Holy Cross Lutheran Church, ELCA 800 West Lake Drive, Athens, Georgia 30606 (706) 548-3329 www.holycrossathens.com Pastor: Nathan Hilkert - Cell # (404) 731-7466 Email: nathan@holycrossathens.com Holy Communion - September 3 rd, 2017 Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Welcome & General Information WELCOME to Holy Cross Lutheran Church, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). If you are our guest today, please sign our guest book in the entrance and fill out the friendship pad when it is passed during the offering. HEARING ASSISTANCE DEVICES are available for use during worship. We also have large print editions of the worship folder. Please ask an usher. A STAFFED NURSERY with paging system is provided during the worship service and the faith learning hour up to age 3. When you exit the worship space, take a left, go through the double doors, across fellowship hall, and through the double doors on the other side. The nursery is the first door on the left. You may also ask an usher to direct you. ALL ARE WELCOME AT THE LORD S TABLE. When prompted by an usher please approach the pastor who will give you a piece of bread or a wafer. (Gluten-free wafers are available. Please ask the Pastor for one.) Hold the bread/wafer in your hand and dip it in either the red wine or white grape juice in the divided chalice held by the assistants. Return to your seat, via the side aisle. This practice is called intinction. From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23659.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. Celebrant & Preacher Pastor Nathan Hilkert Assisting Ministers Deaconess Amanda Spangler Acolyte: Simon LeClair (8:45) Elana Wanzer (11:11) Lector: Mary Formo (8:45) Carol Corina (11:11) Chalice Bearer: Andrew Hart & Ross Perry (8:45) Sue Streisguth & Peter Kaschak (11:11) Crucifer: Andrew Hart (8:45) Iris McCrum (11:11) Music Jeff Tilley Eva Wanzer (11:11) HOLY CROSS IS A SERVANT of both God and the human family, providing emergency assistance to those in need as well as tools for self-help. With in-kind gifts, hands-on assistance, and financial support we seek to make a difference in the lives of people and families in need locally, nationally, and globally. Cover art: www.cafepress.com 2
+ GATHERING + 3 GATHERING MUSIC When I Survey the Wondrous Cross arr. D. Kartsonakis WELCOME AND WORSHIP NOTES Please stand as you are able. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Blessed be the + holy Trinity, the one who fashions us, the one who heals us, the one who reforms us again and again. Amen. Let us confess our sin, calling for God's transforming power. Silence for reflection and self-examination. Source of all life, we confess that we have not allowed your grace to set us free. We fear that we are not good enough. We hear your word of love freely given to us, yet we expect others to earn it. We turn the church inward, rather than moving it outward. Forgive us. Stir us. Reform us to be a church powered by love, willing to speak for what is right, act for what is just, and seek the healing of your whole creation. Amen. God hears our cry and sends the Spirit to change us and to empower our lives in the world. Our sins are forgiven, + God s love is unconditional, and we are raised up as God s people who will always be made new, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. GATHERING HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth (ELW #879)
APOSTOLIC GREETING The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. A brief silence O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. + WORD + CHILDREN S MOMENTS - All children and the young at heart are invited to come forward. FIRST LESSON Jeremiah 15:15-21 A reading from Jeremiah. 15 O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. 19 Therefore thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will take you back, 4
5 and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. 20 And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the Lord. 21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. PSALM (Please read responsively) Psalm 26:1-8 1 Give judgment for me, O Lord, for I have lived with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered. 2 Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my mind. 3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you. 4 I have not sat with the worthless, nor do I consort with the deceitful. 5 I have hated the company of evildoers; I will not sit down with the wicked. 6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, that I may go in procession round your altar, 7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving and recounting all your wonderful deeds. 8 Lord, I love the house in which you dwell and the place where your glory abides. SECOND LESSON Romans 12:9-21 A reading from Romans. 9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 20 No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. Please stand as you are able HYMN OF THE DAY In the Cross of Christ I Glory vs. 1 (ELW #324) 1 In the cross of Christ I glory, tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time. All the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime. GOSPEL Matthew 16:21-28 The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. 21 From that time on, [after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah,] Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you. 23 But he turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things. 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 6
Please be seated. HOMILY 7 A brief silence for reflection is observed. Please stand as you are able. HYMN OF THE DAY In the Cross of Christ I Glory vs. 2-4 (ELW #324) APOSTLES CREED 2 When the woes of life o'ertake me, hopes deceive, and fears annoy, never shall the cross forsake me; lo, it glows with peace and joy. 3 When the sun of bliss is beaming light and love upon my way, from the cross the radiance streaming adds more luster to the day. 4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide. 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 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. Pastor Nathan Hilkert
PRAYER SONG My Faith Looks Up to Thee vs. 1 (ELW #759) My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, oh, let me from this day be wholly thine! THE PRAYERS Each petition concludes: Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. PRAYER SONG My Faith Looks Up to Thee vs. 1 (ELW #759) My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, oh, let me from this day be wholly thine! PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. + MEAL + Please be seated. OFFERTORY SENTENCE Responding to God s bountiful gifts to us in Christ, we have opportunity to share out of our abundance (based on 2 Corinthians 9:6, 8 The Worship Sourcebook) OFFERING Please sign the friendship pad and pass it down your pew. ANTHEM OFFERTORY (8:45) Embrace the Cross J.G. Elliot (11:11) The King of Love My Shepherd Is (ELW #502) By Gracious Powers v.1 (ELW #626) By gracious pow'rs so wonderfully sheltered, and confidently waiting come what may, we know that God is with us night and morning, and never fails to greet us each new day. Please remain standing as you are able. OFFERING PRAYER 8
Let us pray together. God of life, you give us these gifts of the earth, these resources of our life and our labor. Take them, offered in great thanksgiving, and use them to set a table that will heal the whole creation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Light. Amen. THE GREAT THANKSGIVING DIALOG SANCTUS The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. PREFACE FOR SUNDAYS It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: 9
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father, you are indeed holy. In your great goodness, you created a world in which all might be satisfied by your abundance. You dined with Abraham and Sarah, promising them life, and fed your people Israel with manna from heaven. You sent your Son to eat with sinners and to become the bread of life for all who are hungry. In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave 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. Do this for the remembrance of me. Remembering, therefore, his life given for us and his rising from the grave, we await his coming again to share with us the everlasting feast. Send now your Holy Spirit to nurture and sustain us in this meal: strengthen us to serve all in hunger and want, and by this bread and cup make of us the body of your Son. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen 10
LORD'S PRAYER 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. INVITATION TO THE TABLE Speak to us, O Lord, in the breaking of the bread, and make us one with you. LAMB OF GOD Please be seated THE COMMUNION Holy Communion is by intinction. Please see page 2 for instructions. 11
HYMNS DURING COMMUNION PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Let us pray together. (8:45 & 11:11) Blest Be the Tie That Binds (ELW #656) (8:45) Day By Day (ELW #790) (11:11) Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus (ELW #802) Holy and compassionate God, in bread and wine you give us gifts that form us to be humble and courageous. May your words come to life in our serving and in our witness, that we might speak a living voice of healing and justice to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. ANNOUNCEMENTS BLESSING + SENDING + God, creator of all things, speaking reformation into being; Jesus Christ, savior of the world, raising the dead; Holy Spirit, living voice, calling and enlightening the church: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. SENDING HYMN (8:45) Will You Come and Follow Me? (ELW #798) (11:11) Rise, O Church Like Christ Arisen (ELW 548) DISMISSAL Go in peace. Sound the good news. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE Let There Be Peace on Earth arr. C. Marohnic