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The
Sea of Galilee near the Church of the Beatitudes, Israel
THE FOURTH
SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
The ‘beatitudes’ begin what is called the Sermon on the
Mount, one of five major blocks of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew.
(Interestingly enough, the corresponding section in Luke has Jesus giving the
Sermon on a plain!)
Jesus sits down to teach. In the ancient world and in
some places still around the world, sitting, not standing, is the posture of teaching.
This is why we have the word ‘cathedral.’ It is the parish church of a Roman
Catholic bishop, where he has his cathedra,
or ‘chair,’ from which he teaches.
Jesus, in epigrams easily committed to memory, defines
the blessed life. It is not a method for worldly success, but indeed it is antithetical
to the ‘successful’ life, whether in the secular world or even the religious
sphere. It is a life of total dependence upon God’s just doings, mercy and
peacefulness, and a commitment to living out those Godly virtues in life. It is
the life to which Jesus is called and the life that he lives for our sake.
In their own ways, the prophet Micah, the Psalmist, and
St Paul also expound upon the blessed life. Micah depicts a God who desires
neither animal nor human sacrifice, but the sacrifice of a life lived for him. Psalm 15 shows that the person who does rightly by the
neighbor is the one who can stand in God’s presence. St Paul describes those
who either demand that God do great things to prove his power or teach secret
wisdom for the blessed life. The message of God crucified for all confounds
them – God in Christ comes neither with worldly power or worldly wisdom, but a
power and wisdom revealed only to the poor in spirit who mourn their sin and meekly
wait upon his revealing in glory.
OPENING MUSIC O God of Mercy, God of Light - David Cherwien
Rejoice in God’s Saints - J. M. Strobel
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
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 with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,
renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk
in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his
sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the
Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the
entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the X
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
I will go to the altar of God;
the God of my joy and gladness.
WHymn Blue WOV 689 Rejoice in God’s Saints
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you. 2 Corinthians 13:13
HYMN OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
O God, teach us the hidden wisdom of the Gospel,
so that we may hunger
and thirst for holiness,
work
tirelessly for peace,
and be
counted among those
who seek
first the blessedness of your kingdom.
We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
The message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are
perishing,
But to us who
are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18
FIRST
READING Micah 6:1-8
1Hear what the Lord
says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy
with his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
3“O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”
6“With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7Will the Lord be
pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require
of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
the Word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Antiphon
1
Lord, who may
dwell in your | tabernacle?*
Who
may abide upon your | holy hill?
2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does | what is
right,*
who speaks the truth | from his
heart,
3 there is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil |
to his friend;*
he
does not heap contempt up- | on his neighbor.
4 In his sight the wicked | is rejected,*
but he honors those who | fear
the Lord.
5 He has sworn to | do no wrong*
and
does not take | back his word.
6 He does not give his money in | hope of gain,*
nor does he take a bribe a- |
gainst the innocent.
7 Whoever | does these things*
shall never be | overthrown.
SECOND READING 1
Corinthians 1:18-31
18The message about the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For
it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the
debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know
God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation,
to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire
wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to
Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For
God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger
than human strength.
26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you
were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble
birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the
wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God
chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to
nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the
presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and
redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who
boasts, boast in the Lord.”
the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Stand
VERSE Luke 4:18 Setting by David Schack
Alleluia.
the spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to preach good news.
Alleluia.
Gospel Matthew
5:1-12
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to
you, O Lord.
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and
after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to
speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they
will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of
God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and
utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely on my account.
12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
Sermon
WHYMN OF THE DAY
Green
LBW 425 O God
of Mercy, God of Light
1 O
God of mercy, God of light,
in
love and mercy infinite,
teach
us, as ever in your sight,
to
live our lives in you.
2 You
sent your Son to die for all,
that
our lost world might hear your call;
oh,
hear us lest we stray and fall!
We
rest our hope in you.
3 Teach
us the lesson Jesus taught:
to
feel for those his blood has bought,
that
ev’ry deed and word and thought
may
work a work for you.
4 For
all are kindred, far and wide,
since
Jesus Christ for all has died;
grant
us the will, and grace provide
to
love them all in you.
5 In
sickness, sorrow, want, or care,
each
other’s burdens help us share;
may
we, where help is needed, there
give
help as though to you.
6 And
may your Holy Spirit move
all
those who live to live in love,
till
you receive in heav’n above
those
who have lived to you.
Text: Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903, alt.
CONFESSION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the
Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I
believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of
the Holy Spirit
and born of the
virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius
Pilate,
was crucified,
died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at
the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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
Called as
disciples to prayer and praise, let us pray in the Spirit to the Father.
Silence is kept.
Holy God,
let your Church proclaim the message of the cross. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Make us
hunger and thirst for your kingdom of mercy and peace. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Hear us
as we pray for our Bishop, Dan; for those who preach and teach in the whole
Church, and for all who suffer for the sake of the Gospel. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Give
wisdom to those who govern; the Congress, our President, Joseph, and his
administration, the Courts, and all state and local legislators, governors and
magistrates. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Holy God,
hear us as we pray for all in need and for those who have asked for our
prayers.
The People may intercede for others aloud or in silence.
Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We give
you thanks for those who have walked in faith and live in eternal blessedness.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Holy God,
gracious Father, receive these prayers and petitions through Jesus Christ, our
Lord.
Amen
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.
The People exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
OFFERTORY
Psalm 31:16, 19 Setting by Henry V. Gerike
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your
steadfast love! Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have laid up for
those who fear you, and wrought for those who take refuge in you, in the sight
of all people.
Father, look upon the face of Jesus Christ your Son,
who gave up his life to set all people free.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
may your name be great among the nations,
and in every place a pure sacrifice of praise be offered to your glory.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord. He calls them blessed who wait upon God’s justice and mercy, and the message of his cross reaches to the ends of the earth; he walked humbly with his God so that God’s people might share in his humility, and so at last with the saints come to the revealing of his glory. And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God;
you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.
You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
that whoever believes in him
may not perish but have eternal life.
Having come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will
and accomplished our salvation.
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.
Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,
his life-giving Passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension,
and his promise to come again,
we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
not as we ought, but as we are able;
and we implore you mercifully
to accept our praise and thanksgiving,
and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,
to bless us, your servants,
and these your own gifts of bread and wine;
that we and all who share
in the body and blood of your Son
may be filled with heavenly peace and joy,
and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may be sanctified in soul and body,
and have our portion with all your saints.
All honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church, now and forever.
Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.
By the power of the Spirit,
we pray to his Father, saying:
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
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
Matthew 6:9-15
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness,
for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
We adore Christ, present in bread and wine.
Sit
DISTRIBUTION
WDISTRIBUTION HYMN
Choir Oh,
Praise the Gracious Power
Text/
Thomas H. Troeger
Music/
Carol Doran
Please
follow text at Blue WOV 750 as the choir
sings.
When all have received, the People stand at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Almighty God,
you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin
and a model of the godly life.
Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving,
and to conform our lives to his;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE FAITH FAMILY
Stand
Silence for meditation.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor X and give you peace.
Amen
WCLOSING HYMN
Green
LBW 316 Jesus,
the Very Thought of You
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Lutheran Book of Worship Daily Scripture Readings
Monday, January 23: Isaiah 48:1-11; Galatians 1:1-17; Mark 5:21-43
Tuesday, January 24: Isaiah 48:12-22; Galatians 1:18-2:10; Mark 6:1-13
Wednesday, January 25: Isaiah 49:1-12; Galatians 2:11-21; Mark 6:13-29
Thursday, January 26: Isaiah 49:13-26; Galatians 3:1-14; Mark 6:30-46
Friday, January 27: Isaiah 50:1-11; Galatians 3:15-22; Mark 6:47-56
Saturday, January 28: Isaiah 51:1-8; Galatians 3:23-29; Mark 7:1-23
Sunday, January 29: Isaiah 51:9-16; Hebrews 11:8-16; John 7:14-31
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this
service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2006.
Prayer of the Day from Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language,
copyright 1997 International Commission on English in the Liturgy. All rights reserved.
Peter Koenig, St. Peter and St. Andrew. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59035
Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org
St Stephen Lutheran Church
55 Forsythe Road
Pittsburgh PA 15220
(412) 279-5868
office@ststephenpittsburgh.org
Saturday Evening Worship – 6:30 pm
Sunday Morning Worship – 10:30 am
