As our programming year begins we want to remind everyone that we are glad to have children in worship!

Transcription

1 LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST SEPTEMBER 2, 2018

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3 WELCOME, VISITORS! We are delighted to have you worshiping with us today. We pray that you find strength, security, and fellowship with God and with one another. If you are a first time visitor, we invite you to complete a CARE card found in the pew and place it in the offering plate. While you are here with us, please make yourself at home! If you have any questions about Nativity or its ministries, please contact the Church Office at As our programming year begins we want to remind everyone that we are glad to have children in worship! We know that children play, make noise, wiggle, talk, and spread joy. All of these things come with blessings, even when they make things challenging. We want children to feel welcome in this place. In Baptism, the church promises to help children learn and grow in faith, to put Scripture in their hands, and to invite them into the family that starts right here! Here are a few tools to help us worship together: Worship Bags There are Worship Bags located on racks at the back of the Sanctuary, which have small toys and quiet activities in them. Each child is welcome to take one for the service please remember to return it to the rack afterwards! Children s Message & Children s Word Time Children ages 8 and under are invited to come forward during worship for a short message, and then to go out to the Preschool Big Room to worship at their own learning level. We exit after the Prayer of the Day and return during the sharing of the Peace. We carry the Children s Processional Cross with us as we go to Children s Word Time, to remind us that while we are leaving the Sanctuary, we are still worshipping! Most Sundays, a pastor leads Children s Word Time, helped by a volunteer. Nursery We have a nursery available for children ages 3 and under during services and Faith Formation. It is located in the hallway outside of the pulpit side of the Sanctuary (an usher can direct you). Our nursery caregivers are CPR-trained paid staff and church volunteers. Please sign your child in and out of the nursery and advise the caregivers of any allergies or medical needs. Oh No! Hey, we all get overwhelmed sometimes. If your child needs a few moments outside the Sanctuary, you are welcome to use the nursery as a quiet, calm-down space. Or, take this opportunity to grab a cup of coffee in the Fellowship Hall while you wait it out. Please feel welcome to return to worship with your child when everyone is ready!

4 PRELUDE How Beautiful - Larson CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, full of compassion and mercy, abounding in steadfast love. C: Amen. P: Trusting God s promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sin against God and one another. Silence for reflection and self-examination. P: Eternal God our creator, C: in you we live and move and have our being. Look upon us, your children, the work of your hands. Forgive us all our offenses, and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires. By your grace draw us near to you, our refuge and our strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. P: Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. In the mercy of almighty God, Christ died for us while we still were sinners; and for his sake, God forgives you all your sins. C: Amen. ENTRANCE HYMN As We Gather at Your Table ELW As we gather at your table, as we listen to your word, help us know, O God, your presence; let our hearts and minds be stirred. Nourish us with sacred story till we claim it as our own; teach us through this holy banquet how to make Love's vict'ry known. 3 Gracious Spirit, help us summon other guests to share that feast where triumphant Love will welcome those who had been last and least. There no more will envy blind us nor will pride our peace destroy, as we join with saints and angels to repeat the sounding joy. 2 Turn our worship into witness in the sacrament of life; send us forth to love and serve you, bringing peace where there is strife. Give us, Christ, your great compassion to forgive as you forgave; may we still behold your image in the world you died to save.

5 APOSTOLIC GREETING P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you. HYMN OF PRAISE Blessing and Honor ELW Blessing and honor and glory and pow'r, wisdom and riches and strength evermore, be to the Lamb who our battle has won, whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne; whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne! 4 Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb! Take we the robe and the harp and the palm; sing we the song of the Lamb who was slain, dying in weakness and rising to reign; dying in weakness and rising to reign! PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Let us pray O God our strength, C: without you we are weak and wayward creatures. Protect us from all dangers that attack us from the outside, and cleanse us from all evil that arises from within ourselves, that we may constantly return to the one source of holiness, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. CHILDREN S MESSAGE AND WORD TIME FIRST READING Deuteronomy 4:1-2, So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you. 6 You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people! 7 For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? 8 And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? 9 But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children s children. L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

6 SECOND READING James 1: Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act they will be blessed in their doing. 26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Halle, Halle, Hallelujah ELW 172 Halle, halle, hallelujah. Halle, halle, hallelujah. Halle, halle, hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. P: The Holy Gospel according to Mark the 7th Chapter. C: Glory to you, O Lord. GOSPEL Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? 6 He said to them, Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. 8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. 14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. P: The Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ.

7 SERMON The Rev. Gregg Hoffman HYMN OF THE DAY Great Is Thy Faithfulness ELW Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. Refrain Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! 2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Refrain 3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Refrain APOSTLES CREED A: Together with sisters and brothers across the world, we profess the faith we share: C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

8 PRAYERS A: Freed by God in Christ to live and love and serve, we pray for the church, those in need, and all of God s beloved creation. Each petition concludes with: A: Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. The prayers conclude: P: Into your wide embrace, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your boundless mercy through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. C: Amen. PEACE P: The peace of Christ be with you always. C: And also with you. OFFERING MUSIC We Are an Offering - Liles OFFERTORY Take My Life, That I May Be ELW 583 Refrain Take my life, that I may be consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. 1 Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee. Refrain 2 Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use ev'ry pow'r as thou shalt choose. Refrain OFFERTORY PRAYER A: Merciful God, C: you open wide your hand and satisfy the need of every living thing. You have set this feast before us. Open our hands to receive it. Open our hearts to embrace it. Open our lives to live it. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

9 GREAT THANKSGIVING P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise. PREFACE P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: SANCTUS You Are Holy ELW 525 All sing A, All sing B, All sing either A or B A) You are holy, you are whole. You are always ever more than we ever understand. You are always at hand. Blessed are you coming near. Blessed are you coming here to your church in wine and bread, raised from soil, raised from dead. B) You are holy, you are wholeness, you are present. Let the cosmos praise you, Lord! Sing hosanna in the highest! Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna to our God! EUCHARISTIC PRAYER P: Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all. [The Words of Institution are spoken here] P: Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory. Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. C: Amen.

10 LORD S PRAYER P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray. C: 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. INVITATION TO THE TABLE P: Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread, and all are welcome! HOLY COMMUNION All are welcome to receive Communion. Those unable to partake of wine or wheaten bread are assured that the Church affirms our Lord s full presence in, with, and under each element alone. To receive the bread and the wine, simply hold out your hands. If you prefer gluten-free wafer or grape juice, please hold out one finger to indicate your preference to the minister, then hold out your hand to receive. If you choose not to commune, but desire to receive a spoken blessing instead, cross your arms over your chest. LAMB OF GOD ELW 195 COMMUNION HYMNS We Come to the Hungry Feast ELW 479 Change My Heart O God Sing three times ELW 801 POST-COMMUNION BLESSING P: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gifts of his body and blood strengthen, keep and unite us, now and forever. C: Amen.

11 POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE The Lord Now Sends Us Forth ELW 538 The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give, to make of all the earth a better place to live. Repeat The angels are not sent into our world of pain to do what we were meant to do in Jesus' name; that falls to you and me and all who are made free. Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today. Repeat POST-COMMUNION PRAYER A: Lord Jesus Christ, host of this heavenly meal, C: you have given us not only this bread and cup, but your very self, that we may feast on your great love. Filled again by these signs of your grace, may we hunger for your reign of justice, may we thirst for your way of peace, for you are Lord forevermore. Amen. BLESSING P: May God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, grant you the gifts of faith and hope. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. C: Amen. DISMISSAL A: Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve! C: Thanks be to God! POSTLUDE

12 + worship TODAY S WORSHIP ASSISTANTS 8:30 Service 11:00 Service Presiding Minister The Rev. Rachel Hoffman The Rev. Rachel Hoffman Assisting Minister Lisa Hamilton Lisa Hamilton Communion Assistant Krista Fox Linda Blake Children's Word Time Pastor Rachel Pastor Rachel Acolyte Wes Cooper Crucifer Scott Cooper Ben Anderson Reader Luke Ward Joyce Horton Eucharist Presenter Dewey and Jan Johnson Ushers Larry Rich Max Hall, Lamar McGinnis, Barry Copeland Michael Neal Greeters Randy and Kathleen Treiber Brian and Jenny Feid family Nursery Attendant Staff Staff Altar Guild Terry Van Ostenbridge Linda Blake Princess Ferguson Karen Grooman ALTAR FLOWERS are given today in honor of Tessa Holland by her parents, Dawn and David Holland. THE SANCTUARY CANDLE FOR SEPTEMBER is given in memory of Thelma Nesbitt by her Nativity family. Reproduced text for prayers, hymns, and liturgy are used by permission. All rights reserved. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or a valid license from the copyright administrator. Licenses exclusive to Lutheran Church of the Nativity: Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS004229, ONE LICENSE A , and CCLI Scriptural translation is the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. As We Gather at Your Table Text: Carl P. Daw Jr., b Text 1989 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL All rights reserved. Used by permission. Great Is Thy Faithfulness Text: Thomas O. Chisholm, Text 1923, ren Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL All rights reserved. Used by permission.

13 WHAT IS A MUSICIAN-IN-RESIDENCE? We joyfully welcomed Irem Ozay last week as our Musician-in-Residence! Maybe now you re wondering what this new position entails. Here are some of the details. The Musician-in-Residence: is a one-year contracted position is part-time (Irem also works at Asheville Piano Labs and is involved in music in the Asheville community) has office hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday plays the piano and/or organ (Irem plays both, and is most proficient at the piano) supports Nativity in Making Christ Known by: providing music for worship services & special services of Nativity coordinating additional musicians for worship services leading musical ensembles, including Nativity choir, Youth choir, and Young Youth choir (Nativity choir has already begun, and Young Youth & Youth choir begin soon!) participates in Continuing Education opportunities, to expand her knowledge & expertise, both to her benefit and the benefit of the congregation (This is an expectation of all staff in leadership positions at Nativity) will provide Nativity with new ideas, gifts, and passion as we discern our vision for the future This position brings Nativity the great opportunity to explore who we are and where God is calling us in this time of transition, while bringing in new ideas, new music, and new energy to worship, choirs, and more. Irem s involvement in the greater Asheville community also brings us the opportunity to connect with and learn more about our neighbors keep an eye out for her in an upcoming benefit concert on September 23 rd! If you have more questions regarding this position, please speak with Pr. Gregg. If you d like to know more about Irem, the best way is to have a conversation with her! We look forward to a wonderful year of partnership, and we are thankful to God for her presence with us. + learn SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK beginning September 2 Sunday Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, Monday Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 Tuesday James 1:17-27 Wednesday Micah 6:6-8 Thursday Matthew 15:1-20 Friday Amos 5:21-24 Saturday Psalm 15 Sunday Mark 7:24-37 TAKING FAITH HOME This weekly devotional handout is available on the Welcome Desk. "Taking Faith Home" is a production of Milestones Ministry, LLC, and is created by a team led by an ELCA Pastor.

14 WONDERING WOMEN BIBLE STUDY GROUP will resume meeting on Monday, September 10 at 6:30PM in the Fellowship Hall. They are on Lesson 7 (of 11) in the booklet God Is Enough by Cynthia Heald. If you would like to join, please contact Nancy Seekamp at or at nanseek@charter.net. + care IN OUR PRAYERS TODAY WE NAME: Nativity members who are in need of healing: Linda Adelsberg, Wanda Bond, Bob Burkhardt, Wanda Burkhardt, Tim Feid, Patricia Hahn, Max Hall, Foster Baby Holland, Mandy Horetski, Earl Johnston, Don Knapp, Fay Kohn, Dana Kropf, Nick Kropf, J. C. Nesbitt, Evelyn Ridenhour, Julie Smith, Ruth Tracy, Duane Tuttle, Brian Warnicke. Nativity members in care facilities: Dot Carpenter, Ann Colijn, Henk Colijn, Edna Franklin, Norma Grafing, Dick Horner, Joyce Horner, Marydine Lamb, Lee Lindeman-Stuenkel, Margaret Patterson. NATIVITY BOOK GROUP The next meeting of the Nativity Book Group will be on Thursday, September 20 at 2:00PM in the Fellowship Hall. September's book is The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. All are welcome to join. You do not have to participate every month. + give FAITH FORMATION BEGINS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16! Faith Formation is starting again in just two weeks! We hope you'll join us on Sunday mornings between worship services, from 9:40 to 10:40, to learn and grow in faith. This year, we have 7 classes: 4K & Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade, 3rd & 4th Grade, 5th & 6th Grade, 7th-8th-9th Grade, Confirmed Youth, and Adults. Each class can be joined at any time, and if you miss a Sunday, you can jump right back in! Kids, be on the lookout for an soon with more information about your classes. The fall Adult class will be led by Tim & Carolyn Anderson and will explore the Gospel of John (more info coming soon!). All Are Welcome to be part of Faith Formation! If you have questions, please see Pr. Rachel. "FEED MY SHEEP" Calvary Food Pantry welcomes you to participate in the mission to feed our neighbors with dignity and compassion. CFP is open every Saturday, 8:30AM -11:00AM, providing frozen meat, milk, eggs, canned goods, personal care items, and pet food. CFP strives to provide 1/2 of the weekly grocery needs for each family. On a typical Saturday, families representing 350+ individuals come to receive food. If you'd like to be part of this ministry, sign up at the Welcome Desk or click the link in the enews. Questions? Contact Ann Harvey at (828) or auntannieh@gmail.com or Pr. Rachel.

15 + women of the elca WOMEN OF NATIVITY All women are invited and welcome to come and learn more about Mary of Bethany and putting our faith into action in September's Bible Study. Come to the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, September 13 at 11:00AM. Bring a bag lunch and enjoy Bible study and fellowship with your sisters in faith. THE NATIVITY CARD MINISTRY invites women and men who would like to make cards for our members on the prayer list to come to the Fellowship Hall on Thursday, September 13 at 12:30PM (immediately following the Women's Bible Study). If you can cut, paste, and fold then you can make these beautiful cards. A different card is made each month. PERSONAL CARE KITS UPDATE Received to date: 64 towels,103 bars of soap, 110 toothbrushes, 29 combs, and 47 nail clippers. The goal is to make 100 kits to send to Lutheran World Relief for people who have lost everything from a natural disaster or life-threatening violence. Go to the web site - to see the sizes and types of towels and pictures of combs and other objects included in each kit. We will assemble as many kits as we have supplies and ship them with the quilts in November. There are enough toothbrushes, but more towels, soap (two per kit), combs, and nail clippers are needed. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please put it in a pew envelope marked LWR kits and place it in the offering plate. Thank you for your generosity so that we can help our brothers and sisters in need. Give hope with a bar of soap! LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY 2425 HENDERSONVILLE RD P.O. BOX 208 ARDEN, NORTH CAROLINA

16 + this week at nativity (FH = Fellowship Hall; PSB = Preschool Big Room; M = Modular) SUNDAY (9/2) THURSDAY (9/6) 8:30AM Holy Communion 7:00PM Eagle Board Review (M) 11:00AM Holy Communion 7:00PM Boy Scout Troop 8 MONDAY (9/3) LABOR DAY Church Office Closed 6:30PM ESL (M) TUESDAY (9/4) 7:00PM Troop 8 Committee WEDNESDAY (9/5) 1:00PM Project Linus 1:30PM Nativity Quilters 7:00PM Nativity Choir Rehearsal 7:00PM AA Meeting FRIDAY (9/7) Church Office closed SATURDAY (9/8) 8:30AM Calvary Food Pantry 10:00AM Congregation Council Retreat SUNDAY (9/9) 8:30AM Holy Communion 9:30AM Finance Committee 11:00AM Holy Communion 12:15PM Personnel Committee + church staff The Rev. Gregg Hoffman The Rev. Rachel Hoffman Irem Ozay Michele Grush Carrie Dahlberg Gene Hoemann Max Hall Mike Natarella Pastor Pastor Musician-in-Residence Parish Administrator Financial Secretary Bookkeeper Sexton Preschool and Kindergarten Director