Bulletin: Ephiphany 4b: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Francisco

Epiphany 4B

February 1, 2015

10:30 am Holy Communion Service

Grace Evangelical Lutheran

Pastor: Rev. Megan Rohrer

Guest Musician: Katie Gerber

Welcome to worship at Grace!

Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to faith. Welcome to all who have no church home, want to follow Christ, have doubts, or do not believe. Welcome to new visitors and old friends. Welcome to people of every age and size, color and culture, every sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status, marital status, ability and challenge. Welcome to believers and questioners, and to questioning believers. This is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow, rejoice and recover.  This is a place where lives are made new.

Special Welcome to Newcomers

Welcome to our small community of faith.  While we are small in numbers, we have big hearts and a desire to grow.  In order to help you follow along, we have included all the materials you need for worship in this bulletin.

Please join us for worship any Sunday at 10:30am that you are able.  If you cannot join us in person, you can also join us online via live stream or by watching the archives of our worship and Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck anytime during the week at our website (www.gracesf.com), or on our mobile phone app, Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck, is available on Google Play and ITunes. 

If you have any questions about the service or about Grace, you can fill out the form in pew to let our pastor know you’d like to chat.  Or you can contact Pastor Megan Rohrer at pastor@gracesf.com.

Prelude:                                                                                                             

Greeting:  

Water is poured into the baptismal font. 

P   The Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.                         

C   And also with you.

Gathering Hymn:

Prayer of the Day:

Loving God, help us discover your call for our lives.  Keep us ever listening and looking for what you are up to in the world.  Amen.

Welcome           

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-18

¹⁵Your God, the most high, will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. ¹⁶This is what you requested of your God, the most high, at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the my God, the most high anymore, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” ¹⁷Then the God most high replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. ¹⁸I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command.

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God

Psalm  111   (read responsively)

¹Praise the God Most High! I will give thanks to God with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

²Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.

³Full of honor and majesty is God’s work, and God’s righteousness endures forever.

⁴God has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the God most high is gracious and merciful.

⁵God provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.  ⁶ God’s people have seen power of God’s works and have been given the heritage of the nations.

⁷The works of God’s hands are faithful and just; all Gop’s precepts are trustworthy.

⁸They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.  ⁹God’s people have received redemption; God has commanded the covenant forever.

Holy and awesome is God’s name.

¹⁰The fear of the God most high is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.

God’s praise endures forever.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

8Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ²Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; ³but anyone who loves God is known by him.

⁴Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” ⁵Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— ⁶yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

⁷It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? ¹¹So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. ¹²But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God

Anthem:              WOV #741          Thy Holy Wings            Grace Choir

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:21-28

²¹They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. ²²They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. ²³Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” ²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

 P   The gospel of the Lord.                         Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon              

Silence for reflection follows the sermon.  The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.

Hymn of the Day: Verses 1-3

Prayers of Intercession

A    During this season of Epiphany, we pray for teachers, the wise ones who have mentored us, and for the church, the world and all people in their need.  A brief silence.

Creating God, help us repair broken relationships, to clean up our messes and debts and to ask for help when we need it. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Parent God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant Care Center and all who have created families.  Help us to become better at loving and receiving love from others.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God, you are the highest authority.  Help our civic leaders to bring peace to a war torn world and to care for those who are vulnerable.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  Help us to support the work and hobbies of all who worship with us, so that we may draw closer to God in all that we do at work and at home.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving God, help us to have patience, compassion and listening ears for those who differ from us.  Provide healing and hope for those whose minds, bodies or spirits are in need of care.  We pray especially for those who care for the sick and support those who are aging.  Help us to live and experience as much as we can while we await the day we will be reunited with those we have lost.   God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For whom and what else do the people of Grace pray?

(Please offer - silently or aloud- petitions to God.  End spoken petitions with “God in your mercy.”)

P Our prayers rise like incense and are held by a loving God who yearns for us to be our best.  May we sleep well, worry less, and live convinced that God is on our side.    Amen.

Peace

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

P   The peace of Christ be with you always.                C   And also with you.

The people may greet one another with the sign of Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you” or similar words.    Then, the assembly is seated.

Offering

An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need.  After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.

Offertory

         

Offering Prayer

A    Let us pray.   God, bless all that we have to offer.  May our financial support match the generosity of our lives.  Help us to be good stewards of our financial and emotional investments.  Amen.

Communion: 

P  It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

P   On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Blessing

Announcements

Sending Hymn: 

Dismissal

A:  Go in peace and serve our God.

C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude:               

Please join us for coffee and refreshments downstairs in the Fellowship Hall. 

To get to the Fellowship Hall, exit to the right of the communion railing at the front of the church.

Scripture in this service is adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by Priests for Equality.  2009, Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition.

The traditional Lutheran liturgy is from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #28429.

Hymns used with permission for worship and podcast under OneLicense.net  #A-723548.  

Announcements

You can find more information and find archived sermons and worship live streams at our website: www.gracesf.com  or on our blog: www.sfgrace.blogspot.com

·        Grace is now able to have virtual members who fulfill their worship attendance with us via live stream.  If you’re interested in becoming more connected to Grace and learning about becoming a member email Pastor Megan at pastor@gracesf.com

Epiphany 7 (Cycle C) Sermon - Pastor Megan Rohrer

Sermon by Pastor Megan Rohrer, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, San Francisco

Live Stream of this morning's worship: Epiphany 6: Grace Evangelical Lutheran, San Francisco

This service was streamed live, but was not archived.  Join us in person every Sunday at 10 am (PST) at 3201 Ulloa St at 33rd Avenue or on join our services by watching the live stream below. You can also participate in our virtual offering here.

Epiphany 6

February 16, 2014

10 am Holy Communion Service

Grace Evangelical Lutheran, San Francisco

Assurance of Forgiveness

P    Forgetting that God has blessed us, we return again and again to worship, yearning to remember God’s promises.  As often as we have forgotten to follow God, we have been forgiven.  May we receive God’s compassion experience forgiveness for all of our sins, in the name of Jesus Christ.

C     Amen.

Greeting

P   The Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C    And also with you.

Gathering Hymn

Prayer of the Day

P   Let us pray.

A brief silence is kept.

Loving God, you are the source of our life. You created human beings and declared, “it is good.” You further blessed our bodies by taking on our form complete with aches and pains, worries and anxiety, hopes and fears, dreams and desires. You continue to create and bless our bodies in their many forms as we are now your body, alive in the world to spread the good news of your love in diverse ways. Heal whatever distress we have about our bodies. Bless these bodies just as they are as we come together in love and hope, seeking to bring about your justice in the world.

Welcome                 Pastor Rohrer

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 Today I have set before you a path towards life and success, or death and disaster. 16 For today I command you to love your God, to follow God’s ways and keep the commandments, laws and customs. If you do, you will live and grow, and your God will bless the land you are entering. 17 But if your hearts stray and you do not listen to me, if you let yourself be drawn into the worship of other gods, and serve them, 18 I tell you today, you will not survive. You will not live long in the land which you are now crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today: I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, 20 by loving and clinging to your God, and obeying God’s voice. For that will mean life for you, a long life in the land which God swore to give to your descendants Sarah and Abraham, Rebecca and Isaac, and Leah and Rachel and Jacob.

L   The word of the Lord

C  Thanks be to God

Psalm: 119:1-8     Read responsively

1 Happiness comes to those whose way is blameless, who walk in your Law, God.

2 Happiness comes to those who keep your decrees, and seek you with all their heart,

3 and do no wrong, but walk in your ways.

4 You have commanded that your precepts be kept diligently—

5 if only I were more faithful in keeping your statutes!

6 Then I wouldn’t feel so ashamed when I look at all your commands.

7 I will thank you with an upright heart, when I truly learn to be as just as you want me to be.

8 I will obey your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9     

3 :1 Unfortunately, sisters and brothers, I was unable to speak to you as Spiritual people. I had to treat you as sensual people, still infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, since you weren’t ready for it. Indeed, you still aren’t ready for it, 3 since you’re still far too carnal—a fact that should be obvious from all the jealousy and wrangling that there is among you, from the way that you go on behaving like ordinary people! 4 What could be more nonSpiritual than your slogans, “I belong to Paul,” and “I belong to Apollos”? 5 After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? They are ministers through whom you came to believe. Even the different ways in which they brought the Gospel were assigned to them by God. 6 I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God caused the growth. 7 Neither the planter nor the waterer matters—only God, who makes things grow. 8 It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering; and all will be duly paid according to their share in the work. 9 we are coworkers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.

Anthem

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

P   The holy gospel according to Matthew, the fifth chapter.

C    Glory to you, O Lord.

21 “You’ve heard that our ancestors were told, ‘no killing’ and, ‘every murderer will be subject to judgment.’ 22 but I tell you that everyone who is angry with sister or brother is subject to judgment; anyone who says to sister or brother, ‘I spit in your face!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin; and anyone who vilifies them with name-calling will be subject to the fires of Gehenna. 23 “If you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your sister or brother has a grudge against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar. Go to be reconciled to them, and then come and offer your gift.

25 “Lose no time in settling with your opponents—do so while still on the way to the courthouse with them. otherwise your opponents may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the bailiff, who will throw you into prison. 26 I warn you, you won’t get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You’ve heard the commandment, ‘no committing adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that those who look lustfully at others have already committed adultery with them in their hearts. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It’s better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It’s better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna. 

31 “It was also said, ‘Whenever a couple divorces, each partner must get a decree of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that everyone who divorces—except because of adultery—forces the spouse to commit adultery. Those who marry the divorced also commit adultery. 33 “Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘Don’t break your vow; fulfill all oaths made to our God.’ 34 But I tell you not to swear oaths at all. Don’t swear by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 Don’t swear by the earth, for it is God’s footstool. Don’t swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great Ruler. 36 And don’t swear by your own head, for you can’t make a single hair white or black. 37 Say ‘yes’ when you mean ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when you mean ‘no.’ Anything beyond that is from the evil one.

P   The gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon                     Pastor Rohrer

Silence for reflection follows the sermon.

The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.

Hymn of the Day

Creed

A    Together we confess our faith:

C    I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord:

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary:

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead and buried,

he descended into the dead.

The third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father,

and he will 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.

Prayers of Intercession

A    During this season of Epiphany, we pray for all who travel, those who find faith in unexpected places and for the church, the world and all people in their need.

A brief silence.

A   God of creation, help us to care for all of your creation, to enjoy the beauty of all the earth: sunsets, stars and rainbows. Lord in your mercy,

C   Hear our prayer.

A   Parent God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant Child Care Center and all who have created families.  Lord, in your mercy,

C   Hear our prayer.

A  Help our civic leaders to bring justice to the war, cultivate peace and love beyond their borders.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  Help us to follow your path and grow in faithfulness.  Lord in your mercy,

C   Hear our prayer.

A   Help us to love each other, our neighbors and care for those who will soon join us.  Give us patience and help us have give each other the benefit of doubt as we journey together.  Lord in your mercy,

C   Hear our prayer.

A   For whom and what else do the people of Grace pray?

(Please offer - silently or aloud- petitions to God.  End spoken petitions with “Hear our prayer.”)

P Our prayers rise like incense and are held by a loving God who yearns for us to be our best.  May we find comfort, hope and love in our days to come. 

C  Amen.

Peace

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

P   The peace of Christ be with you always.

C   And also with you.

The people may greet one another with the sign of Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you” or similar words. 

The assembly is seated.

Offering

An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need.

You can put money in our virtual offering plate here.

Offertory Solo:

After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.

Offering Prayer

A    Let us pray.

C    God, bless our diversity gifts.  Beyond our times, talents and treasures, we give thanks for the relationships and visions that we bring into this holy place.  May our relationships with money, giving and receiving become one of the ways we live our faith in the world.  Amen.

Communion

P    It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy

P  In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Communion Song

Blessing

To the tune of the Beatles “Let It Be”

May God’s face shine upon you.  And clear a path before your feet
Praying for tomorrow, Go in peace

Blessed and forgiven, Children of God you’ll always be
Claim your wholeness, Go in peace

Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace, go in peace

In service, love and wisdom Go in peace

Announcements

Sending Hymn

Dismissal

A:  Go in peace and serve our God.

C: Thanks be to God.

 

Announcements & Commemorations for the Week

February 22^nd Installation Events:

·         This event will take place at 7pm at Grace Lutheran. 

·         The band and choir from St. Paulus Lutheran will join Grace’s choir to lead Pastor Megan’s Beatles Mass liturgy. 

·         Food for the reception afterwards will be provided by the Welcome/St. Francis Lutheran partnership.

·         The offering for the installation will be divided between Welcome and SF CARES to support the Health and Vision event that will be held at Grace Lutheran on April 12^th.

Upcoming Health and Vision Events with SF CARES:

SF CARES is a collaboration between Welcome, The Night Ministry and Welcome

·         February 22^nd, 10am -3pm at St. Francis Lutheran

·         March 8^th at Santa Maria y Martha Lutheran

·         April 12^th at Grace Lutheran

·         May 24^th at First United Lutheran

·         June 12^th at the Bayview Mission

Copyright permission to the tune from the Beatles, courtesy of BMI through Christian Copyright Solutions.  Perform and WORSHIPCast #6400.

Scripture in this service is adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by Priests for Equality.  2009, Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition.

Holy Communion: Musical Setting, by John Ylvisaker, text copyright © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, music © 1970 Augsburg Publishing House.  All rights reserved. Podcast under OneLicense.net A-723548.