January 28, 2024 — 9:00 AM Service

PRELUDE
“Winter” (Herman Beeftink)
Jodi Edstrom, Tim Graf

CALL TO WORSHIP
“Deep and Wide” (arr. Aaron David Miller)
Starlight Singers, Hannah Fleming (Director)

WELCOME

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
We gather in the name of a God who creates and sustains us. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Creator God,
we long for a life worth living, but we confess that we have not lived your creativity to its fullest. We have not listened for your voice in our daily lives; we have not seen you all around us. By things we have done and by things we have forgotten to do, we have hurt or ignored a world in need. Speak clearly to us, so that we might create lives that are worthy of the goodness that you desire this world to be.

Even when we forget to listen or lose sight of what is important, we are reminded that we are created in the image of God. In the name of Jesus Christ + we are forgiven and freed from all that stands between us and the life that God intends for us. Be here now. God is with you. Amen.

HYMN
“God Creator, Still Creating”

PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God,
You have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

ANTHEM
“Hands and Feet“
Sonshine Singers, Jill Boyd (Director)

READING
Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON
“The Blessing of Imperfection”

OFFERING OF MUSIC
“Simple Gifts” (arr. Michael Mauldin)
Canticle Choir, Sarah Gilbertson (Director)

OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BEFORE YOU GO

HYMN
“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” ELW # 865

SENDING:
Go in peace. Live out your faith in daily life. Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE
“Badinerie” (J. S. Bach)
Jodi Edstrom, Tim Graf

The Musicians for Today’s Worship

Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
Barb Carroll (Organist)
Jill Boyd (Sonshine Singers Director)
Hannah Fleming (Starlight Singers Director)
Sarah Gilbertson (Canticle Choir Director)
Jodi Edstrom
Canticle Choir
Sonshine Singers
Starlight Singers

Prayers

As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:

Prayers for Debbie Gelle and family on the death of her father Don Denike
Jeanne Aamot and family on the death of her mother, Nancy
Caleb Wragge, Kathy, Kari, Gary Blackford and family on the death of Marilyn Kramme
Gabrielle Sybilrud and family on the death of Gabrielle’s mother, Mary Kahman
Gwen Chapman and family on the death of her stepfather, Len Prahl
Prayers for Deb and Roger Supalla and family on the death of their nephew, Brian Sommers

Prayers of Mourning:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26

As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:

Ron Bergom
Gabe Perez
Delia Tufte
John Rostad’s father, Mike
Stephanie Berg’s son-in-law, Zach

Long Term Prayers:

Gordon Gilbert
Kathy Hoagland
Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
Ron Wolfbauer
Dick Smith
Tammi Ziesemann as she continues her cancer treatment
For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
All those in the military serving our country

General Prayers:

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Names will remain listed for three weeks unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.