PRELUDE Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing - arr. Wyeth

Transcription

1 LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST AUGUST 26, 2018

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3 PRELUDE Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing - arr. Wyeth 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 O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts ELW O Jesus, joy of loving hearts, the fount of life, the light of all: from ev'ry bliss that earth imparts we turn, unfilled, to hear your call. 2 We taste you, ever-living bread, and long to feast upon you still; we drink of you, the fountainhead; our thirsting souls from you we fill. 3 For you our restless spirits yearn, where'er our changing lot is cast; glad, when your smile on us you turn, blest, when by faith we hold you fast. 4 O Jesus, ever with us stay! Make all our moments fair and bright! Oh, chase the night of sin away! Shed o'er the world your holy light. 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 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 Holy God, C: your word feeds your people with life that is eternal. Direct our choices and preserve us in your truth, that, renouncing what is false and evil, we may live in you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. CHILDREN S MESSAGE AND WORD TIME FIRST READING Joshua 24:1-2a, Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2a And Joshua said to all the people, 14 Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. 16 Then the people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God. L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

5 SECOND READING Ephesians 6: Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. 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 John, the 6th Chapter. C: Glory to you, O Lord. GOSPEL John 6:56-69 [Jesus said,] 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever. 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This teaching is difficult; who can accept it? 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father. 66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, Do you also wish to go away? 68 Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. P: The Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to you, O Christ.

6 SERMON The Rev. Rachel Hoffman HYMN OF THE DAY Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song ELW Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey; I'll tell ev'rybody about you wherever I go: you alone are our life and our peace and our love. Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey. 2 Lord Jesus, I'll praise you as long as I journey. May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you. May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song. Lord Jesus, I'll praise you as long as I journey. 3 As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant, to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears. For you saved me by giving your body and blood. As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant. 4 I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey; but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side. And with all of the family you saved by your love, we'll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey. 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.

7 PRAYERS A: Growing in faith and discipleship, we give thanks for God s merciful compassion as we pray for the church, the world, and all in need. Each petition concludes with: A: Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. The prayers conclude: P: Gracious God, we lift to you these prayers and the prayers of our hearts, trusting in your everlasting love and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. PEACE P: The peace of Christ be with you always. C: And also with you. OFFERING MUSIC (11:00am) On Eagle s Wings - Joncas Julia Teall, soprano 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.

8 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.

9 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 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness ELW 488 What Feast of Love ELW 487 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.

10 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 All liturgical selections taken from Now the Feast and Celebration by Marty Haugen 1990 by GIA Publications, Inc. G-3488A. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or a valid license from the copyright administrator. Other 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. O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts Text: attr. Bernard of Clairvaux, ; tr. Ray Palmer, , alt. Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song Text: Les Petites Soeurs de Jésus and L'Arche Community; tr. Stephen Somerville, b Text 1987 Les Petites Soeurs de Jésus, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Tr Stephen Somerville, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

11 + worship TODAY S WORSHIP ASSISTANTS 8:30AM 11:00AM Presiding Minister The Rev. Rachel Hoffman The Rev. Rachel Hoffman Assisting Minister Fred Park Fred Park Communion Assistant Krista Fox Nancy Seekamp Children's Word Time Pastor Gregg Pastor Gregg Acolyte Kylie Landolfi Laura Teall Crucifer John Wadington Julia Teall Reader Renee Park Jim White Eucharist Presenters Bill and Barbara Hamilton Linda Blake LaRue Ridenhour Ushers Jason and Kirsten Cooper family Kent Oehm, Colleen Calderone Tim Grooman Greeters Terry Agner and Nancy Seekamp Brian and Jenny Feid family Nursery Attendant Staff Staff Altar Guild Barbara Hamilton Jean Zabel Nancy Rehan Linda McNeil ALTAR FLOWERS Several opportunities are available to provide altar flowers in the next few months. They may be given in honor or memory of loved ones, or in celebration of birthdays and anniversaries. The sign up form is on the bulletin board at the north entrance of the Fellowship Hall. THE SANCTUARY CANDLE FOR AUGUST is given by Rita and Russ Truluck in honor of their 42 nd wedding anniversary. + learn SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK beginning August 26. Sunday John 6:56-69 Monday Joshua 24:1-2a, Tuesday Ephesians 6:10-20 Wednesday Exodus 32:1-20 Thursday Matthew 19:16-22 Friday 1 John 2:18-28 Saturday Psalm 34:15-22 Sunday Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 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.

12 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. 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 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 NATIVITY BLOOD DRIVE TODAY Thank you to all of our donors who are giving a life-saving gift today! Also, a special thank you to our Nativity coordinator, Sandy Madison, and the Blood Connection for making this important community event happen. NOISY OFFERING Thank you for your generosity! Last week's Noisy Offering collected $ for the Veterans' Restoration Quarters Meals! This money will be used to purchase supplies for our Meal Team to make dinner for the residents of the Quarters, which we do on the last Sunday of each month. It costs about $350 a month to provide this meal. The cost of this ministry was once covered by Thrivent donations, but those donations have dwindled over the years - however, the need for this ministry has not! We are committed to supporting these veterans in their journey to restoration, and we know the great value of this important ministry. Thank you for your support!

13 "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. + 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!

14 + welcome, Irem! A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MUSICIAN-IN RESIDENCE, Irem Ozay! Irem started piano lessons at the age of 8, at a community music school in Raleigh, when she first moved to the United States from Istanbul, Turkey. After a year of lessons, she was offered to study at Raleigh Conservatory of Music. At age 14, Irem began her first job, teaching piano at the community music school where she had begun piano. Since then, she has placed in numerous festivals and competitions statewide, including NCMTA and Young Artist. She continues to teach and absolutely loves seeing her students grow and become the musicians they can be! She graduated Magna Cum Laude from East Carolina University in a degree in Music Therapy and completed her internship at the VA Medical Center. As she found her passion for teaching, Irem was offered a full teaching assistantship at ECU, where she recently earned a double Masters in Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy. She has also been individually selected by faculty to be inducted into the Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda. Irem has also been a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional music fraternity for women. Irem began her Music Ministry journey during her undergraduate years at ECU, when she joined a church family in Greenville, NC. Since then, she has seen grown to love sharing music more and more as she discovered how much music can bring a community together. While she loves performing, she strongly values and sees music as a ministry and has developed a deep passion for sharing that love with her new church family.

15 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 (8/26) NATIVITY BLOOD DRIVE 8:30AM Holy Communion 11:00AM Holy Communion 12:00PM Youth Meeting (M) Youth Parent Meeting (PSB) 5:00PM Veterans Quarters Meal MONDAY (8/27) 6:30PM ESL (M) TUESDAY (8/28) THURSDAY (8/30) 7:00PM Eagle Board Review (M) FRIDAY (8/31) Church Office closed SATURDAY (9/1) 8:30AM Calvary Food Pantry SUNDAY (9/2) 8:30AM Holy Communion 11:00AM Holy Communion WEDNESDAY (8/29) 7:00PM Nativity Choir Rehearsal 7:00PM AA Meeting MONDAY (9/3) LABOR DAY Church Office Closed 6:30PM ESL (M) + 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