Welcome to Luther Memorial Church of the Erie Lutheran Parish 12 OCTOBER 2014 The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come, when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus' parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.
LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH LUTHER MEMORIAL ACADEMY 225 West Tenth Street Erie, PA 16501 814-454-0106 THE REV. WILLIAM COLEMAN, Pastor WALT GABER MARILYN ROSITER Cantor Director of Care Ministries RON KING BETH KELLER Pastoral Asst. ~ St. Matthew s/holy Trinity Youth and Family Ministry SARAH PRYLINSKI SUSAN M. BELOTT Youth and Family Ministry Academy Administrator THE REV. J. DAVID MUMFORD THE REV. BILLIE B. LOOMIS Pastor Emeritus Pastor Emeritus 12 OCTOBER 2014 THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Holy Communion Setting I 10:30 Please turn and reverence the cross of Christ. As the cross passes you, turn and face the cross as it is carried to the chancel. The author of this hymn text is unknown. The translation is largely the work of celebrated hymnist and translator Catherine Winkworth. The melody comes from a 17 th century German hymn, with several revisions made during the 18 th century. ENTRANCE HYMN LBW 447 GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God. SECOND SUNDAY FAMILY AND FRIENDS PRELUDE WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. P We hold back your goodness from one another. We hold back, pretending it is our own. C Break open the tombs of pride and fear that we build, so that in giving what is yours, we might find what we truly need. In this moment of reflection we admit where we have fallen short this week and turn to you for forgiveness and a new beginning. Silence is kept for reflection. P The Lord is your shepherd: you shall never be in want. Such goodness and mercy will seek you, and they will find you; so that in the banquet of love, you will forever be filled. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.
GREETING 2 Corinthians 13:14 P Sisters and brothers in Christ, beloved children of God: grace, mercy, and peace be with you all. C And also with you. KYRIE Luke 17:13 PRAYER OF THE DAY Ruth 2:4 P Let us pray. C Holy God, you have chosen us as your own. Prepare us for the great banquet to come where your righteousness and justice will satisfy all. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please be seated. CHILDREN S SERMON AND DISMISSAL FOR CHILDREN S CHURCH WORD God speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song. > FIRST READING: Isaiah 25:1 9 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. >
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm, 5 the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled. 6 On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. 7 And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. L The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. SECOND READING: Philippians 4:1 9 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. VERSE L The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God. PSALM: Psalm 23 LBW 451 choir P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-second chapter. GOSPEL: Matthew 22:1 14 Once more Jesus spoke with them in parables, saying: 2 The kingdom of heaven may be compared with a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves and called those who had been invited into the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come into the wedding banquet.' 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he spoke with his slaves and said, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find into the wedding banquet.' 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. >
11 But when the king came in and saw the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king spoke with his attendants and said, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen." P The Gospel of the Lord APOSTLES CREED SERMON Pastor Coleman This broad and sturdy Dutch folk melody was first published in 1710 as part of a large collection of dances. A noted 20 th century Dutch musicologist republished many of them in London, and this tune was among those which Ralph Vaughan Williams included in The English Hymnal (1906). HYMN OF THE DAY ELW 522 C I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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. THE PRAYERS 1 Timothy 2:1 > A Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. A brief silence. A Come near us, Lord God. Let your church rejoice at your banquet where all are invited and welcomed, washed and fed, forgiven and chosen. Bless the fullness of our church within the City of Erie as the Erie Lutheran Parish works together to make this world a better place. Bless our hands this afternoon as we work at McKinley Elementary School. O Lord, we turn to you, A Come near us, Lord God. Bless our confirmation students as they grow in their affirmation of their own faith which began in their baptism. Bless those who teach and model for them a life of faith, their parents and grandparents, and Beth Keller and Sarah Prylinski. O Lord, we turn to you, >
A Come near us, Lord God. Let your world rejoice in peace which surpasses understanding, at tables overflowing with good food and drink, and where shrouds of sorrow, pride and anger are lifted. O Lord, we turn to you, A Come near us, Lord God. Let your people rejoice with faces wiped free of tears, minds unbound from disgrace, bodies freed from suffering, and souls restored. (Especially we pray for...) O Lord, we turn to you, A Come near us, Lord God. Let your faithful rejoice in every assembly, in praise and singing, word and deed, unrestrained from worry and unchained from fear. O Lord, we turn to you, A Come near us, Lord God. Let those who wait for you rejoice with all the saints, whose names are in the book of life and who now sit at the great feast with you, especially Nancy Shutts and Helen Altenberger. O Lord, we turn to you, P Now may the peace of God that surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. P The peace of the Lord be with you always. C And also with you. Romans 16:16 OFFERTORY MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. THE OFFERING IS RECEIVED Psalm 116:12 An Individual Silent Prayer as We Prepare to Make our Offering: A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Luke 8: 5-8 ANTHEM "Loving Shepherd" J. S. Bach Loving shepherd, comfort and guide us, keep us in thy tender care. And in thy mercy stay beside us, safely thy lambs now gather, Bring us in faith together, and thy pastures now prepare. And when I walk with darkness around me, Thou art near and I will fear no ill. So with thy love and kindness surround me, goodness and mercy bringing, From living water springing, Lord of Love grant me thy comfort still. OFFERTORY PRAYER A Bring your best into the wedding banquet, lift your hearts in song, and rejoice with the king; clothe us with your righteousness, clothe us with your joy, that we might give glory to you with every gift that has been entrusted to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. GREAT THANKSGIVING Matthew 21:9 >
P It is indeed right and salutary.. EUCHARISTIC PRAYER P Holy, living, and loving God, we praise you for creating the heavens and the earth. We bless you for bringing Noah and his family through the waters of the flood, for freeing your people Israel from the bonds of slavery, and for sending your Son as our Redeemer. We give you thanks for Jesus who, living among us, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and with a love stronger than death, gave his life for others. > 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, therefore, his life-giving death and glorious resurrection, we await your promised life for all this dying world. Breathe your Spirit on us and on this bread and cup: carry us in your arms from death into life, that we may live as your chosen ones, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. 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. Matthew 6:9
AGNUS DEI The original text of this hymn is Latin, written between the 4 th and 9 th centuries. The text was revised in the 16 th -17 th century, then translated and published in English in 1849. The melody, originally a 15 th century folksong, is arranged here by one of the contributors to the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship and first published in a Lutheran hymnal in 1969. HYMN FOR THE DISTRIBUTION LBW 210 INVITATION TO COMMUNION P The reign of God is at hand. Come, taste the joy prepared for you. The congregation is seated. Today's service is a celebration of Holy Communion. We believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the gifts of bread and wine, bringing forgiveness of sins and new life to all who receive this sacrament. All baptized Christians who come at our Lord's invitation are welcome at His table of grace. Please come forward by the center aisle. The distribution of the elements is by the method of intinction (dipping). Receive the bread and dip it into the chalice (cup). Wine is in the metal chalice. Grape juice, for those who prefer it, is in the earthenware chalice. Return to your place by the side aisle. After you receive communion, please exit the church using the 10 th street exit and gather around the Meditation Garden on the west side of the building. For those unable to go outside, please gather near the west side windows to watch the dedication. COMMUNION John 1:29
BLESSING P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. DEDICATION OF MEDITATION GARDEN CROSS, CORNERSTONE AND GARDEN Given in Memory of Bunny Britton Given Through the Hands of John and Lee Swenson In Thanksgiving to the Property Committee, Arts Committee and Chaffee Landscaping SENDING HYMN LBW 221 BLESSING Numbers 6:24-26 P The blessing of almighty God, the Father of glory, + Jesus Christ our peace, and the Spirit of truth, be upon you and remain with you always. DISMISSAL Luke 7:50 P Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known by everyone. The Lord is near. A Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. C And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Thanks be to God! > From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46819. 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. Used by permission. All rights reserved.