Epiphany 5

February 7, 2021
9:30 a.m.

Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Lancaster, PA

Welcome to worship. If you are visiting with us, a special welcome. We invite you to return and worship with us as often as you are able. Guest cards are available on the round table in the center of the narthex. Please take one, fill it out and return it to an usher. If you need a large print bulletin, please ask an usher. As you enter the nave, please conclude all conversations and silence all cell phones and other electronic devices, as to fully enter into this time of worship.

Please note the instructions on distancing for the sharing of the peace and receiving Holy Communion.

The Prelude

Please stand.

The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

P
In the name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen

P
Let us confess our sin, trusting in the abundant grace of God.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P
Holy God,

C
you search us and know us and are acquainted with all our ways. We confess to you our sin, known and unknown and the broken systems that bind us. Forgive us, gracious God, for all we have done and left undone, and provide for us a measure of your divine mercy.
Amen.

P
In the wake of God’s forgiveness, we are called to be that beloved community living out our lives enveloped by justice and peace. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C
Amen

The Apostolic Greeting and Prayer of the Day

P
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C
And also with you.

P
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.

Please be seated.

Children’s Message

The children remain at their seat as the pastor share a message with them.

The First Reading

Isaiah 40:21-26
A reading from Isaiah: Have 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? It 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; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.

Scarcely 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.

To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift 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.
A
The Word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God
.

The Second Reading

1 Corinthians 9:16-23
A reading from First Corinthians: If 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! For 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. What 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.
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To 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. To 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. To 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. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
A
The Word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God
.

The Holy Gospel

Mark 1:29-39
P
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the first chapter.
C
Glory to you, O Lord
.
As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And 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.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He 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.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
P
The Gospel of the Lord.
C
Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

Silence for reflection follows.

The Apostles Creed

C
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.

The Prayers of the Church

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

After each portion of the prayers:
A
Lord, in your mercy,
C
Hear our prayer.


The prayers conclude:
P
Into your hands Gracious God we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
C
Amen.

The Peace

P
The peace of Christ be with you always.
C
And also with you.


Without leaving your seat offer a wave to your neighbor, sharing God’s peace, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Please stand.

Offertory Prayer

A
Let us pray. Holy God,
C
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

The Great Thanksgiving

P
The Lord be with you.
C
And also with you.

P
Lift up your hearts.
C
We lift them to the Lord.

P
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer

P
Almighty Lord,
we praise your shining light, your glowing grace.
From before the earth’s foundation,
you loved us and promised us life forever.
Within the earth’s deep sadness,
we laud your great and glorious might.
Despite our tears and sinning,
we sing of the gladness of your mercy.

We praise your Son, our Morning Star
He is our living Savior who has ransomed us in love.
He keeps us yours and fails us never—
today, tomorrow, and every day.

On the night before his great salvation,
he 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.

With happiness we tell our story:
C
Alleluia!

P
We call for your Spirit on us and this meal.
Refresh our souls with this heavenly food,
the body and blood of your Son.
Nourish us as branches of your tree,
and enlighten us with your undying flame.

We sing out to the Father, we ring out to the Son, we exult in the Spirit.
Transport us in our yearning,
and be for us the end and the beginning,
our purest pleasure, our victorious crown, our never-ending love.
And so we pray and praise:
C
Amen and Amen!

The Lord’s Prayer

C
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 Fraction

P
Jesus is here. Come be fed.
C
Thanks be to God.

Please be seated.

The Distribution of Holy Communion

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America practices open table hospitality. Baptized communicants of other Christian denominations, of all ages, are welcome to receive the sacrament. An usher will direct each seating area to come forward to receive the sacrament. Bring your communion cup with you, or take one from the usher. The pastor will drop the host into your hand. Next move to receive the wine from the Assisting Minister. Then take another step to consume the sacrament. As you return to your seat, place the empty cup into the receptacle. Those persons not receiving communion are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing.

Please stand.

Post Communion Blessing

P
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C
Amen.

Post Communion Prayer

A
Let us pray. Dearest Jesus, at this table we have feasted on your very life and are strengthened for our journey. Send us forth from this banquet nourished in body and in spirit to proclaim your good news and serve others in your name.
C
Amen.

The Blessing

P
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.

The Dismissal

A
Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
C
Thanks be to God. We will!

Postlude

+++

Readings for next week:
Transfiguration of Our Lord

2 Kings 2:1-12
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

The flowers on January 24th were given to the glory of God
in memory of Doris Eisenberger, by her daughter.

Coming up at Holy Spirit

February 13Drive-up Food Drive 10 a.m.-noon
February 14Transfiguration Sunday
February 15 & 16Fasnacht Sale
February 17Ash Wednesday Worship, 7:00 p.m.

Worship on the Wednesdays of Lent at 7:00 p.m.
The Wednesday sermon series is entitled:
Martyrs, Missionaries, and Renewers

Holy Week

March 28Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday
April 1The Triduum: Maundy Thursday
April 2The Triduum: Good Friday
April 3The Triduum: The Great Vigil of Easter
April 4Easter Day

Acknowledgments

Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS103416.

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.

Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.

Eucharistic Prayer from Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: A Collection of Litanies, Laments, and Thanksgivings at Font and Table by Gail Ramshaw, copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission.