Worship for Epiphany 4

Thursday after Epiphany 3
January 28, 2010

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. The appointed lessons are Jeremiah 1:4-10; 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13; and Luke 4:31-44. The sermon, based on the Gospel lesson, is titled “The Word of Jesus”. Our hymns will be “From God the Father, Virgin-Born (LSB 401), “Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast” (LSB 577), and “Jesus Loves Me” (LSB 588).

For those of you who remember The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH), you will recall that that hymnal had only two settings for the morning service, page 5 without Communion, and page 15 with Communion. The third setting of the morning service in LSB is basically page 15 of TLH. There was very little difference between the two services other than receiving the Lord’s Supper. This coming Sunday we will return to page 5, so to speak. After the General Prayer we will pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Collect for the Word, then speak our mission statement, receive the benediction, and close with “Jesus Loves Me”.

I’m running a bit behind today so the Preview of the Lessons section will be abbreviated.

Every hymn for Sunday can be found on line at “Better Noises” (see link on the right-hand side of this blog).

Preview of the Lessons

Jeremiah 1:4-10: This is the call of Jeremiah. Lessons that can be learned here is that the Lord is involved in our lives from before our birth; that “while we are weak, he is strong” and therefore we need not fear our inadequacies; and most of all the power of God’s word.

1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13: This is the famous “Love Chapter” of the Bible. While faith, hope and love abide, the greatest is love. Love of God and others ensures that we use our gifts in a God pleasing way.

Luke 4:31-44: You might call this passage a day in the life of Jesus. He preaches in a synagogue, casts out daemons, and heals the sick. Repeatedly the text brings our attention to the word of Jesus. His teaching astonishes people. By his word daemons are cast out. He rebukes sicknesses and the illnesses leave. Jesus says he must preach the good news of the kingdom of God. It even ends with “And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” The “word” aspect of the lesson ties it with the Old Testament lesson. The many acts of mercy and the very proclamation of the Gospel, ties this lesson to our Epistle lesson.

Sunday’s Collect

Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Gradual (Psalm 117:1-2a; 96:8)

Praise the LORD, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love towards us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!

Verse (Luke 4:43b)

Alleluia. I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. Alleluia.

Introit (Psalm 102:18-22; Psalm 102:13)

Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
The Lord is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart;
you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.


The February newsletter will be available Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert