THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

February 2, A.D. 2020

TO OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS Welcome!! We are glad to have you with us to worship the Triune God. May you be blessed by hearing God’s Word today! Thank you for joining us for worship! Please come back soon! Ushers are here to assist you. If you need help or have a question, please ask them. Before you leave please sign our Guest Book as it is our permanent record and reminder of our guests. Our Order of Worship is shown on the monitors on either side of the chancel and follows a traditional pattern of Christian Worship. It is printed out in this bulletin with large print bulletins available upon request. The service is also found, along with the chant melodies, in the front of the hymnal, with pages of hymns in the back. We celebrate Holy Communion every Sunday and on most festival days of the liturgical calendar. All communicant members of our sister congregations are invited to attend the Sacrament with us. Please fill out a registration card and hand it to the Usher. All others are urged to speak to Pastor before communing. **Important Message** for those whose medical conditions limit the consumption of alcohol, we are offering cups of non-alcoholic wine. These cups are located in the center of the individual communion cup trays. A cry room is available for parents with young children. There is a window so you can continue to see the worship service. The cry room is located behind the sanctuary on the left side.

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508 N. Chicago Road • Thornton, IL 60476

Voice & Fax: (708) 877-6564 office@splcms.org www.splcms.org

www.facebook.com/splcms Rev. Harold Wahl, Pastor

(708) 269-4382 • pastor@splcms.org

DIVINE SERVICE Setting 3 – Page 184

Lutheran Service Book

God Manifests His Glory in the Humility and Weakness of Christ Crucified

The Lord tells His people, “I brought you up from the land of Egypt and

redeemed you from the house of slavery” (Micah 6:4). By the sacrifice of

His beloved Son He has redeemed us from our slavery of sin and death;

He has forgiven our transgressions by the shedding of His blood. His

great mercy and salvation lead us “to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly” with our God (Micah 6:8). We boast only in the

Incarnate and Crucified Lord Jesus. He is “the power of God and the

wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). He is our life and salvation, “our wisdom

and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30).

Now He opens His mouth and teaches us His wisdom. By His Cross and

Passion the kingdom of heaven is ours, we receive mercy and are

satisfied, we see God, and we are called sons of God in Christ. “Blessed

are you,” therefore, “when others revile you and persecute you and utter

all kinds of evil against you falsely” on account of Christ (Matt. 5:11).

Pre-Service Music

Ringing of the Bells

Welcome

Hymn of Invocation

LSB 549, “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

Confession and Absolution

St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church

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Invocation

The sign of the cross T may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P In the name of the Father and T of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess

our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our

Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and

iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly

deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am

heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray

You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy,

innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus

Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and

ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of

you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I

forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Service of the Word The Introit – Ps. 1:1–5; antiphon: Ps. 1:6 (ESV)

P For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

C but the way of the wicked will perish.

P Blessèd is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

C nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

P but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

C and on his law he meditates day and night.

P He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its

season, and its leaf does not wither.

C In all that he does, he prospers.

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P The wicked are not so,

C but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

P Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

C nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

/Gloria Patri

P For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,

C but the way of the wicked will perish.

Kyrie

Gloria in Excelsis

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Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

P Let us pray.

P Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers

that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and

protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all

temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and

reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

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Old Testament Reading: Micah 6:1–8 (ESV)

A: The Old Testament Reading for The Fourth Sunday after the

Epiphany of our Lord is from the 6th

chapter of the prophet Micah.

1Hear what the LORD says:

Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your voice. 2Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,

and you enduring foundations of the earth,

for the LORD has an indictment against his people,

and he will contend with Israel. 3“O my people, what have I done to you?

How 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 what Balak king of Moab devised,

and what Balaam the 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 man, 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?

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 (ESV)

A The Epistle Reading is from the 1st chapter of The First Epistle of St.

Paul to the Corinthians.

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18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to

us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19

For 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? 21

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through

wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save

those who believe. 22

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23

but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to

Gentiles, 24

but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the

power of God and the wisdom of God. 25

For the foolishness of God is

wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise

according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were

of noble birth. 27

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the

wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28

God

chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to

bring to nothing things that are, 29

so that no human being might boast in

the presence of God. 30

He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom

God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and

redemption. 31

Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in

the Lord.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

The Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 (ESV)

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 5th

chapter.

1Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he

sat down, his disciples came to him.

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2And he opened his mouth 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 shall be comforted.

5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they

shall be satisfied. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for

theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and

utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12

Rejoice and

be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the

prophets who were before you.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

The Apostles’ Creed

C 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 Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered

under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He

descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the

Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living

and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian

Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the

resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn of the Day

LSB 427, “In the Cross of Christ I Glory”

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 (ESV)

Sermon Theme – “God's Wisdom”

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Offertory

Gathering of Tithes & Offerings and Record of Fellowship

Musical Offering

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the people of God, that the Lord who knows the way of the

righteous would preserve them from walking in the counsel of the

wicked, standing in the way of sinners and sitting in the seat of

scoffers; and by His grace, cause them to delight in His holy Word, let

us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For Christians who suffer persecution, that the Lord who rescued His

people of old from Egypt and Moab would remember and sustain

them in grace and faith, bless them even as they are reviled and

persecuted on His account, and deliver them according to His will, let

us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

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P For this and all Christian congregations, that the Lord would gather

His people to receive His gifts of grace and life; and that He would

strengthen them to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before

Him, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who preach, that they might faithfully proclaim the wisdom of

the cross in an age that demands signs and insists on the supremacy

of human reason; for all teachers, that all they teach might point to

the glory of God; and for all who hear, that they might rejoice in the

“foolishness” of Christ crucified for their salvation; let us pray to the

Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For Christians in their vocations, that they might never be ashamed

of Christ and Him crucified, but be freed to boast in the Lord within

their callings, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who mourn and those who are troubled by sickness and

affliction, that the Lord would comfort, heal and deliver according to

His good and gracious will, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who receive Holy Communion this day, that the Lord would

grant them a penitent hunger and a thirst for righteousness and

satisfy them with His own body and blood, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

Special Intercessory Prayers - from pink colored insert...

P Lord, in your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P We give thanks to You, O Lord, that as You rescued Israel from Egypt

by Your right hand and Your holy arm, so You have faithfully

delivered Your people from sin and death throughout the ages.

Preserve us in Your grace and truth, that we might be confident of

Your blessings now and gladly await the day when we see with our

eyes that ours is the kingdom of heaven; through Jesus Christ, Your

Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one

God, now and forever.

C Amen.

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Service of the Sacrament Preface

P The Lord be with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

P Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in

all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and

everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on

us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love

shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ,

into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we

might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and

lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome

sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels

and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and

magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

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Lord's Prayer

(Note: in Divine Service 3, it is only the pastor who speaks the Lord’s Prayer. The congregation joins in singing the conclusion.)

P 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.

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took

bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the

disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for

you. This do in remembrance of Me."

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had

given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: "Drink of it, all of you; this

cup is the New Testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for

the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in

remembrance of Me."

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

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Agnus Dei

Distribution of Christ’s Body and Blood

In the Sacrament of the Altar, we receive the real, genuine body and blood of Jesus Christ, which hung on the cross and flowed from his veins. Participation in The Sacrament is limited to those who are active members in good standing in a congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod or a congregation of a church body which is in altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, or who have spoken personally to the pastor.

Members of other Christian denominations who are present may come forward to receive a blessing from the Pastor during the distribution. It is requested that you cross your arms over your chest to indicate that you desire this blessing.

Distribution Hymns

LSB 801, “How Great Thou Art”

LSB 543, “What Wondrous Love Is This”

LSB 637, “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord”

LSB 426, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

The Dismissal

P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve

you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart T in peace.

C Amen.

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Nunc Dimittis

Thanksgiving

P O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,

P Let us pray.

P We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us

through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy

You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and

in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son,

our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,

now and forever.

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Salutation and Benedicamus

P The Lord be with you.

A Bless we the Lord.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

Hymn of Benediction

LSB 837, “Lift High the Cross”

Silent Prayer

Announcements

Post-Service Music Acknowledgments Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Reprinted with permission.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Prayer of the church is adapted from “Let us Pray” an e-mail service of the Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

February 2, 2020

REMEMBER IN PRAYER

ST. PAUL’S FAMILY Tina Morse, Family Austin, Alexis

Dick Niemann

Lisa Niemann,

Richard Niemann,

BIRTHDAYS Emily Hudson, 2/2

Connie Jeka, 2/4

Bill Middleton, 2/4

Jenna Wiltjer, 2/8

BAPTISM ANNIVERSARIES Sandi Ovalle, 2/3

Austin Brandy, 2/4

Alexis McGrath, 2/8

CONFIRMATION ANNIVERSARIES Debi Brandy, 2/8

SPECIAL CONCERNS Pray for, Violet Andersen, Jay Carey, Nick Plecas, Dick Niemann, Lois

Struven, Barb Leone, Janice Schultz, Chester Orendorf, Dorothy Graves,

Janice Abel, Ed Hoeksema, Helen Hoeksema, Violet Rich,. Dorothy Van

Mynen, Jan Marer, Russ Budde.

Released from the hospital this past week – Bob Gastreich from

Manor Care, Homewood, IL

Serving in the Military – Austin Brandy, David Capodagli, Nicholas

Durkin, Andrew Hoover, Donald JaBaay, and Robert Wisely.

NEWS UPDATE

Plan on staying after Church

Today and enjoy a

Pancake n Sausage breakfast

Join Sunday School for a Valentine’s Party on Sunday February 16th

after church. The children will have Valentine’s for everyone. There

will be treats and games for all ages!!

Saturday February 22, 2020. God’s Greatest Gift. A Winter Women’s

Gathering 9:00am to 11:30 am. Spend a Saturday morning with your

Sisters in Christ, sharing, laughing, singing, eating and making

memories. Stay for a Salad Bar Lunch @11:30.

Are you looking for practical ways to implement your faith? Would you

like to help a caregiver who needs a break, but are unsure how? Is your

time limited? Voice of Care can help you with all this. We are offering a

certified volunteer Respite Companion Training class on February 8th

2020, from 8:30 to 5:00 at Immanuel Lutheran Church 2317 S Wolf Rd

in Hillside, IL. This training allows you to step in when needed but also

can be flexible to you schedule. It give the foundation for care and

blessings for others, and you will be blessed as well. Who is to say you

won’t be using these skills in your own family situation? For more

information about the class contact Director Ministry Facilitators, Dennis

Pieper, (708) 759-4954 or dennispieper@voiceofcare.org

This week on KFUO.org hear meditation on scriptures on Moments of

Assurance with Pastor Mark Hawkinson (weekdays at 12:00 p.m. CT &

weekends at 7:45 a.m. CT), dig into curious theological topics on Cross

Defense with Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller (2/3 at 2:00 p.m. CT), and

continue in the Gospel of Matthew on Sharper Iron's "All Righteous

Fulfilled" series (weekdays at 8:00 a.m. CT). Find programs on demand

wherever you get your podcasts! KFUO Radio, a media ministry

extension of LCMS congregations, shares Christ for you anytime,

anywhere on KFUO.org via worship services, Bible and theology

studies, practical talk programs, and sacred music. You can find

programs on demand at kfuo.org and wherever you get your podcasts!

Find us on social: @KFUOradio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

MORE TOPICS, MORE GUESTS, MORE JESUS...Issues, Etc. is a

radio talk show and podcast produced by Lutheran Public Radio in

Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. This week's

topics include: A Post-Christian View of the Body, The Book of

Colossians, The Baptismal Rite, The Solid Declaration of the Formula of

Concord, and more. You can listen live or at your convenience at

issuesetc.org and on the LPR mobile app.

“Women, families, and our culture deserve better than abortion.”

Melissa Ohden, survivor of a botched abortion – A Life Quote from

Lutherans For Life • www.lutheransforlife.org

ATTENDANCE AND OFFERINGS

January 26, Attendance 33, 23 Communed, 0 Web

Basket $6.00 Weekly Missions $45.00

Envelopes 1,428.00 Luth. Church Charity 10.00

Memorial 25.00

Budgeted Total $1,459.00 Non-budgeted Total $55.00

Offering Needed 2,552.85

Short $1,093.85

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE FEBRUARY 2- FEBRUARY 8

Today 9:45 am

11:00 am

11:00 am

Worship Service

Sunday School

Pancake Breakfast

Monday

Tuesday 7:30 pm Elders Meeting

Wednesday 6:00 pm Confirmation Class

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday 9:45 am

11:00 am

Worship Service

Sunday School

SERVANT SCHEDULE Sun, Feb 2, 9:45 AM Sun, Feb 9, 9:45 AM

Altar Guild Dana Krieger Dana Krieger

Acolyte Anthony Conway Kaitlin Dejonowski

Cross Bearer Kaitlin Dejonowski Tara Schassburger

Elder Henry Sella Brian Wiltjer

Usher Tracy Gribbin Bill Sommer

Louis Sella Norma Allen

Lay Reader Mary Sella Sandy Budde

Monitor Oper. Dana Krieger

Counting Comm. Jerry Wiltjer Judy Wilmington

Janice Reichert Jean Wiltjer

Church Cleaning Henry Sella

Louis Sella