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Second Sunday after Epiphany 

PRELUDE “Goodness of God” 

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS 

RINGING OF THE BELL 

Please stand as you are able. 

COMFESSION AND FORGIVENESS 

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, 

whose mercy endures forever. Amen. 

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. Amen. 

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

Silence is kept for reflection. 

Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen. 

GATHERING HYMN “Arise, Your Light Has Come” Hymn #314 

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 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Let us pray. Holy God, our strength and our redeemer, by your Spirit hold us forever, that through your grace we may worship you and faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

Please be seated. 

WORD 

FIRST READING Isaiah 49: 1-7 

Here the servant, identified as Israel, speaks for herself and describes her honored mission. Called before her birth like Jeremiah and John the Baptist, the servant is not only to restore Israel. The servant’s ultimate assignment is to bring news of God’s victory to the ends of the earth. God in faithfulness has chosen Israel for this task. 

1 Listen to me, O coastlands; pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born; while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord and my reward with my God.” 5 And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength— 6 he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” 

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 

PSALM Psalm 40: 1-11 

Refrain: 

1 I waited patiently upon the Lord, who stooped to me and heard my cry. 2 The Lord lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a high cliff, making my footing sure. 3 The Lord put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in the Lord. 

Refrain 

Refrain 

4 Happy are they who trust in the Lord! They do not turn to enemies 

or to those who follow lies. 

5 Great are the wonders you have done, O Lord my God! In your 

plans for us, none can be compared with you! Oh, that I could 

make them known and tell them! But they are more than I can 

count. 6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire; you have opened my ears: 

burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required. 

Refrain 

7 And so I said, “Here I am; I come. In the scroll of the book it is 

written of me: 8 ‘I love to do your will, O my God; your law is deep within me.’ ” 9 I proclaimed righteousness in the great assembly; I have not 

restrained my lips, O Lord, you know. 

Refrain 

SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9 

Though God’s church in Corinth is a fractious congregation beset with many conflicts, Paul opens this letter by spotlighting the multiple ways God has enriched and sustained its life as part of the divine call into the fellow-ship of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 

CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing 

Please stand as you are able. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 

The Gospel according to John. 

Glory to you, O Lord. 

GOSPEL READING John 1: 29-42 

John the Baptist’s witness to Jesus initiates a chain of testimony as his disciples begin to share with others what they have found. 

29 [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 

33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testi-fied that this is the Chosen One.” 

35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). 

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

Please be seated. 

SERMON Rev. Chris Steubing 

HYMN OF THE DAY “By All Your Saints” Next page

Please stand as you are able. 

THE APOSTLES’ CREED 

Together with the whole church, we confess our faith: 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, 

creator of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, 

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 

born of the virgin Mary, 

suffered under Pontius Pilate, 

was crucified, died, and was buried; 

he descended to the dead.* 

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 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 

. . .Merciful God, Receive our prayer. 

THE PEACE 

The peace of Christ be with you always. 

And also with you. 

Let us share the peace with one another. 

All share the peace of the Lord. 

OFFERING 

OFFERING MUSIC Hymn #303 “Brightest and Best of the Stars” vs. 1-3 

Please stand as you are able on the 3rd as the offering is brought forward. 

 

OFFERING PRAYER 

Let us pray. God of majesty, no eye has seen, no ear has heard 

what you have prepared for those who love you, yet in this meal you reveal the wideness of your mercy. Use what we have gathered to feed us with the reign of God come near, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

MEAL 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING 

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. 

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join their unending hymn. 

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: 

Blessed are you for the birth of creation. 

Blessed are you in the darkness and the light. 

Blessed are you for the promise to your people. 

Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dreams. 

Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will. 

Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh. 

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. 

With this bread and cup we remember your Word dwelling among us full of grace and truth. We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection. We look with hope for his coming. 

Come, Lord Jesus. 

Holy God we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people. Fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth. 

Come, Holy spirit. 

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel, Word of God 

incarnate, Power of the Most High, one God, now and forever. 

Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray… 

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. 

INVITATION TO COMMUNION 

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Come to the table; taste and see. 

Communion Distribution---All are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's table. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may simply come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are unable to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the sacrament to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape juice (white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request. 

Communion Hymns 

Hymn #696 “Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult” 

Hymn #471 “Let Us Break Bread Together” 

POST COMMUNION BLESSING 

Please stand as you are able. 

The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION 

Let us pray. Radiant God, we have seen your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. In the sacrament of his body and blood you have drawn us to your heart. Send us from this table with delight, that our lives may reflect the beauty of your love, and bear witness to all we have seen and heard, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

BENEDICTION 

May the triune God, who has put a new song in your mouth and tuned your heart for praise bless you now and forever. 

SENDING HYMN “We are Marching in the Light” Hymn #866 

DISMISSAL 

Go in peace. Do justice. Love mercy. 

Thanks be to God. 

POSTLUDE 

Our staff and worship leaders today: 

Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing 

Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller 

Communion Assistants— 

Our Reader—Lou Nelson 

Our Liturgist—Claire Roberts 

Organist—Jimmy Cheung 

Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann