Prelude – Guitar Ensemble

Welcome

Gathering Song – We Are Marching in the Light of God  Worship 866
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching in the light of God,
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, (marching, we are marching, marching,)
we are marching in the light of God.
We are marching, (marching, we are marching, marching,)
we are marching in the light of God.

Additional stanzas ad lib:
We are dancing . . .
We are praying . . .
We are singing . . .

Text: South African traditional; tr. Freedom Is Coming, 1984
Tr. © 1984 Utryck, admin. Walton Music Corp.

Prayer of the Day
Compassionate God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our confusion, that all creation will see and know your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading  (1 Corinthians 8: 1-13)
A reading from 1^st Corinthians:
¹Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ²Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; ³but anyone who loves God is known by him.
  ⁴Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” ⁵Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—⁶yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
  ⁷It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. ⁸“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. ⁹But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. ¹⁰For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? ¹¹So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. ¹²But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. ¹³Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Children’s Message – Pastor Joy

Alleluia – Worship 175

Gospel   (Mark 1:21-28)
The gospel from Mark
²¹[Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.²²They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. ²³Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” ²⁵But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Message – Deacon Kari Alice Olsen

Song – If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seeger

Blessing of Deacon Kari as she transitions more fully into her call to Shobi’s Table.
(As of February 1, 2021, Deacon Kari is Mission Developer of Shobi’s Table (75%) and Christ’s Kitchen Coordinator (25%).

Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose voice is upon the waters, whose mercy is poured out upon all people, whose goodness cascades over all creation. Amen.
Let us confess our sin, trusting in the abundant grace of God.
Silence is kept for reflection.

Holy God, you search us and know us. You are acquainted with all our ways. We confess that our hearts are burdened by sin— our own sins and the broken systems that bind us. We turn inward, failing to follow your outward way of love. We distrust those who are not like us. We exploit the earth and its resources and fail to consider generations to come. Forgive us, gracious God, for all we have done and left undone. Even before the words are on our tongues, you know them; receive them in your divine mercy. Amen.

How vast is God’s grace! Through the power and promise of ☩ Christ Jesus, our sins are washed away and we are claimed as God’s own beloved. Indeed, we are forgiven. In the wake of God’s forgiveness, we are called to be the beloved community living out Christ’s justice and the Spirit’s reconciling peace. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Guided by Christ made known to the nations, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all people in need.
A brief silence.

For all who share the gospel and proclaim freedom in Christ throughout the world: prophets, teachers, pastors, deacons, and lay leaders; for the church and its ministries, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For all God’s works in creation: plants and animals, water and soil, forests and farms; and for those tasked with protecting our natural resources and all that exists, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For government and leaders: cities and nations, rescue professionals and legal aid attorneys, elected officials and grassroots organizers; for all responsible for the well-being of civil society, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit: those who are sick and hospitalized, those living with HIV/AIDS, those struggling with mental illness, those who are hungry or homeless, and all in any need (especially those we think of now………………………………………….; for caregivers, hospice workers, and home health aides, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the concerns of this congregation: those who travel, those absent from worship, those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries; for the people of God in this place and for other needs in our community, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the covenant God made with us in the waters of baptism, in thanksgiving for the baptized who have died in the Lord, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

Merciful God, hear the prayers of your people, spoken or silent, for the sake of the one who dwells among us, your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Sharing Peace
Johm riab sua.
Selam.
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.

Offering – Guitar Ensemble

Offering Prayer
O God, receive these gifts as you receive us: like a mother receives her child, with arms open wide. Nourish us anew in your tender care, and empower us in faithful service to tend to others with this same love, through Jesus Christ, our saving grace. Amen.

Communion
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.

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life: blessed are you for the birth of creation. Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light. Blessed are you for your promise to your people. Blessed are you in the prophets’ hopes and dream. Blessed are you for Mary and Joseph’s openness to your will. Blessed are you for your Son Jesus, the Word made flesh.

Remember, beloved ones… how in the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

With bread and cup, we remember your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.  Holy God, we long for your Spirit. Come among us. Bless this meal. May your Word take flesh in us. Awaken your people, fill us with your light. Bring the gift of peace on earth.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One, Word of God Incarnate, one God, now and forever.

Invitation to Communion                                                                                                      
Beloved: here is bread; here is wine. Here is Jesus. Come and be fed.

Now, if you are gathered with others, when the music begins, please share with one another first the bread and then the cup with the words, 

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, poured out for you.

If you are by yourself, I offer this invitation… 
Receive the body of Christ, given for you.
Receive the blood of Christ, poured out for you.

And if for any reason you will not receive Communion bread & cup today, a blessing for you…

May God fill you up with the Holy Spirit and give you all that you need.

Communion Song – Lord, Be Glorified ELW 744
1          In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;
in my life, Lord, be glorified today.

2   In our song, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;
in our song, Lord, be glorified today.

3   In your church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;
in your church, Lord, be glorified today.

4   In your world, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.
In your world, Lord, be glorified today.

Text: Bob Kilpatrick, b. 1952
Text © 1978 Bob Kilpatrick Music, assigned 1998 to The Lorenz Corporation. All rights reserved.

Prayer after Communion
Christ Jesus, at this table we have feasted on your very life and are strengthened for our journey. Send us forth from this banquet nourished in body and in spirit to proclaim your good news and serve others in your name. Amen.

Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Blessing
God the creator strengthen you; Jesus the beloved fill you; and the Holy Spirit the comforter ☩ keep you in peace. Amen.

Sending Song – This little light of mine Worship 677

1     This little light of mine, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
this little light of mine, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
this little light of mine, I’m goin’-a let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

2     Ev’rywhere I go, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
ev’rywhere I go, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
ev’rywhere I go, I’m goin’-a let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

3     Jesus gave it to me, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
Jesus gave it to me, I’m goin’-a let it shine;
Jesus gave it to me, I’m goin’-a let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Text: African American spiritual

Charge
Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. Thanks be to God.

Postlude – Guitar Ensemble