HOLY COMMUNION Thanksgiving for the blessing of meaningful work GATHERING. The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week.

Transcription

1 HOLY COMMUNION Thanksgiving for the blessing of meaningful work Exploring the promise of God for all Authentic religion Sunday, September 2, :30 am Sung Eucharist The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week. Jesus is the one who upholds God s law Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We, having been washed in the word when we were born in the font, return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts. GATHERING PRELUDE Passacaglia from Suite No G. F. Handel, trans. Kondonassis The carillon calls the assembly to worship. At the sound of the bell the assembly stands to face the worship leaders at the back of the church. THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM P We bless you, almighty God, for the gift of water for the oceans, for the rivers, for Mississippi and Missouri, for Minnehaha and Bde Maka Ska, and for Superior and Saint Croix that you provide for our community. a We bless you, O God, for the waters of the earth. P We honor you, merciful God, for showering us with water for the rain that nourishes the plants and trees. a We honor you, O God, for the waters you send. P We glorify you, gracious God, for the waters of baptism For the water of the Jordan that washed our Lord Jesus, for the water that bathes the church universal. a We glorify you, O God, for the waters of baptism. P We worship you, O God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, Well of forgiveness, you revive us, Cup of cold water, you refresh us. Pool of rebirth, you renew us. a To you comes the worship of all your people, now and forever. Amen. PROCESSIONAL HYMN (hymn) 557 Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun stanza 1 all; 2 higher voices; 3 all; 4 lower voices; 5 all

2 GREETING AND PRAYER OF THE DAY P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. a And also with you. P Let us pray. O God our strength, 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 be preserved through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. a Amen. The presider continues with words of welcome. WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song. The Israelites believed the law was a divine gift that provided guidelines for living out the covenant. Moses commands the people to obey the law and neither to add to nor subtract from it. The Israelites are also to teach the law to their children and their children s children. CHILDREN S WORD Children are invited to come forward; parents are welcome to come with their children. READING God s law: sign of a great nation Deuteronomy 4:1 2, 6 9 a 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. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING Be doers of the word James 1:17 27 The letter of James was intended to provide first-century Christians with instruction in godly behavior. Here, Christians are encouraged to listen carefully and to act on what they hear, especially by caring for those least able to care for themselves. 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, - 2 -

3 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. Word of God, word of life. a Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The assembly stands and welcomes the gospel, singing: GOSPEL Authentic religion Mark 7:1 8, Mark s gospel depicts Jesus as challenging traditional ways in which religious people determine what is pure or impure. For Jesus, the observance of religious practices cannot become a substitute for godly words or deeds that spring from a faithful heart. The holy gospel according to Mark. a Glory to you, O Lord. Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 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. The gospel of the Lord. a Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON silence for reflection follows the sermon HYMN OF THE DAY (hymn) 772 Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways stanzas 2 & 3 in harmony - 3 -

4 APOSTLES CREED A We have been made God s people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we proclaim our faith. a 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. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION The prayers conclude with confession through the summer. Each petition concludes: hear our prayer; a your mercy endures forever. THANKSGIVING FOR THE BLESSING OF MEANINGFUL WORK (Labor Day Blessing) God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. MEAL PEACE P The peace of Christ be with you always. a And also with you. The assembly is invited to share God s peace with one another. GATHERING OF GIFTS The offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. During this time, the table is set. After the offering is gathered, bread, wine, money, and other gifts are brought forward. The assembly stands as the procession reaches the chancel. Barcarolle and Prelude from Variations on a Theme in Ancient Style Offertory Prayer A Let us pray together. a God of all creation, you open wide your hand and satisfy the need of every living thing. Carlos Salzedo - 4 -

5 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. The assisting minister pours out the wine. GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you. a And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. a We lift them to the Lord. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. a It is right to give our thanks and praise. P we praise your name and join their unending hymn: All who come seeking Jesus are invited to receive these gifts of God. Communion at this service is served standing. Please follow the directions of the ushers to a communion station. Grape juice and gluten-free bread are available upon request. The benefits of the sacrament are fully present in either the bread or the wine, should health reasons prevent you from receiving one of them. Children are welcome to receive communion or a blessing. Prayer after communion at the chancel kneelers is always welcomed. The presider continues with the Great Thanksgiving, concluding: Lord s Prayer (1975) a 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. Breaking of the Bread and Invitation to Communion Communion - 5 -

6 Lamb of God (ELW front) p. 154 Andantino espressivo from Sonata in c minor silence for reflection concludes the Communion Giovanni Battisita Pescetti, trans. Salzedo Prayer after Communion A Let us pray. Gracious provider, you nourish us with holy food and drink, and you open us up to the needs of others. Refresh us with your Spirit, that our words and deeds may proclaim your creative and life-giving Word, Jesus Christ our Lord. a Amen. God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. Following worship coffee is served. Brief sanctuary tours will be offered after this service. Meet a docent at the pulpit. Your assistance in helping to prepare the sanctuary for our weekday ministries is welcomed. Please meet a staff member near the front of the sanctuary following the postlude to assist in clearing the pew chairs. SENDING BLESSING P God almighty, God most powerful, bless you, keep you, and grant you peace; in the name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. a Amen. SENDING HYMN (hymn) 806 O God, My Faithful God stanzas 2 & 3 in harmony DISMISSAL Please face the processional cross for the dismissal. A Go now to love and serve the Lord. a Thanks be to God. The carillon sends the assembly into mission. POSTLUDE Fanfare Jacques Lemmens Portions of the liturgy are from Sundays and Seasons.com 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress liturgies license #

7 SERVING TODAY Pastor D. Foy Christopherson Pastor Stephanie Friesen Brian McKinley Deacon Mark Sedio Jane Lien Talia Mailman Barb Hoernemann Rick Johnston Pastor Melissa Pohlman Mark Kieffer, Marc Wilson Varney Kiazolu Pat Forse Arlene Lind, Sara Gunsch Megan & Matt Bowman, Mark Erickson, Rexanne Spicer presiding preaching assisting minister cantor associate cantor harp reader crucifer communion minister sound operators lead usher for September docent host & greeter seasonal planning team Chancel flowers this weekend are given by the Floral Guild. If you wish to donate flowers, contact Judy Korogi 10 days in advance at This service is being streamed live on the internet at Large print service folders, assisted listening devices, and access seating are available to aid your participation in worship. Please inquire with an usher

8 WELCOME TO CENTRAL Everyone is welcome. As a community of the people of God, the members of Central Lutheran Church are called to welcome all people regardless of age, economic status, ethnic background, gender, physical or mental ability, race or sexual orientation. We affirm that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. Guests are welcome. We are pleased you are worshiping with us today. We invite guests to complete the Welcome to Central card found in the pew racks and leave it with an usher or place it in the offering plate. If you would like more information about Central, please contact us at , or info@centralmpls.org. Children are welcome at all services. Worship bulletins for children and activity bags are available at Sanctuary entrances. Welcome to the Lord s Table. All who come seeking Jesus are welcome at Holy Communion. Please follow the guidance of the ushers and instructions in the order of service. During communion, ministers will bring bread and wine to persons in designated access seating areas. Communion may be received in one kind (only bread or only wine) from any station if wheat bread or alcohol presents a health concern. Gluten-free breads and alcohol-free wine are available by request at most liturgies from most communion stations. Welcome to the Holy Baptism. All who come seeking Jesus are welcome to receive Holy Baptism. Please visit with any worship leader, staff member, hospitality volunteer, contact the church office, or complete an information card, indicating that you wish to be baptized. A pastor will contact you. Friends of Central Stay connected Across the country and beyond there are many people who have a soft spot in their heart for Central Lutheran Church people who feel a connection both to the history and the ongoing mission of this congregation. If you re one of them, we invite you to join a new network of Friends of Central. Pick up a brochure or visit our website for more information or to join. Electronic Giving Opportunities: Online at click on Give Today; or text 73256, enter code word centralmpls (lower case), and a numerical amount. Press send and fill in the details. All contributions from members and guests will appear in a contribution statement. Wi-Fi is available as Central Lutheran (password guestclc). If you give electronically, use the green pew card to drop in the offering plate instead of an envelope. Central Lutheran is supported by givers like you. Questions? Contact the church office at