Joyfully Blessed

4th

Sunday after Epiphany

January 28 & 29, 2017

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Ebenezer Lutheran Church – Port Hudson

The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri

Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431

Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor

Mary Sprick, Secretary

ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com

ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com

AS WE GATHER: Although Jesus does not say “blessed are

the patient” as He speaks that special list of attributes of

God’s people that we know as the Beatitudes, the fruit of

patience underlies the “blessed are” statements He does

mention. It takes patience to be merciful and to act as

peacemakers. Staying calm when being persecuted for

righteousness’ sake takes patience. Enduring unfair criticism

takes patience as well. There may even be a need for patience

as we share with the saints in the worship life of the Church.

May it be fully evident among us at all times!

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: Father in heaven,

throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus revealed His identity

and mission through words and deeds. Grant that Your Holy

Spirit will strengthen us, so that we may be revealed as His

faith-filled followers as we demonstrate the Spirit’s fruit of

patience as we listen to our friends and await Your answers to

prayer; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

HYMN “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star” LW 73

1. How lovely shines the morning star!

In twilight sky it gleams afar;

The reign of night is ended.

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Creation stirs to hail the light

Whose glories now with radiance bright

Stream forth in beauty splendid.

Both far And near

All things living Thanks are giving,

Praise outpouring,

Earth and sky the Lord adoring.

2. Then haste, my soul, thy song to raise,

Delay thou not thy Lord to praise,

Bow down in adoration.

For glory, Lord, to Thee belongs,

Thy praise resounds in grateful songs,

Thou Lord of all creation.

Let all Recall

Hymns of gladness Without sadness,

For Thy favor

And Thy mercy never waver.

4. Pour down Thy grace in cheering streams

And warm my heart with mercy's beams

From heaven, Thy throne of beauty;

Thy Spirit ever lead and guide

That in my calling I abide

And find my joy in duty.

Send light And might

That each measure, Plan and pleasure,

Heavenward tending,

E'er in Thee may find its ending.

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

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THE CONFESSION OF SINS

Pastor: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a

true heart and confess our sins unto God our

Father, asking him Him in the name of our Lord

Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our Help

is in the name of the Lord. People: Who made heaven and earth.

Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the

Lord.

People: And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Pastor: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we

poor sinners confess unto You that we are by

nature sinful and unclean, and that we have

sinned against You by thought, word, and deed.

Wherefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite

mercy, seeking and imploring Thy grace for the

sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

People: O most merciful God, who has given Your

only begotten Son to die for us, have mercy

upon us and for His sake grant us remission

of all our sins; and by the Holy Spirit

increase in us true knowledge of You and of

Your will and true obedience to Your Word,

to the end, that by Your grace we may come

to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our

Lord. Amen.

Pastor Almighty God our heavenly Father, has had

mercy upon us and hath given His only Son to

die for us and for His sake forgives us all our

sins. To them that believe on His name He gives

the power to become sons of God and hath

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promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes

and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord,

unto us all.

People Amen.

PSALM Psalm 15

People: Preserve me, God, my refuge be;

That though in conflict others see

By my patience Christ in me.

Pastor: O LORD, who shall sojourn in Your tent?

Who shall dwell on Your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is

right and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

People: Preserve me, God, my refuge be;

That though in conflict others see

By my patience Christ in me.

Pastor: but who honors those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not

change; who does not put out his money at

interest and does not take a bribe against the

innocent. He who does these things shall never

be moved.

People: Preserve me, God, my refuge be;

That though in conflict others see

By my patience Christ in me.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to

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the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is

now, and will be forever. Amen.

KYRIE [LW 180]

Have mercy on Your people, Lord.

Have mercy, Christ, our King.

Renew us by Your mercy, Lord;

Accept the prayers we bring.

Text: Dorothy Hoyer Scharlemann, 1912–2002. Copyright © 1991

Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Tune: ST. ANNE, William Croft, 1678–1727. Public domain.

HYMN OF PRAISE “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” LW

444

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,

the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him,

for he is your health and salvation!

Let all who hear

Now to his temple draw near,

Joining in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all

That is in me adore him!

All that has life and breath,

Come now with praises before him!

Let the amen

Sound from his people again.

Gladly forever adore him!

SALUTATION

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray.

Almighty God, You know we live in the midst

of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot

stand upright.

People: Grant strength and protection to support us

in all dangers and carry us through all

temptations;

Pastor: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who

lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Micah 6:1–8 (God’s great

deeds have not been reflected in His people’s lives.)

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL Psalm 117:1–2a; 96:8

Pastor: Praise the LORD, all nations!

People: Extol Him, all peoples!

Pastor: For great is His steadfast love toward us,

People: and the faithfulness of the LORD endures

forever.

Pastor: Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;

People: bring an offering, and come into His courts!

EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 (Let him who boasts boast

in the Lord.)

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

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People: Thanks be to God.

VERSE Matthew 5:3

Pastor: Alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit,

People: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 5:1–12 (The Beatitudes)

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the

5th

chapter.

People: Glory to You, O Lord.

(The Gospel is read.)

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to You, O Christ.

CREED Apostles’ Creed

People: 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 on the right

hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence he shall come to judge the living

and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy

Christian Church, the communion of saints,

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the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the

body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY “Jesus Sat with His Disciples” HS98

912

SERMON “Joyfully Blessed” Matthew 5:1-12

Pastor: Joyful are the poor in spirit, those who depend

only on God,

People: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Pastor: Joyful are those who are saddened by what sin

and death have done in their lives, or grieve for

the starving, the homeless, the refugees and

those suffering war,

People: for they will be comforted.

Pastor: Joyful are the gentle and humble; those doing

things for others without looking for any

rewards,

People: for they will inherit the earth.

Pastor: Joyful are those who hunger and thirst for

righteousness, those passionate about justice for

the underdog, the defenceless, the under-

privileged,

People: for they will receive what they want in full.

Pastor: Joyful are the merciful, those who see every

person as a child of God and give comfort and

support regardless of the race, religion or the

kind of life that person leads,

People: for they will be shown mercy.

Pastor: Joyful are the pure in heart, the sincere,

committed, and loyal,

People: for they will see God.

Pastor: Joyful are the peacemakers, those who step out

of their comfort zone to bring about

reconciliation and newness,

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People: for they will be called sons of God.

Pastor: Joyful are those who are persecuted because of

their commitment to Jesus,

People: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY “We Give Thee But Thine Own” (Public

Domain)

1. We give Thee but Thine own,

Whate'er the gift may be;

All that we have is Thine alone,

A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

2. May we Thy bounties thus

As stewards true receive

And gladly, as Thou blessest us,

To Thee our first-fruits give!

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

LORD’S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9–13)

HYMN “When Morning Gilds the Skies” LW 460

When morning gilds the skies,

My heart awaking cries:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

When evening shadows fall,

This rings my curfew call:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

When mirth for music longs,

This is my song of songs:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

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God’s holy house of prayer

Has none that can compare

With "May Jesus Christ be praised!"

To him, my highest and best,

I sing when love possessed:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Whatever my hands begin,

This blessing shall break in:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sing, sun and stars of space,

Sing, all who see his face,

Sing, "Jesus Christ be praised!"

God’s whole creation over,

Today and evermore

Shall Jesus Christ be praised!

PRAYER: Blessed Lord, who has caused all Holy

Scripture to be written for our learning, grant

that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark,

learn, and inwardly digest them, that by the

patience and comfort of Your holy Word we

may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed

hope of everlasting life which You have given

us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and

reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one

God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

BENEDICTION

Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be

gracious to you.

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The Lord look upon you with favor and give

you peace. Numbers 6:24–26

People: Amen.

Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 1. Copyright ©

2016 Concordia Publishing House.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.

OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY

We welcome our members and guests who are here with

us today. May the Lord refresh you with peace and love

during our worship service on this Fourth Sunday after

Epiphany. Please join us here at Ebenezer again soon!

Please sign the guest register near the front entrance

with your name, address and Church affiliation. Thank

you!

Installation of Officers: During our Sunday morning

service will be installing our new officers for the coming

year. The new officers were elected last Monday at our

Voters’ Assembly. They are as follows: Paul Brune –

President, Wilbert Baumann – Vice President, Mark

Kassebaum – Secretary, Treasurer – Don Kappelmann,

Trustee – Alan Hilkerbaumer, Stewardship – Donald

Hoemann, Education – Karen Sprick, Evangelism – Judy

Hubenthal.

We give our sincere thanks for all our members that have

served as officers over the years and especially Don

Warren who is going off this year as Trustee.

In Our Prayers: Karon Herring – who is now at home,

Willma Helling – who has been relieved of her severe pain

and is getting stronger at home, Hugo Nething – dealing with

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issues of extreme pain, Shirley Shearmann, who is doing

much better after back surgery, the many people undergoing

various cancer treatments, and John Nagel, Margaret

Zastrow’s cousin in Georgia who is a paraplegic and dealing

with health issues.

Picnic – At the Monday night Voters’ Meeting we

decided to have a congregational picnic on June 11. Don

Kappelmann will set up a picnic committee to again have

a successful picnic.

VBS – At the Monday night Voters’ Meeting the

Education announced the dates of our Vacation Bible

School. The dates are July 24 – July 28. The theme will

be “A Mighty Fortress is our God – In Jesus the

Victory is one.” Margaret Zastrow and Karen Sprick

attended a workshop at Concordia Publishing House on

January 21 to be introduced to this year’s Vacation Bible

School Materials. Mission projects will be Otis Woodard

Mission, Grace’s Place in Washington, MO, and school

backpacks for area children. Thrivent Financial has

already has given support for Vacation Bible School.

You also can support our Vacation Bible School by using

the envelope marked Vacation Bible School in your

offering boxes.

Invitation – Our congregation is invited to attend the

Installation Service of Pastor Joel Pike at Immanuel

Lutheran Church at Rosebud, Mo today at 4:30 PM.

A meal and fellowship will immediately follow the

Installation Service. Please see the invitation on the

bulletin board at the back of our Church.

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2016 Church Contributions – Annual statements of

contributions for 2016 have been e-mailed. Please print

your statement immediately and keep it with your tax

records.

Members who do not have e-mail can pick up their

printed statements from the ushers at the Church

entrance. If you receive a printed statement but have e-

mail, please give us that address so we can send your

statements electronically in the future to minimize the

congregation’s printing and postage expense. Send it to

rolandwalkenhorst@gmail.com. Please report any

address corrections to Mary Sprick. If you do not receive

a statement and want one, call Roland Walkenhorst at

573-459-6702.

The Lutheran Witness – The date for the renewal or a

new subscription to The Lutheran Witness is February 1,

2017. Please let Mary know if you want to renew your

subscription or have a new one. The cost for the year’s

subscription is $15.96 and may be paid by a check made

payable to our Church.

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Those Serving Today

Organist Saturday Laura Nichols

Organist Sunday Ruth Marschel

Choir Director Kathy Scheer

Head Usher Saturday Tracey Bade

Head Usher Sunday Marvin Kassebaum

Altar Guild Mary Sprick

Acolytes Confirmation Class

Bell Ringer Jeff Hohlt

Offerings and Attendance

Weekly Contributions $1,595.00

Plate 197.88

Sunday School 24.75

Adeline Keune Memorial 50.00

Lutheran Witness Subscriptions 48.00

Energy Needs 20.00

Portals of Prayer 5.00

Epiphany Offering 10.00

$1,950.63

Attendance: Saturday Evening Worship 18

Sunday Morning Worship 66

Sunday School Attendance: Children 8

Adults 17

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This Week at Ebenezer

Tuesday Adult Confirmation 6:30 PM

Wednesday Confirmation 6:30 PM

Thursday Bible Study 10:00 AM

Saturday Worship with Holy

Communion 3:00 PM

Please be sure to pick up a February Newsletter for

more information.