Hope Lutheran Church

bv Hope Lutheran Church

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Hope Lutheran Church Arcade, NY
(585) 492 2530 2 East Main Street Web Site: www.Luther95.net//HLC-ANY

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

January 30, 2005

INTRODUCTION What does the Lord ask of us? To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God. These are simple words from today's first reading that, nonetheless, remain a challenge for anyone who recognizes the injustice and suffering that mark and mar much of human existence. In the gospel reading, Jesus teaches his disciples a way of seeing those who are blessed in God's sight: the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. These are the people to whom Jesus has constant recourse in his ministry. How does this congregation serve them?

HYMNS
10:00
WOV #799, “When Long Before Time”
WOV #778, “O Christ the Same”
WOV #712, “Listen, God Is Calling”

LITURGY
10:00 WOV, Setting 5, Page 28

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
[All may make the sign of the cross in remembrance of baptism as the presiding minister begins:]
P Trusting in the word of life given in baptism, we are gathered in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen
P Let us draw near to God in humility and confidence, confessing our sin.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P Gracious God,
C have mercy on us. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and things left undone. Uphold us by your Spirit so that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
P The boundless riches of Christ are the gift of God's grace to all people. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY
P O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that, with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sin has brought upon us; through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen
FIRST READING: Micah 6:1-8 With the mountains and the foundations of the earth as the jury, God brings a lawsuit against Israel. Acting first as plaintiff, God charges that though the Lord has provided constant care for the people, they have not responded appropriately. Acting as judge, God indicts Israel for bringing burnt offerings instead of justice and mercy.
A reading from Micah:
Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3"O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! 4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD." 6"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 8He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
A This is the word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 In the city of Corinth, many Christians prided themselves on their sophistication and learning. Paul reminds them that God identifies with what is considered foolish, weak, and despised. This message is the wisdom of the cross.
A reading from St. Paul:
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
A This is the word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount by describing God's care for those who are blessed in the reign of God.
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 5th chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
A The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.

THE PRAYERS
A Let us pray that the dawn from on high will shine upon the church, the world, and all those in need.
A brief silence.
A Blessed are the pure in heart. As your church proclaims Christ, may it do so while honoring the integrity of those who hear the message of the good news. We pray:
C Hear us, God of light.
A Blessed are the merciful. Teach us to love kindness, especially toward those who have offended us and those who are dependent upon us, that Christ's love may be shown in our lives. We pray:
C Hear us, God of light.
A Blessed are the peacemakers. Hold in your care those serving in international agencies whose mission is to strive for peace while meeting the needs of those who are victims of war. We pray:
C Hear us, God of light.
A Blessed are the meek. Give voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless. Help us to be advocates for all whose voices are silent or whose bodies are weak, and to announce signs of healing to those in need of it especially, Hope, David, Sue, Alex, Joyce, Don, Almon, Mary Lee, Alex, Dave, Ardean, Sarah, Edna, Frank, Fred, Maurie, John, Doc, Griff, Mike, Sharlene, Mabel, Ruth and Tori. We pray:
C Hear us, God of light.
A Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Transform the hearts of those who are unmoved by the world's needs and lead all in this congregation to contribute to its outreach ministries. We pray:
C Hear us, God of light.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
A That our men and women serving in our military be kept safe and return home quickly. We pray:
C Hear us, God of light.
P Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen

THIS WEEK AT HOPE:
Today: 11:30 Family Pot Luck Dinner
Monday: 7:00 Community Chorus
Wednesday: 8:00am Staff Meeting
Thursday: 7:30 Prayer and bible Study at Hope
Next Sunday: 8:00am Worship Service
9:00 Sunday School
9:00 Stewardship Committee Meeting
10:00 Choir Rehearsal
10:00 Coffee and Fellowship
10:30 Worship Service
11:30 Choir Rehearsal

THOSE WHO SERVE US IN WORSHIP:
Rev. Neil C. Kattermann, Pastor
Assisting Deacons:
10:00 a.m. Gary Rung and Brian Smith
Organist : Paul Blackwell

Today 10:00 Next Sunday 8:00
10:30
DEACON XXXXX Matt Rung Margie
Webster Amy
Burns
PRAYER
LEADER XXXXX Paul
Rigerman Jeanne
Holmes Louie
Boyer
ALTAR
GUILD Pam
Kattermann Carol
Staffehl Barb
Sonner
Carol
Boldt
LECTOR XXXXX Guy
Sisson Joanne
Offers Karen
Prior
WELCOMER XXXXX Len
Dressel XXXXX Al
Boldt
Greeters XXXXX Al & Carol
Boldt XXXXX Bob & Sharlene Vossler
ACOLYTES XXXXX Kim
Merlau Jen & Tyler
Sanders Jessica
Rung
VAN
DRIVERS Bob
Landahl Mike
Gilbert Gary
Rung Matt
Rung
Nursery XXXXX Melissa
Pleace XXXXX Jen
Blackwell
Coffee Hour XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX Mary Lou Merlau

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PERSONAL PRAYERS:

Ruth Lortz-who is in Warsaw Hospital, Tori Lane-great-niece of Jo Fuller, Hope, David Fehringer, Sue Snedecker, Alex Kohan, Joyce Michals, Don Hutchinson, Almon and Mary Lee, Alex Lynch, Dave Hawkins, Ardean Day, Sarah Hanson, Edna Meyerhofer, Frank Zeitz, Fred Zeitz, Maurie Thomas, Doc and Griff Smith, John Rix, Sharlene Vossler, Mabel Slaski, all of our Servicemen and women at home and overseas especially-Kurt Kilburn, Jacob Goodine, Dan McCarthy, Jason Hopkins, Joe Southcott, Matthew Cole and Dan Smith. Please continue to keep in your prayers all the many people throughout the world who have been effected by the tsunami.

Today is STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY. Following our worship service there will be a Pot-Luck Family Dinner. Please join your fellow members of Hope for this special meal.

In the past, the Stewardship Committee has designated each week of the months which have five Sundays as FIFTH SUNDAYS. On these Sundays we are asked to give $5 over and above our regular Sunday offering to help with all of the current bills which need to be paid. If you are able to help, it would be appreciated.

SHROVE TUESDAY. You are invited once again to attend a free Shrove Tuesday dinner at 6:00pm on Tuesday, February 8th in the Parish Hall. It will be the kick off for our Lenten journey. There will be fellowship with your fellow members of Hope. The only requirement is that you pick up your free tickets so we have an accurate count for planning purposes. Tickets are available in the church office. Please put the date on your calendar.

ANOTHER DATE FOR YOUR CALENDAR: Fish Fry at Hope on Friday, February 18th at 4:30. There are sign-up sheets on the bulletin board near the office for helpers and donations of food. Please check and see where you may be able to help.

A set of keys was found outside the church. If they belong to you, they are in the Church Office.

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