SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION

Transcription

1 SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION GATHERED TOGETHER TO WORSHIP, SENT FORTH TO SERVE! Our Savior Lutheran Church Aiea, Hawaii 10:45am on the 2nd and 4th Sundays

2 A Psalm for meditation: Psalm 139 "O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

3 Communion is a precious gift to Christians. "Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night in which He was betrayed..." gave us a Holy Meal. A meal in which He gives us His own Body and Blood in, with and under the bread and wine as a sign and seal that we are His. The meal is not to be taken lightly. Here are the words of the Small Catechism to help us prepare for this Holy Supper: What is the Sacrament of the Altar? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for Christians to eat and to drink. Where is this written? The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. What is the benefit of this eating and drinking? These words, Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things? Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: forgiveness of sins. Who receives this sacrament worthily? Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words for you require all hearts to believe.

4 ALOHA E KOMO MAI (Welcome!) SETTING THE CONTEXT (The quotes on the screen are taken from sacred and secular sources to help us get our arms around today s message.) INVOCATION (God would have us start all things in His name. Matthew 28:19) Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen CALL TO WORSHIP (The call to worship is a chance to take a deep breath, close your eyes and let go of everything that would keep you from focusing on God and His grace. Matthew 5:24) LITURGICAL RESPONSES (From the earliest days of the church, God s people have spoken Bible verses to each other as a reminder of God s promise and God s power. Colossians 3:15-16) Leader: In the day of trouble, I call on You, People: And You answer me. Leader: Create in me a clean heart, O God, People: And renew a right spirit within me. Leader: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, People: And uphold me with a willing spirit. Leader: Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth, People: Teach my heart to love Your name. Leader: I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole life, People: And I will glorify Your name forever and ever. Amen! SHARING OF GOD S ALOHA (The Passing of the Peace is an ancient tradition of welcoming one another into God s house and being reminded that not only is God glad that you are, so are His people. Romans 16:16; 2 Corinthians 13:12) SONGS OF PRAISE (Songs of praise are a response to God s love and forgiveness. Psalm 98:1) COLLECTIVE PRAYER OF GOD S PEOPLE (This prayer sets the theme for the day, collecting the thoughts of the congregation and unifying them in their worship journey. Ezra 8:23) Leader: The Lord be with you... People: And also with you! Leader: Let us pray

5 GOD SPEAKS TO HIS PEOPLE THROUGH HIS WORD (The Bible is a book, inspired by God, and given to His people for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the people of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16) A MESSAGE ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHILDREN SONGS OF PRAISE SERMON OFFERING For Our Savior and His Work The offering is how the members and regular guests of Our Savior support the Lord's work here in Aiea and around the world. Every gift should come from the heart (2 Corinthians 9:7). If you are not a member but would like offering envelopes to track your gifts for income tax purposes, please call the church office. PRAYERS OF GOD'S PEOPLE If you have a prayer request, you can write it down and give it to Pastor before the service or during the week call the church or us at: prayer@oursaviorhawaii.com. Leader: God our Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of our lips - but more importantly hear the prayers of our hearts. Direct us by Your Spirit to search out the deep things in this life - always seeking Your will. Enable and encourage us not only to pray - but also live out our faith for the sake of the world around us... Never stop searching for all of Your children, no matter where they live in this world - and by Your Word and Spirit, continually lead them back into Your presence... We pray for those who are just now beginning to know Jesus as their Savior: may You strengthen them on their journey... We pray for our children and for those who take care of them... We pray for those who are afflicted in body, mind or spirit - and especially for those who face such things alone. Give them the strength and mercy to meet each and every need... We pray that Your peace would shine in our hearts and Your love would set us free - enabling us to reach out in mercy and grace to a hurting and broken world...

6 Guide your Church along the way of the Gospel; may Your Holy Spirit keep her open and welcoming to the lost and broken... We pray for the leaders of the nations; may they have the will and courage to promote justice and freedom for all of Your people... Take our weaknesses into Yourself and allow us to find strength in You... For those who work with the oppressed, the lost, the lonely, the hurting and those who this world does not value, grant them strength and passion for their work... We entrust to You our families and our friends, knowing that even though we failed to bring to You all of our prayers and needs, You already know our hearts... May Your Church be constantly renewed at Your table, and may Your will be done. Hear us now as we pray together the prayer that our Lord Jesus taught us... 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

7 The Holy Communion between God and His People The Sacrament of Communion is a precious gift from God. Lutherans believe we receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion. We cannot explain it, but accept it out of faith because of Jesus own words in Luke 22:19. In communion Christ physically assures us of the FORGIVENESS of sins which He purchased on the cross. We follow 1 Corinthians chapter 11 which states Holy Communion is a profession of faith in both practice and belief. We invite those who have been baptized and instructed in the Lord s Supper to join us at God s table. Children who have been baptized and confirmed in the church may also join us for communion. Those who have not been baptized and/or formally prepared are invited forward for a blessing. Those not communing, please fold your arms so Pastor knows to bless you! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, or would like to learn about communion - please talk to Pastor or one of the elders! Leader: The Lord be with you... People: And also with you! Leader: All: Leader: Let us confess our sin before God as we prepare to receive His gift of life and forgiveness through this sacrament... Heavenly Father, I recognize and confess that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior. I repent of my sin and ask for Your forgiveness in His Name. I believe Jesus is truly present in this Supper and that through the bread and wine I receive the forgiveness He won for me on the cross. Hear God s promise to you from Isaiah 43, I am the one who created you, I am the one who formed you - fear not - for I have also redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, you are Mine. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. And so it is, by the command of my Lord and Savior, I announce His love, grace and forgiveness unto each and every one of you. You may approach His table without fear - for you are His, now and forever. WORDS OF INSTITUTION (We use the words St. Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 11 to bless the bread and wine, which in a mystery known only to God, becomes the body and blood of Jesus. He empties us of our sins only to fill us up with Himself.)

8 Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you always. People: And also with you. Our Savior offers only common cup communion (symbolizing our willingness to share one another's burdens). You may either drink directly or dip your wafer into the cup. THE HOLY COMMUNION BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE CLOSING PRAYER BENEDICTION OF OUR LORD (In Numbers 6, God tells Moses, This is how you are to put My name on My people... And so as we leave His house, we go with His name upon us to bless and encourage us in our journey through life.) Leader: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. People: Amen Thank you for being with us today, whether you are here every Sunday or just once in a while (or even if this is your first time) - we always give thanks to God for you. If you ever have questions about the church, Lutherans, God, or life - don t hesitate to call, or stop by.

9 * * * * * * * * * * * What is Worship? Where does it come from? Why do we worship this way? Our worship service is taken from many different Bible passages. While there is no single liturgy (form of worship) in the Bible, there are many songs, prayers and traditions that we use to help focus our thoughts and lives on God. If you get the chance, you may want to look up the following Bible passages to help you understand where our worship service comes from: Invocation: Matthew 28:19 Confession: Romans 7:14-8:4 Absolution (forgiveness) 1 John 1:9 Kyrie (Lord, have mercy) Matthew 15:22, 17:15, 20:30-31 Hymn of Praise Luke 2:14 Collect Prayer Ruth 2:4, Luke 1:28, Judges 6:12 Scripture Readings Luke 4:16 Gospel John 6:68 Sermon Matthew 5 Creed 1 Peter 3:15 Offering Psalm 96:8 Prayers 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Benediction (Blessing) 2 Corinthians 13:14

10 THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW... OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AIEA...is part of a Synod or fellowship of churches from around the world who hold to historical, Biblical beliefs and practices. If you would like to know more about Our Savior or the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, you can go to: or or you can call our church office at PRAYER REQUESTS...we would like to pray for specific needs in your life or the lives of those you care about. To add a name to the Sunday morning prayer list, write the prayer down and hand it to Pastor, call the church office during the week at or us at prayer@oursaviorhawaii.com RESTROOMS...are located in the lobby. Turn right as you exit the Sanctuary. COFFEE, TEA AND FELLOWSHIP...at 9:15 or so in the narthex each Sunday morning. On the 2nd Sunday of each month the LWML provides a mini-bakesale with a freewill offering benefiting a scholarship fund for Our Savior Lutheran School and Lutheran High School of Hawaii. NURSERY AVAILABLE...for children three and under. Volunteer staff will watch your children during worship. The nursery opens around 8:05am and closes a few minutes after our 10:45am service. Occasionally the nursery is not staffed when no volunteers are available. We can always use more volunteers. COLORING SHEETS...and crayons are available at the back of the sanctuary. BIBLE CLASS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL...take place at 9:37am each Sunday. Please check the announcements for the topic and location of the classes CHURCH OFFICE...hours are 9:00am - 3:00pm Monday through Friday. You can contact us at or us at: office@oursaviorhawaii.com. The office is closed on Federal holidays and the day after Easter, Christmas, New Year's Day and Thanksgiving. For more information, visit our website at: