Brothers and sisters, the LORD be with you. I encourage you to attend worship and Bible study. There is forgiveness and life where God’s word is spoken. Many Christians in the world face danger for the opportunities we take for granted.
I will begin by inviting you to a shrimp boil fundraiser Saturday 24, 11 am to 2 pm. Cost is $15 per plate.
Please mark your calendars for Ash Wednesday, February 18. The season of Lent begins. We will conduct midweek services.
January 18 is the second Sunday after Epiphany. We will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 of the LSB hymnal.
Hymns chosen for the day include #402 The Only Son From Heaven; #829 Christ the Eternal Lord; #616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me; #824 May God Bestow On Us His Grace.
Scriptures assigned to the day by the three-year lectionary: Psalm 40:1-11; Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; and John 1:29-42a. One theme common to the readings is God’s divine Call to sinners that they would be His disciples and belong to His kingdom living under His grace.
God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 49, speaking as the Servant who will lead the nations to God. Short term it could be describing the nation of Israel as a single person. Ultimately the passage is pointing us to Jesus the Messiah. He will restore the relation between Man and God which Man broke by sin. Many will hate and reject Him. The prophecy includes the surprising announcement that citizens from every nation will be restored by this Servant, not only those believers of ancient Israel. In baptism God chooses you as well, and promises to restore you, giving each of us reason to humble ourselves and honor Him.
The epistle lesson is the opening verses of St. Paul’s first letter to the congregation in Corinth (southern Greece). Later in the Paul will criticize and attempt to correct sinful attitudes evident in the congregation, But in these opening verses, Paul begins by thanking God for calling members into His church, helping them to grow, mature, live, and be sustained in true faith. In a similar way God has called you, giving you His Holy Spirit in baptism to sustain you in faith until the day of Jesus’ return.
The gospel lesson is St John’s account of Jesus calling His first disciples. Notice how these disciples begin to invite others to also be disciples. And so, as the Holy Spirit leads and works faith, the Church grows. These first disciples realize they have met the Messiah (Anointed One, Christ) promised by God.
COLLECT: Almighty and everlasting God, Who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any pray requests or questions about schedules or Sunday’s Scripture lessons. God bless you. Pastor Boster.
