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.
OPENING HYMN:#873 Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
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: Holy God, you confound the world’s wisdom in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in our words and deeds the world may see the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
FIRST READING: MICAH 6:1-8
1Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. 3“O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I
wearied you? Answer me! 4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron,
and Miriam. 5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to
Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD.” 6“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him
with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the LORD be pleased with
thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn
for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8He has told
you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do
justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Word of God,
Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 15 (please read responsively)
1LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? Who may abide upon your holy hill?
2Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right, who speak the truth |from their heart;
3they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil to their friends; they do not cast discredit upon a neighbor.
4In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who fear the LORD.
They have sworn upon their health and do not take back their word.
5They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be overthrown.
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31
18The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has
not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God,
the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness
of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and
Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to
Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God’s foolishness
is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. 26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world
to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: MATTHEW 5:1-12
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew the 5th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. 1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven
HYMN OF THE DAY: #520 Dearest Jesus, at Your Word (v. 1, 3 and 4)
(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: #669 Rise Up, O Saints of God (v. 1, 2, 4 and 5)
DISMISSAL
Go with Christ into a weary world. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.
*** ANNUAL MEETING TODAY AFTER SERVICE ***
Harmony Meals on Wheels needs drivers, currently they do not have anyone to help with this. Please call Arlene at 507-867-3828 for more details.
Quilters meet Feb 6 & 20
Rolf Svanoe Fall 2023 Tour of Italy info is on the bulletin board.
Thank You to Today’s Assistants: Hahn-Miller Family and Schoepski Family, David Kiehne for Reader, Matt Anderson for video, Joanne Burmeister 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
