THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Transcription

1 THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 9, :30 a.m. FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH East High and South Bedford Streets, Carlisle, Pennsylvania Church Office: (717) We worship, welcome, witness, teach and serve in the name of Jesus Christ.

2 Welcome to First Lutheran! We are happy you are here as we gather to be strengthened, fed and blessed by God for mission in the world. Today is the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don t deserve the goods meant for God s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings her or his need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir. To our guests: Thank you for worshiping with us this morning! Please feel free to ask a neighbor in your pew if you have any questions about the service or our building. We invite you to provide your name and contact information using one of the yellow cards in the pew rack. You may place the completed card in the offering plate. Please join us again soon! We will be celebrating the sacrament of holy communion this morning. We believe that in the bread and wine of holy communion we are offered the gift of Christ s body and blood. We welcome all baptized Christians to our Lord s table, where we are united with the saints of every time and every place. Those not communing this morning are encouraged to come forward for a blessing. More information about communion distribution is provided in the bulletin. If you have not yet recorded communion during this calendar year, please complete a communion card (available in the pew rack) and place it in the offering plate. We invite and encourage children of all ages to be present in worship even very young children can start learning songs and prayers and the rhythm of worship (and it s okay if they make a little noise once in a while!). A nursery (accessible via the narthex staircase down to our ground floor) is available during the service; activity bags are also always available in the narthex. Everything you will need for this service, with the exception of the hymns, is included in this bulletin. The hymns are found in the back half of the red Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW).

3 *Indicates to please stand if you are able. P presiding minister A assisting minister C congregation Prelude Songs from the Liturgy Welcome and Announcements *Confession and Forgiveness P Blessed be the holy Trinity, the one who fashions us, the one who heals us, the one who reforms us again and again. C Amen P Let us confess our sin, calling for God's transforming power. Please kneel or sit. Silence for reflection and self-examination P Source of all life, C we confess that we have not allowed your grace to set us free. We fear that we are not good enough. We hear your word of love freely given to us, yet we expect others to earn it. We turn the church inward, rather than moving it outward. Forgive us. Stir us. Reform us to be a church powered by love, willing to speak for what is right, act for what is just, and seek the healing of your whole creation. Amen P God hears our cry and sends the Spirit to change us and to empower our lives in the world. Our sins are forgiven, God s love is unconditional, and we are raised up as God s people who will always be made new, in the name of Jesus Christ. C Amen *Hymn ELW 886 Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing *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.

4 *Hymn of Praise choir sings verses; congregation and choir sing refrain ALL CHOIR ALL CHOIR ALL

5 CHOIR *Prayer of the Day P Let us pray. Gracious God, throughout the ages you transform sickness into health and death into life. Open us to the power of your presence, and make us a people ready to proclaim your promises to the whole world, through Jesus Christ, our healer and Lord. C Amen First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7a Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. L The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

6 Second Reading: James 2:1-10, My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Have a seat here, please, while to the one who is poor you say, Stand there, or, Sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. L The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. *Gospel Acclamation The choir and congregation sing the acclamation, the choir sings the verse (not printed here), all repeat the acclamation. ALL

7 *Holy Gospel: Mark 7:24-37 P The Holy Gospel according to Mark, the seventh chapter. C Glory to you, O Lord. [Jesus] set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children s food and throw it to the dogs. But she answered him, Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children s crumbs. Then he said to her, For saying that, you may go the demon has left your daughter. So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon Pastor Leber *Hymn of the Day ELW 510 Word of God, Come Down on Earth *Apostles Creed P Let us profess the faith in which we have been baptized. 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

8 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 *Commissioning and Blessing of Sunday School Leaders and 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. Response: A Lord, in your mercy, C hear our prayer. 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 *Sharing of Christ s Peace P The peace of the Lord be with you always. C And also with you. The congregation may greet one another with a sign of peace:a handshake, a hug or a kiss, saying: Peace be with you. After greeting one another, please be seated. Offering Anthem We Give God Thanks for Those Who Knew Michael Perry *Offertory Hymn ELW 694 Sing to the Lord of Harvest (verse 3)

9 *Offertory Prayer A Let us pray. God of life, C you give us these gifts of the earth, these resources of our life and our labor. Take them, offered in great thanksgiving, and use them to set a table that will heal the whole creation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Light. Amen *Dialogue, Preface and Sanctus The Great Thanksgiving P C P C P C

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11 C *Eucharistic Prayer and Lord s Prayer P Holy God, our Bread of life, our Table, and our Food, you created a world in which all might be satisfied by your abundance. You dined with Abraham and Sarah, promising them life, and fed your people Israel with manna from heaven. You sent your Son to eat with sinners and to become food for the world. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Remembering, therefore, his life given for us and his rising from the grave, we await his coming again to share with us the everlasting feast.

12 By your Spirit nurture and sustain us with this meal: strengthen us to serve all in hunger and want, and by this bread and cup make of us the body of your Son. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. C Amen. 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 *Breaking the Bread P Speak to us, O Lord, in the breaking of the bread, and make us one with you. Lamb of God C

13 Distribution After the ushers have communed, please come forward by the center aisle. Individual glasses are available on the table at the front. Starting at the center and filling in to the sides, please kneel or stand at the communion rail as you are able. Those not communing are encouraged to come forward for a blessing. You may return to your seat by the side aisle. Hymn ELW 708 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love *Post-Communion Blessing and Prayer P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. C Amen A Let us pray. Holy and compassionate God, in bread and wine you give us gifts that form us to be humble and courageous. May your words come to life in our serving and in our witness, that we might speak a living voice of healing and justice to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our rock and our redeemer. C Amen *Benediction P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. C Amen *Hymn ELW 729 The Church of Christ, in Every Age *Dismissal A Go in peace. Serve the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Postlude The Church of Christ in Every Age Robert Speed ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Service and the image are from Sundays and Seasons.com, copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS 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. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

14 ~ Serving in Worship ~ Presiding Minister: The Rev. Lisa M. Leber Assisting Minister: Sam Orner Cantor: David Erickson Communion Assistants: Karen Hollen and Janet Jacobs Acolyte: EmmaRose Harty Lector: Roger Williams Nursery: Kathleen Hall and Cindy Markle Ushers: Ken Egolf, head, Blanche Drumheiser, Matthew Drumheiser, Don Fraley Youth Usher: Luke Erickson Greeters: Nancy Ingram and Annette Nickey Communion Setup/Cleanup: Cindy Allgyer and Yvonne Karper Bread Baker: Cindy Jones Flower Distribution: Ann Roeder A note on today s music: The summer comes to an end, a new school year begins, a new choir year begins and we introduce a musical change within the Time after Pentecost, the Green Season. The chancel choir and the Cantor s primary role is to lead congregational singing of the liturgy and hymnody, and today we introduce Setting 9 of the liturgy. The prelude will introduce some of the new songs and the choir will provide leadership. The text of the choir anthem, set to a familiar melody, refers to Jesus healing touch as told in today s Gospel reading. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chancel flowers are given in thanksgiving for our music makers choirs, instrumentalists, organist, bell ringers and cantors for the enrichment they provide to our worship by Lee Leidigh.

15 Chancel flowers are needed for the following Sundays: September 16 & 22. Please contact Robin in the church office, if you are interested in placing flowers in the chancel on one of these dates. PRAYER LIST Ann & Patrick Linda Bolton Robert Otto Cindy, Eric & Kendra Kate Braband Bailey Parrish Elizabeth Joan Eshenour Tim Parrish Judi & Christy The Eshleman Family Abby Perdew Keith Rene Gary Robert Rolston Lois Billie Jo Hess Susan Chestnut Spengler Lorraine Shirley Hess Pearl Trego Susan, Marsha, Craig & Melanie Tyler Hess Teresa Williams Dale & Terry Barrick Kris Mackes Ken Wright Rhoda Bear Kait O Melia Brenda Berry Millicent Moore THIS WEEK AT FIRST LUTHERAN Sunday Sept. 9 Congregational Meeting 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 11 LWR Quilting Group 9:30 11 a.m. Wednesday Sept. 12 Staff Meeting 1 2 p.m. Property Committee 5:30 p.m. Stewardship Committee 5:30 p.m. Social Ministry & Global Outreach Committee 6:30 p.m. Thursday Sept. 13 Handbell Choir 6 p.m. Chancel Choir 7 p.m. Saturday Sept. 15 Men s Huddle at Momma Spriggs 7:30 a.m. Tai Chi Festal Hall 3 4 p.m. Sunday Sept. 16 Holy Communion 8 & 10:30 a.m. Private Luncheon Festal Hall 11:30 a.m. Attendance last week, Sunday, September 2: 8 a.m.: 39, 10:30 a.m.: 106 (145)

16 A special congregation meeting has been scheduled for today immediately following the service. The purpose of the meeting is to act on recommendations of Congregation Council to proceed with the proposed new addition and other renovations, accept the bid of our general contractor, Galbraith/Pre-Design, Inc., and approve a loan from Orrstown Bank. You should have received a mailing regarding this meeting and Council s recommendations. The Adult Forum will begin next Sunday, September 16, with a book/dvd series entitled Short Stories by Jesus written by Amy-Jill Levine. This six-week series will be led by Jered Hock and Ken Egolf. Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, offers a new perspective of the parables of Jesus. Each week we will look at a new parable, so feel free to join us when you can. (You don t have to have been in prior classes to fully participate.) If you would like a copy of the book, Short Stories by Jesus, please call Robin in the church office ( ). Come sing or ring with us this fall! Chancel Choir rehearsals began on September 6. This choral ensemble, open to high school and above, rehearses every Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. in the choir room on the lower level and helps lead the 10:30 a.m. service most Sundays from September through late May/early June. If you can t sing every Sunday, sing for Advent Lessons and Carols! We will begin learning music in October for this wonderful candlelight service of readings and music (Sunday, December 16, at 4 p.m.). Our Handbell Choir (open to middle school and above) also began rehearsals on September 6. Rehearsals are held on Thursdays from 6-6:45 p.m. in room 25 on the upper level. The Handbell Choir rings at the 10:30 a.m. service every 4-6 weeks or so. If you have any questions, want to learn more about our choirs, or just want to sit in on a rehearsal or two, please contact our cantor, David Erickson, at dve@pa.net. All musical skills and backgrounds are welcome!