The Season of Epiphany

January 22, 2023

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,

Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,

casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 

~ Matthew 4:18-19

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Welcome to worship!

We worship each Sunday in person at 9:30 am.

Masks are optional in our building for worship and all activities. Masks will still be available at our entrance, and anyone who is more comfortable wearing a mask is encouraged to do so.

We livestream worship each week at 9:30 am, and the service is available to view anytime afterwards. You may access the link to Sunday Worship in a variety of ways:

• A link is posted on Immanuel's website, www.immanuelwebster.org or by clicking the link at the top of this email.
• Go to www.YouTube.com and search Immanuel Webster. You will find all of our past worship services there as well.
• A link is posted each Sunday morning on Immanuel's Facebook page.
• Click the link above on Sunday morning at 9:30 or anytime afterwards.

Prelude



Confession and Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who makes all things new, whose mercy endures forever.

Amen.

God is gracious and merciful, filled with neverfailing love. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. God, our Light and Salvation,

forgive us for those moments when we have walked in darkness, stumbling in the wilderness of quarrels, division, and bickering. You have called us to follow you and to fish for people but too often we think that our way is the only way to do your will. Forgive us, Lord, for the brokenness that we bring upon ourselves.

Silence for reflection

God, the Stronghold of our Life,

hear our cry as we come to you for unity. Send your Spirit to gather us. Remind us that unity does not mean uniformity. Teach us that the “same mind” you call us to have is not ours, but the mind of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.



God hears our cries. God knows the depths of our hearts. God's love surrounds us and fills us with grace and mercy. Your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

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.

Hymn of Praise

Prayer of the Day

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray. Lord God, your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us. Summon us into your light, and direct our steps in the ways of goodness that come through the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

~ Word ~

Children's Moment

First Reading Isaiah 9:1-4

¹There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time [the Lord] brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

²The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness—

on them light has shined.

³You have multiplied the nation,

you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

as with joy at the harvest,

as people exult when dividing plunder.

⁴For the yoke of their burden,

and the bar across their shoulders,

the rod of their oppressor,

you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Word of God. Word of life.

       Thanks be to God.

Psalm 27:1, 4-9

¹The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then ^| shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I ^| be afraid?

⁴One thing I ask of the Lord; one ^| thing I seek;

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek God ^| in the temple.

⁵For in the day of trouble God will ^| give me shelter,

hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high up- ^| on a rock.

⁶Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies ^| who surround me.

Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music ^| to the Lord. 

⁷Hear my voice, O Lord, ^| when I call;

have mercy on me and ^| answer me.

⁸My heart speaks your message— ^| “Seek my face.”

Your face, O Lord, ^| I will seek.

⁹Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- ^| vant in anger.

Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of ^| my salvation. 

Gospel   Matthew 4:12-23

The Holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

 ¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

 ¹⁵“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

 ¹⁶the people who sat in darkness

have seen a great light,

 and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death

light has dawned.”

¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

 ¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

 ²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Anointing for Service in the World

To Pharisees minding their business, and fishermen mending their nets:

Follow me!

To the money-handlers, the lawyers, the intellectuals, the power-brokers:

Follow me!

To the carers and the cleaners, the married, the single, the young and the old, country-folk and city-dwellers:

Follow me!

Then and now, together and apart, willing or doubting, ready or not,

Jesus says:

Follow me!

Affirmation

We believe and trust in God who has created and is creating,

who has come in Jesus – the Word made flesh – to reconcile and make new,

and who works in us and others by the power of the Spirit.

We are called to be the church:

to celebrate God's presence,

to live with respect for creation,

to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and hope.

In life and death, in life beyond death

God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Amen.

As the hymn is sung, the assembly may anoint one another with these words:

Receive this oil as a sign of God's love.

Prayers

In gratitude for this moment, this place, those around us, Christ among us, we give ourselves to you our God.

Use us. Ask much of us.

Enable much by us. 

Encourage many through us, so we may live to your glory both as inhabitants of earth and citizens of heaven. Amen.

The prayers continue with intercessions

for the church, the world, and those in need.



Each petition concludes:

                               Lord, in your mercy,

                                               hear our prayer.

Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Offertory Prayer

Liberating God,

you break the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free. Receive these offerings in thanksgiving for all your works of merciful power, and shape us as people of your justice and freedom. You we magnify and adore, through Jesus our Savior, Amen.

Great Thanksgiving

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…   join their unending hymn:

Words of Institution

Lord's Prayer

Lord, remember us in your love 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.



Communion

Post Communion Blessing and Prayer

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

Amen.

Let us pray. Holy One, we thank you for the healing that springs forth abundantly from this table. Renew our strength to do justice, love kindness, and journey humbly with you.

Amen.

~ Sending ~

Blessing

Dismissal

Go now in peace,

for Christ has called you to live in peace

among your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Go now in courage,

for Christ has called you from the places of your life

to be agents of redemption and partners in healing.

Go now in joy and thanksgiving,

for Christ is our light!

Go now as one body,

to love and serve God as you love and serve the world!

Thanks be to God!

Postlude

Adult Sunday School Today

at 10:45

Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament scholar and author, writes that the Sabbath is not simply about keeping rules but rather about becoming a whole person and restoring a whole society. Brueggemann calls out our 24/7 society of consumption, a society in which we live to achieve, accomplish, perform, and possess. We want more, own more, use more, eat more, and drink more. Brueggemann shows readers how keeping the Sabbath allows us to break this restless cycle and focus on what is truly important: God, other people, all life.

Sabbath as Resistance offers a transformative vision of the wholeness God intends, giving world-weary Christians a glimpse of a more fulfilling and simpler life through Sabbath observance. Join the Adult Class on Sunday mornings immediately after worship, beginning January 8, to learn more about the gift of Sabbath and how to observe it. Books are available in the office to pick up ahead of time and begin reading. Please provide a $13 donation to cover the cost. You may also join remotely via Zoom by clicking below:

Meeting ID: 849 5197 3602

Passcode: 219846

Kids' Sunday School

Today at 10:30AM

Sunday School for the month of January will be held on the second and fourth Sundays at 10:30AM for students age 3 years to grade 6. Plan to join in this fun-filled time of learning and gathering with friends both new and old! 

Annual Congregational Meeting

Join us on Sunday, January 29, 2023 at 11:15am for Immanuel’s Annual Congregational meeting, It will be both in-person and via Zoom for those that prefer. Your attendance is very important to the Immanuel’s mission “Celebrate – Grow – Serve”. Please contact the church office if you you like the Zoom link to attend the meeting online.

Book Discussion

Finding Our Way Again

Believers have practiced spiritual disciplines for millennia. Why? What are they? And should we return to some of these practices, some thousands of years old? Brian McLaren's book, “Finding Our Way Again: The Return of the Ancient Practices,” will be the focus of discussion across three Monday—January 30, February 6, and 13—as we discuss how returning to these ancient ideas can deepen our spiritual journeys. We will gather together on Zoom each week. We will discuss Part 1 on January 30.

You may get your copy of McLaren's book on Amazon, as well as on both Nook and Kindle, and from most booksellers.

Meeting ID: 889 1916 3642

Passcode: 781292

Bible Study This Wednesday

Join in the fun each Wednesday morning at 9:00 when we talk about the upcoming lessons for Sunday, digging more deeply into God’s story of love and grace. No prior bible study experience is necessary. Our mornings are filled with conversation, laughter, questions, and fun. Plan to be a part of this wonderful way to grow in our faith! We meet on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 863 5628 3748

Passcode: 358139

or click the link below:

I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light Text and music © 1970, 1975 Celebration; Here I Am, Lord

Text and music © 1981 OCP Publications, Inc., 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved; Reprinted by permission under OneLicense #A-714459.

Confession written by Stephen Fearing

Anointing for Service in the World liturgy adapted from the Iona Abbey Worship Book, An Act of Commitment © Wild Goose Publications, The Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland.  

Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23581.

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.