ORDER OF WORSHIP
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 4, 2024

  + GATHERING +

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE 

 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
arr. Dan Miller

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ✥ one God,
creator of darkness and light,
word of truth,
wind sweeping over the waters.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

     Silence is kept for reflection.

God, our rock and refuge,
we pour out our hearts before you.
We have known you but have not always loved you.
We have wounded one another
and sinned against you.
We have not always recognized the Holy Spirit
dwelling in each of us.
Remember your covenant.
Renew your creation.
Restore us,
that we might proclaim your good news to all.
Amen.

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.
God has spoken:
The time of grace is now.
In Jesus, the reign of God has come near.
By the authority of  Jesus Christ,
your sins are forgiven.
You are God’s beloved.
Amen.

GATHERING HYMN

Word of God, Come Down on Earth
ELW 510

Word of God, come down on earth,
living rain from heav'n descending;
touch our hearts and bring to birth
faith and hope and love unending.
Word almighty, we revere you;
Word made flesh, we long to hear you.

Word eternal, throned on high,
Word that brought to life creation,
Word that came from heav'n to die,
crucified for our salvation,
saving Word, the world restoring,
speak to us, your love outpouring.

Word that speaks God's tender love,
one with God beyond all telling,
Word that sends us from above
God the Spirit, with us dwelling,
Word of truth, to all truth lead us;
Word of life, with one bread feed us.

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. 

KYRIE    (page 138)

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE   (page 139)

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you,
we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ,
only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint. Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

+ WORD +  

FIRST READING:   Isaiah 40:21-31
The Judeans in exile have a good reason to be hopeful: the one who will bring them to freedom is the God who created the world, the God who subdues the rulers of the earth and gives strength to those who are weary.

 ²¹Have you not known? Have you not heard?
 Has it not been told you from the beginning?
 Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
 ²²It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
 and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
 who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
 and spreads them like a tent to live in;
 ²³who brings princes to naught,
 and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
 ²⁴Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
 scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
 when he blows upon them, and they wither,
 and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
 ²⁵To whom then will you compare me,
 or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
 ²⁶Lift up your eyes on high and see:
 Who created these?
 He who brings out their host and numbers them,
 calling them all by name;
 because he is great in strength,
 mighty in power,
 not one is missing.
 ²⁷Why do you say, O Jacob,
 and speak, O Israel,
 "My way is hidden from the LORD,
 and my right is disregarded by my God"?
 ²⁸Have you not known? Have you not heard?
 The LORD is the everlasting God,
 the Creator of the ends of the earth.
 He does not faint or grow weary;
 his understanding is unsearchable.
 ²⁹He gives power to the faint,
 and strengthens the powerless.
 ³⁰Even youths will faint and be weary,
 and the young will fall exhausted;
 ³¹but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
 they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
 they shall run and not be weary,
 they shall walk and not faint.

PSALM:   Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

 ¹Praise the LORD!
 How good it is to sing praises to our God;
 for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
 ²The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
 he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
 ³He heals the brokenhearted,
 and binds up their wounds.
 ⁴He determines the number of the stars;
 he gives to all of them their names.
 ⁵Great is our LORD, and abundant in power;
 his understanding is beyond measure.
 ⁶The LORD lifts up the downtrodden;
 he casts the wicked to the ground.
 ⁷Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
 make melody to our God on the lyre.
 ⁸He covers the heavens with clouds,
 prepares rain for the earth,
 makes grass grow on the hills.
 ⁹He gives to the animals their food,
 and to the young ravens when they cry.
 ¹⁰His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
 nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
 ¹¹but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
 in those who hope in his steadfast love.
 ^20cPraise the LORD!

SECOND READING:   1 Corinthians 9:16-23
God entrusted Paul with the responsibility of bringing the gospel to diverse people. Hence the focus of Paul’s ministry is not his own rights or privileges as an apostle but the privilege of serving God by freely sharing the good news of Christ with others.

¹⁶If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! ¹⁷For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. ¹⁸What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
¹⁹For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. ²⁰To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. ²³I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION     

Alleluia. 
Lord, to whom shall we go? 
You have the words of eteral life.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL:  Mark 1:29-39
Everywhere Jesus goes, many people expect him to set them free from oppression. Everywhere he goes, he heals people and sets them free. Disease, devils, and death are running for their lives. The forces that diminish human life are rendered powerless by Jesus.

The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
³²That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. ³³And the whole city was gathered around the door. ³⁴And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
³⁵In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. ³⁶And Simon and his companions hunted for him. ³⁷When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." ³⁸He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." ³⁹And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY    

O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
ELW 886

As we celebrate Christ embodied in human form, we pray for God’s blessing on the church, the world, and all of creation.

Hear Our Prayer
ELW 178

Hear our prayer, hear our prayer,
Lord make us whole:
peace to all people,
hope for each soul,
God of grace, in this place,
hear now our prayer.

GREETING OF PEACE

Let Your Peace Rain upon Us
ACS 989

Let your peace rain upon us,
O living God of peace.
Let your peace rain upon us, 
Lord, fill our hearts with your peace.

Peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

  + MEAL +  

OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service.  Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option.  Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.

MUSICAL OFFERING

Thou Art Holy
by Dykes/Courtney

 OFFERING SONG

As the Grains of Wheat
ELW 465

Refrain
   As the grains of wheat once scattered on the hill
   were gathered into one to become our bread; 
   so may all your people from all the ends of earth 
   be gathered into one in you.

As this cup of blessing is shared within our midst,
may we share the presence of your love.    Refrain 

Let this be a foretaste of all that is to come
when all creation shares this feast with you.    Refrain 

OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray.  Blessed are you, Holy One, for all good things come from you. In bread and cup you open heaven to us. Meet us at this table, that we receive what we seek and follow your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray.
Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE    

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

SANCTUS  (page 144)

Holy, holy, holy Lord, 
God of pow'r and might, 
Heav'n and earth are full of your glory.  
Hosanna, hosanna,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE 

O God most mighty, O God most merciful, O God our rock and our salvation, hear us as we praise, call us to your table, grant us your life.

When the world was a formless void, you formed order and beauty.  When Abraham and Sarah were barren, you sent them a child.  When the Israelites were enslaved, you led them to freedom.  Ruth faced starvation, David fought Goliath, and the psalmists cried out for healing, and full of compassion, you granted the people your life.

You entered our sorrows in Jesus our brother.  He was born among the poor, he lived under oppression, he wept over the city.  With infinite love, he granted the people your life.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:  This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering his death, we cry our Amen. 
Amen.

Celebrating his resurrection, we shout Amen. 
Amen.

Trusting his presence in every time and place, we plead Amen. 
Amen.

O God, you are Breath:  send your Spirit on this meal. 
O God, you are Bread: feed us with yourself. 
O God, you are Wine:  warm our hearts and make us one. 
O God, you are Fire:  transform us with hope.

O God, most majestic, O God most motherly, O God our strength and our song, you show us a vision of a tree of life with fruits for all and leaves that heal the nations.  Grant us such life, the life of the Father to the Son, the life of the Spirit of our risen Savior, life in you, now and 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.

DISTRIBUTION 
The baptized children of God are invited by the Lord to the Lord’s Table where we receive Jesus’ very body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. We commune at the head of the aisle where we receive the host. Then to either side of the pastor is first, a chalice for intinction and second, a common cup for drinking. Please indicate to Pastor if you prefer grape juice as a chalice for intinction is available as well. Gluten free bread is available. If you wish to commune, but cannot come forward, let an usher know and Pastor will come to you. If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. You may wish to remain at the rail for a time of personal prayer following which you may return to your pew down the side aisle.  

LAMB OF GOD   (page 146)

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace.

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION      

HYMN DURING COMMUNION

There Is a Balm in Gilead
ELW 614   

Refrain
   There is a balm in Gilead
   to make the wounded whole;
   there is a balm in Gilead
   to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged
and think my work's in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.    Refrain

If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus
and say, "He died for all."    Refrain

Don't ever be discouraged,
for Jesus is your friend;
and if you lack for knowledge
he'll ne'er refuse to lend.    Refrain

BLESSING AFTER COMMUNION
And now may the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ preserve us on to life everlasting.  
Amen.

SONG AFTER COMMUNION

Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise
ELW 208

Thankful hearts and voices raise:
tell ev'ryone what God has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice
and bear Christ's holy name.
Send us with your promises, O God,
and lead us forth in joy 
with shouts of thanksgiving.
Alleluia. Alleluia.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Giver of every gift, Christ’s body is our food, and we are Christ’s body. Raise us to life by your power for the benefit of all and to your glory, now and forever.
 Amen.

+ SENDING +  

SENDING HYMN      

God, Whose Almighty Word
ELW 6673

God, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard
and took their flight:
hear us, we humbly pray,
and where the gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light.

Christ, who once came to bring,
on your redeeming wing,
healing and sight;
health to the troubled mind,
sight where illusions blind;
oh, now to humankind
let there be light.

Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving, holy dove,
speed forth your flight;
move on the water's face
bearing the lamp of grace,
and in earth's darkest place
let there be light.

Holy and blessed three,
glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might:
boundless as ocean's tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the earth, far and wide,
let there be light.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. You are God’s beloved.
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE  

O Worship The King
arr. Lani Smith

---

Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761.  All rights reserved.

Word of God, Come Down on Earth, Text: James Quinn, SJ, b. 1919 Text © James Quinn, SJ, Selah Publishing Co., Inc., North American agent. Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.  Music: Johann R. Ahle, 1625-1673.  Public  domain.

O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788, alt.. Music: Carl G. Gläser, 1784-1829; arr. Lowell Mason, 1792-1872.  Public domain.

Hear Our Prayer, Text and music: Paul Andress, b. 1956. Text and music © 2006 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Let Your Peace Rain upon Us, Palestinian traditional; tr. Mark Swanson, b. 1955, and Mark Sedio, b. 1954.  English text © 2020 Augsburg Fortress.  Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved Music: Palestinian traditional.  Public Domain.

As The Grains of Wheat, Text: Didache, 2nd cent.; Marty Haugen, b. 1950, Music:  Marty Haugen, Text and music © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

There Is a Balm in Gilead.  Text and music:African American spiritual.  Public domain.

Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise,  Text: John W. Arthur, 1922-1980, Text © 1978, 1995 Augsburg Fortress. Music: Bread of Life, Jeremy Young, b. 1948. Music © 1995 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

God, Whose Almighty Word, Text: John Marriott, 1780-1825, alt.  Music:Felice de Giardini, 1716-1796.  Public domain.