Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church ELW Setting 1 October 4, :30 am Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost Today s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we fi nd comforting. Jesus saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God s law. Jesus rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the children should challenge us as well. What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a child does?

2 Welcome members and guests to our worship service today. If you are visiting, we encourage you to sign the guest register located in the narthex. At each service, we ask that all members and guests please sign the black pew register. Please include your home address, address and phone number. A nursery is available for children up to five years of age during the service. The nursery is located off the hallway on the Huntington Avenue side of the church building. There are also quiet bags available for older children to enjoy during the service. Please ask an usher about borrowing one. Parents are invited to bring children from the nursery for Holy Communion to receive a blessing. If children become restless or noisy during worship, parents are encouraged to take them in to and out of the sanctuary as necessary. Trinity offers an induction loop for the benefit of hearing impaired worshippers. To use, please switch your hearing aid to T. If you are unsure if your hearing aid is compatible, please contact your audiologist. The Reverend Doctor James G. Cobb, Interim Pastor C. Robert Keene II, Organist and Director of Music Congregation of Trinity Lutheran, Ministers of the Word 6812 River Road, Newport News, VA (757) Trinity Lutheran is a partner church with Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center. Cover image by JoAnne Rawls.

3 Welcome and Announcements Voluntary Just As I Am William Bolcom Confession and Forgiveness The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, whose name is majestic in all the earth, who rescues and heals in every time of trouble, who does all things well. Amen. Let us come before God, seeking forgiveness and life. Steadfast and saving God, have mercy on us. We confess to you all the ways we turn from you and harm one another. In your compassion, forgive our sins and heal our hurts. Bring forth from us a harvest of righteousness, the fruits of gentleness and peacemaking, the sheaves of wisdom and justice; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. Silence is kept for refl ection. In the name of + Jesus, the Son of God, receive mercy and find grace in your time of need. Your transgressions are forgiven; God s love is healing balm for your wounds. Rejoice, for God raises you up to new life in Christ. Amen. Gathering Hymn For the Beauty of the Earth ELW 879 The Greeting Kyrie The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. The Kyrie Eleison, Greek for Lord have mercy, asks for God s mercy and peace for us, for the Church, and for the whole world.

4 Hymn of Praise The Gloria in excelsis is an elaboration of the song of the angels over the fields of Bethlehem, which appears in Luke 2:14.

5 Prayer of the Day Sovereign God, you have created us to live in loving community with one another. Form us for life that is faithful and steadfast, and teach us to trust like little children, that we may reflect the image of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. The assembly is seated.

6 Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 2:18-24 Genesis 2 stresses that people are not meant to live in isolation but in relationship. Out of love for humanity, God creates them male and female, to provide companionship for each other and to become with each other one fl esh. The Hebrew words used here are ish (man) and ishshah (woman). The Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner. So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken. Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. Word of God, Word of life. Thanks be to God. Psalm 8 O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths of in- fants and children; you have set up a fortress against your enemies, to silence the foe and avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, what are mere mortals that you should be mind- ful of them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you have made them little less than divine; with glory and hon- or you crown them. You have made them rule over the works of your hands; you have put all things un- der their feet: all flocks and cattle, even the wild beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the sea. O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Epistle Lesson: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 Quoting from the psalms, this passage from Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus, the one through whom God created everything and who sits at God s right hand, is also the one who experienced human suffering and death in order to blaze the path of salvation for us. L ong ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God s glory and the exact imprint of God s very being, and he sustains all things

7 by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, subjecting all things under their feet. Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. Word of God, Word of life. Thanks be to God. Gospel Acclamation The assembly stands. If we love one another, God lives in us* and God s love is perfect- ed in us. (1 John 4:12) Gospel Lesson: Mark 10:2-16 The Holy Gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus announced and enacted in history the new reality of God s surprising activity. These two stories demonstrate this new reality: Women and children are accepted and valued, not dismissed as inferior to adult men. Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? He answered them, What did Moses command you? They said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her. But Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

8 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it. And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Time with the Children The assembly is seated. Sermon Grace for Better or Worse Pastor Cobb Silence is kept for refl ection after the sermon. The assembly stands. Hymn of the Day All Are Welcome ELW 641 The Apostles Creed 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 Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Sharing of the Peace The peace, which enables people to live in unity and in the spirit of mutual forgiveness, comes from Christ whose word has been proclaimed. The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. The assembly is seated. Please sign the pew register.

9 Anthem For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies: Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale and tree and flower, Sun and moon, and stars of light: For the joy of human love, For each perfect gift of thine Brother, sister, parent, child, To our race so freely given, Friends on earth and friends above, Graces human and divine, For all gentle thoughts and mild: Flowers of earth and buds of heaven: The assembly stands. John Rutter Offertory Hymn Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful ELW 184 Offertory Prayer Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen. The Great Thanksgiving The sacrament of Holy Communion is also known as the Eucharist, from the Greek word for thanksgiving. Jesus gave thanks when he took the bread and wine and gave it to his disciples. Proper Preface It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Sanctus The text of the Sanctus is based on Isaiah 6:3 and Matthew 21:9. This is the highest point of the entire liturgy.

10 Thanksgiving at the Table Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God. The universe declares your praise: beyond the stars; beneath the sea; within each cell; with every breath. We praise you, O God. Generations bless your faithfulness: through the water; by night and day; across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future. We bless you, O God. We give you thanks for your dear Son: at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer; beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now. We thank you, O God. 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 his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end, we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. We pray for the gift of your Spirit: in our gathering; within this meal; among your people; throughout the world. Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God, through Christ Jesus, by your Spirit, in your church, without end. Amen. Lord s Prayer 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.

11 Agnus Dei The assembly is seated. In John 1:29, John the Baptist says of Jesus, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Before Holy Communion, we sing these same words. Communion As you receive the bread in your hand, you may commune by intinction using the silver chalice, or you may consume the bread and then drink from the pewter chalice. Music During the Distribution from Auden Variations, Op. 136 (Variation V) The Lamb Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Gave thee life & bid thee feed. By the stream & o er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing wooly bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice: Little Lamb who made thee Dost thou know who made thee Table Blessing Little Lamb I ll tell thee, Little Lamb I ll tell thee; He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb: He is meek & he is mild, He became a little child: I a child & thou a lamb, We are called by his name. Little Lamb God bless thee. Little Lamb God bless thee. The assembly stands. Vincent Persichetti John Tavener The blessings and body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. Post Communion Prayer We give you thanks, O God, that you welcome us to your table and satisfy our deepest hunger and thirst. By your gifts of word and holy meal, strengthen us to take up the cross as we go about our callings in this world, following after Jesus Christ, our servant Lord. Amen. Blessing The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the Son +, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

12 Sending Hymn Blessed Be the God of Israel ELW 250 Dismissal Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Voluntary from Sonata in C Minor, Op. 65, No. 2 Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Fuga: Allegro moderato