EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Saturday, September 22, 2018 6:30 p.m. Sunday, September 23, 2018 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. Divine Service 1 LSB pg. 151 As We Gather Even after Jesus makes clear that He is on a path that leads to humiliation on the cross, the disciples brazenly argue about who among them is the greatest. They clearly didn t get what Jesus had said, so now he must show them. Jesus places a child in their midst and exhorts them to receive him in humility. We live in a world still too often ruled by brashness, boasting, and boldly lording it over others. At times we are tempted to treat others as less than us. Yet, Jesus shows us today another way to live humbly trusting God. Prelude & Welcome Entrance Hymn (Please stand on last verse) Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good LSB 819 5 All who confess Christ s holy name, Give God the praise and glory. Let all who know His pow r proclaim Aloud the wondrous story. Cast ev ry idol from its throne, For God is God, and He alone: To God all praise and glory! 0
Invocation P: In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Confession & Absolution P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.) P: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. -- Psalm 103:11-12 1
Hymn of Praise This Is the Feast LSB 155 Salutation and Prayer of the Day L: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. L: Let us pray. Your Son, Jesus Christ, humbly suffered and died on the cross and was raised to new life. Give us a spirit of humility as we seek to follow Jesus, so that our witness to Him in the world will be peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 2
The Word of the Lord Old Testament (Please be seated) The Lord Who Judges Righteously Jeremiah 11:18-20 18 The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds. 19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more. 20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Epistle Wisdom from Above James 3:13-4:10 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. L: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Alleluia and Verse (Please stand) LSB 156 3
Holy Gospel The Greatest of All Mark 9:30-37 30 [The disciples] went on from there and passed through Galilee. And [Jesus] did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise. 32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him. 33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, What were you discussing on the way? 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. Hymn of the Day (Please be seated) We Are Called to Stand Together tune LSB 795 1 We are called to stand together With the saints of ages past, With the patriarchs and prophets In the faith they once held fast; Promises and hopes they treasured Now we find fulfilled at last! 2 Those whom Jesus called apostles Journeyed with Him side by side, Heard His teaching, felt His power, Saw the way He lived and died; Then the news of resurrection They delivered far and wide. 3 Through the intervening ages Round the world the Gospel spread: Faithful heralds took the message, Guided where the Spirit led; So the body grew in stature, Serving Christ, the living head. 4 Now in many tongues and cultures Songs of celebration ring; Millions who confess our Savior Honor Him as Lord and King And, for courage, grace and guidance Ev ry day their prayers they bring. Sermon (6:30 p.m.) First Versus Last Mark 9:35-37 Please find sermon notes on the bulletin insert Sermon (8:00 & 10:45 a.m.) Who is the Greatest? Mark 9:30-37 Jesus said, Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. Mark 9:37 Listen to past sermons or share them with a friend at clcs.org/sermons. 4
Nicene Creed (Please stand) I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen. Pastoral Greeting & Rite of Fellowship (Please be seated) (Welcome! Please add your name to the fellowship pad.) Ministry Moment Athletes in Action Gathering of Offerings (As an act of worship and thanksgiving, we offer to God what He has first given to us: the first and best of our lives, time, talents and financial gifts. If you would like to contribute electronically, either onetime or ongoing gifts, please use www.clcs.org/donate or the QR code here.) Special Music (8:00 a.m.) O Magnify the Lord Calvary Chorale (10:45 a.m.) Ancient Words CLCS 3-5 Choir Note: To provide an atmosphere of worship, we kindly ask that you refrain from taking photographs or video during the service. Photographs are welcome after the service. Prayer of the Church (Please stand) P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord: L: For the gift of divine peace and pardon, with all our heart and mind, let us pray to the Lord: P: For those who have suffered loss, whether by financial hardship or natural disaster, by the death of a loved one or the ending of a close relationship, that the consolation of the Spirit and the companionship of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ will lead us through. We especially lift up this day ( special petitions for mourning or loss), let us pray to the Lord: 5
L: For the Church of Christ, that the Holy Spirit would rid us of all bitter jealousy and selfish ambition and fill the baptized with the wisdom from above, let us pray to the Lord: P: For the homebound and the lonely, for the sick and the injured, and for all who cry out to God for help, that they may know His peace even in moments of pain. We especially lift up this day ( special petitions for health and healing), let us pray to the Lord: L: For our nation and especially our leaders: Congress; our president; our justices; and all who make, administer and judge our laws, that God would make them true servants who put others first, living in all courage and integrity, let us pray to the Lord: P: For all who are in times of celebration and thanksgiving, that we may have eyes to see the great gifts of God s bounty that surround us daily, lifting a song of praise to the Lord. We join with ( special petitions for those returning thanks), let us pray to the Lord: L: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Lord's Prayer P: Lord remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: 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. The 8:00 a.m. service continues on page 11 with the Benediction. Holy Communion Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life. He says: Come, for those who eat this bread and drink this cup will never hunger or thirst, but be raised up on the Last Day (John 6). Whoever receives the Lord s Supper must be a believer in Christ (Hebrews 11:6); be sorry for their sins (Proverbs 28:13); believe that Christ offers His body and blood with the bread and wine (1 Corinthians 10:16); and be willing to forgive those who have sinned against you (Matthew 6:14-15). Come with faith in His promises to you and His presence in this holy meal. As you approach the Lord s table, please move to the cross on the center rail. Gluten-free wafers are available on the two stands at the front of the church. Worshippers with a gluten allergy may pick up a sealed packet on their way to the communion rail. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. -- 1 Corinthians 10:17 6
Preface Service of Holy Communion 6:30 p.m. & 10:45 a.m. P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise. P: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing: Sanctus LSB 161 The Words of Institution & the Peace of the Lord P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Agnus Dei (Sung) LSB 163 Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace. 7
Distribution Hymns (Please be seated) Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread LSB 625 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. -- 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 8
Where Charity and Love Prevail LSB 845 5 Let us recall that in our midst Dwells Christ, His only Son; As members of His body joined We are in Him made one. 6 For love excludes no race or clan That names the Savior s name; His family embraces all Whose Father is the same. Post-Communion Canticle (Please stand) Thank the Lord LSB 164 Communion Blessing 9
Post-Communion Prayer L: Let us pray. Gracious God, our heavenly Father, You have given us a foretaste of the feast to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son's body and blood. Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our days of pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ****************************************************************************************** 8:00 a.m. service continues here Benediction P: 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 T give you peace. Sending Hymn Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service LSB 848 Postlude A special door offering is being gathered today for Athletes in Action. Thank you for your generous support of this mission opportunity. 10