Sunday, February 3, 2013
4th Sunday after the Epiphany,
National Black History Month
Rev. Michelle Townsend de López, Presiding & Preaching
Introduction
The glory of God is often revealed when and where it is least expected. God uses our lips to declare that glory, inexperienced and hesitant though they may be. God uses our love to demonstrate that glory and so urges us to exercise it. God uses Jesus of Nazareth, water and the word, bread and wine, to reveal God’s glory where and when God chooses. Take heed, lest the glory of God slip through our midst unnoticed.
Black History Month Theme
“A Testament of Hope and A Call to Conscience”
The Elders serving today are Brad Hausler, Debra Taylor and Barbara Wilson-Walker.
GATHERING MUSIC Cross Youth Praise Team
ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who creates us and forms us, who redeems us and calls us, who unites us and sends us.
C: Amen.
P: Gathered in God's presence, let us confess our sin. (Silence is kept for reflection).
Mighty and loving God,
C: we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We seek our own way.
We divide the body of Christ. In your mercy, cleanse us and heal us. Let the words of our mouths, the thoughts of our hearts, and everything that we do be filled with faith, hope, and love. Amen.
P: Hear the voice of Jesus: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim release to the captives."
In the name of + Jesus Christ, I proclaim to you that your sins are forgiven and you are released.
The joy of the Lord is your strength, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are yours forever.
C: Amen.
Litany of call
All: “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us
thus far on the way. Thou who hast by thy might led us into the light keep us forever in Thy path we pray.”
E: Even as the worlds were formed, continents named, oceans separated, and your plan for mankind began to unfold, you had us on your mind.
C: Thank you, Gracious Lord, for including us in your divine plan.
E: When you decided to perfectly place man in your world, you chose to place him in our Motherland.
C: Thank you, Gracious Lord, for including us in your divine plan.
E: Throughout Holy Scripture and throughout our history, we have witnessed your keeping power and we have been recipients of your love and grace.
C: Thank you, Gracious Lord, for including us in your divine plan.
E: We shall ever be mindful of how you brought us together after the middle passage, delivered us from the chains of slavery, and carried us through the civil rights movement.
May we always remember your love towards us, O God.
C: We thank you, dear Savior, for the gifts, talents, uniqueness, and cultural blessings you have poured out upon our people.
E: May we always appreciate the blessings you have bestowed upon us, O God.
C: We thank you for our mathematic, scientific, and literary genius. We thank you jazz, gospel, and the blues. We thank you for beautiful locks of hair and beautiful shades and complexions of skin, and even for soul-food.
E: May we always appreciate our unique beauty and giftedness, O God.
C: We thank you for the wisdom, strength, and determination we learned from our ancestors and for the blessings and love of family, O God.
All: And we stand today, O God, as a corporate family in love to remember, reflect, honor, and celebrate the heritage, history, and legacy you have given to us. And we ask that you, O Lord, will keep us forever in thy path, we pray. Amen.
GREETING
P: The boundless grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, and the light of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Almighty and ever-living God,
C: increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and love; and that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
OPENING HYMN “Freedom is Coming” #46, TFBF
First Reading Jeremiah 1:4-10
psalm 71:1-6
From my mother's womb you have been my strength. (Ps. 71:6)
E: In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be| put to shame.
C: In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; incline your ear to me and save me.
E: Be my strong rock, a castle to | keep me safe; you are my crag and my stronghold.
C: Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
E: For you are my hope, O Lord GOD, my confidence since I was young.
C: I have been sustained by you ever since I was born; from my mother's womb you have been my strength; my praise shall be always of you.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
MUSICAL SELECTION Cross Youth Praise Team
CHILDREN’S SERMON Lillian Miller
Gospel Acclamation “ Through it All” (chorus only) See Insert
GOSPEL Luke 4:21-30
People in Jesus' hometown are initially pleased when he says that God will free the oppressed. Their pleasure turns to rage when he reminds them that God's prophetic mission typically pushes beyond human boundaries so that mercy and healing are extended to those regarded as outsiders.
Gospel response “ Through it All” (chorus only) See Insert
SERMON
Hymn of the Day “I want Jesus to Walk with Me” #66, TFBF
Prayers of Intercession
Peace & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Offering and Preparation
offering
OFFERTORY HYMN “Will Your Anchor Hold” #255, TFBF
Offertory Prayer
E: Let us pray. God of all creation,
C: Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.
DIALOGUE
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.
PREFACE
P: Holy one, we gather this day as one people, members of the same body, grateful for your many gifts, and carrying the hope within us for a world filled with love. This hope was given by you from the very beginning of your creation. You made the earth, and all that lives on it. You inspired prophets and widows and slaves to seek liberation from all that oppresses, so that we might be released to love fully. You became incarnate in Jesus Christ, so that through him we might experience the depth and width of your unquenchable love. And so, joining our voices with the ancestors who have gone before us, we praise your name:
SANCTUS
C: While Jesus lived among us he stood up for women and children he touched the untouchable, healed the sick, and welcomed those who had given up hope of being included. Through him we see a path not only to our own freedom, but a path to the liberation of the whole world. He taught us that it will not be in the brutality of violence that our world will be saved. Rather, it will be in showing kindness to our neighbor, in standing up against injustice, in returning hate with love, in transforming one heart at a time. It will be in the simple, but holy task of dining together, sharing bread and wine, truly seeing one another as beloved by you.
Words of Institution
P: We know this because on the night before he was murdered, Jesus took bread, gave thanks to your, broke it, and gave it to his friends saying. “Take, eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this to remember me.” After dinner he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and gave it to them and said: “Drink this all of you. This is my blood of the new promise, poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this to remember me.”
Send your Holy Spirit, we pray, into these gifts of bread and wine. Please send your Holy Spirit into us, that we may recognize each other as members of the same body, Christ’s hands and feet and heart, sent for the healing of the world. All this we ask in your name. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
P: Come to the table. Feast on God’s abundant life for you.
holy Communion
HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION
Pre Recorded Music
post communion Prayer
E: We thank you, O God, that you have fed us at your banqueting table with bread and wine beyond compare, the very life of Christ for us. Send your Spirit with us now, that we may set the captive free, use your gifts to build one another up, and in everything reflect your glory revealed in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
Benediction
P: God Almighty, send your light and truth to keep you all the days of your life. The hand of God protect you; the holy angels accompany you; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now and forever.
C: Amen.
SENDING SONG “We Are Marching in the Light of God” #63, TFBF
P: Go in Peace. Remember the poor.
C: Thanks be to God.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BLACK FACTS-DAY BY DAY
February 1st
· The same day congress approved the 13th Amendment ending slavery, Charles Sumner introduced a motion that made Boston attorney John Rock the first black attorney to be admitted to argue in the Supreme Court of the United States. John Rock was credited with honing the phrase “black is beautiful.”
· Langston Hughes, author born 1906.
· 1st stamp in U.S. Black Heritage Series – Harriet Tubman, 1978.
· Dr. Carter G. Woodson introduced Negro History after he graduated from Harvard with his PhD. The scholar was disturbed by the lack of black historical information in text books. He founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, since changed to the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History in 1915. A year later Dr. Woodson started the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he launched Negro History Week as an initiative to bring national attention to the contributions of black people throughout American history. It became a month long celebration in 1976.
February 2nd
· While working in Pittsburgh as a porter Alfred L. Cralle noticed that the popular treat ice cream was difficult to dispense. It stuck to spoons and ladles and usually required two hands and at least two implements to serve. Cralle invented a mechanical device now known as the ice cream scoop and applied for a patent. On February 2, 1987, the 30 year old was granted U.S. Patent #576395.
· Ernest E. Just, genetic biologist awarded Springarn Medal – 1915.
February 3rd
· Mother Mary Lange – Died 1882.
· Percival Prattis becomes the first African American news correspondent allowed in the United States House and Senate press gallery – 1945.
COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg, missionary to Denmark and Sweden, died 865
A monk who helped bring Christianity to Scandinavia, Ansgar returned to Germany where he was named bishop of Hamburg. He is remembered for his love for poor people.
Tuesday, February 5
The Martyrs of Japan, died 1597
Christianity was brought to Japan in the sixteenth century by Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries. The religion was suppressed, however, and in 1597 twenty-six missionaries and converts were crucified. Nevertheless, Christianity survived and later prospered.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23141.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thank you for worshipping with us today. Please feel free to participate fully in today’s service. Join with us as we sing, pray, listen, respond, greet and encourage one another celebrating God’s extravagant love for all people in Jesus Christ. You are especially invited to the meal of our Lord at Holy Communion where Jesus meets us through the bread and wine, his body and blood.
Cross Church Office Hours: Monday– Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The office is closed on Fridays.
If you have a pastoral emergency, please call Pastor Michelle at 414.434.9620.
Announcements for the bulletin: Please turn all announcements for the bulletin in to the office by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Please email them to or leave a message on Sandy and Deb’s voicemail.
Bible Readings: Feb. 10: 1st Lesson: Isaiah 6:1-8, 9-13; 2nd Lesson: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11;
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11.
You can still sign up for a church cleanup crew under authority of a trustee to clean up the church each Saturday. There will be six people on a team and a different team will meet each Saturday to clean the church. This will be all volunteer work for 2 hours. Would you please sign up at your convenience with Guy Davis or call the church office (344-1746) to get on the schedule.
Upcoming Birthdays
Feb 7: Paulette Barr
Pat Coleman
8: Willie Weeks
Jendora Kelley-Carter
9: La Shonda McGhee
Malik Franklin
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
· There will be Sunday School & Adult Bible Study today after the service.