Third Sunday after Epiphany January 24, 2021 - "A Christ Centered Mission Driven Community" - St. John's Lutheran ...

Third Sunday after Epiphany
                 January 24, 2021

            St. John’s Lutheran Church
“A Christ Centered Mission Driven Community”
        740 N Center Street, Statesville NC 28677
   828-612-6439 (pastor) or stjohnsluth740@gmail.com
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Announcements and Prelude
Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness

P) In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

P) Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and
from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily
magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C) Amen.
P) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John:8-9

~ Silence is kept for reflection ~

P) Most merciful God,
C) We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free
ourselves. We have sinned against you 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, have mercy on us. 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) Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us, and for his
sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the
church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire
forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
C) Amen.

Hymn

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Apostolic Greeting:

P) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.                   2 Corinthians 13:13

C) And also with you.

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Kyrie

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PRAYER OF THE DAY
P)     The Lord be with you.                     C)    And also with you.

P)     Let us pray

C) Almighty and eternal God graciously look down on our
weakness. Reach out to us with your majestic right hand and satisfy
us with his glory. We ask through the same Jesus Christ, your Son,
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever. Amen.

First Lesson: Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (ESV)

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to
Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So
Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now
Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. 4 Jonah
began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty
days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed
God. They called for a fast and put-on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to
the least of them. 10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their
evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and
he did not do it.
L) The Word of God for the people of God.
C) Thanks be to God

Psalm 62 (ESV) read responsively by whole verse:

1 For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I
shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will you assail me to crush me, all of you together, * as if you were a
leaning fence, a toppling wall?

4 They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; * lies
are their chief delight.

5 They bless with their lips, but in their hearts they curse.
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6 For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly, my hope is in him.

7 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall not be
shaken.

8 In God is my safety and my honor; God is my strong rock and my
refuge.

9 Put your trust in him always, O people, pour out your hearts before him, for
God is our refuge.

10 Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, even those of low
estate cannot be trusted.

11 On the scales they are lighter than a breath, all of them together.

12 Put no trust in extortion; in robbery take no empty pride; though
wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

13 God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, that power belongs to God.

14 Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, for you repay everyone according
to his deeds.

Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (ESV)

 29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.
From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and
those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as
though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no
goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings
with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
L)    The Word of God for the people of God.

C)    Thanks be to God

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The Gospel Acclamation

P)    The Holy Gospel according to St Mark, the 1st chapter.

Mark 1:14-20 (ESV)

14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of
God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the gospel.” 16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he
saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they
were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you
become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed
him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and
John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And
immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with
the hired servants and followed him.

                        After the reading
P) The Gospel of the Lord

Sermon:                                                        Pastor Ernie

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Hymn of the Day

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P) In Christ, you have heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation.

C) We believe in him and are marked with the seal of the
promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14

P) Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

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 power of the Holy Spirit
       and born of the virgin Mary.
    He 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,
       and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
    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

The Prayers
P) Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all
people according to their needs.

                      After each portion of the prayers:

P) Lord, in your mercy,                   C)   hear our prayer.
                              The prayers conclude:

P) Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting
in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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HOLY COMMUNION

P) Sisters and brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another,
agree with one another, live in peace. 2 Corinthians 13:11

Offering: Please leave your offering in the plates near the exit as you depart. You
may also mail in your offering or just simply put it in the church mailbox.

Offertory Prayer
P) Merciful Father,

C) We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given
us—ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your
gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered
himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

P)    The Lord be with you.                                                   Ruth 2:4
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.

THE PREFACE                                                                   The Pastor

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places
offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, Holy Father, through Christ our
lord. Sharing our life, he lived among us to reveal your glory and love, that
our darkness should give way to his own brilliant light. And so, with the
Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join
their unending hymn:
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Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world
You gave your only Son, that all those who believe in Him should not perish
but have eternal life. We give thanks to You for the salvation You have
prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send now your Holy Spirit into our
hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in
his holy supper.

C) Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The Words of Institution

In the night in which he was betrayed Our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave
thanks; broke it, and gave it to the 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.

Lord’s Prayer
P) Let us pray with confidence the words our Savior taught us:

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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.

We come to the table this morning at the invitation of the Lord,
receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.

Post Communion Blessing
P) The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep
   you in his grace.

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The Post Communion Canticle

Post Communion Prayer                                                Pastor
P) We give your thanks almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the
healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would
strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love
toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

The Blessing                                                         Pastor
                      The Lord bless you and keep you.
         The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
            The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
       In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
                                             Numbers 6: 24-26

Hymn

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Dismissal
 Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
 Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let, not your hearts be troubled,
 neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

P) Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.

C) Thanks be to God.

Postlude

                               Disciples Serving Today

Pastor: The Reverend Ernest B. Sheldon
Organist: Darrin Kennedy
Lector: Patti Horinda
Communion Assistant: Steve Horinka
Video Team: Bill and Rosemary Muffley, Alonzo Burger, Dale Burger

The Liturgical music and hymns reprinted through Augsburg fortress publishers license
number sb159147a, and one license a-728068. Scripture taken from ESV Bible® (The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Welcome to our Visitors! Thank you for joining us in worship this morning.

Connect with us:                  Website - www.stjohnsstatesville.org
Facebook - @stjohnsncalc          Instagram – st_johns_lutheran
Twitter - @StJohnsLuthera8        YouTube - https://tinyurl.com/y4ax7kz9

Direct links are found on our website. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Be sure to like and share our social media posts with your friends and family.

John and Pat Caskaddon wish to thank everyone for the cards and kind words
in the loss of their son, Jerry. The warmth of the church family was greatly
appreciated.

                               The Prayers

Health Concerns: Linda Wilbanks, Larry Wiegman, Bruce Doster, Gloria
Mitchell:

The Homebound: Becky Henderson, Sarah Compton, Faye Goforth, and
all homebound due to Covid-19.

                                 Calendar

Monday, January 25, 2021
 10:00 am: WINGS Executive Board will meet in the Luther Classroom

Wednesday, January 27, 2021
 1:00 pm: Holy Communion
 1:30 pm: Bible Study

Sunday, January 31, 2021
 9:30 am: Sunday School (Isaiah Chapter 1)
 10:30 am: Worship

Lessons for Next Week: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians
8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28

Tuesday at noon is the bulletin announcement deadline.

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