We Gather. *CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, confessing our sin and trusting in God s mercy.

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1 Grace Lutheran Church September 16, :45 am Worship Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost Grace Lutheran Church September 16, :45 am Worship Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost Paradox is a word meaning seemingly contradictory statements that are nonetheless true. Some of the greatest teachings of the Christian faith are paradoxes, and Jesus gives three more in our gospel today: Anything you save will be lost; anything you share will be saved; and anyone who takes up the cross will have life abundantly. All are welcome to receive Holy Communion as we celebrate the presence of Jesus among us. As you prepare for worship, please fill out worship information sheets in the red folders in each pew. Parents or children are welcome to use our Wiggle Room behind the sanctuary. Hearing assistance devices are available at the sound desk. Congregation responses in Bold. *Those who are able, please stand. GATHERING MUSIC We Gather *WELCOME/GREET ONE ANOTHER *CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, confessing our sin and trusting in God s mercy. In Christ you are freed from your sins and given a place in God s household forever. Amen.

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3 *PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Gracious God, we live in stressful and uncertain times. Help us know the joy of following you and trusting our burdens to your care. Strengthen us in our desire to take up our crosses and follow you. In Jesus name, Amen We Listen READING James 3:1-12 Listen to words from James: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 3

4 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. (NRSV) Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God. MESSAGE FOR THE CHILD IN US ALL/$5 CHALLENGE *SONG Ilene Olson *GOOD NEWS Mark 8:27-38 Good news from Mark. Glory to you, O Lord. 27Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, Who do people say that I am? 28 And they answered him, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets. 29He asked them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, You are the Messiah. 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. 4

5 31Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. 34He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (NRSV) The good news of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. MESSAGE *SONG Pastor Dan Kahl 5

6 We share *PRAYERS Gracious God, we gather in your name. We come with our joys and sorrows. Listen to our prayers We pray for our church. Show us the ways to reach out to others with the love of Christ. We pray for our church leaders and teachers. Guide each with your wisdom and compassion. We pray for students and disciples of Christ. Be with your followers - of all ages - as we gather around your Word. We pray for those who do not know of your love. Use us to bear witness to the Good News of Jesus. We pray for and all who are sick or need your special care. Help us reach out to them in your loving care and compassion. We pray for...and all who live with the pain of grief and separation. Help us share your grace and mercy with all who long for comfort in difficult times. Creator of all, rally us around your Word and renew our commitment to follow Christ Jesus. Fill our hearts, minds, and spirits with your love. Empower us to be shining witnesses of Christ. Amen OFFERING *OFFERING PRAYER God of majesty, in your might you have created all things, and you entrust to our care what you have made. Receive our offerings, and make them a sign of our dedication to provide for the needs of all people and creatures, in the name of the one who sustains all things by his word, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. All baptized believers are welcome to share with us in the celebration. Today distribution will be by intinction. Gluten-free elements are available. Please come forward by the side aisles, commune and return to your seats by the center aisle. *GREAT THANKSGIVING God is with us! We come to the table seeking grace and mercy. Let us lift up our hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us offer thanks to God, the source of all goodness. We sing a song of thanksgiving and praise. 6

7 *SONG *WORDS OF INSTITUTION *LORD S PRAYER Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen *INVITATION Receive the Lord and live. Thanks be to God. SONGS DURING DISTRIBUTION 7

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9 *POST COMMUNION PRAYER Loving God, in this meal you sustain the weary and heal the broken. May the gift of your word made flesh, the body and blood of Christ, inspire our tongues to praise you and proclaim to the entire world the Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. *BLESSING ANNOUNCEMENTS 9

10 *SENDING SONG Portions of the service are from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License # Songs reprinted under OneLicense.net A and under CCLI# Altar flowers are given today by Merlin & Gwen Anderson in memory of Bob & Stacey. 10

11 MAKING YOUR CHURCH DONATION JUST GOT A LOT EASIER FOR SMART PHONE USERS Go to the App Store or Google Play and search for GivePlus Church to download for FREE Giving is as easy as Make one-time or recurring donations using your debit/credit card or checking/ savings account Log in or donate as a guest Securely and conveniently manage donations using Touch ID/Fingerprint, PIN or password Get started today GivePlus allows you an additional way to give your offering even if you aren t able to attend worship. Contact the church office and talk to Tammy if you have questions or need help getting started. Grace Groups sign up now going on. Grace Group Bible Study groups to begin soon. Please take this opportunity to sign for the group that best fits your schedule. Sign-up sheets located on the table in the Narthex. Walk to End Alzheimer s: Sign-up is now underway for the Walk to End Alzheimer s. If you want to join the Grace Lutheran Team, please sign up in the office. Leslie Reetz is Team Captain. Reminder: We are still collecting school supplies for Lutheran World Relief. The red collection box is located in the Fireside Room. We are still in need of the following items: wide or college-ruled 70 page spiral notebooks, blunt scissors, black or blue ballpoint pens, pencil sharpeners, 30-centimeter rulers, & boxes of crayons. Thank you for your support. Community & Family Resources Family Fun Festival Saturday, September 29, from 2-4 at Oleson Park in Fort Dodge. LOOKING AHEAD... *September 19 Books of the Bible Class begin, meet at Friendship Haven *September 29 Steak Fry at Grace *October 7 2 pm Pet Blessing at Grace *November 1 Honey-Do-Dinner at Grace 11

12 THIS WEEK AT GRACE Sunday, September 16 Monday, September 17 Tuesday, September 18 Wednesday, September 19 Thursday, September 20 Sunday, September 23 $5 Stewardship Challenge Sharing 8:30 am Traditional Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Adult Forum 10:45 Contemporary Service 8:30 am Quilting 5:30 pm Bells 7:00 pm Lemke s Grace Group 7:30 pm FDCS NO Mission Haiti 6:30 pm Council meeting 6:45 am Men s Bible Study at ICCC Café 2:00 pm Books of the Bible Class at Smeltzer Room, Fr. Haven 5:45 pm Confirmation 5:45 pm ARiSE 7:00 pm Choir 11:30 am Mission Haiti outing, meet at church 8:30 am Traditional Worship 9:30 am Sunday School 9:45 am Adult Forum 10:45 Contemporary Service 12:15 pm New Member orientation meeting 6:00 pm McColley s Grace Group Mission Statement In celebration of God s grace, given through Jesus Christ, we seek to grow through worship, teaching, fellowship and reaching out with our gifts to share the gospel and serve the needs of all people. 12