"Being Good News"

BULLETIN FOR STREAMING SERVICE

THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
January 23, 2022
First Presbyterian Church of Homewood
Homewood, IL

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

PRAYER FOR PEACE
Bless the hands that bring wholeness to lives blighted by sickness.
Bless the saints who in sad and desperate places bring a sense of hopefulness.
Bless the Christians facing daily opposition showing a faithful witness.
Bless the generosity of the rich and powerful for the gift of thoughtfulness.
Bless the peacemakers working in conditions that are often hazardous.
Bless the politicians whether good or bad for decisions affecting all of us.
Bless our words and actions as we carry your light into places shrouded in darkness.
Bless your children whoever they might be with the warmth of your love and grace.

PRELUDE ||| Higher Ground ||| Lani Smith 
*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
Let us gather for worship,
for this day is holy to the Lord.
The joy of the Lord is our strength and salvation,
and we gather to offer our praise.
In singing and in silence,
in Word and in prayer,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Let us come and worship God.

*HYMN 301 ||| Let Us Build a House ||| Two Oaks

CALL TO CONFESSION
Turning to God and following the light of Christ, let us in faith confess our sin and the sins of the world.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, we confess that we have wandered from your light. We follow paths of self-indulgence, instead of focusing on our need of you. We passively accept the suffering of the world, expecting others to stand up and work for the change we would like to see. Lord, in your strength, renew us and compel us by your invitation that we may work to pursue your justice and mercy for all people, sharing your light in ways great and small.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

*THE GLORIA

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Chaplain Mike Welf

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 ||| RCL
1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

SPECIAL MUSIC ||| There Is a Balm In Gilead ||| Mark Hayes

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Luke 4:14-21 ||| RCL
14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| "Being Good News" ||| Chaplain Mike Welf

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 772 ||| Live Into Hope ||| Truro

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

*PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE ||| AND ||| THE LORD’S PRAYER
…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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY ||| Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ||| Douglas Wagner

*DOXOLOGY ||| 606 Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
See in our gifts our loyalty to you. We commit ourselves to both show forth and work for your kingdom to come. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 625 ||| How Great Thou Art ||| How Great Thou Art

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE - Sung

*BENEDICTION / HYMN 542 ||| God Be With You Till We Meet Again
(verse 1 only) God Be With You
God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

POSTLUDE ||| Partita on "Blessed Name" ||| Mary McDonald
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Chaplain Mike Welf, Guest Worship Leader
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist

Worship Liturgist: Doug Bonthron
Usher: Phil Dillman

Today, we welcome back to the pulpit Chaplain Mike Welf, Past Moderator of the Presbytery of Chicago, Elder at First Presbyterian Chicago Heights and Chaplain for the Chicago Heights Fire Department, as our preacher.

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Luke 4:21-30.