MEDITATION & PREPARATION Today s service is about forgiveness. God s forgiveness isn t just for the little sins in our life, but for all. Forgiveness is God s answer to fear. To prepare for service meditate on the thoughts of Poet John Donne who so elegantly expressed the relation between fear and forgiveness. A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun, Which was my sin, though it were done before? Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run, And do run still, though still I do deplore? When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done, For I have more. Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won Others to sin, and made my sin their door? Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun A year or two, but wallowed in a score? When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done, For I have more. I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun My last thread, I shall perish on the shore; But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore; And having done that, Thou hast done; I fear no more. John Donne (1572-1631) 1
FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH A Changeless Message for a Changing World Pastor Jon Schroeder Church Office: 770-253-4007 Home Phone: 770-253-6565 Fax: 770-253-4007 Email: schroeder.email@gmail.com Those who serve: Assistant: Vicar Caleb Bassett Organist: Greta Watkins JULY 26, 2009 PENTECOST 8 Welcome! Thank you for joining us for worship this morning. In our service we gather before our almighty God to offer him our worship and praise. We also gather to strengthen ourselves through the study of God s holy and powerful word. Please take a moment to sign our guest register in the back of the church. Restrooms are located in the hallway directly opposite the entrance to the sanctuary. Hearing assistance devices are available. Speak to an usher. Large print service folders are available. Speak to an usher. Staffed nursery is available, down the hall to the left. TODAY S THEME: WHEN FORGIVENESS IS ALL THERE IS Guest Preacher The Rev. Michael Schultz, Sola Fide Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia 2
SERVICE OF THE WORD OPENING HYMN: #114, All Men Living Are But Mortal, vv1-4 3
INVOCATION L(eader): The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. C(ongregation): And also with you. CONFESSION OF SINS L: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy. C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt. L: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will. C: Amen. 4
OUR SONG OF PRAISE 1 1 We worship our God this morning with the ancient song of praise, Christe Sanctorum. This hymn was written by Gregory the Great in the 6th century A.D., and it reflects the wonderful legacy that historic Christianity has left for the Church today. 5
PRAYER OF THE DAY L: Let us pray. The leader says the Prayer of the Day. C: Amen. THE WORD OF GOD THE CHILDREN S SERMON THE FIRST LESSON: 2 SAMUEL 12:11-25 11 "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' " 13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. 14 But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die." 15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate." 19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead." 6
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!" 22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25 and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah. THE PSALM OF THE DAY: PSALM 51A Read responsively with the leader L: Have mercy on me, O God, C: according to your unfailing love. L: Wash away all my iniquity, C: and cleanse me from my sin. L: For I know my transgressions, C: and my sin is always before me. L: Against you, you only, have I sinned C: and done what is evil in your sight. L: Surely I was sinful at birth, C: sinful from the time my mother conceived me. L: Hide your face from my sins, C: and blot out all my iniquity. L: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, C: and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 7
THE SECOND LESSON: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-44A 35 But someone may ask, How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come? 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. THE VERSE OF THE DAY 8
THE GOSPEL LESSON: LUKE 7:11-17 11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. THE HYMN OF THE DAY: #211, I Know of a Sleep in Jesus Name SERMON When Forgiveness Is All There Is 2 Samuel 12:11-25 THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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. 9
THANKSGIVING THE OFFERING: The members of Faith Lutheran Congregation have joined together to do the Lord's work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH: THE LORD S PRAYER: 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 LORD S BLESSING L: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. C: Amen. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. 10
THE CLOSING HYMN: #114, All Men Living Are But Mortal, vv5-7 + + + 11
Announcements Welcome to guests and visitors! We are glad that you are here, and hope that you will join us again soon. FaithBuilders Class: Our FaithBuilders class is for people interested in becoming members of Faith, or for people just looking to build their faith through the study of the basic teachings of the Bible. Classes are held after the worship service on Sunday and the same topic is repeated on Tuesdays at 7:00PM. If you would like to attend, contact Pastor Schroeder. Childcare is available. Everyone is welcome! Fall College Course at Faith: Foundations will be offering a fall college class starting on September 12, 2009. The course offered this fall is Introduction to Psychology. This course is transferrable to most universities and colleges. The semester begins September 12, 2009 and ends on December 7, 2009. The course will be held most Mondays during the semester and 1-2 Saturdays a month with the exception of October which will have 3 classes. This class is open to high school juniors and seniors, college students, nontraditional students and those needing continuing education. For more information, please contact Jenny Schroeder at foundations.director@gmail.com or at 770-253-4007 Vicar Farewell: Please join us on Sunday, August 9, 2009 to bid farewell to the Bassetts. The theme will be Mexican, please check the signup sheet in the gathering area for food items to bring. Festivities begin at 5:00pm. If you have any questions please contact Jenny Schroeder or Dawn Hill. Women s Bible Study: Bible study for women by women on Wednesday nights at 7:00 in classroom 4. Our current study is entitled Families of the Bible which examines some common family challenges with a focus on biblical people and their families. Packets can be picked up ahead of time from Holly. Babysitting is available when requested on an individual weekly basis. Please speak with Holly if you would like this service. Look forward to seeing you there! Pastor Schroeder is away attending the 60 Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod this week at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, in Saginaw, MI. Approximately 400 delegates from across the synod will gather in the Word to celebrate God s blessings on ministry in the past and set in motion an agreed upon plan of ministry for the future. You can watch or read about the proceeding by visiting this website: http://beta.wels.net/wels-convention-2009. continued on next page 12
Tour of Faith: Our congregation will be sponsoring a rest stop for the Tour of Faith 100-mile Bicycle Ride Saturday morning, August 15th.We will be setting up in Zebulon, Pike County, where the bicycle riders can stop for snacks and a short rest. We help fill their water bottles either with water or Gatorade and have literature available about our congregation. Please contact Mary Beth or Gary Eckhardt with any questions. Upcoming Schedules: Week of July 27 Aug 1: Cleaning: Eckhardt Aug 2: Nursery: Azelton Week of Aug 3 Aug 8: Cleaning: Kvidt Aug 16: Nursery: Pfeifer Mowing: Freeman/Hendricks Mowing: Gehl/Gibson 13