Worship Guide
February 13, 2022
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: Michael
Centering Words:
How fickle is the journey of life! Blessings walk alongside curses. Hope intertwines with despair. Goodness is shadowed by wickedness.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Poor or despairing, come to be blessed.
People: Hungry or tired, come to be restored.
Leader: Sorrowing or sighing, come to discover joy.
People: Bring your tired, your poor.
Leader: Share your hopes, your dreams.
People: Embrace your doubts, your fears.
Leader: Come as you are.
People: All are welcome here.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: God of blessings and woes, bless us with your presence this day. Reveal your way forward, and guide us in pathways of hope and grace. In your blessed name, we pray. Amen
Hymn: “O How I Love Jesus”
There is a name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth,
it sounds like music in the ear,
the sweetest name on earth.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.
It tells me of a Savior's love,
who died to set me free;
it tells me of his precious blood,
the sinner's perfect plea.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.
It tells of one whose loving heart
can feel my deepest woe;
who in each sorrow bears a part
that none can bear below.
O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus, because he first loved me.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Blessed are you who place your trust in God.
For the Holy One is faithful and true.
Christ’s love is sufficient for your every need.
Let us give thanks to our God. Amen
*Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17-26
17 He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
“Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
“Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
Leader: This is the Word of God, for the People of God
People: Thanks be to God!
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Hopeful”
Hymn: “Cares Chorus”
I cast all my cares upon you,
I lay all of my burdens
down at your feet,
and anytime that I don't know
what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.
I cast all my cares upon you,
I lay all of my burdens
down at your feet,
and anytime that I don't know
what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.
Sermon: “The First Fruits” 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Because He Lives”
God sent his Son, they called him Jesus;
he came to love, heal, and forgive;
he lived and died to buy my pardon,
an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth a living just because he lives
How sweet to hold a newborn baby;
and feel the pride and the joy he gives;
but greater still, the calm assurance,
this child can face uncertain days because he lives.
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth a living just because he lives
And then one day, I'll cross that river;
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
and then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know he reigns.
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow;
because he lives, all fear is gone;
because I know he holds the future,
and life is worth a living just because he lives
Psalter: The Apostles Creed
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;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God
the Father Almighty.
From thence he shall come
to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen. Amen
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “He Has Made Me Glad”
I will enter his gates
with thanksgiving in my heart,
I will enter his
courts with praise.
I will say, "This is the day
that the Lord has made."
I will rejoice,
for he has made me glad.
He has made me glad,
he has made me glad.
I will rejoice,
for he has made me glad.
He has made me glad,
he has made me glad.
I will rejoice,
for he has made me glad.
Benediction
