The Second Sunday After The Epiphany

January 20, 2008 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. We're glad you're here! Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. You will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family.

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service. Stick around for some refreshments and a little conversation. We hope you are able to stay!

The Lord's Supper is being celebrated today. This special meal, instituted by Christ, unites us with Him and our brothers and sisters in the faith. This sacrament is intended for those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven; and believe that the true body and blood of Jesus are present with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Guests who share this faith are invited to speak with the pastor before joining us in this holy meal.

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Mary & Jerry Holen, greeters

Nicole Burkhardt, keyboard

John Mueller, communion assistant

Pastor John Baumann of Mt. Olive Chinese Church is leading our worship this Sunday, while Pastor Henkel is preaching for the 30^th Anniversary of Ascension Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN. God’s blessings upon Pastor Baumann’s message and upon all who hear it!

Sunday’s Worship Service will be held in the Fellowship Hall because of the cold temperatures.

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: The Common Service, page 15 in front of the hymnal

Hymns: 279 86 577 84

Message: I Corinthians 1:1-9

“We Have Been Enriched By God”

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 49:1-7

Listen to Me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called Me; from My birth He has made mention of My name. He made My mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of His hand He hid Me; He made Me into a polished arrow and concealed Me in His quiver. He said to Me, "You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will display My splendor."

But I said, "I have labored to no purpose; I have spent My strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due Me is in the Lord's hand, and My reward is with My God."

And now the Lord says-- He who formed Me in the womb to be His servant to bring Jacob back to Him and gather Israel to Himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and My God has been My strength-- He says: "It is too small a thing for You to be My servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make You a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring My salvation to the ends of the earth."

This is what the Lord says-- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel-- to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see You and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You."

EPISTLE I Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-- their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I always thank God for you because of His grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way-- in all your speaking and in all your knowledge-- because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

HOLY GOSPEL John 1:29-42

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.' I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel."

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" "Come," He replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Visitors: Please include your email address in the Friendship Register information. Thanks!

Linda Petersen will be sharing Pastor Terry Schultz’s joyous response to Mt. Olive’s Peru earthquake relief offering at the close of today’s worship service. Thank you to all who participated!

Following This Morning’s Social Time, you are invited to help take down the Christmas decorations. Thanks, Fran, for heading up our church decorating again this Christmas season!

Christian Life Ministries invites you to its Annual Dinner this afternoon, January 20^th at SCLHS, beginning at 4:30pm. A Door Offering for CLM will be taken here at Mt. Olive this Sunday for those who would like to support the cause but can’t attend the dinner.

Position Available: Christian Life Ministries is looking for a new Assistant Director for our Life Center in Little Canada. Interested candidates need no prior experience but should be a WELS/ELS member with a strong heart for pro-life issues and working with individuals dealing with challenges due to pregnancy and parenting. The position entails an 8-10 hour work week with very flexible hours (perfect for individuals with school-age children) with a stipend of $300 per month. Training in the areas of counseling, intake procedures, coordination of services and responsibilities would be included. This is a unique and very rewarding way to witness to those in need of God’s love and concern for their lives and the lives of their children. If you are interested in an interview please contact Cheryl Tembreull or Rebecca Hillstrom at 651-649-3538, Monday thru Friday between the hours of 10-2 to set up an appointment time.

WELS Kingdom Workers will host its annual Mission Concert and Tinucci-catered Dinner next Sunday, January 27^th, at Bloomington Lutheran Church. This event is becoming more and more popular, and will feature the musical talents of Susan Ann, Caitlin Bandelin, the Cantabile Singers, and the Western Accents. Childcare will be provided. It begins at 4:00pm. Welcome!

Back To The Future is the SCLHS Auction theme. March 8, 2008 is the date. Now is the time to put your creative ideas to work. Now is the time to drop off your donation at St. Croix Lutheran High School. Check on-line for a list of ideas, for items already donated and for information concerning the auction at www.sclhs.org. Call 651-455-1521 x106 if you would like to bring larger items to the loading dock. Thank you for your support!

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time

10:30am Sunday School (No Adult Education Hour)

10:30am Take Down Christmas Decorations

4:30pm Christian Life Ministries Annual Dinner/SCLHS

Monday: 2:00pm Worship Service at Lyngblomsten

7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Wednesday: 5:30pm Confirmation Class

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Study

7:00pm “Women in the Word” Bible Study

Next Sunday: 9:00am Family Worship Service

4:00pm Mission Concert and Dinner at Bloomington Lutheran