January 16, 2022 The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Inexhaustible Strength
For The Weary
In an old Peanuts comic strip, Lucy is complaining about her lousy life. Charlie Brown tries to cheer her up. “Into each life a little rain must fall,” he says. But that didn’t seem to help Lucy at all. So Charlie Brown thinks of another saying: “Just remember, Lucy, life has its mountains and its valleys – its ups and its downs.” To which Lucy replies, “But I don’t want any downs, Charlie Brown. Can’t you understand? All I want is ups!”
Who among us, doesn’t – deep down – want the same? To put it another way, does anyone of us really enjoy the “downs” of life? If we’re honest, what we want are those “up” moments, characterized by happiness, success, the approval and appreciation of others, and sometimes just good ol’ peace and quiet……And don’t you want to be able to avoid those difficult, disappointing, and draining “downs” of daily life that exhaust us to the point of making us feel, at times, as though the well of life has run bone dry? I know I do.
When life wearies you and threatens to wear you down to nothing, what do you do? How do you respond? As the focal point of our worship service today, we’re asking this question: “What do you do when your ‘well’ threatens to ‘run dry?’” Of course, we’ll do more than ask a question; we’ll endeavor to answer it on the basis of some poignant and pointed words from our Lord.
In particular we’ll focus on today’s Sermon Text , taken from Isaiah, in which the Lord promises not to leave us deprived and depleted of the spiritual strength that we truly need to live fulfilling lives here, while we wait to live with Him in heaven. Rather, He promises that, though we weaken both physically and spiritually, He will renew and strengthen us – especially He’ll strengthen our faith …..provided we remain close to Him and His Word.
Today’s Gospel Lesson finds Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane just prior to His arrest and trial on Maundy Thursday night. In this reading we see the Father providing strength to His weary and worn Son via a ministering angel’s visit.
Our Old Testament Lesson is Miriam’s hymn of praise to the Lord following His dramatic and miraculous deliverance of Israel when He wiped out the army of Pharaoh as it tried to pass through the Red Sea in pursuit of Israel. In particular Miriam praises God for the strength and deliverance that He provides to all His people….us, included.
Our Epistle Lesson is the encouraging and commending letter that the Lord sent to the faithful Christian Church in Philadelphia, a congregation that – though weak and weary from being persecuted – had nevertheless remained spiritually strong and faithful to the Lord and His Word.
Finally, in our Children’s Lesson we’ll use the example of building up a body’s strength through weight lifting, tying that activity to the obviously more important work of strengthening our faith through regular use of God’s Word.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-Service Prayer –
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank You my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, for keeping me through the night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. Into Your hands I commit my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the Devil may have no power over me. Amen.
We Praise Our God
The Introduction and Invitation to Worship
The Invocation
We make our beginning
In the name….of the Father,
Who created and preserves this world and every one of us,
and Who gave His Son into death for us
and raised Him in glory on the third day;
And of the Son,
Who became fully human in order to be our Savior-Substitute,
Who laid down His life only to take it up again on the third day,
Who rules over all things from heaven for the good of His Church,
and Who will return in glory on the Last Day to deliver that Church;
And of the Holy Spirit
through Whom Christ was made alive,
Who has worked and sustains saving faith in our hearts,
Who lives in us now through the Word,
and Who will one day give life to our mortal bodies.
Amen
after which the Congregation will be seated for
Opening Hymn Hymn 340 “Oh, For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and king, The triumphs of His grace!
My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad, The honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease—
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin, He sets the pris’ner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.
Glory to God, and praise and love Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heav’n.
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts,
words, and actions; I have done what is evil in Your sight and have failed to do what is good. For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, both now and for eternity. But I am truly sorry for all my sins and trusting in the perfect life and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I plead: God have mercy on me, a sinner.
(Sung) Lord have mercy on us; Christ have mercy on us;
Lord, have mercy on us.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all our sins. And
now, having humbly and sincerely confessed your sins before Almighty God, be strengthened in your faith, mindful that our Lord is not willing that anyone should perish eternally, but that everyone should come to repentance, turning from their evil ways and receiving from Him everlasting life. God has commanded His ministers to declare His forgiveness of sins to all who are penitent. Therefore, addressing you as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and under His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
(Sung)
Glory be to God on high and on earth peace good will to men.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You.
We glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.
O Lord God heavenly King, God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world. Receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father. Have mercy on us.
For You only are holy. You only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit.
Are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen
Today’s Early Prayer
Almighty God, + grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit, + and the wisdom which comes down from above. + Let nothing hinder Your Word + from being freely proclaimed + to the joy and spiritual strengthening of Christ’s holy people, + so that we may serve You in steadfast faith + and confess Your name as long as we live. + We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ, + Your Son, our Savior, + Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, + as the one true God, now and forever. + Amen
After which the Congregation may be seated
Feed Us, Lord
The Old Testament Lesson Exodus 15:1-18
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:
I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a warrior. The Lord is his name. 4 He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea. His elite officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The deep waters covered them. They sank down to the depths like a stone. 6 Lord, your right hand is glorious in power. Lord, your right hand has shattered the enemy. 7 In your great majesty you overthrew those who opposed you. You sent out your burning anger.
It consumed them like stubble. 8 At the blast from your nostrils the waters piled up. The flowing waters stood up like a dam. The deep waters became solid in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, “I will pursue. I will overtake. I will divide the plunder. I will do whatever I want with them. I will draw my sword, and my hand will destroy them.”
10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 Lord, who is like you among the gods?
Who is like you, glorious in holiness, awesome in praise, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand, and the earth swallowed them. 13 In your mercy you will lead the people that you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them to your holy pastureland. 14 The nations will hear and tremble. Anguish will grip the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified. Trembling will seize the leaders of Moab. All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away in despair. 16 Terror and dread will fall upon them. By the great power of your arm they will be as still as stone until your people pass by, O Lord,
until the people whom you have purchased pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain that belongs to you, the place, O Lord, that you have made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. 18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.
The Epistle Lesson Revelation 3:7-13
7 To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia write: The Holy One, the one who is true, the one who has the key of David, the one who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open, says this:
8 I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Look, I will make those who are from the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not but are lying—look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them realize that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of testing, which is about to come over the whole inhabited world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown.
12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never leave it again. I will also write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God—and my new name. 13 Whoever has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
after which the Congregation will rise out of respect for
the words of our Savior as we give our attention to
The Gospel Lesson Luke 22:39-46
39 Jesus left and went out to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom. His disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Keep praying that you may not enter into temptation.”
41 He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.”
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 As he was in agony, he prayed more fervently. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he rose from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping as a result of sorrow. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and keep praying so that you may not enter into temptation.”
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, + Maker of heaven and earth, + and of all things visible and invisible. + And in one Lord Jesus Christ, + the only-begotten Son of God, + begotten of His Father before all worlds, + God of God, + Light of Light. + Very God of Very God. + Begotten, not made. + Being of one substance with the Father, + By whom all things were made; + Who for us men and for our salvation, + came down from heaven + And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary + And was made man; + And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. + He suffered and was buried; + And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; + And ascended into heaven, + And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; + And he shall come again with glory, + to judge both the quick and the dead; + Whose Kingdom shall have no end. + And I believe in the Holy Ghost, + The Lord and Giver of Life, + Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, + Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, + Who spake by the Prophets. + And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. + I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, + And I look for the resurrection of the dead, + And the life of the world to come. + Amen.
The Children’s Lesson Psalm 73:25,26
25 Who else is there for me in heaven?
And besides you, I desire no one else on earth.
26 My flesh and my heart fail,
but God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever.
Believers Are Strong In The Lord
The Hymn of the Day “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”
by Civilla Martin and Charles Gabriel
(Used, with permission, OneLicense.net)
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.
The Pre-Sermon Salutation
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord! May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
The Sermon Text based on Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Young men grow tired and become weary.
Even strong men stumble and fall.
31 But those who wait for the Lord will receive new strength.
They will lift up their wings and soar like eagles.
They will run and not become weary.
They will walk and not become tired.
Inexhaustible Strength for the Weary
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, now encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Amen.
following which the Congregation will stand for
The Offertory – based on Psalm 51:10-12
(Sung)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence.
And take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation.
And uphold me with Your free Spirit. Amen.
We Present to God Our Offering and Prayers
We Present Our Offerings of Love to Our Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship.
However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash) to the church address (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) You can donate on our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
the Congregation will please rise as the offerings are brought to the altar
The Offering Prayer
Dear Savior, You have taught us: “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Teach us to realize more and more that happiness in life does not depend on the number of things we can call our own. Rather, Jesus, help us to find joy in the uses that we as stewards make of all of the material resources and other blessings that You have placed in our hands. Amen.
The Prayers of the Church
Included in our Prayers today:
Intercessory Prayers for
Chris Merritt, who remains hospitalized in Minnesota due to Covid.
for Dan Beck, who is contending with pancreatic cancer;
also for Ralph Terrian, who is recovering from hand surgery earlier this week
for Lesa Roe, who is recovering from knee surgery;
and for Amy Bruns, who recovering from a broken knee;
AND A Prayer of Thanksgiving on behalf of
Rob and Wilma Jean Carr, who celebrated their anniversary yesterday.
The Prayers for the Church
concluding with….
P: Lord God, accept our thanks for the unspeakable privilege of being called Your children, and of being able to come to you now and at any time in prayer. Help us to grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually through Your Word and Sacraments, so that we may be faithful servants for You in our homes, and communities, in this congregation, and as members of Your Church on earth. Also, hear us, dear Father, as we take a few moments to silently offer our personal petitions to You.
A Moment for Silent Prayer
P: And finally, with all our prayers being offered in Jesus’ name, we also join in that special prayer which has been given to us by our Savior:
C: 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 for ever and ever. Amen.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Our Self-Examination Before Receiving The Lord’s Supper
Pastor – Let us now examine ourselves in preparation for receiving this Sacrament, as the inspired Apostle Paul so instructs us in I Corinthians 11, where he writes,
“…whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement upon himself.”
Pastor – Accordingly, are you sincerely sorry for your sins and determined, with God’s help, to change your sinful ways?
Congregation Yes, I am sorry for my sins and desire to serve Jesus and not a sinful lifestyle.
Pastor – Do you believe that here in the Lord’s Supper you will receive, along with the bread and wine, the true body and blood of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Congregation Yes, I believe that I will be receiving the true body and blood of my Lord and Savior, which was given into death for my sins.
Pastor – Are you coming to the Lord’s table as one in the faith with this Christian congregation, as the Scriptures teach?
Congregation Yes I have studied the teachings of this congregation concerning God’s Word; I agree with them; And am one in faith with them, as the Scriptures command me to be before I come to the Lord’s table with anyone.
Pastor – Finally, do you recognize your need for forgiveness and do you believe that you will receive through the Lord’s Supper the full and free forgiveness of all your sins?
Congregation Yes, I have examined my life, see the need for God’s forgiveness and believe that I will receive complete forgiveness for all my sins, as my Savior has promised.
Pastor – Having examined yourselves and confessed your sins, come now with confidence and joy to your Lord’s table and receive here, through His body and blood, the guarantee that your sins are all forgiven, and that eternal life and salvation are surely yours.
The Words of Institution (Spoken by the Pastor)
The Distribution of the Elements (Pastor)
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We ask that only “Confirmed, Communicant” members of this congregation, or of one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod come forward To receive the Lord’s Supper at this time.
To us the Lord’s Supper is both an expression of our common faith in Christ (which we share with all our fellow worshipers this evening), and also a public expression of our complete doctrinal agreement as a congregation (as I Corinthians 1:10 and 10:17 requires of us).
Accordingly, we are not, in any way, judging your Christian faith by respectfully asking you not to join us in the Lord’s Supper this evening. Rather, we pray that our Scripture-based practice of “Close Communion” will encourage all those Christians who are not presently in full fellowship with us to seriously examine the teachings and practices of their church in order to determine if those teachings and practices are really in full agreement with God’s Word. It is our earnest desire that you might become familiar with the doctrines of our congregation, so that you might one day join with us at the Lord’s altar in this public expression of full unity of doctrine and practice. Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your participation as a fellow Christian in this worship service, and that we appreciate your patience and understanding of our Communion practice.
The First Distribution Hymn Hymn 309
“Draw Near And Take The Body Of The Lord”
1 Draw near and take the body of the Lord,
And drink the holy blood for you outpoured.
Offered was he for greatest and for least,
Himself the victim and himself the priest.
2 He that his saints in this world rules and shields
To all believers life eternal yields,
With heav’nly bread makes them that hunger whole,
Gives living waters to the thirsty soul.
3 Come forward, then, with faithful hearts sincere,
And take the pledges of salvation here.
Before your altar, Lord, your servants bow;
In this your feast of love be with us now.
The Second Distribution Hymn “Your Table I Approach”
1 Your table I approach; Dear Savior, hear my prayer.
Let not an unrepentant heart Prove hurtful to me there.
2 Lord, I confess my sins And mourn their wretched bands;
A contrite heart is sure to find Forgiveness at Your hands.
3 Your body and Your blood, Once slain and shed for me,
Are taken at Your table, Lord, In blest reality.
4 Search not how this takes place, This wondrous mystery;
God can accomplish vastly more Than what we think could be.
5 O grant, most blessed Lord, That earth and hell combined
May not about this Sacrament Raise doubt within my mind.
6 Oh, may I never fail To thank You day and night
For Your true body and true blood, O God, my peace and light.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Blessing
Pastor May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
the Congregation will be seated for
The Closing Hymn Hymn 504 “Bless Our Loved Ones, Holy Father”
1 Bless our loved ones, Holy Father; Hear our anxious prayer;
By your mercy keep them always In your care.
2 Jesus, Savior, let your presence Be their light and guide;
Keep, oh, keep them in their weakness At your side.
3 When in sorrow, when in danger, When in loneliness,
In your love look down and comfort Their distress.
4 May the joy of your salvation Be their strength and stay!
May they love and may they praise you Day by day!
5 Holy Spirit, let your teaching Sanctify their life;
Send your grace that they may conquer In the strife.
6 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God forever true,
Bless them, guide them, save them, keep them Close to you.
Silent Prayer, Announcements, Post-service music
Announcements
Recently At Grace: Sunday Worship Attendance: 59 (Online 29)
Bible Class: 30 (Online: 8) Tuesday Bible Class: 11
Wednesday Classes: 3 men; 3 women (3 online)
Sunday Budgetary Offerings: $4113 Online Offerings: $502.97
This Week’s Birthdays & Anniversary:
Jan 15 – Rob and Wilma Jean Carr; Jan 16 – Kris Arthur;
Jan 16 – Cynthia Pansegrau; Jan 17 – Megan Arthur;
Jan 17 – Everette Hoins Jan 17 – Mary Talbert; Jan 18 – Rich Benske;
Jan 20 – Andrea Taylor; Jan 22 – Bill Book;
Serving Us Next Sunday Elders: Steve Stone and Vic Walker
Ushers: Taylor Ashley, John Johnson, John Wambold
Altar Guild: Mary Karloski, Vicki Walker
This Coming Week at Grace Lutheran Church
Today Morning Worship with Communion 9:30 a.m
Fellowship 10:45 a.m. . Bible Class/Sunday School – 11:00
Youth Confirmation Class: 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday Morning Bible Class, 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday Family Bible Studies for women and men, 6:00 to 7 p.m.
Saturday Outreach Calling/Visitation, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m. Fellowship, 10:40 a.m
Youth Confirmation Class: 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
This Week’s Bible Classes ……..In Bible Class today we’ll be studying I Corinthians 12, which is the beginning of a 3 chapter discussion dealing with Spiritual gifts. Tuesday, from 10:30-11:30 am, we’ll study 2 Kings 19-20, dealing with the story of Judah’s King Hezekiah. And on Wednesday, from 6-7 p.m. we offer both a women’s class and a men’s class….and plenty of room for you. Our men’s class will be studying in the book of Psalms – specifically this week, the Imprecatory Psalms. Our women’s class will begin a study of the book of Isaiah. If you are unable to participate in person, we are recording the men’s class for YouTube. Just go to www.YouTube.com. Then look for Grace Lutheran Church and Academy, January 19, 2022 Bible Class.
Fellowship Service Appeal Having just begin a new year, we need church members – like you – to volunteer to provide for our Sunday morning fellowship refreshments. You can sign up for one week at a time, a few weeks, or a month, if you’d like. A reimbursement of up to $25 per week is available. For more information, speak with Tina and John Wambold. The “Sign Up Poster” for Sunday Fellowship” is affixed to the south wall (next to the store room) in our fellowship hall/gymnasium.