Sunday Worship, January 23rd 2022
led by Dr. Scott Wheeler.
Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the
Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to
help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the
freeing of prisoners.”
Welcome to worship this Sunday. Today we will think about why Jesus
chose this passage when he preached in Nazareth in Galilee, and what
it means for us today. But first we sing:
Our Scripture readings:
Luke 4:14-21 14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to
Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding
countryside. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised
by all. 16 Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up,
and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He
stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to
him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to
the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free
those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and
sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21
Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled
even as you heard it being read.”
Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3; 8:5-6; 8:8-10 8:1 all the people gathered together
in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the
scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had
commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the law before the
assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand
what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh
month.) 3 So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate
from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who
could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the
law. … 5 Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for
he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, all the
people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the
people replied “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they
bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. …
8 They read from the book of God’s law, explaining it and imparting
insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read. 9
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priestly scribe, and the Levites
who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them,
“This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all
the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10
He said to them, “Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and
send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is
holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.”
Talk by Scott:
Prayers:
Lord, give us the courage and strength to meet the challenges of life
as we go back out into the world. And now we say the grace for each other: