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2nd Sunday After Epiphany/MLK Commemoration Sunday

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, January 18, 2026

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Prelude Let Us Break Bread Together Spiritual

Arr. Albert Zabel

Welcome & Announcements

*Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Litany

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Almighty God, + in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace and in the hearing of your holy word; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We remember the conviction of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

Lord, give courage and determination to those who are oppressed.

We remember Dr. King’s warning that “a negative peace which is the absence of tension” is less than “a positive peace which is the presence of justice.”

Lord, help those who work for peace in our world to cry out first for justice.

We remember Dr. King’s insight that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”

Lord, allow us to see nothing in isolation, but know ourselves bound to one another and to all people under heaven.

We remember Dr. King’s lament that “the contemporary church is often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch-supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are.”

Lord, we pray that neither this congregation nor any church may be silent in the face of wrong, but that we may be disturbers of the status quo when that is your call to us.

We remember Dr. King’s hope that “dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not-too-distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.” In faith, and washed in your grace Lord, we commend ourselves and our work for justice to your goodness, almighty God.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Amen.

*Gathering Hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

*Prayer of the Day

Holy God, our strength and our redeemer, by your Spirit hold us forever, that through your grace we may worship you and faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures Isaiah 49:1-7

1 Listen to me, O coastlands; pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born; while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord and my reward with my God.” 5 And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—6 he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, “Kings shall see and stand up; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 40

1 I waited patiently up- | on the Lord,

who stooped to me and | heard my cry.

2 The Lord lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the | miry clay,

and set my feet upon a high cliff, making my | footing sure.

3 The Lord put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise | to our God;

many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust | in the Lord.

4 Happy are they who trust | in the Lord!

They do not turn to enemies or to those who | follow lies. R

5 Great are the wonders you have done, O Lord my God! In your plans for us, none can be com- | pared with you!

Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! But they are more than | I can count.

6 Sacrifice and offering you do | not desire;

you have opened my ears: burnt-offering and sin-offering you have | not required. R

7 And so I said, “Here I | am; I come.

In the scroll of the book it is writ- | ten of me:

8 ‘I love to do your will, | O my God;

your law is | deep within me.’ ”

9 I proclaimed righteousness in the | great assembly;

I have not restrained my lips, O | Lord, you know.

10 I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and | your deliverance;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and truth from the | great assembly.

11 You are the Lord; do not withhold your compas- | sion from me;

may your steadfast love and your truth continually | keep me safe. R

The Epistle Lesson 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the partnership of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation

In the | Word was life,* and the life was the light | of all people. (John 1:4)

*Gospel John 1:29-42 Glory to you O Lord

29 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Chosen One.”

35 The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). 42 He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson

*Hymn of the Day Just a Closer Walk With Thee

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.

*Prayers of Intercession

v1 I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain In him there is no darkness at all. The day and the night are both alike. The lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

Prayer Petitions

Response to each petition: Merciful God, receive our prayer.

v2 I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus.

Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path, and show me the way to the Father. Refrain

*Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

Give online using the QR code

Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

Offering Music There is a Balm in Gilead Setting Gerre Hancock

Offering Prayer

God of majesty, no eye has seen, no ear has heard what you have prepared for those who love you, yet in this meal you reveal the wideness of your mercy. Use what we have gathered to feed us with the reign of God come near, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, … with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus

*Eucharistic Prayer

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, … almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Communion Distribution

Communion Hymn Precious Lord

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

Radiant God, we have seen your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. In the sacrament of his body and blood you have drawn us to your heart. Send us from this table with delight, that our lives may reflect the beauty of your love, and bear witness to all we have seen and heard, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*Sending Hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing