02/23/25

As We Gather

Today’s Old Testament Reading is the account of Joseph forgiving his brothers, who had sold him into slavery years earlier. Is it possible for us to forgive as he did? Joseph learned to trust in God and how He would arrange things. God has arranged everything for us too! The resurrection of Jesus is beyond our understanding but not beyond our comprehension. So Paul tries to explain about heavenly beings. We don’t know much about them, but we can forgive because our Lord went a lot farther than we are called to follow, into death, for God to forgive us. Today Word and Sacrament strengthen us to follow His example in daily living.

 Activity Bags We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, a closed-circuit TV to watch the worship service, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused (1 Cor: 11:27), and that participation in the Lord’s Supper is an act of confession of faith, we ordinarily commune those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. If you have a question, please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

February 23, 2025

Welcome 

Opening Hymn               Children of the Heavenly Father               LSB 725

Invocation, Confession and Absolution   (portions of 1 Corinthians 15)

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God,

C:   In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   As by a man came death, 

C:   by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.

P:   As in Adam all die,

C:   so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

P:   What is sown is perishable;

C:   what is raised is imperishable.

P:   Confident of our Lord’s victory over death, leading all who follow Him by faith, “We confess our failure to love our enemies, O Lord.

C: We have responded to them as they have dealt with us. We have not done to them as we wish they would have done to us. Forgive us, Father.

P: “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?” We confess our giving preference to people who are like us.

C: We have loved those near and dear to us and have dealt with others without love and mercy. Forgive us, Lord Jesus.

P: “Judge not, and you will not be judged.” We confess our judgment of people we think are not up to the standards we think we can meet.

C: We have failed to pass on the forgiveness we have received from You, O Holy Spirit. Forgive us, Lord our God.

(Moment of Silence)

P: “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Your sins have been forgiven by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ! As a called and ordained servant of His, I therefore forgive you in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Assurance Love in Christ is Strong and Living                         LSB 706

Prayer of the Day

All:  O Lord, You taught us to love our enemies and to be merciful as You are merciful. By Your Holy Spirit, grant us the gifts of love and peace without which we cannot live before You; for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

O T Lesson                       (Joseph forgives his brothers.)                                 Genesis 45:3–15

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. ⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ⁹ Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. ¹⁰ You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. ¹¹ I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ ¹² “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. ¹³ Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” ¹⁴ Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. ¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. 

NT Lesson          (Paul teaches regarding the resurrection of the dead)      1 Cor. 15:21–26

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. ²⁴ Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Holy Gospel                   (Jesus teaches about loving enemies)                           Luke 6:27–38

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you. ³² “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Message Song                                 Good Good Father                                      Tomlin

I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whispers of love in the dead of night
                    And You tell me that you’re pleased     And that I’m never alone   Chorus

       Chorus        You’re a good good father      It’s who You are, it’s who You are,

                                                  it’s who You are       And I’m loved by You       

It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching     For answers only you provide
                  Because you know just what we need        Before we say a word     Chorus

 Bridge       You are perfect in all of Your ways    You are perfect in all of Your ways
                                            You are perfect in all of Your ways to us    (2x)  

It’s love so undeniable   I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable        I can hardly think
                  As you call me deeper still [3x]    Into love, love, love        Chorus

CCLI Song # 7036612 Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett CCLI License # 11390779

All Scripture from The New International Version ©1984 IBS

Message                                        Walking the Way of Christ

1. When forgiveness has done its’ work, _____________      is more forthcoming from our lives.
2.  _______________     and __________________          are two of the many avenues of living in unforgiveness.

3. Forgiving – ________________       others of that which they owe because of their sin towards us. As God has forgiven us, so we forgive others!

Notes:

Explanation to The Third Article of the Apostle’s Creed

P:   We confess:

C:  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

P:   What does this mean?

C:   I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

Offering 

Offertory                                    Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart                         LSB  806                                                                             

Prayers of the Church  

After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.   

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 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.

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                      page 194 in the hymnal

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  ♪ And with thy spirit.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  ♪ We lift them up unto the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  ♪ It is meet and right so to do.

P:  It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And with the host of heaven we sing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                          page 195 in the hymnal

P:  ♪ Ho -ly, ho-ly, ho-ly Lord God of Sa – ba – oth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.   

          Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is

          He who cometh in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

The Words of Institution (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                    page 197 in the hymnal

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.C:  ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                             page 198 in the hymnal                                      

C:  ♪ O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world; 

         grant us Thy peace.  A – men.

Distribution Hymn                              Praise and Thanksgiving                              LSB 789

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                   page 199 in the hymnal        

C: ♪ Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel. 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.                                                                                                                                          

Post Communion Collect                                                                                 

All: Blessed are You, almighty God, for by You we have been fed and nourished with the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to treasure the epiphany of our Lord and see in Him the fullness of Your divine presence. Grant us Your abiding peace each day of our lives as we await Your eternal kingdom. In the name of Jesus, our hope and comfort, we pray. Amen.

Benediction                                                                                                      

P:   The blessing of almighty God—the Father, the ✠ Son, and the Holy Spirit—be with you, now and forever.

C:    Amen.
Sending Hymn                         I Love Your Kingdom, Lord                                    LSB 651

 Announcements

Dismissal 

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Postlude