Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
February 20, 2022
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
OUR EPIPHANY LORD—BRIGHTEST
WELCOME
A warm welcome to all who have gathered here for worship this morning. With God as our Father, we gather as a family in Christ to sing his praises and learn of faithfulness and obedience. We worship in the Name of our Lord by whose sacrifice we have been made saints. What a joy to be gathered around The Table of the Lord with the whole company of heaven and each other. Guests and visitors, we are happy that you have joined us in worship. Please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church. If you have no church home of your own in the area, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. Please join us after this morning’s worship and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. Come to worship with us again and often!
AS WE GATHER
The season of Epiphany is one of the “accordion” seasons of the Church Year. The later Easter falls in March or April, the more Sundays after the Epiphany there are. This year’s “Epiphany accordion” is stretched long enough to include eight Sundays. In an extended Epiphany season, the light of Christ burns brightest, as Jesus is revealed in action and in teaching through the Gospel writers. There is power when and where Jesus is among His people, as the hymn “Jesus Comes Today with Healing” teaches (LSB 620). May we welcome His presence among us!
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
Lord God, it is through our lives that your love touches others. Stir us by your Spirit to serve all people with willing hearts and bring them the message of your love. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ THE ORDER of CELEBRATING +
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
CHIMES
PRELUDE Jesus, What a Wonder You Are by Dave Bolten Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
INVOCATION
Pastor In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 30:10; 43:3; Proverbs 4:18; Isaiah 2:5b
Pastor Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
Congregation O Lord, be my helper.
Pastor Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me;
Congregation let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling!
Pastor The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
Congregation which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
Pastor Let us now make confession of our sins to God, our gracious heavenly Father.
Congregation Eternal God, we confess that by nature we are sinful people. We are given to sinful thoughts, sinful words, and sinful deeds. We have transgressed Your law in many ways, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We deserve Your punishment, now and for eternity. Merciful God, in Your mercy, forgive our sin and restore us to a full and joyful relationship with You through the merits of Jesus, our Lord. Direct our days by Your Holy Spirit that we may joyfully follow Your will and gladly obey Your commandments as Your redeemed people, bringing the brightness of Your light to the darkened world.
Pastor In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation Amen.
Pastor Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.
Congregation Thanks be to God. Amen.
Pastor. Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another and share the peace of our Lord.
PASSING of PEACE
[The congregation is encouraged to share the peace of Christ and greet one another with the words:
“The Lord’s peace be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”]
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
GLORY TO GOD
Refrain: Glory to God, glory to God,
Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to his people on earth
- Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship
you we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.Refrain
- 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.Refrain
- 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.
Refrain: Glory to God, glory to God,
Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to his people on earth.
Amen, Amen, Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Congregation O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 45:3–15
[Many years after being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph reveals himself to them. Now the second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph reassures his brothers that God had used their evil intentions for good, to preserve life during a devastating famine, and Joseph forgives them.]
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
4So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.
Leader This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 15:21–26, 30–42
[In the Apostles’ Creed, we speak of “the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting.” Using the metaphor of a planted seed and the story of Adam, Paul preaches passionately about the mystery of following Christ’s perfect life in eternity.]
21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
30Why am I in danger every hour? 31I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.
Leader This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC I Gave my Life for Thee with Give of the Best to the Master by Pamela M. Robertson
Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
ALLELUIA [Sung before the reading of the Gospel]
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give the glory and the honor to the Lord!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give the glory and the honor to the Lord!
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 6:27–38
Pastor The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the sixth chapter.
Congregation Glory to You, O Lord.
[Jesus continues to address a crowd of his disciples. He invites his followers to show radical love, blessing, forgiveness, generosity, and trust even to enemies and outsiders. Living in harmony with God’s intent brings the reward of overflowing blessing.]
27[Jesus said:] “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
37“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Pastor This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Congregation Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON “What you meant for evil, God meant for Good!” Genesis 45:3–15
APOSTLES’ CREED
Congregation I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life + everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
OFFERING
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Congregation Lord our God, Maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ HOLY MEAL +
PREFACE
Pastor The Lord be with you.
Congregation And also with you.
Pastor Lift up your hearts.
Congregation We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Congregation It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
PROPER PREFACE
Pastor It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, Lord, our God; for You have had mercy on us and sent Your only-begotten Son to be our Savior. Grant us the gift of Your Spirit that we may receive Your blessings with thankfulness for the forgiveness purchased for us by our Savior on the cross of Calvary. Grant that we receive the body and blood of our Lord as the guarantee of our salvation and as a foretaste of the feast to come in Your eternal kingdom. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and praise, together with the Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Congregation Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Pastor Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
Pastor As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Congregation Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Pastor O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
LORD’S PRAYER
Congregation 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.
PAX DOMINI
Pastor The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation Amen.
AGNUS DEI
Congregation O Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
+ DISTRIBUTION HYMN +
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Congregation Blessed are You, heavenly Father, for You have once again fed and nourished us at Your Table through the body and blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Strengthen and support us, Your pilgrim people, so that we may continue to proclaim Your love to all the world. Keep before us the vision of the brightness of Your glory, and bring us at last to Your eternal kingdom, where You live and reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
BENEDICAMUS
Pastor Let us bless the Lord.
Congregation Thanks be to God.
BENEDICTION
Pastor The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace and may you be a blessing to others!
Congregation Amen.
Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Quarter 1. Copyright © 2021 Concordia Publishing House.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Today’s music is used by permission, ccli 540181. The trumpets sound, the angels sing, Text & Music Graham Kendrick; Copyright 1989, Make Way Music admin. Integrity Music.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2022 Concordia Publishing House.
Grace Notes
THIS WEEK AT GRACE
MONDAY: Presidents Day
TUESDAY: Women’s Study 10:00 am
SUNDAY: Transfiguration Sunday
Bible Study 9:00 am
Worship 10:00 am
STUDY OPPORTUNITIES at Grace: The Tuesday morning Women’s Study meets at 10:00 am in the Fireside Room. Ashland/Phoenix Small Group study meets bi-monthly at 2:00 pm on the first and third Wednesdays. Next NewMen’s Coffee Study is scheduled for Saturday morning, March 12th, beginning at 8:30 am. Set these times aside now for a good discussion and fellowship.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?
Email: gracelutheranashland@gmail.com
Visit our website: gracelutheranashland.org
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Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck - heimbuck@me.com