WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who creates us, redeems us, and calls us by name. Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you and your beloved children. We have turned our faces away from your glory when it did not appear as we expected. We have rejected your word when it made us confront ourselves. We have failed to show hospitality to those you called us to welcome. Accept our repentance for the things we have done and the things we have left undone. For the sake of Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us and lead us, that we may bathe in the glory of your Son born among us, and reflect your love for all creation. Amen.
Rejoice in this good news: In ☩ Christ Jesus, your sins are forgiven. You are descendants of the Most High, adopted into the household of Christ, and inheritors of eternal life. Live as freed and forgiven children of God. Amen.

CHOIR: Soon and Very Soon

APOSTOLIC 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 page 147 (front of hymnal)

HYMN OF PRAISE page 149-150 Now the Feast and Celebration

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: Lord God, with endless mercy you receive the prayers of all who call upon you. By your Spirit show us the things we ought to do, and give us the grace and power to do them, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

OPENING HYMN:#532 Gather Us In (v. 1, 2 and 4)

FIRST READING: ISAIAH 58:1-9a
1Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 4Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 5Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9aThen you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 112:1-9 (please read responsively)
1Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the LORD and have great delight in God’s commandments!
2Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3Wealth and riches will be in their house, and their righteousness will last forever.
4Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
5It is good for them to be generous in lending and to manage their affairs with justice.
6For they will never be shaken; the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
7They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; their heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8Their heart is established and will not shrink, until they see their desire upon their enemies.
9They have given freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands fast forever; they will hold up their head with honor.

SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-12
1When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. 6Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 5:13-20
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew the 5th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. [Jesus said:] 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting
a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in
the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see
your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven

HYMN OF THE DAY: #677 This Little Light of Mine
(Offering plates will be passed during this time)

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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION (please answer “Hear Our Prayer”)

OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray, Blessed are you, O God, Sovereign of the universe. You offer us new beginnings and guide us on our journey. Lead us to your table, nourish us with this heavenly food, and prepare us to carry your love to a hungry world, in the name of Christ our light. Amen.

HOLY COMMUNION / LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy… and join their unending hymn: (Please sing:)
Holy, holy, holy Lord, 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.
In the night he was betrayed…. Do this for the remembrance of me. Our Father who art in heaven….

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come to God’s table. There is a place for you and enough for all.
(All who hunger for God’s grace are welcome at this meal. White grape juice and gluten free wafers are available for those who need them. Children who have not had first communion training are welcome to come for a blessing.)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray: We give you thanks, gracious God, for we have feasted on the abundance of your house. Send us to bring good news and to proclaim your favor to all, strengthened with the richness of your grace in your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

BLESSING
God, who leads you in pathways of righteousness, who rejoices over you, and who calls you by name, ☩ bless your going out and your coming in, today and forever.
Amen.

CLOSING HYMN: #866 We Are Marching in the Light (repeat twice)

DISMISSAL
Go with Christ into a weary world. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

Radio Broadcast of this Sunday’s Worship Service is Sponsored in memory of our children’s birthdays—Laura 1-24 and Zachary 2-13 by the Tribon Family.
Quilters meet Feb 6 & 20
Rolf Svanoe Fall 2023 Tour of Italy info is on the bulletin board.
Harmony Meals on Wheels needs drivers, Please call Arlene at 507-867-3828 for details.

Thank You to Today’s Assistants: Morem Family, Linda Snyder for Reader, Jim Harstad for video, Reagan Rose for Organ/Piano.
Please remember our homebound and senior care residents: Merle Roelofs, Carla Erickson, Joyce Hanlon, Lee Fishbaugher, Walt Ward, Mel Mikkelson, Thelma Applen.
Please keep in prayers: David & Kim Wangen, Bernie Hurley, and the family of Paula Michel

Liturgy taken from sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB134626. CCLI Streaming License #20959486