The Lord’s Day, January 22, in the Lord’s Year 2023

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Please speak bold words and sing italicized words. *we invite you to stand if able.

Prelude & Quiet Prayer – five minutes before service (9:55-10:00 am)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Arise, shine, for your light is come.

And the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

* Hymn 53   Praise to the Lord, the Almighty                                LOBE DEN HERREN

* Invocation

* Confession of Sin:  Gracious God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have promised to receive us when we come to you. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you or our neighbors as we should. Forgive us, O God, and grant that in the Holy Spirit we may live and serve you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* Declaration of Forgiveness:  If you have repented of your sin and turned in faith to Jesus Christ, I can declare through Christ’s atoning death and life-giving resurrection that you are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* New Life in Christ:  If you love God, keep his commandments. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

* Response (Hymn 610, verse 1)                                                                            QUEBEC

“Take up your cross,” the Savior said, “if you would my disciple be; take up your cross with willing heart, and humbly follow after me.”

O Lord, open our lips, and our mouths shall show forth your praise.

* Gloria Patri (Hymn 735)                                              GLORIA PATRI (GREATOREX)

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.

* The Peace of Christ The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Announcements, Scripture Memory, & Catechism – see Bell Ringer

Litany Prayer for the Sanctity of Human Life

God formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed into man the Breath of Life.

We praise God for His gift of life to man and woman and are thankful that life is precious and holy in His sight.

We praise God for the gift of life and the courage to embrace it, protect it, and honor it.

We offer prayers of thanksgiving to honor the sanctity of human life. We ask God to bless all who bring life into the world.

O God, You are the Giver of all life. You bring each person into being, sealed with divine and infinite love from the time of conception.

Enable us to cherish and protect each precious life.

God, our Creator, guard the life of each unborn child.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

Help us to see your handprint on everyone you have created.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

Protect the vulnerable and needy in our nation today.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

Strengthen those who tirelessly work to preserve life.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

May our nation and our world turn to abundant life in You.

O Lord, hear our prayer.

We ask these things through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Song – I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin, my hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

  Refrain:  Here I am Lord, Is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.

     I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.

I have wept for love of them, they turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak My word to them. Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them, my hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide, till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give My life to them. Whom shall I send?

Gathering Prayer (Collect for 2 Epiphany): Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for Illumination on the Reading of the Holy Scriptures

Isaiah 9:1-4  Psalm 27:1,4-9   1 Corinthians 1:10-18  Matthew 4:12-23

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon – “Called to Christ, Not to Schisms”

The Apostles’ Creed – hymnal page 845

Offering the Prayers of the People, concluding with The Lord’s Prayer:

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; 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.

Hymn 131   Children of the Heavenly Father                 TRYGGARE KAN INGEN VARA

Offering Tithes and Gifts

Offertory (Hymn 729)                                                                        HERR JESU CHRIST

All things are thine; no gift have we, Lord of all gifts, to offer thee; and hence with grateful hearts today, thine own before thy feet we lay.

* Doxology (Hymn 731)                                                                           OLD HUNDREDTH

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Offertory Prayer

* Hymn 591   Jesus Calls Us                                                                           GALILEE

* Benediction

Postlude