St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

January 25, 2025 Epiphany 3

JESUS IS THE LIGHT

WELCOME – we will be using the BLUE HYMNAL today.

HYMN 792 “O Trinity, Most Blessed Light” - please stand for last stanza THE SERVICE – Setting Two - page 172ff

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 8:19-9:4

The prophet foretold that people walking in darkness would see a great light.

19 When they tell you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists, who whisper and mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If people do not speak according to this word, there will be no dawn for them. 21 They will pass through the land, distressed and starving, but when this takes place and they are starving, they will be frustrated, and they will curse their king and their God. They will turn their faces upward, 22 and then they will look down to the ground, but I tell you, they will see only distress, darkness, and the gloom that brings anguish. They will be banished into thick darkness 91 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for the land that was in anguish. In former times, he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will cause it to be glorious, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles.2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. For those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. 3 You have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you like the joy at harvest time, like the celebration when people divide the plunder. 4For you have shattered the yoke that burdened them. You have broken the bar on their shoulders

and the rod of their oppressor, As you did in the day of Midian.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 27 “The LORD Is My Light”

The LORD is my light, the LORD is my help, the LORD is my salvation.

Refrain - sung

Verses - spoken responsively

Glory be the Father - spoken in union

SECOND LESSON: 1 John 2:3-11

God’s children walk in the light of Christ by living in love for God and for one another.

3 This is how we know that we have known him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5If anyone keeps God’s word, the love of God is truly made complete in him. This is how we know that we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk as Jesus walked. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one that you have had since the beginning. The old command is the message you heard. 8 At the same time, the command I am writing is new—it is true in Jesus and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 The one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to stumble. 11 The one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Alleluia.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – sung (page 179)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Jesus is the light / of the world /

in him we have the / light of life.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL: Matthew 4:12-17

Jesus preached the light of the gospel to a world in the darkness of unbelief.

12 When Jesus heard that John was put in prison, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 He did this to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and on those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death a light has dawned.17 From that time, Jesus began to preach: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise be to you, O Christ.

HYMN 904 “O Christ, Our True and Only Light”

SERMON: Matthew 4:12-17

Light Repentance

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - page 182

HYMN 381 “The People Who in Darkness Walked”

PRAYER: C: Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING: C: Amen.

HYMN 376 “Rise Up and Shine”

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING.

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “Taboo” at parsonage

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house ➢

Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on Philippians at Pastor’s house

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP

UPCOMING EVENTS

➢ Saturday, February 21 – Men Alive Rally – in Bay City

➢ Friday – Sunday, April 10-12 – Sisters in Christ Retreat – in Traverse City

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®)