September 18, 2016 18 th Sunday after Pentecost INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 16548 Ferris Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 356-5055 www.faithlosgatos.org Office Hours: Tues./Thurs. by appointment Church phone answered 9 AM 7 PM For Emergencies: Pastor Anne (408) 406-8749 or Pastor Carol (831) 239-1254
September 18, 2016 LECTIONARY 25 Who s Your Master? Someone once said you can tell what s important to you by looking at your checkbook or account statement. There might be some big-ticket items on the list, but the most frequent items might tell the bigger story. What are the small things that add up over time? What are the patterns of spending that indicate what you value? The same could probably be said for your calendar. What do you spend your time on and what does that say about what holds value for you? Who or what do you serve? Who or what is your master? An even more important question to ask might be what kind of a master do you want to serve? Time and wealth are not very forgiving masters. They aren t ultimately interested in your welfare or anyone else s. To chase after these masters, no matter how successfully, is to run into a dead end. There s never enough time to do it all. There s never enough money to do it all. However, the God who created time and provides for our every need is forgiving beyond measure and interested in you to the point of sending Jesus to die for you. To serve God is to experience a richness in this life that bubbles up to a life without end. To use your gifts, resources, and skills in service to this master is to invest in returns that are priceless not just for you, but for the world. According to Jesus parable for today, God can use your creativity, and even shrewdness, to benefit others and accomplish God s mission. May worshiping in the Spirit s presence today free you to use your time and resources for the Master s purpose. Copyright 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS103424. 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. 2 P a g e
GATHERING Prelude The Invitation of the Bell (please stand as you are able) Gathering song: Make Me A Channel of Your Peace #95 (purple book) 3 P a g e
Greeting & Prayer of the Day: P: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: and also with you. P: Let us pray C: God among us, we gather in the name of your Son to learn love for one another. Keep our feet from evil paths. Turn our minds to your wisdom and our hearts to the grace revealed in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (please be seated) Welcome & Praise Reports Praise Song: Sing Out, Earth and Sky # 126 (Purple book) 4 P a g e
WORD Time with God s Kids Pastor Anne First Reading: I Timothy 1: 1-2, 18-19, 2: 1-4 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 18 I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; 2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. AM: Word of God, Word of Life C: Thanks be to God! Psalm Reading: Psalm 112: 1-9b (read responsively) AM: 1 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments. C: 2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. AM: 3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. C: 4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 5 P a g e
AM: 5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. C: 6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever. AM: 7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD. C: 8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. AM: 9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor. (please stand as you are able) Gospel Acclamation Thy Word # 144 (Purple book) P: The Good News of Jesus according to: Luke 10:1-9 6 P a g e
C: Glory to You, O Lord 10 After this the Lord appointed seventy [a] others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He said to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this house! 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. P: The good news of Jesus C: Thanks be to you, O Christ (please be seated) Message Pastor Anne 7 P a g e
(please stand as you are able) (Usher will come by and pick up your Prayer cards) Song of the Day: Let There be Peace on Earth 8 P a g e
Apostles Creed P: With the whole Church, let us affirm our faith: C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. on the third day he rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, And He will come 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 Prayers of the People (please be seated) AM: Rejoicing in the Spirit s work among us, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in need. A brief silence. AM: Giver of the feast, bless your church and all who hunger and thirst. Nourish us richly with your word and meal, and send us as signs of your living presence in the world. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. AM: Ruler of the earth, bring forth an abundant harvest from fields, orchards, and gardens. Renew fields that will soon lie fallow. Feed and protect all wild creatures. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. 9 P a g e
AM: God of the nations, we pray for places in the world affected by conflict, war, and turmoil. We pray that your perfect peace and order be restored. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. AM: We pray for the world. This week from the Cycle of World Prayer we especially lift up Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania. May they live in your peace and protection. Hear us, O God, C: hear our prayer. AM: God of our weary years, we remember before you those among us who are sick or who are recovering from illness or surgery (especially those we name silently or aloud ). Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. AM: Bless the ministry of Los Altos Lutheran Church, our sister congregation in our parish and we lift them up in prayer. Hear us Oh God C: hear our prayer. AM: God our beginning and ending, we thank you for hope even in the midst of despair. Visit this assembly with your light and truth. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. AM: God of our silent tears, we remember the faithful departed who make up the great cloud of witnesses. Gather us all in praise around your throne. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. Pastor: Into your hands, O God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. C: Amen. Reconciliation & Peace P: As you have been reconciled with God, so now reach out to those just around you and share the reconciliation of God with others. P: The peace of Christ be with you. C: and also with you. 10 P a g e
MEAL P: God 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 God. C: It is right to give God thanks and praise. P: A friend of the broken and companion of the forgotten; a friend on the road and companion to the thirsty and hungry; a friend to the lost and companion to the lonely; as the bread breaks and the wine pours, we hear your invitation gathering us around this table of your love. And so we join the song of all the witnesses past and future: Holy, Holy: Santo, Santo, Santo #473 (Red Book) (you are invited to sing this in either Spanish or English 2 times) 11 P a g e
P: So it was that in the midst of the Passover meal, Jesus takes bread from the table, gives thanks to God, breaks it, and gives it to his followers saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Whenever you do this, re-member me. Later, during the supper, he takes a cup from the table, gives thanks, and gives 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. Whenever you do this, re-member me. Send your spirit, O God, to transform these ordinary elements of bread and wine into signs of your presence in our lives, that they may nourish us and challenge us to be the Body of Christ in your world. C: Amen. P: Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus, a prayer of hope for a new creation. 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 P: All are invited and welcome at this table. We come together and kneel or not as we desire. There is gluten-free unleavened bread, red wine or white grape juice in the individual cups. If you chose not to receive the bread and wine you are invited to come for a blessing, or stay in your seat in silent prayer. (For those who cannot come to the table, we will come to you.) Invitation to the table P: Come to the banquet, for nothing and no one can take your place. This is God s table, and Jesus is the host of this meal. It is a table of grace and it is all we will ever need. 12 P a g e
Communion Music : Lead Me From Death to Life Ellacer Trio Post-Communion Blessing & Prayer P: O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast. By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry and water for the thirsty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen 13 P a g e
SENDING The Offering is Received Offering Song: We Are An Offering #146 (purple book) (please sing during the gathering of the offering) 14 P a g e
Time of Testimony & Invitation Blessing: (please stand as you are able) P: May the God of love bless you, May Christ the Lamb of God live among you, May the Spirit of justice & reconciliation bring peace to your hearts and live with-in you. C: Amen. Sending Song: Go in Peace #46 purple book) Dismissal P: Empowered by the Holy Spirit, go and be God s disciples in the world C: Thanks be to God. We will! 15 P a g e
FOR YOUR INFORMATION The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle This week Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania September 18, 2016 Give thanks for: The long history of Christianity in these countries. Those who give their lives to Christian prayer and service. The care given to places of worship as, with icon and art, they proclaim the Gospel. Those caring for orphans, the elderly, and others without resources or family to take care of themselves. Those who make peace between ethnic groups. Those who fight against the abuse of women. Children s Sunday School Starts on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 Adult Bible Study: 10:45 in the Fireside Room Sept. 18, 2016: Building Blocks for Peace September 25, 2016: For peace in God s World, part 1 October 2: For Peace in God s World, part 2 Lord s Pantry is now collecting milk or money for milk to supply to their families. Please see the brochure in the Narthex; deliveries are made every Monday 16 P a g e
Financials/Attendance for Sept. 11: Attendance: 21 Offering: $1530.00 Social Concern of the Month: $77.00 Social Concern(s) of the Month September California Wildfires (both Lake County/El Cajon Pass) Louisiana Floods 18 th Sunday after Pentecost September 18, 2016 Those in Service today Pastor: Organist: Ushers: Acolytes: Reader/Lector: Altar Care: Refreshments: Flowers: Pastor Anne Carlson Catherine Ellacer Bob Balcomb/Les Grundy Tristen Fabris/ Damian Hernandez/Donovan Plummer Eva Woodall Linda Perez Bob Zeiher and Alice Abbing Doris Wacker In Memory of Loved Ones Prayer List Sharon Biller Anna Lisa Holte Thelma Spaziani Mario Chissesi Jodi Sorenson Elizabeth Krc Marie Hughes Pastor Carol Eva Woodall Shirley Brothers **Please let us know the names of those you would like included on the prayer list. By request, names may be returned to the prayer list. 17 P a g e
THANK YOU! Thanks to the following for providing food for Labor Day BBQ: Bob Zeiher-Macaroni Salad Connie Zimmmerman- Coleslaw Joy Plummer- Fruit Stefan Myslicki- Meat, BBQ, cheese and rolls Linda Perez- Dessert, help clean-up Joanne Peronto-Beans Eva Woodall-Potatoe salad, condiments, potatoe chips Sharon Biller- Water and Soda Nazanine Bain- Macaroni and Cheese Thanks for coming and celebrating Labor Day with us! Eva Woodall 18