January 24, 2021 Third Sunday After Epiphany - Hephatha ...
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January 24, 2021 Third Sunday After Epiphany
WELCOME
Dear friends,
Welcome to Hephatha Lutheran Church! We
are a community of people who have found
the answers to our lives’ questions in Jesus.
By God’s grace, Hephatha as a congregation
seeks to connect people to Christ, to the local church, and
to the community. We believe God has brought us together
and we’re glad you’re here today. It’s important for God’s
people to worship Jesus Christ, be in Christian community,
and serve Him and others.
We invite you to join us and be a part of the Hephatha
family.
In Jesus—the best place to be,
Pastor Arthur Andrews
WEEKLY WORSHIP
8:00 a.m.: Courtyard Worship Lord’s Supper, no music
9:30 a.m.: Online Worship
11:00 a.m.: Worship in the Courtyard Lord’s Supper, live
music, no congregational singing
Curbside Communion
rd
3 Sunday of the month from 12-12:30 p.m.
Sign-up required at TimeToSignUp.com/hephathalutheran
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OUR SUNDAY IN PERSON WORSHIP
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Arthur Andrews
OPENING PRAYER
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of
the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Pastor: Almighty and ever-compassionate Lord,
People: we are by nature sinful and unclean. We confess
our many failures as we have not followed You joyfully
and trustingly. We have not loved others as ourselves,
and our thoughts, words, and deeds have not been
pleasing to You. We have not always welcomed Your call
for us to follow You and You alone.
Pastor: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at
hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. Hear and rejoice in
the Good News. Jesus Christ died for you, and for His sake,
God has compassion. As a called and ordained servant of
the Word, I announce that your sins are forgiven in the
name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen. Thanks be to God!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon
our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty
to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
EPISTLE READING Hebrews 11:8–10; 12:1–3
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a
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place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went
out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to
live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in
tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same
promise. For he was looking forward to the city that
has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which
clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and
perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated
at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility
against himself, so that you may not grow weary
or fainthearted.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:14–20
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 1st
Chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee,
proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and
believe in the gospel.”
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and
Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for
they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me,
and I will make you become fishers of men.” And
immediately they left their nets and followed him. And
going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee
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and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the
nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their
father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and
followed him.
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON “Throw Off the Weight”
Text: Hebrews 12:1–3; Various Passages
INTRODUCTION:
I. JESUS IS BETTER THAN ANY SITUATION
YOU ARE FACING:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud
of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set
before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider
him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you
will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3).
II. THE LONGER YOU CARRY THE WEIGHT
THE HEAVIER IT FEELS:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and
spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart ” (Hebrews 4:12).
III. JESUS IS BETTER THAN ANY WEIGHT YOU
ARE BEARING:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to
me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show
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you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with
me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of
grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep
company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”
(Matthew 11:28-30, MSG).
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the
full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled
to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our
bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22).
CONCLUSION:
APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life T everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
PRAYER
6THE LORD’S SUPPER
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
BENEDICTION
This year the distribution of Ashes for Ash Wednesday will
be done differently. We will be distributing small jars
containing ash for use with your family at home. These
jars will be available for pick up starting Sunday, Feb. 7.
Please let us know if you are unable to stop by and pick
them up and we will make sure you receive one.
7NEW SERMON SERIES IN FEBRUARY
One of the things the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought –
among many other things – is an abundance of mental
health concerns. In this series, we do an honest mental
health checkup and discuss strategies for regaining our
peace of mind.
Highs and Lows (I Kings 19:1-8)—February 7
The God Who's Small (I Kings 19:9-13)—February 14
“STORM WORTHY:
SIX SKILLS THAT CAN HELP YOU
THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES”
Webinar Hosted by Hephatha via Zoom
With Presenter Bill Faris
January 27, 2021
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Contact the Church Office to Sign up.
8Midweek Lenten Sermon Series
This year’s mid-week Lenten sermon series intertwines
these themes with ideas from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic
work Life Together to focus on what it means to live in
community, drawing on selected texts from 1 Peter, as we
walk together the way to the cross and empty tomb.
Life’s Better in My Hands! - I Peter 2:20-25
Ash Wednesday, February 17
I’m Being True to Myself - I Peter 1:22-25
Wednesday, February 24
This is It???- I Peter 1:3-5
Wednesday, March 3
Who Am I? - I Peter 4:7-11
Wednesday, March 10
I Can’t Believe in a God who Would … - I Peter 1:6-9
Wednesday, March 17
I Need This … and This … and This … - I Peter 4:1-6
Wednesday, March 24
9Lenten Sermon Series
How do we walk with Christ—daily follow him, grow in
him, and faithfully serve him? In this sermon series, we
will discover essential spiritual practices rooted in Jesus’
own walk with God. For this season of Lent, we’ll explore
these practices — each of which is intended to be a part
of our daily walk with Christ — its New Testament
foundation, and its potential effect on our personal lives
and our lives together as the church.
Each week, we’ll look at one of these topics:
Worship and Prayer: A Living Hallelujah
Sunday, February 21
Study: The Importance of Listening and Paying Attention
Sunday, February 28
Serve: Here I Am Lord, Lord Send Me
Sunday, March 7
Give: Where Your Treasure Is
Sunday March 14
Share: Going Fishing, Reflecting Light
Sunday March 21
10PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION
All prayer requests are listed a maximum of six weeks and
then removed. Should you wish to continue praying for this
request, simply send us an updated Prayer Request. To place
someone on the Prayer Chain, please contact the church office
at hephathachurch@hephatha.net or 714-637-0887.
Those who are ill, recovering, or grieving:
Brookhouzen and Paz families (Jim Letz’s sister and her family,
hospitalized with Covid); Young and Saragosa families on the
passing of Jimmy Saragosa; Annie Mundia and Family on the
passing of Ralph Mundia; Marchese Family on the passing of
Jack’s father; The Weiss Family (friends of Cathy Blankenship,
suffering from covid); Steve and Mary Doane (Melissa Turney’s
Aunt and Uncle, are recovering from covid); Andrews Family on
the passing of Pastor Andrews’s mother; Jerry and Doreen
Walsh (health issues, pray for strength for Doreen and healing
for Jerry); Cameron Fischer (cancer treatment); Ben Kovacs
(healing); Bob Turney (Dave Turney's brother, on hospice).
Those who are serving in the armed forces:
Brandon Walker; JT Gaumer (Jan Delaney’s grandson); Shayne
Mabry (friend of Robert Burns); Robert Burns (Hephatha &
OLU grad); Sgt. Carlos Ortiz; Ryan Armstrong; Steven & Kyle
Drake (Lindsay Drake’s cousins).
GIVING
(Monthly average needed to meet budget is $53,500)
Date Received Over/
Budget Actual
1/3 $7,636 (under)
1/10 $5,741 Dec. $70,008 $83,633 $13,625
1/17 $6,229 YTD. $321,050 $338,775 $17,725
Electronic Giving for November: $24,900
Interested in electronic giving? Contact Catherine Lagaris
at 714-637-0887 ext. 156 or clagaris@hephatha.net
11MONDAY: January 25
9 a.m.—“Couch Connections” devotion live stream.
TUESDAY: January 26
9 a.m.—“Couch Connections” devotion live stream.
WEDNESDAY: January 27
8 a.m.—Women’s Wednesday Bible discussion online.
Contact the Church office for an invite.
9 a.m.—“Couch Connections” devotion live stream.
12 p.m.—“Knowing God” Bible Study on Google Meet.
Contact the church office for an invite.
3:30 p.m.—Confirmation in the courtyard.
6:00 p.m.—“Foundations” New Member class on Zoom.
Contact the church office for an invite.
7 p.m.—High School Youth Group on campus.
THURSDAY: January 28
9 a.m.—“Couch Connections” devotion live stream.
10 a.m.—Women’s Thursday morning Bible study on
Zoom. Contact the church office for an invite.
7 p.m.—Women’s Thursday evening Bible study on
Zoom. Contact the church office for an invite.
FRIDAY: January 29
9 a.m.—“Couch Connections” devotion live stream.
7 p.m.—Jr. High School Youth Group on campus.
SUNDAY: January 31
8 a.m.—Courtyard Worship with the Lord’s Supper and
no music.
9:30 a.m.—Sunday morning worship live stream.
11 a.m.—Worship in the Courtyard with the Lord’s
Supper and Live Music. No congregational singing.
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