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St. John's Worship Service - February 7, 2021
Pastor Wende Bleam
Pastor Wende Bleam
Sunday, February 7, 2021
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St. John’s Lutheran, Folcroft
Worship Service February 7, 2021

https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Events for this week are:
Tuesday 7pm Zoom - Council Meeting

PRELUDE: Awakening   (Engelmann)

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

We begin in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Let us confess our sins in the presence of God whose mercy is unending. Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you. And also with you:

PRAYER OF THE DAY: Let us pray.
Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint. Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.


GATHERING HYMN: Gather Us In (ELW 532)

FIRST READING: Isaiah 40:21-31
A reading from Isaiah.
21Have you not known Have you not heard
Has it not been told you from the beginning
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth
22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to live in;
23who brings princes to naught,
and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
25To whom then will you compare me,
or who is my equal says the Holy One.
26Lift up your eyes on high and see:
Who created these
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
mighty in power,
not one is missing.
27Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”
28Have you not known Have you not heard
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
30Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

PSALM: Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises | to our God!
How pleasant it is to honor | God with praise!
2The LORD re- | builds Jerusalem,
and gathers the ex- | iles of Israel.
3The LORD heals the | brokenhearted
and binds | up their wounds.
4The LORD counts the number | of the stars
and calls them all | by their names. 
5Great is our LORD and might- | y in power;
there is no limit | to God’s wisdom.
6The LORD lifts | up the lowly,
but casts the wicked | to the ground.
7Sing to the LORD| with thanksgiving;
make music upon the harp | to our God,
8who covers the heav- | ens with clouds
and prepares rain for the earth, making grass to grow up- | on the mountains. 
9God provides food | for the cattle
and for the young ravens | when they cry.
10God is not impressed by the might | of a horse,
and has no pleasure in the speed | of a runner,
11but finds pleasure in those who | fear the LORD,
in those who await God’s steadfast love. 20c| Hallelujah!

SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
A reading from 1 Corinthians.
16If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18What then is my reward Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
19For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

GOSPEL: Mark 1:29-39
The holy gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.

29As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

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

MEDITATION: Pastor Wende

HYMN OF THE DAY  On Eagle's Wings (ELW 787)

1 You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
who abide in this shadow for life,
say to the Lord: "My refuge,
my rock in whom I trust!"

Refrain
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of his hand.

2 The snare of the fowler will never capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear;
under God's wings your refuge,
with faithfulness your shield. Refrain

3 You need not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day;
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come. Refrain

4 For to the angels God's given a command
to guard you in all of your ways;
upon their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Final refrain
And he will raise you up on eagle's wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of his hand;
and hold you, hold you in the palm of his hand.


APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.

OFFERING

Offerings may be made on line through our website:  stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

PRAYERS OF THE INTERCESSION:

Guided by Christ made known to the nations, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.

For the church: for ministries of healing and wholeness, for hospital, hospice, and military chaplains, for those serving in prison ministry, for all who proclaim freedom and release in the name of Christ, let us pray.
Have mercy, O God.

For creation: for insects in the grass, clouds on the mountaintops, for cattle and the rainwater they drink, for the humility to take our place among all creatures of the earth, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the nations: for all who lead in cities and towns, states and countries; for community organizers, school officials, and CEOs; for international health organizations, that in times of trial, fear, or hopelessness, they find freedom in service to those most in need, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For all wearied by life’s burdens: for those who are poor, for those lacking supportive relationships, for those crushed by debt, for those struggling with chronic pain or other sickness, for those exhausted from overwork or stress, and for all who cry out to you. We especially pray for those affected by the covid virus in mind, body or spirit, for Derek, Morgan, Priscilla, Connie, Lois, Pat, the family of Eddie Davis, Hazel, Bill, Jacklyn, Addison, Joe and Sherrie, Deb, Tim, Ash, Sue, Gavin, Donna, Robert, Alannah, Lillian, Alexis, Sarah, Bob, Sharon, Shane, Tom, Carl, Cindy, Chrissy, Monica, Norman, Tucker, Marc, Alisia, Helen, Lucas, Laura, the family of Billy West, the Folcroft Police, Michael, Dick, Ruth, and those we now raise before you in our hearts. , let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For this congregation: for outreach and social ministries centered here; for parish nurses and visitors; for ministries of companionship and support, for the young people in this place who open us to new understandings, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

In thanksgiving for the faithful departed, who were called by name and now rest from their labors, that their lives serve as witnesses to the goodness of God, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

Merciful God, hear the prayers of your people, spoken or silent, for the sake of the one who dwells among us, your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.

MEAL
Merciful God, we do not presume to come to your table trusting in our own righteousness, but in your abundant mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat and drink the body and blood of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, that we may live in him and he in us, now and forever. Amen.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior, Jesus Christ. With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Taste and see the Lord. Is good.
The body of Christ given for you.
The blood of Christ shed for you.
May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace. Amen.

COMMUNION HYMN  We Sing to You, O God (ELW 791)

1 We sing to you, O God, the Rock who gave us birth,
let our rejoicing sing your name in all the earth.
To you, O God, let songs be raised,
in joyful hymns, our feast of praise.

2 We wandered far from home out in a desert land,
you shielded with your love our fearful pilgrim band.
You kept us safe within your arms
and sheltered us against the storm.

3 You bear us through the world, an eagle to its young;
you rise up on your wings and bear us toward the sun.
We ride the vaults of light and air
and trust in your unfailing care.

4 O God, eternal God, we hide within your wings,
the everlasting arms to whom our praises ring.
Your word is true, your way is just,
You are the God in whom we trust.

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.

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

SENDING SONG  Spread, Oh, Spread, Almighty Word (ELW 663)

DISMISSAL: Let the love of Christ shine through all you do and say, serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen

We hope that this service was meaningful for you and brought God’s peace and comfort into your homes. Continue to shelter in place to love others as yourself. Pray, trust, believe and wait. See you next week.

POSTLUDE:  Allegro in F    (Mozart)

You are welcome to watch the live service at 10:15 am at https://www.facebook.com/wende.bleam
Or you can watch live streaming on the St. John's website:  https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org
If you are having trouble accessing, please let us know.

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #44714. 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.

 

Please continue to support St. John's.
Our expenses continue each month even if we are
not worshipping together inside our building.


Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website:  stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.