THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST September 2, 2018 American Lutheran Church, Filley, Nebraska, 402-662-3125 LuRae Hallstrom, Pastor; Cell: 402-269-7147, Home: 402-269-3147 WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 15) O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved. GATHERING HYMN: Borning Cry #770(WOV) CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: In the lesson for today from The Letter of James we read, Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. C: Get rid of all that is profane and wrong and receive with meekness God s word which is able to save your soul. P: In the Gospel lesson for today Jesus says that what contaminates us is not what comes from the outside, but what can reside on the inside. C: From within, says Jesus, comes such things as evil thoughts, jealousy, anger, pride, revenge, profanity and foolishness. P: The Pharisees concentrated on what was on the outside rather than what was within. They saw that some of Jesus disciples did not wash their hands in the correct way in the way of tradition C: Jesus told them that following those kinds of religious traditions did not mean that they pleased God. P: We know that we too can concentrate on outward appearances far more than on what kind of person we are on the inside. C: We know that we are not free of wrong thoughts and attitudes that want to find a home in us. P: We know that we sometimes let these thoughts and attitudes stay with us and take hold and become a part of us. C: We confess to God all the wrong thoughts and attitudes that reside within us that are not of God that are not of Jesus that are not of the Holy Spirit. Forgive us, Lord. P: As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ and by his authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. SHARING THE PEACE PRAYER OF THE DAY: P: Let us pray C: 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 Lord. Amen. SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM READING OF GOD S WORD: The First Lesson Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 The Second Lesson James 1:17-27
The Holy Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 MESSAGE Pastor LuRae HYMN OF THE DAY: Hymn for Labor Day Offering & noisy offering is received and dedicated. 1. All our work and all our being come from you, most gracious Lord. Ev'ry task which lies before us is Creator's will outpoured. Help us as we build your kingdom, know we labor not in vain; give us sure and deep conviction for the tasks that you ordain. 2. Some may nurture those who hunger, tend and heal the broken heart; set our flagging spirits dancing, spark our vision through their art. Others teach and offer counsel, bear life's burdens, ease its care; strive for justice, peace, and freedom for all people ev'rywhere. 3. Let us labor in the knowledge that no task can be too small; that the God who stretched the heavens no less shaped the least of all. Give us strength, Lord, to accomplish what you set our hands to do, that by serving those around us, we return the gift to you. Composer: Thurlow Weed. Lyricist: Michael Morgan. Edition notes: This hymn may be freely copied and shared. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING P: Merciful Father, C: we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us, our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: P: Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. GREAT THANKSGIVING P. 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. C. We praise you, O God. P. Generations bless your faithfulness: Through the water; by night and day; Across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future. C. We praise you, O God. P. 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. C. We thank you, O God. WORDS OF INSTITUTION 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. P. Remembering his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end, we proclaim the mystery of faith: C. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. P. 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 who taught us to pray LORD S PRAYER DISTRIBUTION (at the altar) POST-COMMUNION BLESSING POST-COMMUNION PRAYER P: Let us pray,
All: Holy and compassionate God, in bread and wine you give us gifts that form us to be humble and courageous. May your words come to life in our serving and in our witness, that we might speak a living voice of healing and justice to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our rock and redeemer. Amen. BENEDICTION CLOSING HYMN: For the Fruit of All Creation #760(WOV) DISMISSAL: P. Go in peace and serve the Lord. C. Thanks be to God. ******* (Excerpts of this service are taken by permission from Worship Resources, Making it Work in the Parish by Rev. Jerry Nelson) (Portions of this service reprinted from Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress license #13855-L ******* WELCOME TO WORSHIP! It s wonderful to gather as the body of Christ to worship and give thanks to God! Thanks be to God for all of you here! If you are a visitor, please sign the guest book and feel welcome to come again. You are invited to come downstairs for refreshments and fellowship following worship. WORSHIP HELPERS: Greeters-Randy & DeeAnn Schmidt, Reader-DeeAnn Schmidt, PowerPoint-Tanner/DeeAnn Schmidt, Fellowship-WELCA. Next Sunday: Greeters-Melvin & Virginia Dorf, Reader-Mary Ann Harms, PowerPoint-Tanner/DeeAnn Schmidt, Fellowship-Rally Day. PRAYER CONCERNS: Helen Fritzen, Anna Marie Plambeck, Dustin Fritch, Raynette Essman, our shut-ins. OUR SYMPATHY to Jessie and Amanda Farmer upon the death of JD Farmer (Jesse's dad) who lived in Texas. We commend JD to God s care and ask His blessings on his family and friends. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Fynleigh Kunza (Sept 2), Helen Fritzen, Kendall Hallstrom (Sept 5), Lacey Hill (Sept 8). SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM: This morning, Kinley Jean Crocker, daughter of Tim & Stephanie Crocker is being received into God s family through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Kinley was born February 19, 2018 in Kearney, NE, and her sponsors are Jamie Rudder and Gabriel Crocker. Welcome, Kinley, to God s family! CIRCLE MEETING will be Wednesday, Sept 5, at 7:00 pm. Bible Study-Betty Norton. Hostess-Bev Weiss. NEXT SUNDAY!! RALLY SUNDAY/POTLUCK DINNER: We will kick off our new Sunday School year next Sunday, September 9. Students, ages 3 through 8th grade are invited! If anyone would like to help teach or substitute teach for Sunday School, please let DeeAnn or Denise know. Our schedule for next Sunday is: 9:30 worship 10:30 Sunday School 11:30 Potluck dinner (EVERYONE invited Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided - please bring a side dish to share) GROUP PICTURES FOR THE NEW PICTURE DIRECTORY will be taken Sunday, September 9, following worship. This includes WELCA, Church Council, Building & Grounds, Nominating & Finance, Sunday School Teachers, Church Banners, and Altar Committee. AN ADDITIONAL DAY FOR PICTURES IS NOW AVAILABLE!! SIGN UP TODAY TO GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN! PICTURE DIRECTORY PHOTOS WILL BE TAKEN SEPTEMBER 11, 13-15. We will be doing a new picture directory this fall. The dates for getting your picture taken are Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday, September 11, 13-15. Every family taking a picture will receive a free picture directory, free 8x10, and each member a mobile directory. For those who wish to buy pictures, there is a 20% Senior (60 & over) Citizen Discount or a 20% Military-First Responders Discount. Also a
$10.00 coupon for signing up and a $5.00 coupon for families who bring an item for the Food Pantry. We are also looking for congregational pictures for the directory. Please share any (baptisms, weddings, special services, etc.) that you might have. You can email them to us at filleyalc@gmail.com. (note corrected email address). You can sign up for your picture date/time on the link at our website (filleylutheranchurch.com) OR stop at the back table in the narthex from 9-9:20 a.m. on Sunday mornings or down in the Fellowship Hall following worship. You may also call Sandy Mahler at 402-688-4230 (leave message) or Denise Blaker at 402-239-2795 (cell) or 402-223-3087 (leave message). Your call will be returned. If you have any questions, please let us know. We d love to have all our members in the picture directory this year! BeLOVED BEGINS WEDNESDAY, SEPT 12, 4:00-5:30 P.M. Providing a safe and fun learning environment for age 3 and older. REGISTER at www.filleylutheranchurch.weebly.com. Click on the lines in the upper left-hand corner to access the on-line registration form. Don t forget to include your t- shirt size. Each session begins with a tasty snack prepared with loving hands. Opening session includes prayer, singing and a video with the weekly theme. Students then assemble in age appropriate groups to experience the story in other unique ways. DONATIONS in the bowl on the table in the narthex during September go to the Community Food Pantry. BULLETIN ITEMS are due by Tuesday evenings. Please email to Sandy at smahleris@gmail.com or leave in the bulletin tray. Thank you! PLEASE SAVE YOUR RECEIPTS! SunMart/Spartan Nash Co. supports a fundraising program called Support Our Schools and Churches. All you have to do is save your SunMart cash register receipt tapes and put them in the box in the Fellowship Hall. When we have collected $150,000 in receipt tapes Spartan Nash Company will award us a check for $1000. Our last counted total was $12,803.00. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy. Thank you to everyone who is donating toward this ministry!! LUTHERAN CHRISTIANS BELIEVE AND TEACH that Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, is truly present in the Lord's Supper, and that in this meal of the baptized children of God, our Lord gives forgiveness of sin, life and salvation. All who seek the mercy and grace of God in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus are welcome to the Lord's table. Those who desire to partake of this communion are invited to receive the Lord's body and blood by eating the bread and drinking from the cup of wine. Grape juice and gluten free bread are available-please let your server know if you would like it. Those who desire to participate but cannot receive the bread and/or the cup of wine are invited to come forward with hands folded to hear the words of promise. Children may be communed or blessed, according to the practice of one's church or home congregation. Those who are physically unable to come forward should notify one of the ushers of their desire to receive. COMING UP: September 9 Rally Sunday/Group Pictures taken September 12 BeLoved begins Sept. 11, 13-15 Picture Directory photos taken Sept. 28-29 Women s Retreat PLEASE DONATE TO OUR LOCAL FOOD PANTRY: American Lutheran Church gathers food donations for the Community Pantry and Emergency Services in Beatrice on an ongoing basis. The Food Pantry serves all of Gage County. If you would like to give to this ministry, please leave your donated items in the shopping cart in the Fellowship Hall at any time. Special items needed at this time are: cake mixes, brownie mix, hamburger & tuna helper, ketchup, mayo, vegetable oil, tea, coffee, saltine & graham crackers. THANK YOU for your continued support to this ministry! PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR for an ALC/Filley Women's Retreat to be held from noon on Friday, Sept. 28, until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the newly opened Living Water Retreat House at Camp Carol Joy Holling, Ashland, NE. Up to 12 women will enjoy private bedrooms, gourmet meals and an opportunity to enjoy the peaceful CJH park-like setting for fellowship and personal reflection. Rooms are complimentary (because we are an ELCA
congregation). We will only be responsible for $42 per person for meals. Scholarships are available - contact Pastor LuRae. ALC/F member sign-up through August 15 sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex. Open spots after August 15 can be filled by our invited guests. WINDOW REPLACEMENT UPDATE: At the recent semi-annual meeting, the congregation voted to move forward with the replacement of the two stained glass windows on the west side of the church in addition to the east window that is currently under construction. Funding is to come from Memorial money and the Building Fund, however, we are still soliciting donations for this work as we do not wish to deplete the Building and Memorial Funds any more than we have to. Please consider an additional donation for the replacement of the west windows. If you wish to do so, please contact a member of the Council or the Long Range Planning Committee. Thank you! FREE WOOD CHIPS are available from Charlene Hippen. Please give her a call at 402-865-5485 if you are interested.