3461 Merle Ave Modesto, CA 95355 (209) 551-0563 www.stpetermodesto.org W The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost The Church s Mission is to Forgive as God Forgives October 1, 2017 elcome and thank you for joining us for worship today! In our service we gather before our almighty and saving God to offer him our worship and praise. We also assemble to hear God s holy and powerful word and celebrate his life-giving sacraments. Through these means, God strengthens our faith and walks us ever closer to our eternal home with him. The Lord s Supper (Holy Communion) The Bible tells us that those who take Communion together are to: Recognize that Christ s true body and blood are present in the Sacrament (1 Cor. 11:29), Examine themselves as Scripture instructs (1 Cor. 11:28), and Be one in faith and belief with the congregation with which they commune (1 Cor. 10:17). For these reasons, it is our practice that only those who are members of our congregation or a congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) join us for Holy Communion. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member of our body of believers or want to find out more about our Communion practice please speak to Pastor Schroeder after the service. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP How often shall others sin against me and I forgive them, Lord? How often shall I sin and you forgive me? Make me merciful as you are merciful, gracious Lord, and let your loving kindness fill my very heart. I pray this in the name of him who won my forgiveness my Savior Jesus. Amen. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Flowers adorning our altar this morning are given to the glory of God by Billy and Kolette Williams in celebration of Katie Harlan s and Kolette s birthdays. Minister: Pastor Daniel Schroeder Pianist: Karen Adams Flutes: Jeannine Dennis, Linka Schroeder Guitar: Trenton Tablit The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Psalm 103: Columba Kelly. 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. paramentics.com The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV ) copyright 2017 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org
PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Having reviewed the great events of the life of Christ, the second half of the Christian Year gives us opportunity to focus on Christ's Church. That Church has an ongoing mission, and that mission is to freely offer God's forgiveness. After speaking words of rebuke, it is tempting to hold a grudge or seek revenge. However, just as we have been freely forgiven, Jesus calls us to freely forgive. OPENING HYMN CALL TO WORSHIP This Day at Your Creating Word Christian Worship #229 Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen. CONFESSION OF SINS M: How blessed is the person whose rebellion is forgiven, C: whose sin is covered. M: I said, I will confess my rebellion to the Lord, C: and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:1,5) M: Almighty and all merciful God, C: we confess that we are sinners, sinful from birth. Because we are lost, we sin against you in thoughts, words, and actions, breaking your commands. We have not forgiven others from our hearts; we have held petty grudges; we have not shown gratitude for the forgiveness of others or you. Forgive us our sin, for Jesus sake. Amen. LORD, HAVE MERCY (KYRIE) 2
ABSOLUTION M: Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth, so powerful is his mercy toward those who fear him. As distant as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our rebellious acts from us (Psalm 103:11,12). As God s called servant, by the command of Jesus and for his sake, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Thanks be to God! Amen. M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. THE GLORIA 3
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PRAYER OF THE DAY M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Let us pray. Lord, we pray that your mercy and grace may always go before and follow after us that, loving you with undivided hearts, we may be ready for every good and useful work; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. THE WORD OF GOD FIRST LESSON Genesis 50:15-21 Joseph forgives those who have wronged him When Joseph s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us and will pay us back in full for all of the evil that we did to him. 16 They sent the following message to Joseph: Before he died your father commanded us, 17 You are to tell Joseph, Please forgive the offense of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you. Now, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down in front of him, and they said, See now, we are your servants. 19 Joseph said to them, Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring this to pass and to keep many people alive, as it is this day. 21 Now therefore do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones. He comforted them and spoke to them in a kind way. (EHV) 5
PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 103 - Sung in Unison Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases; he redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with love and compassion. Refrain The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Refrain As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. Our days are like grass, like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone. But the LORD S love is with those who fear him from everlasting to everlasting. 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. 6 Refrain
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 4:29-5:2 Paul urges Christians to forgive as they have been forgiven Do not let any unwholesome talk come from your mouths. Say only what is beneficial when there is a need to build up others, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, quarreling, and slander, along with every kind of malice. 32 Instead, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one other, just as God in Christ has forgiven us. 5:1 Therefore, be imitators of God as his dearly loved children. 2 And walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (EHV) VERSE OF THE DAY Sung to the Tune of CW 401 7
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the connection between being forgiven and forgiving Then Peter came up and asked Jesus, Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times? 22 Jesus said to him, Not seven times, but I tell you as many as seventy-seven times. 23 For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle them, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 Because the man was not able to pay the debt, his master ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, children, and all that he owned to repay the debt. 26 Then the servant fell down on his knees in front of him, saying, Master, be patient with me, and I will pay you everything! 27 The master of that servant had pity on him, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began choking him, saying, Pay me what you owe! 29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, saying, Be patient with me, and I will pay you back! 30 But he refused. Instead he went off and threw the man into prison until he could pay back what he owed. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very distressed. They went and reported to their master everything that had taken place. 32 Then his master called him in and said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt when you begged me to. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you? 34 His master was angry and handed him over to the jailers until he could pay back everything he owed. 35 This is what my heavenly Father will also do to you unless each one of you forgives his brother from his heart. (EHV) M: This is the gospel of the Lord. C: Praise be to you, O Christ. 8
CATECHISM Fifth Petition of the Lord s Prayer Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins or because of them deny our prayers; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we ask, neither have we deserved them, but we ask that he would give them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will forgive from the heart and gladly do good to those who sin against us. HYMN OF THE DAY Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive Christian Worship #493 SERMON Matthew 18:21-35 Forgiveness 101 9
CREATE IN ME OFFERING The members of St, Peter Congregation have joined together to do the Lord s work in this community and around the world. Guests at St. Peter are welcome to participate in the offering but need not feel obligated to do so. 10
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: With all that is within us, O Lord, we bless your holy name. You forgive all our iniquities and heal our diseases. You redeem our life from destruction and crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies. C: For all these blessings, O Lord, we give you thanks. M: Your mercies remind us that we have not always treated others with the same undeserved love. We live too much for ourselves and not enough to your honor and glory. We become impatient with others, but expect them to be patient with us. C: We often forget that it s not up to us to settle all accounts, but that you have the power to bring good out of evil. For these, our many sins, forgive us, O Lord. M: Continue to remind us in your Word of your grace and forgiveness you have shown to us. By your Spirit, help us to reflect your mercy toward others. C: Be with the lonely, comfort the sick, and bring the assurance of your forgiveness to the penitent. Special prayers of intercession may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring to you our private petitions. Silent prayer. M: This we ask in the name of and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who taught us how to forgive. C: Hear us, we pray, O heavenly Father. Amen. 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. 11
THE SACRAMENT St Peter Lutheran Church practices member communion. We invite confirmed members to come forward to partake of the Sacrament. Thank you for your consideration. M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is good and right so to do. M: It is good and right for us to give thanks and praise to you, O Lord, for the mercy you have shown us in your Son, Jesus Christ, whose body and blood we now receive for the forgiveness of our sins. May we celebrate your grace and goodness as we add our voices to all those who have gone before, who are gathered around your throne: 12
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (SANCTUS) THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. M: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen. 13
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD (AGNUS DEI) DISTRIBUTION OF THE LORD S SUPPER During the distribution you are invited to join in singing the indicated hymns or to use the time for private prayer and meditation. Appropriate prayers are found on page 11 in the front of the hymnal. A personal preparation for the Lord s Supper is found on page 156. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Not unto Us Christian Worship #392 Chief of Sinners Though I Be Christian Worship #385 Love in Christ Is Strong and Living Christian Worship #490 14
SONG OF SIMEON THANKSGIVING M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. C: And his mercy endures forever. M: O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving-kindness sent your only-begotten Son into the flesh, we thank you that for his sake you have given us pardon and peace in this Sacrament, and we ask you not to forsake your children but always to rule our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled to serve you constantly; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. M: 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. C: Amen. 15