The Fifth Sunday After Epiphany - Online Worship - February 7, 2021

vs. 1
Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful,
Where Your streams
Of abundance flow,
Blessed be Your name.

vs. 2
Blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place,
Though I walk
Through the wilderness,
Blessed be Your name.

Ev’ry blessing
You pour out I’ll
Turn back to praise.
When the darkness
Closes in, Lord,
Still I will say,
(refrain) 

refrain:
“Blessed be the name
Of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be the name
Of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name.”

Friends, a new epiphany breaks forth today, blessed be your name, Lord; for The Bright New Light is here, and God graces us with a new finding in the One who searches for us first, so we worship, in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

People of God: The Lord determines the number of stars; he gives them all names. Let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we have failed to trust the Lord, and all we find and trust in The Light of the world, the One who finds us first.

(silence for reflection)

Dear friends: God is the One who heals the brokenhearted. A new sign breaks forth! Receive a new epiphany today: All you are searching for is here, in The Bright New Light of God’s grace: Jesus saves, and Jesus forgives you all your sins. This morning and all your days, rise anew; our precious Lord, forever takes our hand!

Almighty and loving God, as Jesus came to the first disciples, come to us, fill us by your Holy Spirit with a new epiphany. Open the eyes of our hearts and souls, to search first for you, to see you in our daily lives. Renew our spirits with the grace of The Bright New Light, as you lift us up, as you change our hearts to make God and neighbor first. In Jesus’ name, we find all we are looking for, and we pray. Amen.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

(New Revised Standard Version)

ISAIAH 40:21-31; 1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-23; MARK 1:29-39

Have you ever been in the dark?  You looked and could not find the light switch?  It was not where you thought it was?  You think, who moved it?  Have you ever been alone in the dark?  You thought someone was with you?  Maybe you thought you could make it through the dark on your own, then you realized you were lost, in despair?  How did it feel when you found the light or turned it on, or when you saw you were not alone after all?  Our lives are not different from the first disciples.  Today we hear again of illness and despair.  We hear about searching.  We hear, too, about Jesus' faithfulness to his calling - "for that is what I came to do."  Jesus came so we would not be alone, to be The Bright New Light in our darkness, so our search for hope, grace and light would be over!

Count the letter “I,” upper and lower case, in the following sentence:

Why am I forever searching for The One who is for all eternity faithfully searching for me, finding me first, saving me first, in The Bright New Light?

(There are 14 “i”s in the question above, 5 in line 1, 9 in line 2 - the reason for the simple exercise, is that often, when we go searching, we miss what is right in front of us!  May we forever see The Christ, The Spirit, right in front of us!)

1. Do you ever find yourself reaching for some light?  Are you afraid of the dark?
Isaiah 40:21; Mark 1:35 `In the morning, while still dark...’

A. Our world at times is very dark.  It is sad, unknown, heavy, hard to understand, unjust, unfair.

B. We feel left in the dark as we face questions, doubts.  We worry: `How good do I have to be?'  `Why do we love Jesus, and still make mistakes?'  `Will we get to see God when we die?'  Even though we see, we hear, we are still unsure.

C. We go searching and hunting for the light of Christ. Mark 1:35-37

i. We can feel like he has deserted us.

ii. We need his light to heal us and to fix us.

iii. We look for The Bright New Light to save us from the dark, the demons, evil, and all that persists around us.

iv.      "... those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings, as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31
Hope is right in front of us, in The One who finds us!

2. To be in the dark and searching is bad enough.  To be in the dark, and to feel all alone is even worse.  1 Corinthians 9:19,23; Mark 1:31,33-34,38-39

A. Have you ever been alone in the dark?  So alone, and so dark, you are not sure which direction you are going?

B. As bad as the dark can feel, it always feels better to have someone else with us.  We are not the only ones in the dark.

C. God gives us each other, to search with, to serve, to share the story, and to follow with, side by side.

D. For the sake of the gospel, we may need to go into the dark, to tell those in the dark, to serve those in the dark, to invite, stand firm, uphold justice, as we find Who is always right in front of us!

3. When we are in the dark, no matter how alone we feel, we can trust The Bright New Light we reach for and search for will shine on us.

A. Trust God has already given us all the light we need to fill every corner of our life.  Mark 1:30-31 - Jesus came to Simon's mother-in-law in her time of need.  Our Lord comes to us, too!

B. Whatever need you have, look for Jesus to fill it.  Whatever you are desperate for, trust the Lord will satisfy it.

C. Isaiah 40:25 - Nothing on earth can compare to God and his light.  Nothing is equal to God and God's light.

D. Mark 1:35 - In the morning, while it was still dark - Jesus prayed.  In the morning, while it was still dark - Jesus rose again, Easter morning, for you and for the world.  Jesus is The Bright New Light, our hope, our strength.  In Christ, celebrate and hold fast: The search for The Bright New Light is over!

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

vs. 1
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, Through the night,
Lead me on to the light,
Take my hand, Precious Lord,
Lead me home.

vs. 3
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand,
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.

... as we pray to you, Jesus,

Give us a new epiphany, in your bright new light and grace.

All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Holy Communion will take place after the closing Benediction. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.

In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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 bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace, for you are blessed with The Bright New Light of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ! In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Let us go in the peace of Christ, celebrating the love of God, trusting anew every epiphany in The Bright New Light, and serving The Lord of life.

Thanks be to God!

Lord of all creation,
Of water, earth and sky,
The heavens are Your tabernacle;
Glory to The Lord on high.

refrain:
God of Wonders,
Beyond our galaxy,
You are holy, holy;
The universe
Declares Your majesty.
You are holy, holy;
Lord of heaven and earth,
Lord of heaven and earth.

Early in the morning,
I will celebrate the light.
When I stumble in the darkness,
I will call Your name by night.
(refrain)

Hallelujah to the
Lord of heaven and earth.
Hallelujah to the
Lord of heaven and earth.
Hallelujah to the
Lord of heaven and earth.
(refrain)

Lord of heaven and earth.

At this time we will transition to offering Holy Communion. As a reminder, to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.

Upon leaving your seats and receiving Communion, we ask that you please leave the building and return to your vehicles.

For your safety and the safety of our community, we ask that once you leave your seated area and return to your vehicles that you avoid congregating near your vehicles.

We will continue to sing songs during Communion, and you are welcome to leave at any time. Drive Through Communion will begin at 10:15 and run until 10:30.

refrain:
There is none like You, 
No one else can touch
My heart like You do;
I could search for
All eternity long and find
There is none like You.
(repeat)

vs. 1
Your mercy flows like a river wide
And healing comes from Your hands;
Suffering children are safe in Your arms,
There is none like You.
(refrain)

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Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!

Join us next Sunday, February 14, 9:30 a.m., as we share and celebrate The Transfiguration of Our Lord, “The Bright New Change!” Worship to include a Children’s Message and a Sermon from Pastor Jamie! Worship to be 30 minutes, and to conclude with Holy Communion! Join us in-person or via our live stream efforts!

Beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 17, midweek Lenten services will be provided thanks to our virtual efforts, via a link in our daily Lenten devotions, website, and Facebook page.

Please plan to join us for our Annual Meeting at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 28! You can join us in-person or through Zoom or a similar virtual experience. The logistics are being finalized and will be communicated to you soon!

As we share worship in this new way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion will be offered to you following the closing song as you exit the sanctuary, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!

For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the sanctuary.

For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.

We hope having the service provided for you in this way, will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them.

In this time when we are committed to safety and social distancing, please trust we are equally committed to keeping us socially and spiritually connected! 

On behalf of the Kingdom of God, thank you for the ways you make God and neighbor first!

From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

Litany Trusting a New Epiphany In Grace & The Bright New Light, written based on Psalm 1471. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “My Soul Is Thirsting” © 1987 GIA Publications, Inc., Michael Joncas OL #00801“Seek Ye First” © 1972 CCCM Music, Karen Lafferty CCLI #1352“The Heart of Worship” © 1998 Thankyou Music, Matt Redman CCLI #2296522 “Blessed Be Your Name” © 2002 Thankyou Music, CCLI #3798438 “Jesus Loves Me” Music & Lyrics Public Domain, CCLI #4771887 “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” © 1938 Unichappell Music Inc. OL #59543 “God of Wonders” © 2000 New Spring Publishing, Inc. CCLI #3118757 “There Is None Like You” © 1991Integrity’s Hosanna! Music, CCLI #674545 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.