God!  Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

Thanksgiving for the Word:
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:
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:
The God who faithfully brings forth justice and breaks the oppressor’s rod + bless, strengthen, and uphold you, today and always.
Amen.

Sending Hymn: ELW 661 “I Love to Tell the Story”
I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story, because I know it’s true; it satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.

I love to tell the story; ’twill be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story: how pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet! I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy word. 

I love to tell the story; ’twill be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, I’ll sing the old, old story that I have loved so long. 

I love to tell the story; ’twill be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

Dismissal:
Go in peace. Follow in the way of Jesus.
Thanks be to God!

Postlude

 

Prayer Requests:
Peggy Dugan, Family and friends of Gladys Fawcett, Martha Ketchem, Susan Dinsmore, family and friends of Rev. Jim Fladland, Jason Russell, Annette Baker, family and friends of Jean Pfirman, Betsy Thomas, Dale Strassner, Alec Brock, Rusty, Shirley Russell, Russ Wynn, Viv Marsh, Alice Snyder, Peg Swinehart, Bob Keifer.

 

Portions reprintd 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.