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Joining Jesus – Despite Skepticism “‘Come and see!’ Philip told him.”

Second Sunday after Epiphany January 17, 2021

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Lamb of God Evangelical Lutheran Church 4925 Sunbury Rd, Columbus, OH 43230

www.LambofGodColumbus.org 614-471-5164

Pastor Thomas Meissner Mobile: 614-779-4744

Email: pastormeissner@gmail.com Epiphany 2 – January 17, 2021

WELCOME TO WORSHIP

Members: If you’re a Lamb of God member, welcome to you! If you’re attending online, would you please check-

in by texting “Family” to 614-860-5806 or by sending pastor an email. Thanks!

Guests: We are so glad you are here! Welcome! Would you please take a moment to fill that out a digital connect card so we can continue to stay in touch? Text “Hello” to 614-860-5806. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to ask. And do let us know how we can pray for you! We want to stay connected to Jesus and each other. Here you are family. God bless your worship with us and God bless you!

Parents: Thank you for bringing your children to worship today! Jesus welcomes all to come to him for blessing even when we’re connected across distance like this. Help your children learn when it is time to sing and pray and when it is time to be quiet and listen to God’s Word. And don’t be too hard on them or yourself. Talk with them about what we’re doing and why. Help them understand and apply God’s Word to their lives. We’re in this together with you. God bless your worship and your godly calling as a parent!

Seasonal Color: Green, this color signifies spiritual life, growth and fulfillment (foliage and ripening fruit—Jesus is the vine and we are the branches vitally connected to Him).

Today’s Service Theme: Joining Jesus – Despite Skepticism. It is in the Word that we hear the call of God that has in it the secret power of God to give what he commands. He commands: Believe! and the Word creates faith. He says, Follow me! and the Word creates the desire and the ability to follow him. That he should consider it glorious to call sinners, is that not an amazing thing? That he should attach such power to his Word that we answer the call, is that not a wonder that lasts an eternity for each of us?

. SERVICE OF THE WORD

OPENING HYMN Speak, O Lord CW 735

1) Speak, O Lord, as we come to you to receive the

food of your holy Word; take your truth, plant it deep in us, shape and fashion us in your likeness, that the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us all your purposes for your glory.

2) Teach us, Lord, full obedience, holy reverence, true humility; test our thoughts and our attitudes in the radiance of your purity. Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see your majestic love and authority.

Words of pow’r that can never fail, let their truth prevail over unbelief.

3) Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds, help us grasp the heights of your plans for us, truths unchanged from the dawn of time, that will echo down through eternity. And by grace we’ll stand on your promises, and by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us. Speak, O Lord, till your Church is built, and the earth is filled with your glory.

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INVOCATION

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.

M: Jesus found Philip and said to him: C: Follow me! M: Philip found Nathaniel and told him: C: Come and see! (John 1:43; 46)

CONFESSION OF SINS M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have

disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.

C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.

ABSOLUTION M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he

has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will. C: Amen.

M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

SONG OF PRAISE Oh, Taste and See

THE WORD

PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Let us pray.

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Almighty God, you gave your one and only Son to be the light of the world. Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s Glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and believed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns with you, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

FIRST LESSON 1 Samuel 3:1-10 The boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days.

Prophetic vision was not common. 2Now it happened that Eli’s eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see. Once when Eli was lying down in his

place 3and God’s lamp had not yet gone out, Samuel was lying down in the LORD’s temple, where God’s ark was. 4The LORD called Samuel, and Samuel said, “I am here.” 5He ran to Eli, and said, “I am here, since you called me.”

Eli said, “I did not call. Lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6Then the LORD called once more, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “I am here, since you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son. Lie down again.” 7Now Samuel had not yet experienced the LORD’s presence, that is, the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to

him. 8The LORD called Samuel for the third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, “I am here, since you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the young man. 9So Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you,

say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and once again lay down in his place. 10The LORD came and stood there and called as he had the other

times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 67, p.91

Refrain: Let the people praise you, O God. Let all the people praise you. May God be gracious to us and | bless us* And make his face shine up | on us; may your ways be | known on earth,* your salvation among all | nations. May the nations be glad and | sing for joy,* for you rule the people justly and guide the nations | of the earth.

Refrain: Let the people praise you, O God. Let all the people praise you. Then the land will yield its | harvest,*

and God, our God, will | bless us. God will | bless us,* and all the ends of the earth will | fear him. Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit, As it was in the be | ginning,* is now, and will be forever. | Amen. Refrain: Let the people praise you, O God. Let all the people praise you.

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SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

12“All things are permitted for me”—but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted for me”—but I will not allow anything to control me. 13“Foods are for the belly, and the belly is for foods, but God will do away with both of them.” However, the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then remove the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Certainly not! 16Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For it says, “The two will become one flesh.” 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

18Flee from sexual immorality! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

VERSE OF THE DAY Isaiah 49:3 Alleluia. He said to me, “You are my servant in whom I will display my splendor.” Alleluia.

PLEASE STAND FOR THE WORDS AND WORKS OF JESUS.

GOSPEL John 1:43-51

43The next day, Jesus wanted to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.

45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

46Nathanael said to him, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” “Come and see!” Philip told him. 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Truly, here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50Jesus replied, “You believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that!”

51Then he added, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

M: This is the Gospel of the Lord!

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HYMN OF THE DAY The Only Son from Heaven CW 86

1) The only Son from heaven, Foretold by ancient seers, By God the Father given, In human form appears. No sphere his light confining, No star so brightly shining As he, our Morning Star.

2) Oh, time of God appointed, Oh, bright and holy morn! He comes, the King anointed, The Christ, the virgin-born, Grim death to conquer for us, To open heav'n before us And bring us life again.

3) Awaken, Lord, our spirit To know and love you more, In faith to stand unshaken, In spirit to adore, That we, through this world moving, Each glimpse of heaven proving, May reap its fullness there.

4) O Father, here before you With God the Holy

Ghost And Jesus, we adore you, O Pride of angel host. Before you mortals lowly Cry "Holy, holy, holy, O blessed Trinity!"

SERMON John 1:43-51

Come and See! The Light of Jesus’ Word Drives away Doubt and Opens the Way to Heaven.

CONFESSION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

I believe 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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.

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OFFERING Our members have joined together in faith and love to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. To give online, scan the QR code to the right with your phone, or use the link on the top menu bar of the church webpage.

As the Lord leads us all to respond to his Gospel we invite you to pray: Thank you, Lord, for calling us to be your followers. Lead us to serve you in all that we do by trusting you and doing your will. Use us and our possessions for your purposes. Amen.

And remember:

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

PRAYERS

Jesus has called us to follow him. So let us follow Christ our Lord, and pray; for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Lord God, Creator of all things, by the leading of a star and the revelation of your Scriptures you revealed your Son to the nations of the world; lead us also to the light of your Word that we might see Jesus and believe. We thank you for your apostles who carried your Word to distant lands; bless also your Church today, that she may shine with your Son’s light in this world. Send workers into your harvest fields. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Be with all pastors and servants of the church in every congregation. Help them to speak your Word in truth and power and care for the flocks entrusted to them. Be with the leaders of our Synod, and the leadership of all of our congregations. Guide, protect and refresh them, and help them and us as we work and worship together in your name. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Revive and refresh us by your Holy Spirit so that we can confess your name before others, pray fervently for our neighbor, and demonstrate your love through good works. We pray for all whom we know that are seeking guidance in their lives; for all who struggle with doubts about their faith; we commend to you all who do not yet believe, but are searching, that even while they still walk in darkness that you would make light shine upon their path. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

How blessed we are to enjoy the freedoms and prosperity of this country. Bless our land, all who live in it, all who visit it, and all who lead our nation’s affairs as well as all leaders in business and society. Give them a love of truth and justice. Help all citizens to serve their neighbor through their vocations. Help those who are unemployed or whose work is difficult, dangerous or stressful. Grant to the wealthy the further blessing of generosity. Strengthen all families and the bonds of marriage. Give all children and young people a renewed respect for their parents, and guide all parents, god-parents, grandparents, and uncles and aunts in raising the next generation to follow you. Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer

Lord God, since you have called us and received us as your disciples, keep us steadfast in your Word. Strengthen our trust in you, and increase our love towards each other, until we finally see you face to face. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever and who has also taught us to pray,

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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

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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.

HYMN Christ, be My Leader CW 367

1) Christ be my leader by night as by day, Safe through

the darkness, for he is the way. Gladly I follow, my future his care; Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.

2) Christ be my teacher in age as in youth, Drifting or doubting, for he is the truth. Grant me to trust him,

though shifting as sand. Doubt cannot daunt me -- in Jesus I stand!

3) Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife; Death

cannot hold me, for he is the life. Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain Can touch my salvation -- with Jesus I reign!

CLOSING PRAYER M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and

truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

BLESSING M Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

CLOSING HYMN Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us CW 486

1) Lord of glory, you have bought us With your

lifeblood as the price, Never grudging for the lost ones That tremendous sacrifice, And with that have freely given Blessings countless as the sand To th' unthankful and the evil With your own unsparing hand.

2) Grant us hearts, dear Lord, to give you Gladly, freely, of your own. With the sunshine of your goodness Melt our thankless hearts of stone Till our cold and selfish natures, Warmed by you, at length believe That more happy and more blessed 'Tis to give than to receive.

3) Wondrous honor you have given To our humblest

charity In your own mysterious sentence, "You have done it unto me." Can it be, O gracious Master, That you need what we can do, Saying by your poor and needy, "Give as I have giv'n to you"?

4) Yes, the sorrow and the suff'rings Which on ev'ry

hand we view Channels are for gifts and off'rings Due by solemn right to you, Right of which we may not rob you, Debt we may not choose but pay Lest that face of love and pity Turn from us another day.

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5) Lord of glory, you have bought us With your lifeblood as the price, Never grudging for the lost ones That tremendous sacrifice. Give us faith to trust you boldly, Hope, to stay our souls on you; But, oh, best of all your graces, With your love our love renew.

Acknowledgments:

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2019 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org. Speak, O Lord, Text, Tune, Setting: Keith Getty, b.1974 and Stuart Townsend, b. 1963 © 2006 Thankyou Music; admin. EMI CMG Publishing. International copyright secured. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The Only Son From Heaven, Text and Tune: public domain. Setting: c 1986 Bruce R. Backer. Used by permission. Lord Of Glory, You Have Bought Us, Text and Tune: public domain. Setting: c 1986 Bruce R. Backer. Used by permission. Christ Be My Leader, Text: c 1964 Renewal 1992 by Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Tune: public domain. Setting: c 1982 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission of CPH. Music reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-721031. Unless otherwise indicated, materials contained herein are public domain.

Our Mission: Rooted in Christ’s love, we are devoted to growing together in God’s Word

and to proclaiming Christ in our community and world.

COMING UP NEXT SUNDAY: JANUARY 24

9:00 am – Christian Education Hour (online and in-person] Sunday School on YouTube Adult Bible Study: Acts 27, Paul sails for Rome

10:30 am - Divine Service with Communion

Epiphany 3 – Joining Jesus:

Called to Follow Mark 1:14-20

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THIS WEEK AT LAMB OF GOD

Sunday 1/17/21 9:00am Family Bible Hour

10:30am Divine Service

Monday 1/18/21 Pastor / Teacher / Delegate Conference - Findlay

Tuesday 1/19/21 Pastor / Teacher / Delegate Conference - Findlay

Wednesday 1/20/21 10:00am Wed. Morning Bible Study

6:30pm Zoom Sunday School

6:30pm Basic Bible Christianity

Thursday 1/21/21

Friday 1/22/21

Saturday 1/23/21 10:00am Catechism

Sunday 1/24/21 9:00am Family Bible Hour

10:30am Divine Service with Communion

Lamb of God Evangelical Lutheran Church

is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran

Synod.

For more information, visit www.wels.net or

www.LambofGodColumbus.org.

Serving at Lamb of God leading up to today

January 11-17

Accompanist: Brent Nolte

Bible Study Leader: David Chen

Bulletin Assembly: Kathy Sigrist

Cleaning: Diane Jensen

Counter: Dave Szczublewski

Live-Stream Camera: Andy Hensler

Ushers: David Chen & Dave Szczublewski

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“The Word is very near you…” God encourages reading and meditation upon his Word. Jesus wants you to grow by means of it. If you find it helpful to use pen or pencil to do so, here is some space for that. Younger worshippers especially are encouraged to draw and then talk about it.

NOTES: Law: How does this Word of God condemn my heart and make me tremble?

Gospel: How does this Word of God make me glad? What specific mercy does it offer me?

Something for the Journey: What am I going to take with me into my callings this week?

Something to share: What am I going to share from today’s Word of God, and with whom?

Something to pray: What does this Word of God lead me to pray?

Catechism Corner: The Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed

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.

What does this mean?

I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.

But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

In this Christian Church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

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