A First Class Christian 15 th Sunday after Pentecost August 27 & 28, 2016
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431 Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com AS WE GATHER: We like to think of ourselves as worthy of honor and respect. We would like to live as deserving of first-class treatment. But in today s Gospel, Jesus encourages us to live humbly among people around us, and He echoes the directives in Proverbs. Not only does He instruct us to humbly find the lowest seat, but when we do the inviting, He also cautions against expecting social payback. By ourselves, we would chafe under such limits, but our faith in the grace of God, coming to us through the sacrifice of Christ s blood on our behalf, moves us to rely on His undeserved favor. That frees us to hear those directives as descriptions of the sort of living by which we may return praise and honor to our Savior life in first class, indeed! PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: O God, who resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble: grant us the virtue of true humility, where of Your Only-begotten Son showed in Himself a pattern for Your faithful; that we may never by our pride provoke Your anger, but rather by our meekness receive the riches of Your grace. Amen. THE DIVINE SERVICE HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise LW 451 INVOCATION 2
In the name of the Father, who called us into being in this time and place; and of the Son, whose sacrifice for us has sanctified us to be His own; and of the Holy Spirit, whose gift of faith has freed us to walk humbly before the Lord. Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Let us confess our sins to God and in the presence of one another. Silence for reflection on God s Word and for self-examination. When Jesus entered the house of the Pharisee and saw the man with dropsy who was left there as a trap, He saw a man who needed healing. We confess that in our pride we sometimes ignore the needs of others, we neglect to show hospitality to strangers, we forget those who are in prison, and we turn a blind eye to those who are mistreated. Forgive us, heavenly Father, and teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility. In Jesus parable He chided His hearers about their seeking places of honor. 3
We confess that in our self-centeredness, we sometimes consider ourselves worthy of honor, even while allowing personal desires to come between us and our Lord. Forgive us, heavenly Father, and teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow, in true humility, the example of Your Son. Jesus warned against doing anything for others in expectation of being repaid. We confess that in our fallen human nature we sometimes forget that, because of our Savior s sacrifice for us, the resurrection awaits us. We are free to love our neighbors as ourselves, relying on God s grace for all we need. Forgive us, heavenly Father, and teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow, in true humility, the example of Your Son. Jesus suffered in order to sanctify us through His own blood. 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 Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. Amen. PSALM Psalm 131 Men: O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; 4
Women: All: Men: Women: All: KYRIE my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, which we may reflect in humble living, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the wellbeing of the Church of God, and for the unity of all who acknowledge Christ s name, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house and for all who, coming from their various callings and stations in life, offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. 5
Lord, have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen. HYMN OF PRAISE "Alleluia, Let Praises Ring" LW 437 Alleluia! Let praises ring! To God the Father let us bring Our songs of adoration. To him through everlasting days Be worship, honor, power, and praise, Whose hand sustains creation. Singing, Ringing: Holy, Holy, God is holy; Spread the story Of our God, the Lord of glory. Alleluia! Let praises ring! Unto our triune God we sing; Blest be his name forever! With angel hosts let us adore And sing his praises more and more For all his grace and favor! Singing, Ringing: Holy, Holy, God is holy; Spread the story Of our God, the Lord of glory! SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with you. 6
PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. O Lord of grace and mercy, teach us by Your Holy Spirit to follow the example of Your Son in true humility, that we may withstand the temptations of the devil and with pure hearts and minds avoid ungodly pride; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING Proverbs 25:2 10 (Do not think of yourself more highly than anyone else.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GRADUAL Psalm 34:9, 19, alt. Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing! Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. EPISTLE Hebrews 13:1 17 (Live the sanctified life for which Christ paid with His life.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 7
VERSE Luke 14:11 Alleluia. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Alleluia. HOLY GOSPEL humility.) Luke 14:1 14 (Jesus teaches true The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourteenth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. (The Gospel is read.) This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. THE APOSTLE S CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And 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 buried; He descended into Hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the 8
communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting SERMON HYMN Son of God, Eternal Savior LW 394 OFFERING OFFERTORY Create In Me page 175 LW Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH THE LORD S PRAYER HYMN O God of Mercy, God of Light LW 397 O God of mercy, God of light, In love and mercy infinite, Teach us, as ever in your sight, To live our lives in you. You sent your Son to die for all That our lost world might hear your call; Oh, hear us lest we stray and fall! We rest our hope in you. Teach us the lesson Jesus taught: To feel for those his blood has bought, That every deed and word and thought 9
May work a work for you. For all are kindred, far and wide, Since Jesus Christ for all has died; Grant us the will and grace provide To love them all in you. In sickness, sorrow, want, or care, Each other s burdens help us share; May we, where help is needed, there Give help as though to you. And may your Holy Spirit move All those who live to live in love Till you receive in heaven above Those who have lived to you. THE CLOSING COLLECT Let us pray. O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving-kindness sent Your only-begotten Son into the flesh, we give thanks for the assurance of sins forgiven and ask that Your Holy Spirit would strengthen us to resist the temptations of our self-centeredness that we strive each day to give You thanks and praise in thought, word, and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. BENEDICTION 10
The blessing of almighty God, the Father, who called us into being in this time and place; the Son, whose sacrifice for us has sanctified us to be His own; and the Holy Spirit, whose gift of faith has freed us to walk humbly before the Lord; be upon you now and forever. Amen. OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY We welcome our members and guests who are here with us today. May the Lord refresh you with peace and love during our worship service on this Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Please join us here at Ebenezer again soon! Please sign the guest register near the front entrance with your name, address and Church affiliation. We welcome Emily Thoenen, who represents Lutheran Family and Children s Services of Missouri at the Union office. Emily will be speaking here in Church today about the vital mission of LFCS to our community. Please join us after our service for a dinner sponsored by our Ebenezer Lutheran Mission Society. A free-will offering will be taken to support the Union office of the Lutheran Family and Children s Services. 11
Thank you to everyone who brought items for our donation to LFCS. These items will be given to LFCS Representative, Emily Thoenen after the service today. We pray for safe travels for Pastor and Margaret as they travel to Minnesota this week for a vacation. Pastor Tim Brown will be filling in for Pastor Zastrow during his absence. Pastor Brown s phone number is 573-484-3575 or his cell phone is 636-744-9044. Our elders are: Warren Bauche 573-237-2230 David Summers 573-459-2005 Tom Anderson 573-308-5880 Pastor Ed Engelbrecht will have our services on Saturday and Sunday on Labor Day Weekend. In our Prayers: We congratulate Kayla Graddy and Derek Meyer who were married at our church on Saturday, August 27. May God bless this happy couple. Another Donation Opportunity for LFCS Lutheran Family and Children s Services accepts donations of gently used cars, vans, and pickups. The process is simple. The proceeds of your donation benefit the programs in our area and you are allowed a deduction on your federal taxes. Call (314) 754-2790 or (866) 326-5327 for information or to make a donation. Volunteers are needed The New Haven Senior Center is needing some volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information or if you would like to volunteer, please call Don Kappelmann at 573-694-2051. Your help would be appreciated! 12
Information for you if you were born in Missouri Persons who are adopted get your original birth certificate. If you were born before 1941, you can obtain your certificate of birth on August 29, 2016. For those born after 1940, you can obtain your birth certificate on January 2, 2018. For more information, contact: Missouri Adoptee Rights Movement, P.O. Box 14, Clark, MO 65243. www.missouriadopteerightsmovement.com or missouriadopteerights@gmail.com can be contacted for more information. Debbie Donatti will be taking a van that can take 6 people to Jefferson City on August 29 th, if you would like to be there for the first day for getting original birth certificates. Please call Debbie at 573-789-4257. RADA Cutlery Our Ladies Aid has received a number of RADA Cutlery catalogs for you to look at. If you would like to look at the catalog, please take one. You can place your order using the forms in the catalog and then give it to Nancy Quinn or Margaret Zastrow. These make excellent gifts!! I Love My Church T-Shirts The Ladies Aid is taking orders for T-Shirts. The shirts are available in navy blue, purple and royal blue. Sizes range from child to adult small x-large. Plus sizes are also available for an additional cost. Orders can be placed by September 18 th. Shipment should arrive in time for the Pork Sausage Supper. If you are interested in ordering, please fill out an order form at the bak of Church and place payment in the box so noted. A sample of the shirts is also at the back of Church. Blessings From The Table cookbooks are still available. Please see the sample on the table at the back of Church. They are $15.00 each and would make a great Christmas gift! 13
Pilgrim Lutheran Church at Freedom, Mo will have their Picnic TODAY. The menu is chicken and ham buffet. Serving is from 3:30 7:30 PM. Adults: $10.00 Children (6-12) $4.00, 5 and under are Free. Please see the flyer on the bulletin board at the back of Church. A Date to Keep in Mind September 16 th will be Ladies Day Out at Ponderosa 11:30 AM. The speaker will be a representative from Grace s Place. All ladies of the congregation are invited! A new Cub Scout Pack is coming to New Haven! Serving New Haven Elementary and Franklin County R-2 Schools, the School Night to Join Scouting will be held Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. at Assumption Church, 603 Miller St. Now is the time to Join Cub Scouts! For more information, contact Mary Wesche, 573-459-2046 or newhavencubs@gmail.com. The New Sunday School Year will begin Sunday, September 11 at 9:00 AM. Our First graders to receive new Bibles will be Julia Pohlmann and Austin Freeman. We will also be welcoming the many preschoolers that will begin Sunday School. All children will move up to their new classes. On September 11, the children will sing I Am A C. We invite all children to join this year in participating in Sunday School. This fall the Children will be receiving Devotionals on Martin Luther. For the little ones they will receive Meet Martin Luther and the older children will receive Martin Luther God Loves You. Confirmation Classes Will begin for 7 th Grade - Wednesday, September 14, 6:30 PM 14
Confirmation classes will begin Wednesday, September 14, at 6:30 PM in the Meeting Room (old quilting room) in the Sunday School area of the church. Pastor will be providing Catechisms and Bibles. Students are asked to bring pen/pencil and notebook. Students enrolled so far: Cole Adams Kelsey Crego Carson Donatti Abigail Gilbert Adult Confirmation to be Sunday, September 18 Adult confirmation will be Sunday, September 18 during the 10:00 AM service. To be confirmed: Nathan Hiatt Amber Helling Danika Donatti Cierra Donatti 15
Those Serving Today Organist Saturday Organist Sunday Head Usher Saturday Head Usher Sunday Altar Guild Acolytes Bell Ringer Laura Nichols Ruth Marschel Tracey Bade Lee Kassebaum Karen Scheer and Kathy Scheer Trent Huellinghoff Paige Thurmond Danielle Gerding Tyler Kasmann Offerings and Attendance Weekly Contributions $1,752.00 Plate 24.00 Sunday School 22.91 Portals of Prayer 10.00 $1,808.91 Attendance: Saturday Worship 15 Sunday Worship 78 Sunday School Attendance: Children 8 Adults 19 This Week at Ebenezer Pastor and Margaret on vacation this week. Saturday Worship with Holy Communion 5:00 PM 16