Everything you need for January 29 online worship.
Preparations for Worship:
- Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
- Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers).
- This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
- Before you begin, load each of the videos below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
- Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
“Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
CONFESSION OF SINS
The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. And also with you.
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.
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.
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. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God gave his Word so, “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The Scriptures testify about Jesus, who lived a perfect life for you, died on the cross to pay for all your sins, and rose again to assure you of your salvation. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority , I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
LESSON – ZEPHANIAH 2:3, 3:11-13
3Seek the Lord, all you humble people of the earth who have carried out his commands. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. Maybe then you will be sheltered in the day of the Lord’s anger.
11In that day you will no longer bear the shame of your rebellions against me. Then I will remove the proud boasters from among you, and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill. 12But I will leave among you the people who are humble and weak. They will seek refuge in the name of the Lord. 13The Israelites who remain will no longer act unjustly. They will not lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. Instead, they will graze peacefully like sheep and lie down. No one will terrify them.
GOSPEL – MATTHEW 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up onto a mountain. When he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He opened his mouth and began to teach them. He said these things: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. In fact, that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
DEVOTION – 1 CORINTHIANS 1:26-31
CONFESSION OF FAITH
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.
OFFERING
Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church.
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.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Almighty Lord and Judge of all, do not contend against us; for although Your indictment of our sinfulness is true, Your Son has suffered our condemnation.
Hear Him as He pleads for our pardon, and for His sake forgive us our sins and preserve us as Your people.
God of all wisdom, You tell us plainly that the Word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but it is Your power to all who are being saved.
Remove our stubborn inclination to follow our sinful desires, and strengthen us gladly to submit to Your holy will as we await the day of the new heaven and earth.
Heavenly Father, You have given Your firstborn for our transgressions. Strengthen all parents and guardians, that the children in their care might not be trained in the transgressions of their forebears, but rejoice in Your ways. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, You choose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, and You use our infirmities for our good. Hear our prayers on behalf of all who are afflicted.
Deliver them according to Your will, and make use of their trials to increase their confidence in You.
Almighty God, Lord of the nations, just as Paul strived to reach all people by all means possible, so we pray that you would open many hearts to trust in Jesus through the biblical media created and distributed by WELS Multi-Language Productions. Help them to communicate the wonderful truths of Scripture clearly and concisely in 56 different languages as well as through artwork and music. Continue to inspire your servants as they carry out your work.
Reassure them of your presence in their work and your blessing on their efforts.
Lord God, heavenly Father, receive our thanks for the saints whom You preserved in righteousness and delivered to glory. Purify our hearts by Your grace and strengthen us against temptation, that we would look joyfully to the day when we will see You in Your glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who taught us to pray…
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. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S BLESSING
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. Amen.