Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 4, 2015 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN 55118 Church Office: (651) 457-9232 Fax: (651) 457-1893 E-mail: stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Visit our web site: www.saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Michael Albrecht 651-457-6796 malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley 651-689-3253 dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director 651-336-2117 tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Ralph Rokke 651-457-3955 rrokke@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler 651-338-8621 rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse 651-210-3380 pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com
WELCOME TO WORSHIP! Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost October 4, 2015 Front Cover photo by Gene & Pat Schwope THE TITLE OF TODAY S SERMON IS: God Bless Our Families. God invented marriage when He created Adam and Eve. God blessed them and told them to be fruitful and multiply. That is how we got here. You may be a single person. You may be married. You may or may not have children of your own. Either way, God designed marriage to be a blessing to you. GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome to our Church card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP You are invited to read Psalm 128, which is found on page 472 in your pew Bible. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in both locations. 2
THE ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN PRELUDE: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland... J.S. Bach CALL TO WORSHIP: (10:30) Praise to God the Father Sing Saint James Choir GATHERING HYMN: Lutheran Service Book 497 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord Those able, please stand for final stanza This old German hymn includes a prayer for our fellow Christians from every land and every tongue. 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense.net, no. A-724499. Public domain PASTORAL GREETING: Pastor Albrecht INVOCATION P: Im Namen des Vaters, und des Sohnes, und des Heiligen Geistes. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. C: (sing) Amen. God gathers His baptized people 3
We freely confess our sinfulness because we are confident that God will forgive us. CONFESSION OF SINS P: Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God, our heavenly Father, asking Him, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to forgive us. C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts, words and actions. I have done evil and I have failed to do good. For this I deserve both present and eternal punishment. I am sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. ABSOLUTION P: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us, and has given His only begotten Son to die for us, and for Jesus sake, He forgives all of our sins. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: (sing) Amen. PSALM OF THE DAY: Lutheran Service Book 656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Martin Luther s most famous hymn is based on Psalm 46. 4
Public domain PRAYER OF THE DAY OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Genesis 2:18-25 18 Then the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens 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. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! Please be seated We enter into the Service of the Word The first marriage set the pattern for all brides and grooms who have come after Adam and Eve. SAINT JAMES CHOIR: (10:30) Rise Up, O Men of God Wm. Walter 5
Those able, please stand When the Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce, Jesus starts with marriage, and then immediately goes on to talk about children. Instead of trying to figure out what we have to do to get out of a marriage, Jesus wants us to enjoy the blessings of marriage and family. HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 10:2-16 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife? 3 He answered them, What did Moses command you? 4 They said, Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away. 5 And Jesus said to them, Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery. 13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. Reading Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! Please be seated Children are invited to come forward during the sermon hymn for the Children s Message. NICENE CREED: Christian Worship, page 31 SERMON HYMN: Christian Worship #500 For Christian Homes, O Lord, We Pray SERMON Title: God Bless Our Families Text: Mark 10:2-16 OFFERING Those able, please stand Please be seated OFFERING VOLUNTARY: Herzlich Tut Mich Verlangen... D. Buxtehude HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #203 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS FIRST BLESSING 6
LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT: Christian Worship, p. 33-35 The Sacrament of the Altar is a special blessing for God s people: our sins are forgiven, our faith is strengthened, and our resolve to live for the Lord is renewed. We believe the word of Jesus that under the bread and the wine we receive the Real Presence of our Savior, His Body and His Blood, for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. All who are baptized and confirmed and confess this understanding of the Lord s Supper are welcome to receive the sacrament with us. We enjoy fellowship in a close communion with each other as we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord together. Visitors who wish to continue to commune with us on a regular basis, or those who have questions are encouraged to speak with one of the pastors. Those able, please stand Non-alcoholic white wine is available in each tray for anyone who prefers it. Gluten-free wafers are also available. To indicate that you prefer gluten-free, please raise your index finger when the wafers are brought to you. Parents are welcome to bring their non-confirmed children with them to the altar. The pastor will pronounce a blessing on them. Parents should instruct such unconfirmed children not to stand on the cushions and to keep their hands folded, so the pastor will know who should not receive the sacrament. LORD S PRAYER Vater unser, der du bist im Himmel, geheiligt werde dein Name, dein Reich komme, dein Wille geschehe, wie im Himmel also auch auf Erden. Unser tȁglich Brot gib uns heute, und vergib uns unsere Schuld als wir vergeben unsern Shuldigern. Und fűhre uns nicht in Versuchung, sondern erlȍse uns von dem Übel, denn dein ist das Reich, und die Kraft, und die Herrlichkeit in Ewigkeit. Amen. HYMNS DURING DISTRIBUTION: Christian Worship #309 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord Christian Worship #317 O Lord, We Praise You Jesus taught us that we can pray to God as a child speaks to a loving father. Please be seated SAINT JAMES CHOIR: (10:30) If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee THANKSGIVING: Christian Worship, page 36 BENEDICTION Georg Neumark Those able, please stand ORGAN POSTLUDE: Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott Lasst Walten J.S. Bach 7
SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN 55118 the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). Stewardship Thought For Christians, seeing with the heart leads to generous giving and joyful serving. SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Michael Albrecht (preaching) Pastor Dale Critchley Organist and Saint James Choir Director Tom Rowland Ushers: (8:00) Len Bohrer and Team #3 (10:30) Dave Miller and Team #4 Audio Video Team: Dani and Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Lorna Redding, Michael Schroeder, Leif Thune and Gil Ude Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Marilyn Nelson, Ruth Radle, Helen Ricketts MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Bishop Shalem and the pastors and people of the Bible Faith Lutheran Church of India, and for the Moriah Children s Home and School, and for Dr. Raj Kumar and the seminary in Guntur in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. FLOWERS The flowers in the chancel vases are given by the Saint James Altar Guild. If you would like to order FLOWERS to be placed in the chancel, please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Shirley Grabuski at 651-457-2529. Living as a Local Missionary With your tip, leave a note to inform your server you ll be praying for him/her for the next month. Leave your email address or other contact info for specific requests. Send a note to the business after a week addressed to that person to assure that you re still praying, and the offer of specific requests still stands. At the end of the month, send one more note to say you ll pray for any future requests. 8