Sunday, February 14, 2016

First is Last & Last is FirstFirst Sunday in LentService of the Word

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISMBlessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the ☩fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen. Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism. We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

PEACEThe peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. 

GATHERING SONG: THE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE! 

GREETINGThe 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 (Red Hymnal p. 213)Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.Christe eleison: Christ, have mercy.Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE (Red Hymnal p. 213)

 Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God’s people on earth.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God’s people on earth.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God’s people on earth, and peace to God’s people on earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Good and holy teacher, what we understand of your ways is so tiny that it might fit through the eye of a needle. Keep teaching us, we pray, and give us time to catch up to you. All this we pray through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST READING: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

A reading from Amos. 6Seek the LORD and live,  or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. 7Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!  10They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.

11Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards,  but you shall not drink their wine. 12For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins — you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.

13Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. 14Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. 15Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Word of God, word of life.Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 19:7-10

7The teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the simple.

8The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

9The fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

11By them also is your servant enlightened, and in keeping them there is great reward.

12Who can detect one’s own offenses? Cleanse me from my secret faults.

13Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.

14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

(Red Hymnal p. 216)

Return to the Lord, your God, return to the Lord, your God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

GOSPEL: Mark 10:17-31

The holy gospel according to Mark.Glory to you, O Lord. 17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'"

20He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.“28Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." 29Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake

of the good news, 30who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions — and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.“

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

Confession and forgiveness

SERMONPastor Michael Peuse

HYMN OF THE DAY Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake (Red Hymnal # 799) 1 "Come, follow me," the Savior spake,"all in my way abiding;deny yourselves, the world forsake,obey my call and guiding.Oh, bear the cross, whate'er betide;take my example for your guide."

2 "I am the light; I light the way,a godly life displaying;I bid you walk as in the day;I keep your feet from straying.I am the way, and well I showhow you should sojourn here below."

3 "I teach you how to shun and fleewhat harms your soul's salvation;from ev'ry guile your heart to free,from sin and its temptation.I am the refuge of the souland lead you to your heav'nly goal."

4 Then let us follow Christ, our Lord,and take the cross appointed,and, firmly clinging to his word,in suffering be undaunted.For those who bear the battle's strainthe crown of heav'nly life obtain.

Installation of Leaders in the Congregation

The following people have been elected by the body of Christ from Faith/North New Hope to positions of leadership.

FAITH• Glenn Mancel, President• Jan Kraetsch, Vice President• Bob Dobbe, Treasurer• Suzi Limberg, Secretary• Faye Yenter• Brad Larson

We give thanks for their willingness to serve. In baptism we are welcomed into the body of Christ and sent to share in the mission of God; we rejoice now that these sisters and brothers will lead us in our common life and our mutual mission as a congregation.

A reading from First Corinthians: There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

You have been elected to positions of leadership and trust in this congregation.

You are to see that the words and deeds of this household of faith bear witness to God, who gathers us into one together with the whole church. You are to seek to involve all members of this congregation in worship, learning, witness, service, and support, so that the mission of Christ is carried out in this congregation, in the wider church, in this community, and in the whole world. You are to be faithful in your specific area of serving, that the Spirit who empowers you may be glorified.

You are to be examples of faith active in love, fostering peace, harmony, and mutual understanding in this congregation.On behalf of your sisters and brothers in Christ, I ask you:Will you accept and faithfully carry out the duties of the offices to which you have been elected?Response: I will, and I ask God to help me.

People of God, I ask you: Will you support these, your elected leaders, and will you share in the mutual ministry that Christ has given to all who are baptized?We will, and we ask God to help us. I now declare you installed as council members and leaders of this congregation. Almighty God bless you, and direct your days and your deeds in peace, that you may be faithful servants of Christ. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

INTERCESSORY RESPONSE  O Lord, Hear My Prayer (Red Hymnal # 751) O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: when I call, answer me.O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: come and listen to me.

OFFERINGCANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING 

(Red Hymnal p. 219)Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations. Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name? Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God.All praise and thanks to you, holy God! Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD

Let us pray. Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God,we give you thanks and praise. By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God,we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God,we give you thanks and praise. Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYERLord, 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.

BLESSING

May God direct your ways in peace, make you abound in love for one another and for all, and strengthen your hearts until the coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

SENDING SONG Jesus Calls Us; o'er the Tumult (Red Hymnal # 696)

1 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumultof our life's wild, restless sea,day by day his clear voice sounding,saying, "Christian, follow me":

2 As of old Saint Andrew heard itby the Galilean lake,turned from home and toil and kindred,leaving all for Jesus' sake.

 3 Jesus calls us from the worshipof the vain world's golden store,from each idol that would keep us,saying, "Christian, love me more."

4 In our joys and in our sorrows,days of toil and hours of ease,still he calls, in cares and pleasures,"Christian, love me more than these."

 5 Jesus calls us! By your mercy,Savior, may we hear your call,give our hearts to your obedience,serve and love you best of all. 

DISMISSALGo in peace. Christ is with you.Thanks be to God.

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