​Sunday February 4th, 2024 Worship Services by Art Donart
 
 

 
 
 
​February 11th
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship.
· Ladies Lunch Bunch Feb.14 Rastelli’s Sign up Next to Karla’s Office
· The Gathering Place is every Thursday 1 pm– 4 pm
· Session meets February 18th.
· Ash Wednesday, February 14th
· Stations of the Cross on Good Friday noon at St. Boniface. More info is coming.
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
· JoAnn Grimm and Joan Boyd, residents of Fieldstone in DeWitt.
· Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
· Ellen and Keith Miller who struggle with health issues. Ellen is at Eagle Point Care Center
· Bev Hermann preparing for hip surgery on April 9th
· For our brothers and sisters in Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.
 
PRELUDE
 
CALL TO WORSHIP  (based on Psalm 139:7-10)
 Where can we go from God’s spirit?
 If we ascend to heaven, God is there; if we make our bed in Sheol, God is there. If we take the wings of morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, Even there God’s hand shall lead us, and God’s right hand will hold us fast.
 
GATHERING PRAYER
Almighty God, your son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world.  May your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth;  for he lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen
 
HYMN                       God of the Sparrow                                                               # 272
                                           
CALL TO CONFESSION   Let us approach God with confidence, trusting in God’s grace as we humbly confess our sins.
 
 PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, you know us better than we know ourselves. You know our sins even before we confess. Your knowledge is wonderful, but also challenging. We’d much rather avoid painful truths and deny our role in wrongdoing.
Help us face our failings so we can move forward .
WORD OF ASSURANCE   (Psalm 103:17)
“The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.” Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Amen.
 
SONG OF PRAISE                            Gloria Patri                                                      #579
 
PASSING THE PEACE
 May the peace of Christ be with you.
 And also with you.
INTERLUDE
Word
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION  (based on Psalm 19:14)
Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. As we approach your Word, may we be ready to receive the message you intend for us today. Amen.
 
 SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.  6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. …
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret  place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!  18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand--
 when I awake, I am still with you.
John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”  44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip 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.”  46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked .“Come and see,” said Philip.  47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”  48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”   50 Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you[ will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
 
 
SERMON                             Will you go, if He leads you?
The previous scriptures focused on Jesus’ baptism.  Our scriptures this week is focusing on starting to gather together the disciples that will become his students.  In verse 42 Jesus has started to gather his disciples.
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town  of Bethsaida.
The three of them came from the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee.
45 Philip 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.”
We notice that Philip, not Jesus goes looking for Nathanael, and he is excited to tell him that they have found Jesus the one Moses wrote about.  Here Jesus is not called the Son of God, but the son of Joseph, Jesus of Nazareth.  Questions for you to think about.  Why is Jesus called the son of Joseph, not the son of God?   Is this to point out his humanity?  Could they possibly think Jesus is a prophet?
Deuteronomy 18:15 is the verse that refers to Moses.
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites.  You must listen to him.
 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
This is interesting.  Huh, did they have rivalries and prejudices way back then?  Nazareth was an unknown town off the beaten path.  We wonder did it have a not so favorable reputation?
“Come and see,” said Philip.  47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
We need to remember that Jesus knew Nathanael before he was born.  In the book of Jeremiah, the Lord said in Jeremiah 1:5 says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born; I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.  Here is another question for us, did the Lord know us before we were born?  Have we been set apart also?  Wouldn’t have been interesting to see the look on Nathanael’s face when Jesus made the comment about no deceit?  I formed you in
  48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Do we wonder is Nathanael racking his brain trying to figure out how Jesus knew him?  Did he study Jesus’ face to see if recalls seeing him somewhere before?
  Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Nathanael became a believer and a dedicated follower at that time.  He did not see a prophet, he saw the Son of God.
  50 Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[b] you[c] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[d] the Son of Man.”
Nathanael was present at the time Christ returned to heaven.  Who was this Nathanael? I don’t recall the name Nathanael being one of the twelve disciples, do you?  According to a little digging and research, Nathanael was Bartholomew.  Now that name rings a bell as being one of the twelve.  We do not read much about Bartholomew in the bible.  According to my research he was dedicated and a martyr.
What can we take from these scriptures for us today?
45 Philip 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.”
Do we believe that Jesus is the one Moses wrote about?  Is Jesus the one true Messiah?  Have we accepted Jesus as our Savior? 
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
Sometimes we speak before we think.  We put our mouth in gear before our brain has thought things through.  Are we judgemental?  Are we prejudice?  Are we bias because of things we have heard?  Even if we are not sure if they are true. 
50 Jesus said, “You believe[a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
Have we ever asked ourselves, “What do we believe and why we believe what we believe?”
Our title:  Will you go, if He leads you?
God does not give the work to those who are always the best person for the job.  I consider me one of the least qualified or educated to lead a worship service, but as the song says, Here I am Lord.  I did not choose to become a pastor, God did.  I could have continued to resist God’s call.  I did that for over twenty years.
If God is calling you to do something, don’t resist.  God will give you what you need to do what he asks you to do.  Do you remember the Holy Spirit?  God has filled His people with the Holy Spirit to be able to do His will.  I can see a small child’s response to this.  God will give you super powers!
Believe this as I know it is true.  Let God prove it to you.  If God urges you to do something, pray and ask his guidance.  Don’t ignore God.  I don’t think we want Jesus to ignore us in front of his Father, do we?  We do not know when Christ will come back for his church?  We need to serve God each and every day, until he comes again. Can we say, “Here I am Lord!”
Amen
 
 
 
HYMN                              Just as I Am, Without One Plea                                    #370
PASTORAL PRAYER AND 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
OFFERING OUR GIFTS AND OUR PLEDGES TO GOD
 
*DOXOLOGY        Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow                                #592
 
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy God, these offerings are only a portion of all that you have given us. We gratefully present these gifts and entrust them to your work in this world. May our gifts share the good news of the gospel to those who are in need. May these gifts help unburden those with the heaviest of loads. Amen.
 
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith)
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation.
Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.
 
HYMN                                       Here I Am Lord                                                      #525              
 
Sending Forth
CHARGE & BLESSING
  
 POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.        
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.

​February 4th
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship..
Ladies Lunch Bunch  Feb.14  Rastelli's Sign up Next to Karla’s Office
The Gathering Place is every Thursday 1pm– 4pm
Session meets February 18th
Ash Wednesday February 14th
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
 JoAnn Grimm and Joan Boyd residents of Fieldstone in DeWitt.
Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
Ellen and Keith Miller who struggle with health issues. Ellen is at Eagle Point Care Center
Bev Hermann preparing for hip surgery on April 9th
For our brothers and sisters in Israel and Palestine and Ukraine.
 
PRELUDE
 
 
CALL TO WORSHIP
 
C = Celebrant           A = Assembly
 
C       In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 
A        Amen
C       The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.   
 A  And also with you.
 
 
GATHERING PRAYER
 
C       Let us pray. 
A Gracious God, we come this morning seeking answers to our lingering questions. We seek your truth that offers new blessings of life and  hope. Help us, this day, to let go of the wisdom of this world and to grasp hold of your blessings that some might call foolishness, but which we know is salvation for all who believe.. Amen
 
HYMN                       Fairest Lord Jesus                                                                 #306                         
                                            
CALL TO CONFESSION
C       You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord have mercy.
A Lord, have mercy.
C       You came to call sinners: Christ have mercy.     
A Christ, have mercy.           
C       You Plead for us at the right hand of the Father: Lord have mercy.
A        Lord, have mercy.
C       May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
          Everlasting life. 
Amen
(recited together)
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.  Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us; You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen
.
PASSING THE PEACE
          May the peace of Christ be with you. 
    And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
Word
 
First Reading                                         Jb 7, 1-4, 6-7
Lector reads:
A reading from the Book of Job
 
Job spoke, saying: Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages.  So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been told off for me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise? Then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; They come to and end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. This is the Word of the Lord.      
          Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
 
C  Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.
A  Praise the Lord, for God is good; Sing praise to our God, for God is gracious; It is fitting to praise God. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
The dispersed of Israel God gathers.
C  Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.
A  God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
God tells the number of the stars; God calls each by name.
C  Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.
A  Great is our Lord and mighty in power; To God’s wisdom, there is no limit. The Lord sustains the lowly; The wicked God casts to the ground.
C Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.
 
Reading II                                   (1 Cor 9, 16-19. 22-23)
 
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians
.
Preaching the gospel is not the subject of a boast; I am under compulsion and have no choice. I am ruined if I do not preach it! If I do it willingly, I have my recompense; if unwillingly, I am nonetheless entrusted with a charge. And this recompense of mine? It is simply this; that when preaching I offer the gospel free of charge and do not make full use of the authority the gospel gives me. Although I am not bound to anyone, I made myself the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak, I became a weak person with a view to winning the weak. I have made myself all things to all men in order to save at least some of them. In fact, I do all that I do for the sake of the gospel in the hope of having a share in its blessings.
This is the Word of the Lord.
A Thanks be to God  
 
C This is the gospel, the good news of the Lord.
 A Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
 
          Gospel Mk 1: 29-39
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
 
C. A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark
A Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
C. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
A Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
 
Homily
        
 
 Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, The Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, The only Son of God, Eternaly begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate: he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.     We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.     With the Father and the Son who is worshiped and glorified. Who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.     AMEN
                            
HYMN                              There is a Balm in Gilead                                             #394                    
 
PASTORAL PRAYER  AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
C  We pray to the Lord.
A  Lord, hear our prayer. 
C. Lord, remember your people throughout the world; make us grow in love. Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again; bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence.
A       Lord, hear our prayer
C  Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with the apostles and all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory though your Son, Jesus, the Christ.
A       Lord, hear our prayer
C       Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your people and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever
A       Amen
 
C       Let us pray in the words our Savior taught us.
A 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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
HYMN                                          Be Thou My Vision                                              #339                              
 
 
Sending Forth
CHARGE & BLESSING
                                                               
C  The Lord be with you.
A   And also with you.
C   May almighty God bless you, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
A    Amen
C   You are sent forth to love and serve the Lord and one another.
 A  Thanks be to God.
        
 POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.        
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.
 

​There were no services due to weather conditions. We at First United Presbyterian church decided not to have church services these weeks for everyone's safety.

​There were no services due to weather conditions. We at First United Presbyterian church decided not to have church services these weeks for everyone's safety.

​January 7th
Gathering
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Please join us in Calvin Hall following worship today for a time of fellowship..
· Taking Down Christmas Decoration  January 9th @ 9am
· Ladies Lunch Bunch  Jan. 10 Ricky’s Place Sign up Next to Karla’s Office
· The Gathering Place will reconvene Jan. 11.
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
·  JoAnn Grimm and Joan Boyd residents of Fieldstone in DeWitt.
· Joan Pinkston, on hospice.
· Ellen and Keith Miller who struggle with health issues. Ellen is at Eagle Point Care Center
· Bev Hermann having hip surgery
· For our brothers and sisters in Israel and Palestine and Ukraine.
 
PRELUDE
 
 
*CALL TO WORSHIP    (Philippians 3:12 – 16)
 
I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
 
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
 
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
 
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus
 
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things, and if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
 
Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
 
 
*GATHERING PRAYER
Father, make clear to us your will for our lives that we may press on toward the goal. When our gaze falls back to earthly things, lift our heads once again to gaze upon you.                                      
*HYMN                       The King of Love My Shepherd Is                                       #171                                                                                          
                                                (You may be seated.)
 
 
 
CALL TO CONFESSION
Make ready our hearts to receive your Word, Oh Lord that we may fulfill all that you have for us. Please join me in the prayer of confession. 
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Wash us o lord, and we shall be whiter than snow. Forgive us our sins for they are many. Never stop seeking us, Lord, for we are as sheep and we lose our way. Thank you that you always welcome us back into the fold and that your mercies are new every morning. Help us to forgive ourselves, Lord Jesus, and live a worthy life. Amen                                                               
 
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
In God’s wisdom and grace, he forgives sin and Jesus atones our sin. Walk freely now in His love and grace.                                                                          
SONG OF PRAISE                Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise   #263
 
PASSING THE PEACE
  May the peace of Christ be with you. 
    And also with you.
 
INTERLUDE
Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 
Lord God, With the words spoken this day, may we, too, be nudged to declare, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, anointing us to bring good news to the oppressed and to bind up the brokenhearted.”  We open our ears and our hearts to you, Gracious Lord. Amen.
 
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS: 
 Isaiah 43: 18-19
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”          .
 
                                            Matthew  5:13 – 16
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
 
 
 
SERMON            Seasonings Greetings: Salt and Light       
                        
*HYMN                                Here I am Lord                                                            #525                                                                             
                                     (you may be seated.)
 
PASTORAL PRAYER  AND 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.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever. Amen.
 
OFFERING OUR GIFTS AND OUR PLEDGESTO GOD
 
*DOXOLOGY  Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow                           #592
 
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
 
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
 
 
HYMN                           Praise Ye the Lord, the almighty                                              #482                            
                                             
 
 
 
Sending Forth
*CHARGE AND BLESSING
You are called to be salt and light, to live with the assurance of your redemption, and to expect that God can and will do more than we ask or pray for. Go forth, then, living with the boldness of your calling.
  
 POSTLUDE
* Sections of the service preceded with * are times to stand if you are able to do so.        
Bold text is to be read together aloud as a congregation.