“The People of Christ Sharing the Love of Christ” Christ Lutheran Church 300 East Monroe Street Austin, Texas 78704 (512) 442-5844 Website: www.christaustin.org Rev. John C. Stennfeld, Pastor COMMUNION ANNOUNCEMENT Here at Christ Lutheran Church we believe, teach and confess that Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin, and that He alone is the way to eternal life. We believe, teach, and confess that in the Sacrament of Holy Communion the true body and blood of Jesus Christ is received along with the elements of bread and wine, and that the reception of this gift in faith is a means through which God Himself forgives our sins, strengthens us in faith, and unites us as His children. If your own personal beliefs are in complete harmony with these Biblical truths, if you are a baptized Christian who has been instructed in these Lutheran confessions, if you recognize the reality of sin in your life and desire to receive God’s forgiveness, and if you acknowledge that receiving Holy Communion at our table expresses an implied unity with us in the body of Christ you are welcome to join us at the table of our Lord. MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Christ Lutheran Church is to connect people to Jesus through: ● Inspirational worship ● Loving service ● Caring fellowship ● Relevant education so that they may know, and grow in, his love. - 1 - SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY January 17, 2021 AS WE GATHER Today we are called to remember that our bodies are not our own. Paul reminds us in the Epistle that we were bought with a price: the blood of Christ. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies, even our whole lives, belong to the Lord, and we are called to consider how we are to best steward the bodies God has given us for the sake of His kingdom. PRESERVICE MUSIC “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” H.I.S. Band I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old. I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well; In a blaze of light you wandered off, to find where demons dwell. When you heard the wonder of the word, I was there to cheer you on You were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. When you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk till rising sun. In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young I’ll be there to guide you through the night. Complete what I’ve begun. When the evening gently closes in and you shut your weary eyes I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise. I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old I rejoiced the day you were baptized, to see your life unfold. "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry" © Words and music by John Ylvisaker, b. 1937 - 2 - WELCOME HYMN “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” LSB #901 Open now thy gates of beauty; Zion, let me enter there, Where my soul in joyful duty Waits for Him who answers prayer. Oh, how blessed is this place, Filled with solace, light, and grace! Gracious God, I come before Thee; Come Thou also unto me. Where we find Thee and adore Thee, There a heav’n on earth must be. To my heart, O enter Thou; Let it be Thy temple now! Here Thy praise is gladly chanted; Here Thy seed is duly sown. Let my soul, where it is planted, Bring forth precious sheaves alone, So that all I hear may be Fruitful unto life in me. Though my faith increase and quicken; Let me keep Thy gift divine, Howsoe’er temptations thicken; May Thy Word still o’er e shine As my guiding star through life, As my comfort in all strife. "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty" Text: Benjamin Schmolck, 1672-1737; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-78, alt. Tune: Joachim Neander, 1650-80; setting: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941 Text and music: Public domain (Please rise) INVOCATION Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. - 3 - OPENING SENTENCES Based on Psalm 139:1–2, 7–8; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Pastor: O Lord, You have searched and known us. People: You discern our thoughts from afar. Pastor: Where shall we go from Your Spirit? People: Or where shall we flee from Your presence? Pastor: If we ascend to heaven, You are there! People: If we make our bed in Sheol, You are there! Pastor: Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. People: We were bought with a price, the blood of Christ. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor: Indeed, we were bought with the precious blood of Christ, and God calls on us to glorify God with our bodies, but we have failed to do this. We have lived as if our bodies and lives were our own, as if Your Son had not bought them with His blood. Such sins cause deep shame, yet even now, our heavenly Father invites us to come to Him and ask for forgiveness. Silence for reflection. Pastor: Heavenly Father, People: we have sinned by the things we have done and by the things we have left undone. Forgive us, remove the shame that clings to us, and make us new creations for the sake of Jesus. Amen. Pastor: Almighty God, in His infinite mercy and grace, sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. In His resurrection, He removes our shame and makes us more than conquerors. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. We are forgiven in Christ. Our shame is removed. SONG OF PRAISE “White as Snow” H.I.S. Band White as snow, white as snow Though my sins were as scarlet, Lord, I know, Lord, I know, That I’m clean and forgiven. Thru the power of your blood, Thru the wonder of Your love, Thru faith in You I know that I can be…White as snow. - 4 - 2nd & 3rd verse words by Pastor John God of love, God of love, you came down to redeem us From above, from above, sent your Son here to save us. Came to earth to set us free, gave your life on Calvary, Now we know that we will live eternally. God of love. Here am I, here am I, just your clay to be molded. Lord on high, Lord on high, to be used in your service Here to glorify your name, help all people do the same, Now please take my hand and guide me when I cry… Here am I, here am I, White as snow. “White as Snow” Words and music by Leon Olguin © 1990 Sound Truth Publishing, Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing Used by Permission. CCLI License #769388 SALUTATION Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, You paid for our lives with the price of Your blood on the cross. Strengthen us to serve You with pure hearts and minds, that we may be witnesses to the word of Your forgiveness; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. (Please be seated) OLD TESTAMENT READING Psalm 139:1-10 (God creates the heavens and the earth.) EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 6:12–20 (To whom does your body belong?) - 5 - HYMN “O Lord, You Know and Have Searched Me” Text: Psalm 139:1-10 By Rev. John C. Stennfeld Tune: St. Peter O Lord, you know and have searched me, You’re privy to my ways; My thoughts you know e’en from afar, And watch me all my days. Before a word is on my tongue You know just what I’ll say; You see me when I sit and rise And when I kneel to pray. Such knowledge is too wonderful, Too much for me to take, That you perceive my ev’ry thought And ev’ry move I make. If to the heavens I should go, Or in the earth shall sleep, E’en there your hand will hold me fast And guard me as your sheep. You made my inmost being, Lord, And knit my inner frame, Thus only you will I exalt And evermore proclaim. (Please rise) HOLY GOSPEL John 1:43–51 (Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael.) CREED Nicene Creed People: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, - 6 - begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.