JANUARY 22nd SERMON Passcode required: 8$dW*91A
or click on SERMON below, in the Order of Service, to hear weekly sermons
Zoom Meeting, Sundays @ 11:00 a.m.:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83025269997?pwd=VW1ZUXlsSTdkcWl0SC90SWRvK2dHUT09
For those not using computer for the worship service:
PhoneNumber: 1 253 215 8782
Meeting ID: 830 2526 9997
Password: 958432
January 22, 2023
“I am the good shepherd,
and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.
I am the good shepherd.
I know my sheep, and they know me.”
Scripture Theme: Jesus turned fishermen into “fishers of men” – a delightful turn of phrase and a shift in meaning. We will discover that it also comes with a shift of priorities as it turns our attention to something new!
Pastor: Nathan Whittaker
First Reading: Candice Allen
Second Reading: Quiana Montgomery
Assisting Minister: Merlean Locke
Musician: Anita Tucker
We pray that you are blessed with the Word of God today.
May the spirit of the living God abide with you always!
Welcome
Please stand, as able
P: Blessed be ✝ God, who creates and sustains all life; who redeems and restores us to new life; and who works within us and this world,
C: Amen.
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Before God and in the company of our siblings in Christ, let us confess our sin.
Silence for reflection.
P: Gracious God,
C: we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P: God’s love for you is total and complete. No matter who you are, no matter what happens, and no matter what you do, God still loves you. Even more, in God’s good pleasure and in the name of Jesus Christ ✝ your sins are forgiven now and forever.
C: Amen.
You may be seated
Opening Hymn TFF 228 – 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 ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do.
Refrain:
I love to tell the story;
I'll sing this theme in glory
And 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.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
I love to tell the story,
Of how, from heav’n above,
Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Was sent to show God’s love.
To ev’ry sinful creature,
upon this earthly place,
how Christ, the gift from heaven,
Is God’s great gift of grace.
Refrain
Greeting
Please stand, as able
P: The grace of God that is Christ’s gift to all, the love of God that sustains us all, and the unity of the Spirit who binds us in peace be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Kyrie TFF pp. 26-27
AM: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: 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.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Lord God, your loving kindness always goes before us and follows after us.
C: Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the way of goodness that comes through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, amen.
You may be seated
First Reading Isaiah 9:1-4
1 Those who were in distress won’t be exhausted. At an earlier time, God cursed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but later he glorified the way of the sea, the far side of the Jordan, and the Galilee of the nations.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. On those living in a pitch-dark land, light has dawned. 3 You have made the nation great; you have increased its joy. They rejoiced before you as with joy at the harvest, as those who divide plunder rejoice. 4 As on the day of Midian, you’ve shattered the yoke that burdened them, the staff on their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
R: Word of God, word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm of Response Psalm 27:1,4-9
AM: The Lord is my light and my salvation. Should I fear anyone?
C: The Lord is a fortress protecting my life. Should I be frightened of anything?
AM: I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek:
C: to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life, seeing the Lord’s beauty and constantly adoring his temple.
AM: Because he will shelter me in his own dwelling during troubling times;
C: he will hide me in a secret place in his own tent; he will set me up high, safe on a rock.
AM: Now my head is higher than the enemies surrounding me, and I will offer sacrifices in God’s tent—
C: sacrifices with shouts of joy! I will sing and praise the Lord.
AM: Lord, listen to my voice when I cry out—
C: have mercy on me and answer me!
AM: Come, my heart says, seek God’s face.
C: Lord, I do seek your face!
AM: Please don’t hide it from me! Don’t push your servant aside angrily—
C: you have been my help!
AM: God who saves me,
C: don’t neglect me! Don’t leave me all alone!
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
10 Now I encourage you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Agree with each other and don’t be divided into rival groups. Instead, be restored with the same mind and the same purpose. 11 My brothers and sisters, Chloe’s people gave me some information about you, that you’re fighting with each other. 12 What I mean is this: that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas,” “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 Thank God that I didn’t baptize any of you, except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that nobody can say that you were baptized in my name! 16 Oh, I baptized the house of Stephanas too. Otherwise, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. 17 Christ didn’t send me to baptize but to preach the good news. And Christ didn’t send me to preach the good news with clever words so that Christ’s cross won’t be emptied of its meaning.
R: Word of God, word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Please stand, as able
Gospel Acclamation TTF 98 – Open Our Eyes, Lord
Open our eyes, Lord; we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch him and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
Gospel Matthew 4:12-23
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 4th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord!
21 Now when Jesus heard that John was arrested, he went to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and settled in Capernaum, which lies alongside the sea in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This fulfilled what Isaiah the prophet said:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, alongside the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people who lived in the dark have seen a great light,
and a light has come upon those who lived in the region and in shadow of death.
17 From that time Jesus began to announce, “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”
18 As Jesus walked alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, because they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 20 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 21 Continuing on, he saw another set of brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father repairing their nets. Jesus called them and 22 immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues. He announced the good news of the kingdom and healed every disease and sickness among the people.
P: The Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
You may be seated
Hymn of the Day TFF 64 – Shine, Jesus, Shine
Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light.
Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Refrain
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me.
Refrain
Sermon
Passcode: 8$dW*91A
Apostles’ Creed
Please stand, as able
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. 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 again 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 Congregation
AM: Called together to follow Jesus, we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
Silence
Make your church on in purpose, making known the message of the cross as we work together across all differences.
C: Direct your people to proclaim your love in this congregation and throughout the world.
AM: We rejoice at the bounty of your creation. Fill the land and sea with your abundance.
C: Bless harvests in the southern hemisphere and fallow fields in the norther hemisphere. Equip farmers to till and keep the earth sustainably.
AM: In Christ, your reign comes near and calls all to repentance. Break the rod of the oppressor in every nation.
C: Dispel the shadow of death in places of war and persecution. Grant us leaders who lift the yokes that burden those in need.
AM: Be a stronghold for those in trouble and a rock for all who are afraid.
C: Rouse our community to care for neighbors who need shelter, are hungry, and are isolated and lonely.
AM: Sustain the sick and homebound of this and every community, especially those who still wrestle with COVID -19, and for those in our congregation: Wanda, Jerelene, Caryee, Ruby, Sharee, Orelia, Rosa, Jeanie, Doshier, and Ella.
C: Nurture us to care for those who need your love through compassion and friendship.
AM: We praise you for those who have gone ahead of us, especially those who have honored and praised you with their lives.
C: Help us to leave our nets and follow, and bring us to them, in the fullness of your promise of eternal life.
AM: For what else do the people of God pray? We invite those joining us via zoom to offer their prayers first.
(Prayers to consider:
- Peace in Ukraine and Russia and all at war
- Women’s rights, especially in Iran
- LGBTQ+ safety and care
- End of racism in America
- Ceasing of gentrification in the Central District
- Low Income Housing Institute Project
- Those impacted by weather and nature)
AM: We now invite those in the sanctuary to offer up their prayers.
After the petitions:
AM: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We bring to you our needs, struggles, and hopes, O God, trusting your wisdom and power revealed in Christ, in whose name we pray,
C: Amen.
Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
(We now greet one another with: “Peace be with you.”)
Gathering of Offerings
Music Group Selection
Offering Prayer
Please stand, as able
P: Let us pray. Holy God, as we present our tithes and offerings in worship, we know we come from a world that is tearing itself apart due to division. Even among your followers, we find ourselves shutting down and closing ourselves to those who don’t think or act as we do.
C: Remind us that you desire unity from your children – not a church void of disagreement, but one where we work at listening together. We dedicate not just our gifts but our minds to the work of your unifying love. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right and proper that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our brother; who has unified us by his precious life and blood. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join the unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy TFF p.38
Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
P: We give thanks that on the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Lord’s Prayer
P: Let us pray, with confidence, the words our brother gave us:
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Communion Hymn TTF 39 – Lamb of God
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace, grant us peace.
You may be seated
Communion
Wine is served in individual glasses.
Grape juice is available in the center of the tray.
Prayer after Communion
P: Let us pray. God of our ancestors and of all people, we thank you that as the broken bread was gathered into one loaf, the broken fragments of our history are gathered up and healed by this redeeming act of Christ.
C: Send us forth in peace and form us into what we just received: your love and grace for all people. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Blessing
P: Beloved in the Lord, God has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Do so with the love, grace, and power of the Father, Son ✝, and Spirit given to you.
C: Amen.
Sending Hymn LBW 230 – “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky”
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain.
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone
I will speak my words to them. Whom shall I send?
Refrain
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?
Refrain
Acknowledgments
All songs come from This Far By Faith: An African American Resource for Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1999) unless otherwise acknowledged. All Scripture passages are from Common English Bible © 2012. Elements taken from sundaysandseasons.com.; Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. I Love to Tell the Story (TFF 228), Text: Katherine Hankey, 1834-1911, sts. 1-3, Jeffrey E. Burkart, st. 4.; Tune: HANKEY, William G. Fischer, 1835-1912. Text st. 4 © Jeffrey E. Burkart. Shine, Jesus, Shine (TFF 64), Text: Graham Kendrick; Tune: SHINE, JESUS, SHINE, Graham Kendrick; © 1987 Make Way Music, admin. Integrity's Hosanna! Music in N., S., & C. America I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (TFF 230), Text: Dan Schutte; Tune: Here I Am, Lord, Daniel Schutte; arr. Michael Pope, Daniel Schutte, and John Weissrock, © 1981 Daniel L Schutte and New Dawn Music.
Announcements for January 22, 2023
- Prayer before Worship – Starting in Lent (February 26), we will pray together for our community and congregation. Prayer will begin at 10:45 around the altar.
- Welcome to our visitors. Please take a moment to sign our guest book in the narthex. You are always welcomed here!
- Happy New Year Good Shepherd! Praise the Lord for the many blessings he has bestowed upon us. Let us be a blessing as we strive to walk in his path.
- LCGS Voters’ Assembly today immediately following the worship service. Stay tuned on zoom, in church/fellowship hall – lunch will be provided.
- Black History Month two weeks away. Please let Anita know if you would like to share a Black History moment.
- Low Income Housing Institute Building – Construction has begun and is expected to take approximately 16 months. Please pray for a safe process.
- Portals of Prayer – Please sign up on the sheet found on the narthex table if you would like the quarterly portals of prayer. Please indicate which size you prefer, small, medium, or large. If you are on zoo, call Merlean at 206-763-1704.
Prayer Requests – To update/add prayer requests, please contact us at (206) 325-2733 or lcgs22un@outlook.com
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Our Mission Statement:
Led by the Holy Spirit, the mission of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is to give glory to God for the building of His Kingdom by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, worshipping the Triune God, and reaching out in love to the community.