Redeemer Virtual Worship | Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (Jan 31, 2021)

WORSHIP LEADERS:
interim pastor: Rev. Dr. Sharon Kelly
lector: Michelé Crowder
intercessor: Amy Koopman
musicians: Alyssa Schwitzer, Emander Deward, Trai Dunlap, Jenny Asparro, Steven Hobert audio engineer & videographer: Dave Scharnhorst

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Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
January 31 2021
Worship Bulletin

PRELUDE & WELCOME

EPIPHANY DIALOGUE
Holy God, Light of the universe, Teacher of truth, Giver of goodness,
we hear your Word in the scriptures, proclaiming to us your wisdom
and inviting us to follow your call. For speaking this Word, we thank you, O God.
We thank you, O God.
Your Word came among us in Jesus, our brother, who preached your righteousness, healed the sick, and revived the brokenhearted. For giving us this Word, we worship you, O God.
We worship you, O God.
By your Spirit, bless all who receive this Word, that upheld by the mystery of the body of Christ, we may be light for the world, revealing the brilliance of your Son. For sustaining us with your Word, we praise you, O God.
We praise you, O God.
Blessed are you, holy God, around us, with us, and in us, now and forever.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
We pray:  Compassionate God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our confusion, that all creation will see and know your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

HYMN: Will You Come and Follow Me ELW 798

THE WORD

First Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
[Moses said:] 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16 This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” 17 Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. 18 I 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. 19 Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20 But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”
The Word of God, Word of Life (Thanks be to God)

Psalm 111 (Speak responsively)
1 Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the
  assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are your works, O Lord, pondered by all who delight in them.
3 Majesty and splendor mark your deeds, and your righteousness
  endures forever.
4 You cause your wonders to be remembered; you are gracious and full
  of compassion. 
5 You give food to those who fear you, remembering forever your
  covenant.
6 You have shown your people the power of your works in giving them
  the lands of the nations.
7 The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice;
    all of your precepts are sure.
8 They stand fast forever and ever, because they are done in truth and
   equity.
9 You sent redemption to your people and commanded your covenant
  forever; holy and awesome is your name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice this
   have a good understanding. God’s praise endures forever. 

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.
  4 Hence, 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.” 5 Indeed, 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.
  7 It 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. 9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For 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? 11 So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12 But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
The Word of our Lord (Thanks be to God)

Gospel Acclamation: Jesus, the Light of the World

The Holy Gospel According to Mark 1:21-28
[C: Glory to you, O Lord]
21[Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and 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.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They 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.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
P: The Gospel of the Lord C: Praise to you, O Christ

SERMON: Pastor Kelly

HYMN: Guide My Feet TFF 153 (v 1-3)

CONFESSION of FAITH The Apostles Creed
We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
We 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 to the dead. 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.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. 

OFFERING PRAYER: 
We pray:  O God, receive these gifts as you receive us: like a mother receives her child, with arms open wide. Nourish us anew in your tender care, and empower us in faithful service to tend to others with this same love, through Jesus Christ, our saving grace. Amen.

SHARING of the PEACE! 
The Peace of Christ be with you always! And also with you.

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION: The Lord is My Light
...Let us pray. Have mercy O God.

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.
                                              
SENDING

BLESSING: God the creator strengthen you; Jesus the beloved fill you;
and the Holy Spirit the comforter ☩ keep you in peace.
Amen.

DISMISSAL:
May God’s peace be with you ‘til we meet again (2x)  
‘Til we reach that distant shore, and we shed a tear no more,
May God give you strength to endure 
‘Til we meet again (2x)

L: Go in peace. Be the light of Christ.
C: Thanks be to God