ARISE! YOUR LIGHT HAS COME
Epiphany (shining forth, appearing) observes the manifestation of Christ to all the nations of the world. In the Sundays of the Epiphany season we see Christ as our light, our revealer. What these epiphanies have to say to us is that looking with discerning eye and listening with discriminating ear, we can perceive God behind, above, within, around, and below the world all about us. In Epiphany we begin to see more and more of Jesus, from his baptism in the Jordan River to his transfiguration on the mountain. Christ is the coming of the light and the power of the light to draw us to God. This light will unveil evil even as it reveals the goodness and glory of God; God’s unstoppable love for us.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
WE REMEMBER OUR BAPTISMS, CONFESS OUR FAITHLESSNESS,
AND HEAR GOD’S FAITHFUL PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Trusting in the word of life given in baptism,
we are gathered in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
the holy Trinity, one God,
the fountain of living water,
the rock who gave us birth,
our light and our salvation.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism,
we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Pastor: We give you thanks, O God,
for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters
and by your Word you created the world,
calling forth life in which you took delight.
Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.
You led Israel safely through the Sea from slavery into freedom and the land of promise.
In the waters of the Jordan, your Son was baptized by John, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and proclaimed your beloved one.
By water, your Word, and the Spirit you claim us as your daughters and sons,
making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.
Through this water remind us of our baptism.
We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life,
and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.
Shower us with your Spirit,
and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.
To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
People: Blessed be God,
who gives us life with all creation,
joins us to the saving death of Christ,
and raises us to new life by the Holy Spirit. Amen.
HYMN FOR THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright”
[click on the link below]
O Morning Star, how fair and bright!
You shine with God’s own truth and light,
aglow with grace and mercy!
Of Jacob’s line, King David’s son,
our Lord and Savior, you have won
our hearts to serve you only!
Lowly, holy!!
Great and glorious,
all victorious,
rich in blessing!
Rule and might o’er all possessing!
Come, precious diamond, light divine,
and deep within our hearts now shine;
there light a flame undying!
In your one body let us be
as living branches of a tree,
your life our lives supplying.
Now, though daily
earth’s deep sadness
may perplex us
and distress us,
yet with heav’nly joy you bless us.
Lord, when you look on us in love,
at once there falls from God above
a ray of purest pleasure.
Your word and Spirit, flesh and blood
refresh our souls with heav’nly food.
You are our dearest treasure!
Let your mercy
warm and cheer us!
Oh, draw near us!
For you teach us
God’s own love through you has reached us.
Almighty Father, in your Son
you loved us, when not yet begun
was this old earth’s foundation!
Your Son has ransomed us in love
to live in him here and above:
this is your great salvation.
Alleluia!
Christ the living,
to us giving
life forever,
keeps us yours and fails us never!
Oh, let the harps break forth in sound!
Our joy be all with music crowned,
our voices gaily blending!
For Christ goes with us all the way–
today, tomorrow, ev’ry day!
His love is never ending!
Sing out!
Ring out!
Jubilation! Exaltation!
Tell the story!
Praise to Christ, who reigns in glory!
What joy to know, when life is past,
the Lord we love is first and last,
the end and the beginning!
He will one day, oh, glorious grace,
transport us to that happy place
beyond all tears and sinning!
Amen!
Amen!
Come, Lord Jesus! Crown of gladness!
We are yearning
for the day of your returning.
GATHERING
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL WITH PRAISE AND PRAYER,
AND PREPARE TO HEAR GOD’S WORD OF LIFE
GREETING
Pastor: The light and love of God,
who wonderfully made you,
who graciously redeemed you,
who calls you each by name,
be with you all.
People: And also with you
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray
People: Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
WORD
THE CHURCH HEARS THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD ACTING
IN THIS AND EVERY TIME AND PLACE
FIRST READING
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me,
‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord.’
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’
SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
THE GOSPEL
Luke 4: 21-30
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourth chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.’ When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
[click on the link below]
HYMN OF THE DAY
“Son of God, Eternal Savior”
1 Son of God, eternal Savior,
source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us,
hallows all our human race,
you our head, who, throned in glory,
for your own will ever plead:
fill us with your love and pity,
heal our wrongs and help our need.
2 Bind us all as one together
in your Church’s sacred fold,
weak and healthy, poor and wealthy,
sad and joyful, young and old.
Is there want or pain or sorrow?
Make us all the burden share.
Are there spirits crushed and broken?
Teach us, Lord, to soothe their care.
3 As you, Lord, have lived for others,
so may we for others live.
Freely have your gifts been granted;
freely may your servants give.
Yours the gold and yours the silver,
yours the wealth of land and sea;
we but stewards of your bounty
held in solemn trust will be.
4 Son of God, eternal Savior,
source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us
hallows all our human race,
by your praying, by your willing
that your people should be one,
grant, O grant our hope’s fruition:
here on earth your will be done.
APOSTLES’ CREED
Pastor: Let us confess our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
All: I believe in God, the Father, Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father.
And he will come to judge the living 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.
TODAY IN OUR PRAYERS
Bill, Carol, Curtis, and Christine Buchkowsky, Teri Peterson, Wayne Turner, Janet Gregory, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, John Beaven, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Bryan Matschke, Audrey Hedlin, Mona Neher, Carl Rausch, Oma Ywo, Joan Schock, Helen Neher, the family of Norm Gregory, the family of Mary Anderson (Evelyn Robson’s mother), the family of Joel Zimmerman, the family of baby Mavrick Gallant (Bev Gregory’s great-grandson), the family of Ray Johnson (the brother of Doris Turner), and the family of Katherine Meger (Joshua Bratvold’s great grandmother).
We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the children and people buried in unmarked graves at residential schools and First Nation lands, and all those who have suffered the trauma of residential schools, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Hong Kong, the Palestinians and Israelis, the civil war in Ethiopia, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Belarus and the refugees at the Belarus/Poland border, Lebanon, the Rohingya Muslim refugees and the ethnic Karen of Myanmar, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge, the people of Haiti suffering from earthquake, hurricane, and political disasters, those in northwestern Washington, southern B.C., especially the communities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Merritt, and Princeton, devastated by torrential rains and flooding, the communities in the Philippines ravaged by typhoon Rai, The people of Tonga whose communities are destroyed by volcano and tsunami, those in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community still threatened by the coronavirus and fearful of the omicron variant.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF FAITH
[The congregational response after each petition is: “HEAR OUR PRAYER.”]
Pastor: As we see and hear the promises of God revealed in Jesus, the Word made flesh, let us pray for all people and the whole creation that the light of Christ’s grace and mercy shine upon all , saying, “O Christ, our light and life,” and responding, “Hear our prayer.”
Petitioner: Spirit of wholeness and the unexpected, we pray for this community of faith, fill us with faith, hope, and love so that our witness and service in this place may be humble, full of truth and promise, and welcoming to all who are among us and around us. O Christ, our light and life …
Petitioner: Almighty God, your works are faithfulness and justice. Guide all those in authority to seek the peace and to protect the peoples and lands who are in their care. Assist all public servants and all health care workers, as they continue to grapple with this pandemic, to seek justice and to work for the well-being of all people and all creation. O Christ, our light and life …
Petitioner: Abundant God, immerse us in the Water of Life, empower us with the action of your Word, nourish us at your table so that living in faith, hope, and love, in our extending of graciousness to others, we might be makers of peace in our communities, workplaces, and families. O Christ, our light and life…
Pastor: God of healing, sustain those who are hurting, tired, lonely, afraid, who suffer from loss and brokenness, or are grieving. We remember especially before you …. Send your Spirit upon them, that even though unexpected, they may experience your comfort and care. O Christ, our light and life…
Petitioner: God of surprising grace, give us boldness and faith to embrace the insecurities of our life together. Come to us and be with us in our decisions made even in ambiguity and uncertainty. Send your Spirit and work through us even when we are uncertain in our trust and unsure of the path we take. O Christ, our light and life …
Petitioner: Sustaining God, by your word creation came into being. Speak to us by your Spirit where the earth is exhausted by our demands and the air and waters are polluted with our waste; bring rest to creation and restore the health of your creatures so that all creation might praise and serve you. O Christ, our light and life….
Petitioner: We give thanks to you, O God, for the greatest of epiphanies in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord. May it be the source of our hope, a guide for our lives, and the power that enables us to sing, to pray, to hear the Gospel, and to love our neighbour. O Christ, our light and life …
Pastor: Receive our prayers, gracious God, and fill us with hope as we behold your presence among us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
THANKSGIVING
THE COMMUNITY PRAISES GOD FOR THE GRACIOUS GIFTS OF
CREATION AND THE SAVING DEEDS OF JESUS CHRIST
THE GREETING AND SHARING OF PEACE
Pastor: Since we are forgiven and renewed by God’s Spirit, let us also be reconciled with one another and share the Peace of the Lord.
The peace of Christ be with you always.
People: And also with you.
(The congregation greets one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words:
“Christ’s peace be with you.”)
THE OFFERING
(We worship God with the offering of our selves, our time, our talents, and our possessions.)
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray.
God of all creation,
People: with great joy we worship you and lay before you these gifts.
Use what we have gathered here
in feeding the hungry world with your love.
Let our lives serve you only,
and lead us always to our dearest treasure,
Jesus Christ, the light of the world and the life of all. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray with confidence in the words our Saviour gave us:
People: 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.
SENDING
ALL RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF GOD, LEAVE IN PEACE,
AND ARE SENT OUT TO SERVE
BENEDICTION
Pastor: May Christ, whose epiphany revealed God’s glory to the world,
deepen your faith and make your hearts glad.
God’s blessing be with you,
Christ’s peace be with you,
the Spirit’s outpouring of love be with you, now and always.
People: Amen
CLOSING HYMN
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling ”
1 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.
2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev’ry troubled breast.
Let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
3 Come, Almighty, to deliver,
let us all thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
nevermore they 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.
4 Finish, then, thy new creation;
true 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.
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Go forth as light into the world. The joy of the Lord is your strength.
People: Thanks be to God.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
King of Glory will hold our regular in-person worship services—following the provincial protocols recommended—on a weekly basis at the regular time 6:30 p.m. Of course, should there be any significant changes with regard to the pandemic situation the Church Council will revisit the issue.
Thank you to everyone for your support of the Alzheimer’s Society. $226 has been contributed. Thank you for your generosity. We have received a thank you card from the Alzheimer Society.
Thank you to everyone participating in collecting food items for Christmas Hampers. We had food items for 6 1/2 hampers. Thank you for your generosity.
Pastor Michael and Renita thank all at King of Glory who remembered them this Christmas season with cards, gifts, many kindnesses, and prayers. Christmas peace and joy, good health, and the blessing of Christ be with everyone in the New Year.
December, January, and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG
2022 Budget: $48,854 Monthly Budget: $4,071.17 Weekly Budget: $939.50
2021income/expenses: –$1,734.04
December income/expenses: $2,994.99
Weekly contributions for December: December 5: $ 1,420
December 12 and 19: $6190 and $200 for CLWR
December 24 through December 31: $520 and $100 for CLWR
Weekly contributions for January: January 2: $650 January 9: $10,050
January 16: $300 January 23: $0
Massive floods and landslides have devastated parts of British Columbia. CLWR is accepting donations now on its website at clwr.org/BCfloods. Donations can also be made by phoning our office at 1.800.661.2597 (Monday to Thursday, 9:00 – 16:00 CDT) or by mailing a cheque to 600-177 Lombard Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0W5.
Offerings.
(Please no cash for mail security reasons)
Send your contributions to: King of Glory Lutheran Church
3318 Merritt Street
Saskatoon, SK S7M 3P6
Thank you for your generosity.
Checklist and Guidelines for Re-opening Worship Services
Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc before the service
One person preps worship materials [pastor]
Six feet distancing recommended
No sharing of pencils, pens, etc.
No serving of food or beverages
Try not to use the washrooms
Open doors and windows if possible
Use/wear face masks, but you may sing quietly recommended
Hand sanitizer available
No physical contact (e.g. sharing of the peace, no passing of offering plate)
Communion procedure: distribution in a way that maintains physical distancing
Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc after the service
King of Glory Lutheran Church 