1

WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT GRACE OF GOD

February 4, 2018 9:00 am

_______________________________GATHERING ________________________________

WELCOME

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

(All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism)

Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

who spoke light into creation,

who calls us to listen and follow,

who sends us to shine like stars.

Amen

Let us come before God, confessing our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection and self-examination.

Holy and merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against our sisters and brothers and against you.

We have loved the things of this world and not cherished the things of God.

We have embraced our own desires and forgotten the needs of our neighbor.

We have followed after our own hearts and lost our way.

Have mercy, O God, according to your steadfast love revealed in Christ.

Forgive us, renew us, and raise us up on eagles' wings, that we may do your will

with courage and delight. Amen

Hear the voice from heaven: "You are my own, my beloved." God gives power to the weary

and strengthens the powerless. Be cleansed, be healed, for in the name of + Jesus Christ, I

declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins.

Thanks be to God! Amen

FIF

TH

SU

ND

AY

AFTE

R T

HE

EPI

PHA

NY

2

PROCESSIONAL HYMN “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

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

In peace, in peace . . . (refrain)

Congregation:

3

For the reign of God, and for peace throughout the world, for the unity of all . . . (refrain)

For your people here, who have come to give you praise, for the strength to live your Word . . . (refrain)

Help, save and defend us, O God.

Congregation:

HYMN OF PRAISE “Now the Feast . . .”

4

5

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.

____________________________ SERVICE OF THE WORD ____________________________

FIRST READING Isaiah 40:21 -31 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.

6

CHOIR “Is Any Afflicted” William Billings (Cantate Choir)

SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 9:16-23

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.

ALLEUIA VERSE

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:29-39

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

29As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] 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 sunset, 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.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

7

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY “We Come to You for Healing, Lord”

SERMON

APOSTLES’ CREED

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

PRAYER (Response to each petition)

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Ensemble

Assembly

8

SHARING OF THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

OFFERING “Sing A New Song” Heinrich Schutz (Cantate Choir)

OFFERTORY “As the grains of wheat . . . “

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Let us pray.

Merciful God,

receive the gifts we bring,

our selves, our time, and our possessions.

Through this meal unite us as your body,

shining with the light of your justice and mercy;

for the sake of him who gave himself for us,

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

9

_________________________ SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT ________________________

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

You are indeed holy, gracious and merciful God; everything is filled with your glory. We give you thanks for

your promise and presence which have sustained the faithful in this and every generation. Above all, we give

you thanks for Jesus, born of Mary, who in word and deed announced your gentle rule of justice, reconciliation

and peace.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

Remembering his command to love one another, remembering his life and death, his resurrection and his

ascension, we pray for his coming again, even as we cry:

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, that all of your promises may come to us and your whole creation.

Amen. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our friend.

10

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

11

AGNUS DEI (“Lamb of God”)

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

Scripture says, “Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1

Corinthians 11:26. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism says, “Holy Communion is the true body and blood of our Lord

Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink.” All baptized

Christians who have been instructed in this confession of faith and who share our belief in the real presence of Christ

in the sacrament for the forgiveness of sins are invited to the Lord’s Table today. Children who have not received their

first communion are invited to come to the table and receive a blessing.

As you approach the table down the aisles, receive an empty cup from the cart.

Proceed to the left or the right and gather around the altar.

After each gathered group has communed, they are dismissed in peace.

As you return to your seat down the side aisles, place your cup in the racks on the tables to your left or right.

Non-alcoholic wine is offered in pre-filled cups for those who cannot drink alcohol. These cups are marked in the rack.

Gluten-free (and dairy-free and nut-free) wafers are offered in the small white bowl on the communion cart for those who

prefer this option.

12

DISTRIBUTION SONGS “In the Singing”

“Great God, Your Love Has Called Us Here”

13

_________________________________ SENDING _________________________________

DISMISSAL

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and keep us in his grace.

Amen

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

O Morning Star, fair and bright,

you have refreshed us again with heavenly food.

You are our dearest treasure.

Go with us now—

today, tomorrow, every day—

that we tell the story of your never-ending love

and sing your praise both now and forever.

Amen

BLESSING SONG “May You Run and Not Grow Weary”

(Leader alone first time; all sing together second time)

14

SERVING IN WORSHIP TODAY

Worship leader Jon Marxhausen

Elder Paul Hartleben

Piano Mary Dinesen

Cantate Choir Director Mary Dinesen

Lector Roger Prigge

Ushers Becky Vigstol / Jenny Hanson

Acolyte/Crucifer Ella Fahey

Greeters Dean & Gail Christenson

DON’T FORGET YOUR 3-MINUTE MINISTRY

The 3-minute ministry is our way of intentionally caring for one another after worship on Sunday mornings. This

time of fellowship takes place immediately after the announcements and lasts for 3 minutes. (or longer!)

During this time we will:

Welcome visitors

Introduce ourselves to those we do not know

Seek out those who need a Christian friend

Encourage those in worship with us

Postpone visiting with those we already know well.

Epiphany means “to make known!” Christ has been made known to us today in our worship.

Will you “make yourself known” to those in worship with you today?

15

WELCOME TO GRACE OF GOD

Thank you for worshipping with us today.

Please fill out a welcome card and place it in the basket on the table in the entryway.

Help yourself to a welcome packet that will tell you more about the ministry at Grace of God.

You are always welcome at Grace of God.

SMALL CHILDREN ARE WELCOME IN WORSHIP AT GRACE OF GOD

“Busy bags” for young children are available in the classroom adjacent to the worship space near the doors.

That room also has a speaker to hear the worship service.

TODAY at 10:15 am This study, led by Pastor Jon, will explore the literary and theological themes in the Gospel of Mark.

Mark was the original story-teller of Jesus’ life and his Gospel influenced all the others! We will be hearing Gospels from Mark this year, and this study will help us understand these Gospels better and appreciate their

unique contribution to the Gospel message!

GRACE OF GOD MISSION STATEMENT

Grace of God is a Christ-centered community gathered around Word and Sacrament,

preaching Christ crucified, serving our neighbor and

discovering what it means to live under the grace of God.

X

CLEANING CREW SCHEDULE

February 8 - 10

TEAM 9

Wendy Bartz/Errol & Cindy Bartz

Eileen Ocone

February 15 - 17

TEAM 10

Barb Fallert/Kathy Rehbein/Dean

Christenson/Franklin Hotze

February 22 - 24 TEAM 1

Maxhausens/Kaufenbergs

16

February 4-11, 2018

Sunday, February 4 ______________________________________________________________

9:00 am WORSHIP – FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Fellowship time after worship

10:15 am Sunday School and Adult Bible Study

Tuesday, February 6 _____________________________________________________________

9:30 am Women’s Bible Study

7:30 pm Cantate Choir

Wednesday, February 7 ___________________________________________________________

6:00 pm Bible Blazers//Confirmation/Youth Bible study

7:00 pm Handchime Choir

Sunday, February 11___________________________________________________________

9:00 am WORSHIP – TRANSIFIGURATION OF OUR LORD

Fellowship time after worship

10:15 am Sunday School and Adult Bible Study

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Life is a precious gift Here’s who’s celebrating birthdays this month!

DATE ELDER ACOLYTE LECTOR USHERS GREETERS

2/4/18 Paul

Hartleben Ella Fahey Roger Prigge Becky Vigstol / Jenny Hanson Dean & Gail Christenson

2/11/18 Paul

Hartleben Kiernan Benson Cami Hartleben Allen & Sally Warren Eileen Ocone

2/14/18 Ash Wednesday

Tom

Schoenberg TJ Richter Sue Hotzel Bruce Gilman/ Jerry Corson Bruce & Audrey Gilman

2/18/18 Tom

Schoenberg John Frelix Tom Schoenberg Franklin & Sue Hotzel Wendy Bartz

Karen Schoenberg February 17

Ken Biebighauser February 19

George Zetterwall February 19

Martha Kaufenberg February 25

Marilynn Epland February 27

Dan Evenson February 28

Robyn Corson February 20

Riley Benson February 03

Nate Barrett February 03

George Rehbein February 13

Izaiah Smith February 14

Becky Vigstol February 14

Cindy Bartz February 17

17

Sign up today on clipboard by kitchen door Cost is Cost: $105 per person for a double room; ($125 for a single)

GRACE OF GOD LUTHERAN CHURCH 420 Hayward Avenue North Oakdale, Minnesota 55128

651.730.4900 www.graceofgodlutheran.com Jon Marxhausen, pastor