Bulletin for February 5, 2023

Bulletin for the Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, February 5, 2023
Contact us: 308-762-1883 Email: stjohnsalliancene@gmail.com or contact@alliancestjohns.org
Light shines in the darkness for the upright, the psalmist sings. Isaiah declares that when we loose the bonds of injustice and share our bread with the hungry, the light breaks forth like the dawn. In another passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus, the light of the world, calls his followers to let the light of their good works shine before others. Through baptism we are sent into the world to shine with the light of Christ.
PRELUDE
GATHERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please Stand As You Are Able
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
L Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God, who makes all things new, whose mercy endures forever.
C Amen.
L Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection
L Holy One, source of our renewal,
C we confess that we are wrapped up in sin, and cannot free ourselves. We have not
practiced your righteousness. Our hearts have turned away from you. For the sake of
the world you so love, forgive us, that we may be reconciled to one another for the glory of your holy name. Amen.
L Thus says our God: “The former things have come to pass and new things I now declare.” God’s mercy makes us new. We are forgiven in the name of ☩ Christ our Savior.
C Amen.
GATHERING SONG Light Dawns on a Weary World ELW 726
GREETING
L The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
C Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By
your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Please Be Seated
WORD
FIRST READING: Isaiah 58:1-9a(9b-12).
L A reading from Isaiah
(after the reading)
L Word of God. Word of Life.
C Thanks be to God.
PSALM 112:1-10
1 Hallelujah! Happy are they who |fear the Lord
and have great delight in | God’s commandments!
2 Their descendants will be mighty |in the land; the generation of the upright | will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be |in their house, and their righteousness will |
last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness |for the upright;
the righteous are merciful and full |of compassion. R
5 It is good for them to be gener-|ous in lending and to manage their af-
|fairs with justice.
6 For they will nev-|er be shaken; the righteous will be kept in everlast-
|ing remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any |evil rumors; their heart is steadfast, trusting |
in the Lord.
8 Their heart is established and | will not shrink, until they see their desire up-
|on their enemies.
9 They have given freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands |
fast forever; they will hold up their |head with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and |
pine away; the desires of the wick-|ed will perish. R
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 2:1-12(13-16).
L A reading from 1 Corinthians
(after the reading)
L Word of God. Word of Life. C Thanks be to God.
LET THE CHILDREN COME
(Please pass worship cards to the center aisle)
Please Stand As You Are Able
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia. Lord, to Whom Shall We Go? ELW Pg 188
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:13-20
L The holy gospel according to Matthew C Glory to you , O Lord.
(after the reading)
L The gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ
Please Be Seated
MESSAGE Pastor Megan Morrow
Please stand As You Are Able
HYMN OF THE DAY Christ Be Our Light ELW 715
APOSTLES’ CREED ELW pg 235
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
each petition ends with
L Merciful God, C receive our prayer.
SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
L The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
(Please share a sign of God’s peace with one another.)
Please Be Seated
Offering Plate Is Brought Forward As We Sing:
OFFERING SONG We Are an Offering ELW 692
OFFERTORY PRAYER
L Liberating God, you break the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free. Receive these offerings in thanksgiving for all your works of merciful power, and shape us as people of your justice and freedom. You we magnify and adore, through Jesus our Savior,
C Amen
MEAL
Please Stand As You Are Able
GREAT THANKSGIVING DIALOG
PRAYER & WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
L We invite you to join as we pray the prayer our Savior taught us:
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, forever and ever. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMNS Drawn to the Light ELW 593
This Little Light of Mine ELW 677
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
L Holy One, we thank you for the healing that springs forth abundantly from this table. Renew our strength to do justice, love kindness, and journey humbly with you.
C Amen.
SENDING
BLESSING
L The God who faithfully brings forth justice and breaks the oppressor’s rod ☩ bless,
strengthen, and uphold you, today and always.
C Amen.
DISMISSAL
L Go in peace. Follow the way of Jesus.
C Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
ADDITIONAL WORSHIP SCHEDULES
‘ONLINE WORSHIP’ – VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: Alliancestjohns.org
OR OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT: Alliance NE St Johns Lutheran
SUNDAY SCHOOL @ HOME – on our Facebook and web pages!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ST. JOHN’S ANNUAL MEETING – Join us after worship for a carry-in meal and our Annual Meeting. Fellowship with us and learn what is going on in our church.
SCRIPTURES FOR WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12th- Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8,
1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37.
COMMUNITY TABLE – Monday, February 20th & 27th at 10:30am. Are you able to help serve? Please contact the church office at 762-1883.
WORSHIP HELPERS – February 12– Reader– Jody Mischnick, Lay Assistant– Luayne Weisgerber, February 19– Reader– Melinda Ewing, Lay Assistant– Jess Wimmer.
MINI-REVOLUTION – Join the faith-filled fun by signing up to lead or assist. Sign-up is in the Fellowship Room on the oak table.
HEAD START BACKPACKS – We have started collecting individually packaged items again. Thank you for all your generous donations!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY– 1st & 2nd Corinthians; lead by Jody Mischnick @ 9:30 AM Wednesdays.
FINANCES
Actual expenses thru 1/29/2023 $7,796.51
Giving thru 1/29/2023 $10,706.00
Giving over actual expenses $2,909.49
“Unfinished: Discovering God’s Call in the Not Yet”
This will be the Lenten series we will be using for Sunday worship.
Join us as we are “Called to Renewal”, “Called to Openness”, Called
by God”, “Called to Attentiveness”, Called to Regret”, “Called to Experience God’s Presence” and “Called to Resurrection”.
Lenten Devotional Book & Wednesday Mid-week Theme –
Wednesday mid-week Lenten worship will be based on the devotional book, “Lent In Plain Sight: A Devotion Through Ten Objects”
by Jill J. Duffield. God is often at work through the ordinary: ordinary people, ordinary objects, ordinary grace. Through the ordinary, God communicates epiphanies, salvation, revelation, and reconciliation. It is through the mundane that we hear God’s quiet voice. The book draws readers’ attention to ten ordinary objects
that Jesus would have encountered on his way to Jerusalem. The book includes devotions for every day from Ash Wednesday through Easter. You may order the book yourself through Amazon (paperback or Kindle), Barnes & Noble, etc. Or, if you’d like the church to order it for you, sign up in the church office by dropping
off a check to St. John’s or cash ($10), by February 10.
Confirmation Input/Information Meeting –
Youth from 7th grade and up, along with a parent/grandparent/
sponsor, are invited to an information meeting on Sunday, February 26 after worship. We’ll grab some fellowship goodies and gather in a classroom to plan a schedule and format that works for students to grow in faith, friendships and understanding of God’s great love story in Jesus, the Bible, and Martin Luther’s Small Catechism that covers the basics of the Christian faith. Let the church office or Pastor Megan know you’re interested soon, and by February 10, so we can get you more info, etc.
Lenten Lunches
Lenten Luncheon schedule will be published when we receive it from the Ministerial Association.
In conjunction with the First Communion class, we will be collecting the
following for each Personal Care Kit:
ONE light-weight bath-size towel (between 20” x 40” and 52” x 27”), dark color
recommended
TWO or three bath-size bars of soap equaling 8 to 9 oz., any brand, in original
wrapping
ONE adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging (Toothbrush multi-packs
may be used by sealing an individual toothbrush in a business-size envelope; no
plastic bags or wrap )
ONE sturdy comb, remove packaging
ONE metal nail clippers (attached file optional), remove packaging
First Communion – Children ages 7 and up are welcome to attend the First Communion workshop on Saturday, April 1 from 9a-12 Noon with at least one parent/grandparent/sponsor. Participants will receive their first communion on the Thursday night before Easter during Maundy Thursday worship, April 6 at 7pm. Please let the church office or Pastor Megan know you’re interested by
Wednesday, March 1 so we can get you more info, order materials, and the kids can be part of helping with our Lutheran World Relief Care Kit project during Lent! There is no cost to participants.