***DUE TO THE PENDING WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD WE DECIDED TO CANCEL ALL ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAY. BECAUSE OF THIS, PASTOR KAREN PRE-RECORDED A WORSHIP SERVICE FOR YOU. PLEASE LISTEN FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE INCLUDED TEXT BELOW.***
WELCOME
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: O Lord Jesus,
C: make us instruments of your peace, that where there is hatred, we may sow love, where there is injury, pardon, and where there is despair, hope. Grant, O divine master, that we may seek to console, to understand, and to love in your name, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
C: make us instruments of your peace, that where there is hatred, we may sow love, where there is injury, pardon, and where there is despair, hope. Grant, O divine master, that we may seek to console, to understand, and to love in your name, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling Hymn #631
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav’n, to earth come down! Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation, enter ev’ry trembling heart.
Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spirit into ev’ry troubled breast; let us all in thee inherit; let us find thy promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
FIRST READING Genesis 45:3-11, 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 has used their evil intentions for good, to preserve life during a devastating famine, and Joseph forgives them.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am
Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so
dismayed were they at his presence.
4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they
came closer. 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 five more years in which there
will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7God 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 delay. 10You shall
settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children
and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that
you have. 11I will provide for you there—since there are five more
years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have,
will not come to poverty.’ ” 15And he kissed all his brothers and
wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL READING Luke 6:27-38
Jesus continues to address a crowd of his disciples. He invites his followers to shower 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.
The holy gospel according to Luke the 6th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said:]
27“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse
you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and
from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give
to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask
for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For
even sinners love those who love them. 33If you do good to those who
do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34If
you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35But love
your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will
be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the
ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful.
37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and
you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give,
and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the
measure you get back.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pr. Karen Behling
HYMN OF THE DAY
Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling Hymn #631
Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive; suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation, pure and spotless let us be let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee! Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee lost in wonder, love, and praise!
Lord’s Prayer
P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Benediction
P: The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God the Father, the ☩ Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always.
C: Amen