Sunday, February 14, 2016
First is Last & Last is First
First Sunday in Lent
Service of the Word
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the
fountain of living water, the rock who gave us
birth, our light and our salvation. Amen.
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.
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. Through the sea you led your
people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the
river your Son was baptized by John and anointed
with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you
claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of
your promise and servants of all.
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. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
GATHERING SONG:
THE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE!
GREETING
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.
KYRIE (Red Hymnal p. 213)
Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.
Christe eleison: Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.
CANTICLE OF PRAISE
(Red Hymnal p. 213)
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the
highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to
God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give
you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the
highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to
God’s people on earth.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God,
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of
the Father: receive our prayer.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the
highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to
God’s people on earth.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the
Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the
highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to
God’s people on earth, and peace to God’s people on
earth.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Good and holy teacher,
what we understand of your ways is so
tiny that it might fit through the eye of a
needle.
Keep teaching us, we pray, and give us
time to catch up to you. All this we pray
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
FIRST READING:
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15
A reading from Amos.
6Seek the LORD and live, or he will break out
against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will
devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. 7Ah,
you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring
righteousness to the ground!
10They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
11Therefore
because you trample on the poor
and take from them levies of grain, you have
built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not
live in them; you have planted pleasant
vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
12For I know how many are your
transgressions, and how great are your sins —
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
and push aside the needy in the gate.
13Therefore
the prudent will keep silent in such
a time; for it is an evil time. 14Seek good and
not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD,
the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you
have said. 15Hate evil and love good, and
establish justice in the gate; it may be that the
LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to
the remnant of Joseph.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM: Psalm 19:7-10
7The
teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives
the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure and
gives wisdom to the simple.
8The
statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice
the heart; the commandment of the Lord is
clear and gives light to the eyes.
9The
fear of the Lord is clean and endures
forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether.
10More
to be desired are they than gold, more
than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey,
than honey in the comb.
11By
them also is your servant enlightened, and
in keeping them there is great reward.
12Who
can detect one’s own offenses? Cleanse
me from my secret faults.
13Above
all, keep your servant from
presumptuous sins; let them not get
dominion over me; then shall I be whole and
sound, and innocent of a great offense.
14Let
the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be acceptable in your
sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
(Red Hymnal p. 216)
Return to the Lord, your God,
return to the Lord, your God,
who is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in
steadfast love.
GOSPEL: Mark 10:17-31
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up
and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good
Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No
one is good but God alone. 19You know the
commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall
not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall
not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor
your father and mother.'"
20He
said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these
since my youth." 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him
and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you
own, and give the money to the poor, and you will
have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
22When he heard this, he was shocked and went
away grieving, for he had many possessions. 23Then
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How
hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter
the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were
perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them
again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the
kingdom of God!
25It
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of
a needle than for someone who is rich to enter
the kingdom of God." 26They were greatly
astounded and said to one another, "Then who
can be saved?" 27Jesus looked at them and said,
"For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for
God all things are possible.“
28Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left
everything and followed you." 29Jesus said,
"Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left
house or brothers or sisters or mother or father
or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake
of the good news, 30who will not receive a
hundredfold now in this age — houses, brothers
and sisters, mothers and children, and fields,
with persecutions — and in the age to come
eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last,
and the last will be first.“
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Confession and
forgiveness
SERMON
Pastor Michael Peuse
HYMN OF THE DAY
Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake
(Red Hymnal # 799)
1 "Come, follow me," the Savior spake,
"all in my way abiding;
deny yourselves, the world forsake,
obey my call and guiding.
Oh, bear the cross, whate'er betide;
take my example for your guide."
2 "I am the light; I light the way,
a godly life displaying;
I bid you walk as in the day;
I keep your feet from straying.
I am the way, and well I show
how you should sojourn here below."
3 "I teach you how to shun and flee
what harms your soul's salvation;
from ev'ry guile your heart to free,
from sin and its temptation.
I am the refuge of the soul
and lead you to your heav'nly goal."
4 Then let us follow Christ, our Lord,
and take the cross appointed,
and, firmly clinging to his word,
in suffering be undaunted.
For those who bear the battle's strain
the crown of heav'nly life obtain.
Installation of Leaders
in the Congregation
The following people have been elected by the body
of Christ from Faith/North New Hope to positions
of leadership.
FAITH
• Glenn Mancel, President
• Jan Kraetsch, Vice President
• Bob Dobbe, Treasurer
• Suzi Limberg, Secretary
• Faye Yenter
• Brad Larson
We give thanks for their willingness to serve. In baptism
we are welcomed into the body of Christ and sent to
share in the mission of God; we rejoice now that these
sisters and brothers will lead us in our common life and
our mutual mission as a congregation.
A reading from First Corinthians: There are varieties of
gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of
services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of
activities, but it is the same God who activates all of
them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of
the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
You have been elected to positions of leadership and
trust in this congregation.
You are to see that the words and deeds of this
household of faith bear witness to God, who
gathers us into one together with the whole
church.
You are to seek to involve all members of this
congregation in worship, learning, witness,
service, and support, so that the mission of Christ
is carried out in this congregation, in the wider
church, in this community, and in the whole
world.
You are to be faithful in your specific area of
serving, that the Spirit who empowers you may be
glorified.
You are to be examples of faith active in love,
fostering peace, harmony, and mutual
understanding in this congregation.
On behalf of your sisters and brothers in Christ, I
ask you:
Will you accept and faithfully carry out the
duties of the offices to which you have been
elected?
Response: I will, and I ask God to help me.
People of God, I ask you: Will you support these,
your elected leaders, and will you share in the
mutual ministry that Christ has given to all who are
baptized?
We will, and we ask God to help us.
I now declare you installed as council members and
leaders of this congregation. Almighty God bless
you, and direct your days and your deeds in peace,
that you may be faithful servants of Christ. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
INTERCESSORY RESPONSE
O Lord, Hear My Prayer
(Red Hymnal # 751)
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my
prayer: when I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my
prayer: come and listen to me.
OFFERING
CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING
(Red Hymnal p. 219)
Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb
forever and ever. Great and wonderful are your
deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your
ways, O Ruler of all the nations. Who can fail to
honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name?
Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb
forever and ever.
For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the
one whose name is the Word of God.
All praise and thanks to you, holy God! Salvation
belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever
and ever.
THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD
Let us pray. Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for
by your Word you made all things: you spoke light
into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and
brought life into being. For your Word of life, O
God,
we give you thanks and praise.
By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of
your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water
on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile,
wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O
God,
we give you thanks and praise.
Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to
us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the
cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of
your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God,
we give you thanks and praise.
Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts
within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and
deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need.
Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who
call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and
Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be
honor and glory forever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and
teach us to pray.
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.
BLESSING
May God direct your ways in
peace, make you abound in love
for one another and for all, and
strengthen your hearts until the
coming of our Lord Jesus. Almighty
God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.
SENDING SONG
Jesus Calls Us; o'er the Tumult
(Red Hymnal # 696)
1 Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult
of our life's wild, restless sea,
day by day his clear voice sounding,
saying, "Christian, follow me":
2 As of old Saint Andrew heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for Jesus' sake.
3 Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world's golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, "Christian, love me more."
4 In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
"Christian, love me more than these."
5 Jesus calls us! By your mercy,
Savior, may we hear your call,
give our hearts to your obedience,
serve and love you best of all.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.
• Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights
reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg
Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS005422.
• 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.