Sunday 19 February, 2017 – Seventh Sunday after Epiphany (Proper 2), Year A

Here are the resources you need for this Sunday. Please feel free to choose what is suitable for your congregation’s needs. You will notice that the orders of service are available in different formats: choose the “pdf” format if you want something that is ready to print and photocopy, the “doc” or “rtf” format if you wish to change the formatting yourself or the “ppt” format if you use PowerPoint.

Altar colour: Green

Bible readings:
FIRST READING Leviticus 19:1,2,9-18 Be holy- the Lord is God
PSALM Psalm 119:33-40
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 3:10,11,16-23 Built on Christ alone- God’s wisdom
GOSPEL Matthew 5:38-48 Loving your enemies

Sermons:
Lay-readers please note: the linked sermons have not been edited for general use. As part of your preparations, keep in mind that they have been written for specific people in a specific context, and for this reason the issues they address or the examples they use may not be entirely suitable for people in your congregation. If you feel this is the case, you may need to make minor adjustments or find another sermon.
Based on the gospel reading: edited for lay reading sermon – matthew 5 38-48 – year a – epiphany 7 ; Pr Vince Gerhardy ; NEW Pr Vince Gerhardy ; NEW edited for lay reading sermon – matt 5 38-48 – year a – epiphany 7

Opening Sentences:
Be children of your Father in heaven,
for he makes his sun shine on the evil and on the good.  (Matt 5:45 NRSV)

OR
You shall be holy,
for I the Lord your God am holy.  (Lev 19:2 NRSV)

OR
You are God’s temple,
and God’s Spirit dwells in you.  (1 Cor 3:16 NRSV alt)

 

Orders of service:
Epiphany Sunday Word and Prayer ( pdf / doc / ppt )
Service of the Word (pdf / rtf/ ppt)
Morning Praise (pdf/ rtf/ ppt)
Service without communion (pdf / doc /ppt )
Service orders with holy communion
Service with communion (page 6) (pdf / doc / ppt
Alternative form A (page 58) (pdf / doc/ ppt)
Sing the Feast (Chataway) (pdf / doc/ ppt)
Simplified Spoken (pdf / doc/ ppt)
Service with Five Songs of Faith (pdf / rtf/ ppt)

Prayer of the Day (Collect): Choose one of the following
Traditional
O God,
since you know that we cannot put our trust
in anything that we do:
mercifully defend us by your power
against all the evil that opposes us;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, modernised traditional
Lord God,
you know that we cannot put our trust
in anything that we do.
In mercy defend us by your power
from all the evil we face.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, alternative
(Let us pray for love, to fulfil God’s law. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God,
you have taught us through your Son
that to love is to fulfil the law.
Help us to love you with our whole heart,
and our neighbours as ourselves.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR, new
(Let us pray that we love our enemies. [silence])
Loving heavenly Father,
thank you that your Son loved us
even when we were enemies,
and that he prayed for those who killed him.
Teach us to be merciful like you,
and do good to all people,
even to those who do us harm.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alleluia Verse  (to be used after the second reading):
Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
in this person the love of God is made complete. (1 John 2:5 comp)
Alleluia.

Prayer after the gospel:
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving even your enemies.
Make us perfect like you,
and give us your love for all people.
Amen.

 

Offering prayer:
Holy God,
we thank you for making us your temple
and giving us your Holy Spirit.
Teach us to love all people,
even our enemies,
and to give ourselves in loving service.
Amen.

 

Prayer of the Church/ General Prayer:  Prayer of the Church – Epiphany 7 A

Resources for services with Holy Communion
SEASONAL PREFACE
It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You have sent your only Son
to appear among us as a human being,
and through him
you have fully revealed
the light of your presence to us.
And so, with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

COMMUNION INVITATION
Jesus says:
‘The bread that God gives
is he who comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.’
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Heavenly Father,
in the beginning you created light
and at the right time
you sent your Son
to be the true light of the world.
Through the gift of his body and blood,
shine in our hearts and lives,
so that we may share
in the inheritance of all the saints in the light.
For he lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God,
you have taught us through your Son,
that to love is to fulfil the law.
As we have received his love in this sacrament,
help us to love you with our whole heart,
and our neighbours as ourselves.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace, and live as God’s holy people.
Thanks be to God.  OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.

Visual images: His Word in Pictures

Song/Hymn suggestions: * =  Modernised version available (please click here to go to the Modernised hymns page) ;G3, G4 . . . =  Guitar chords available in the Music Package 3, 4 . . .; GS =  Guitar chords in the Supplement to LH
First reading: Leviticus 19:1,2,9-18
LHS
345    O that the Lord would guide my ways* G6
355    May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfil* G3
357    O God, Thou faithful God* G3
381    O God our Father, throned on high (alt tune 391, G9)
853    A new commandment GS
AT
65    A new commandment
177    Love one another
TIS
587    Fold to your heart your sister and your brother
614    O God of love, whose heart is ever yearning
630    The law of Christ alone can make us free
657    God of freedom, God of justice
699    A new commandment

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 3:10,11,16-23
LHS
130    O enter, Lord, Thy temple* G4
179    Christ alone is our salvation* G3
188    Built on a rock the Church doth stand* G4
248    Christ is made the sure foundation G6
249    Christ is our cornerstone (alt tune 182, G8)
253    In the name which earth and heaven (esp vv 1,2) G3
507    Open now thy gates of beauty* G3
AT
313    Christ, be our light
404    Let nothing trouble you
TIS
432    Christ is made the sure foundation
433    Christ is our cornerstone
461    God, your glory we have seen in your Son (v 5)

Gospel: Matthew 5:38-48
LHS
355    May we Thy precepts, Lord, fulfil* G3
356    Lord of glory, who hast bought us* G3
357    O God, Thou faithful God* G3
380    O God of mercy, God of might G9
AT
177    Love one another
301    Prayer of peace
499    It was me
515    All are welcome
543    All the world
TIS
648    Help us accept each other
677    Christ’s is the world in which we move
681    Lord, let me see, see more and more
697    All the sleepy should have a place to sleep

Psalm 119: 33-40

Music Resources Vol. 3– Psalm settings: Psalm 119 p204

More song/hymn suggestions for Epiphany:
EPIPHANY SECTIONS OF ‘LUTHERAN HYMNAL WITH SUPPLEMENT’
All of the hymns in the Epiphany sections of the Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement (37-47, 747-751) will be suitable for this day, but be aware that they will also be applicable for the following Sundays, so don’t use them all at once! Here are a few suggestions for their use:
37    O wondrous type*     Use this one for Transfiguration.
38    In peace and joy I now depart*     Especially relevant to the festival of the Presentation (2 Feb). It may also be used as a post-communion canticle.
39    O Christ, thou Lord eternal*    A beautiful, general Epiphany hymn, notable in that it is one of the few very early Reformation hymns written by a woman.
40    As with gladness men of old     The classic Epiphany carol. Use this one as an offertory or pre-communion hymn.
41    O Jesus, king of glory*     The heading in the Hymnal suggests that this is based on Matt 2:1-12, but really it is much more general, and can be used throughout the season.
42    Earth has many a noble city*   Use this one on Epiphany itself.
43    Gentiles, rise to greet the morning    An opening hymn for use in a morning service.
44    Thou light of gentile nations*     A hymn for the festival of the Presentation (2 Feb). Especially appropriate in the evening or as a closing hymn, it may also be used for the post-communion canticle.
45    Hail, thou source of every blessing*     Use this for an opening hymn, or for a pre-communion hymn.
46    Angels from the realms of glory   A Christmas carol that doubles for an Epiphany hymn on the basis of verse 3. Note the traditional French tune Iris, not in LH, with the refrain ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo!’ which is probably better known. See the Oxford Book of Carols, or other popular Christmas carol book, or TIS.
47    Songs of thankfulness and praise*    Use as a hymn of the day or even of the season. Covers all the Epiphany seasonal themes from the old 1-year lectionary.
747    How good, Lord, to be here    Save this one for Transfiguration
748    When Christ our Lord to Jordan came    Save this one for First Sunday after Epiphany (Baptism of our Lord), unless observing Epiphany on this day.
749    When Christ’s appearing was made known   Covers the traditional Epiphany and post-Epiphany themes according to the old 1-year lectionary: Wise men, baptism of Jesus, changing water into wine.
750    When Jesus lived among us    Applicable for the whole season from Christmas to Transfiguration. Note especially the transition into the Lenten theme in the last verse. The last verse also makes it a good pre-communion hymn.
751    Wise men, they came    This one is probably best used on Epiphany itself. It could be a good offertory hymn.
*Modernised version available

‘ALL TOGETHER’ SONGS SUITABLE FOR EPIPHANY
17    Emmanuel: God is with us
104    Now, Lord, you let your servant go
126    The light of Christ    Any songs to do with the light of Christ are appropriate.
128    I am the light of the world   Probably the most appropriate of all the light-theme songs, this one is a good sending-out song.
132    Anna’s song
137    I heard the voice of Jesus
141    Mary’s child
162    King of kings and Lord of lords
165    He is the King of kings   These choruses are appropriate for Epiphany. If a procession is held at Epiphany, these are easy to remember and could be sung for as long as the procession takes.
199    I know where I’m going   Not a well-known song, but suitable for a soloist to sing at Epiphany.
214    The Lord is my light
217    Shine, Jesus, shine
221    They were waiting  This may seem like an Advent hymn, but the second half of each verse proclaims the Advent as an accomplished event. Verse three touches on the wise men.
239    Listen to him
244    We have seen the Word of life (v 4)
262    Shine on me, Lord
307    Walking in the light of God (It is a great thing)
313    Christ, be our light
315    Drawn to the light
344    The New Road (esp vv 1-4, 8 )
358    Gift to the world   Theme of gift-giving, a good offertory.
371    Singing glory   OK for Christmas, excellent for Epiphany. Perhaps could be used for the hymn of adoration (instead of Gloria).
389    Light of the nations   Especially good for the festival of the Presentation (2 Feb). Could be used as a response to prayers.
400    Deep peace
402    God has chosen me
409    We are marching in the light of God
425    God moving
441    Jesus was sent
604   No-one does the things my Lord…
623   Shine on us
673   Community in Christ

OTHER HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR CHURCH MUSIC
While the LCA does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites, you may find them helpful in your worship planning.
Small Church Music: You can download mp3 and midi files of popular hymn tunes from this site.
Together to Celebrate:lectionary based song and hymn suggestions from a variety of sources.
Singing from the Lectionary:has song and hymn suggestions based on the RCL from other hymnals.
Song Select: you can search for more contemporary songs by theme. If your congregation has a paid subscription you can also download sheet music.
Hymns Without Words: mp3 downloads of hymn tunes.
Song and Hymn Index. Contains all the indexes of the LHS and AT books in one Excel file. Download the file (zip file) here.
Metrical Psalms by Dale Schoening : Psalms set to well known hymn tunes.
Keyboard Accompaniments for Together in Song – CDs are available for purchase through ACR. CD 1 & 2 ; CD 3 & 4.