Third Sunday After Epiphany
Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11am


Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Scripture readings
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

Sermon
"News That’s Never Fake"
Mark 1:14-20
Today’s passage from Mark gets the action going in earnest. Jesus comes to Galilee, proclaiming that the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near. Who would believe such a thing? Well, most people today probably wouldn’t. The talking heads would point out that it certainly doesn’t look like the Kingdom is any closer. John has been arrested, the Romans are still there, and this Jesus sure doesn’t look like someone special. Fake news! That would be our cry. And yet, hidden in front of our faces is Jesus. And he makes all the difference, for he is the crucified and risen Lord who bears the Kingdom in his body and brings it near to us. That’s news you can believe. That’s news that is good.

Hymns

In our prayers we remember Concordia Place.

Education hour at 9:45am

Children and youth

Sunday School, and Pre-Confirmation, meet in their usual classrooms. Confirmation classes (gr. 7–8) meet with their mentors. Teen Talk meets in the Youth Room. 

Adult Education

January 21 and 28
Ethics of New Gene Editing Technologies

Gayle Woloschak, Adjunct Professor of Religion and Science and Associate Director, Zygon Center for Religion and Science, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
This two-part series will examine the ethics of human research and put past and current gene editing technologies in the context of the human research of the past century. The promise and dangers of these technologies will be discussed. Gayle is also Professor of Radiation Oncology at the Northwestern University School of Medicine. In the Seminar Room.

January 21 and 28
The Spirituality of Lent

Pastor Dave Wegner
Giving something up for Lent has been a Christian spiritual practice for a long time. The idea is to remove things or actions that might stand in our way of acknowledging our dependence on God. This practical workshop draws on practices from different denominations and religious orders to explore how Lent can be a fruitful time of experiencing the profound grace and presence of God. In the 7th grade/German classroom.

The Sunday morning Bible study group meets in the lower-level conference room.

The Grace Church Library is open and staffed on Sundays from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Look for books related to Adult Ed topics as well as many other subjects. The library is also open for self-service during the week.

Download the 2017-2018 Sunday School and Confirmation Schedule.