St. David s Evangelical Lutheran Church Liturgy of Word and Sacrament August 26, 2018 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM Now the Feast and Celebration 14 th Sunday after Pentecost Interims: The Reverend Larry Hoover and Bishop Emeritus Gregory Pile Minister of Music: Michael Busija Church: 479-4110; Fax: 479-2994 www.stdavidslutheran.org
Welcome to St. David's Lutheran Church! We are blessed by your presence and honored that you have chosen to worship with us today. Please take a moment to sign the friendship sheet that is located in the booklet at the end of each pew, near the center aisle. These sheets will be collected with the offering. The Sacrament of Holy Communion is offered to all who are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and who recognize the Sacrament as the true body and blood of our Lord. Baptized children are also welcome to the Lord s table at St. David s with the guidance and consent of their parents or guardians. Prayer Requests may be made by placing the request in the small wooden box at the rear, near the doors through which you entered. The acolyte will collect the requests and they will be included during the prayers of the congregation. For your comfort there is a restroom, equipped with a changing table and supplies and a water fountain located upstairs. Simply exit through the double doors back into the narthex. The restroom is straight ahead in the parlor, beside the grandfather clock, and the water fountain is to the right at the beginning of the hallway. Devotional The worship folder you are holding is also a weekly devotional booklet. The prayers and Scripture readings are appropriate for use at any time during the week. The liturgy itself is a Scripturally based order for daily prayer and devotion with Scriptural references noted where they apply. Even the hymns are appropriate tools for prayer and praise. Finally, there is a daily lectionary of Scripture readings for the rest of the week on the last printed page. INTRODUCTION In today s gospel many people take offense at Jesus invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John s gospel for Peter s confession of faith. To whom can we go? asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. You have the words of eternal life. In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel.
WELCOME PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS The assembly stands. BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Kneel/Sit Silence for reflection and self-examination. Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. The minister stands and addresses the congregation. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
GATHERING HYMN The assembly stands.
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. HYMN OF PRAISE (Sung by everyone at 8:00 AM only) (Cantor sings the verses; Congregation sings refrain) PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Holy God, your word feeds your people with life that is eternal. Direct our choices and preserve us in your truth, that, renouncing what is false and evil, we may live in you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. The assembly is seated. WORD WITH THE CHILDREN
FIRST READING: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 A reading from Joshua the 24 th chapter. (8:00 AM Only) {In the Near East, covenant means agreement or alliance. It describes relationships and is the primary word used to characterize the relationship between God and Israel. By delivering Israel, God has already begun the relationship. Joshua calls upon the people to respond.} 1Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2a And Joshua said to all the people, 14 Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. 16Then the people answered, Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 34:15-22 (sung responsively) Psalm Tone 1 (8:00 AM Only) 15The eyes of the LORD are up- on the righteous, and God s ears are open to their cry. 16The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to erase the remembrance of them from the earth. 17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them and delivers them from all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spir- its are crushed. R 19Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them from every one. 20God will keep safe all their bones; not one of them shall be broken. 21Evil will bring death to the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22O LORD, you redeem the life of your servants, and those who put their trust in you will not be punished. R SECOND READING: Ephesians 6:10-20 A reading from Ephesians the 6 th chapter. {Like a general giving a rousing speech to troops before battle, this letter closes by calling on Christians to be equipped for spiritual warfare against evil. The full armor of God includes truth, righteousness, peace, faith, the gift of salvation, and the word of God inspired by the Spirit.} 10Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of
righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The assembly stands. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL: John 6:56-69 The holy gospel according to John the 6 th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. {The hard saying that offends Jesus disciples is his claim that his followers must eat his flesh and drink his blood. The followers who return to their old lives know something about how odd this sounds. Simon Peter, on the other hand, knows something about the scarcity of living, gracious words. He asks the most important question: To whom shall we go? } [Jesus said,] 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever. 59 He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, This teaching is difficult; who can accept it? 61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do not believe. For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father. 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, Do you also wish to go away? 68Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON The assembly is seated. The assembly stands.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Together we confess our faith: (8:00 AM Only) APOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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. 8:00 AM Continue to Prayers of Intercession THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM (10:30 AM ONLY) PRESENTATION (Candidates for baptism and parents gather with the ministers at the font. The assembly is seated.) In baptism our gracious heavenly Father frees us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are born children of a fallen humanity; by water and the Holy Spirit we are reborn children of God and made members of the church, the body of Christ. Living with Christ and in the communion of saints, we grow in faith, love, and obedience to the will of God. We present Jacob Harvey McCormick to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism. We present Elliott Matthew Zern to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism.
Called by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace and love of God, do you desire to have your children baptized into Christ? I do. As you bring Jacob and Elliott to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted with responsibilities: to live with them among God's faithful people, bring them to the word of God and the holy supper, teach them the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, place in their hands the holy scriptures, and nurture them in faith and prayer, so that they may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace. Do you promise to help Jacob and Elliott grow in the Christian faith and life? I do. People of God, do you promise to support Jacob and Elliott and pray for them in their new life in Christ? We do. The assembly stands. PROFESSION OF FAITH I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church. Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? I renounce them. Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? I renounce them. Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God? I renounce them.
Do you believe in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? 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. THANKSGIVING AT THE FONT The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. Blessed are you, O God, maker and ruler of all things. Your voice thundered over the waters at creation. You water the mountains and send springs into the valleys to refresh and satisfy all living things.
Through the waters of the flood you carried those in the ark to safety. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery to freedom. In the wilderness you nourished them with water from the rock, and you brought them across the river Jordan to the promised land. By the baptism of his death and resurrection, your Son Jesus has carried us to safety and freedom. The floods shall not overwhelm us, and the deep shall not swallow us up, for Christ has brought us over to the land of promise. He sends us to make disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Pour out your Holy Spirit; wash away sin in this cleansing water; clothe the baptized with Christ; and claim your daughters and sons, no longer slave and free, no longer male and female, but one with all the baptized in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. The assembly may be seated. BAPTISM Jacob Harvey / Elliott Matthew I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Laying both hands on the head of the newly baptized, the presided minister says: Let us pray. We give you thanks, O God that through water and the Holy Spirit you give your daughters and sons new birth, cleanse them from sin, and raise them to eternal life. Sustain Jacob/ Elliott with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. The presiding minister marks the sign of the cross on the forehead of the baptized. Oil prepared for this purpose may be used. As the sign of the cross is made, the minister says: Jacob/ Elliott, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. A lighted candle is given to the baptized.
WELCOME Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life. The minister and baptismal group face the assembly. Let us welcome the newly baptized. We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission, we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God's creative and redeeming word to all the world. (Sung 3 Times) Hymns/Music Reprinted with permission under OneLicense #A-712819 & Licensing #608020.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Trusting in our loving and almighty God who abundantly provides the bread of life to all who hunger, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need. A brief silence. That God bless the church universal in every place, inspiring strength and courage to boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel, let us pray. Have mercy, O God. That God the creator bless wild animals and family pets, prairies and kitchen gardens, beaches and sandboxes, mountains and hearths, let us pray. Have mercy, O God. That God spread the gospel throughout the nations of the world, announcing the words of eternal life to peoples in every land and country, let us pray. Have mercy, O God. That God remember the poor and the brokenhearted and rescue all those in trouble (especially), let us pray. Have mercy, O God. That God protect members of this congregation along all our ways and empower us to serve Christ in sincerity and faithfulness, let us pray. Have mercy, O God. Here other intercessions may be offered. That God redeem the lives of those who have served in the faith and raise them up, according to the promises of Jesus Christ, the bread that nourishes eternal life, let us pray. Have mercy, O God. Almighty and loving God, we look to you in hope and trust, knowing that you will do far more than we can ask or imagine, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
THE PEACE OF THE LORD The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: Peace be with you. OFFERING OFFERTORY OFFERTORY HYMN The assembly stands.
OFFERTORY RESPONSE
OFFERING PRAYER Merciful God, you open wide your hand and satisfy the need of every living thing. You have set this feast before us. Open our hands to receive it. Open our hearts to embrace it. Open our lives to live it. We pray this through Christ our Lord. GREAT THANKSGIVING 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 him thanks and praise. PREFACE It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord; 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 the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son, that all those who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. We give thanks to you for the salvation you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in his holy supper. Come, Lord Jesus.
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. Pour out your Holy Spirit, that by this Holy Communion we may know the unity we share with all your people in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. LORD S PRAYER Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray. 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.
LAMB OF GOD INVITATION TO COMMUNION Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. The assembly is seated.
The Sacrament of Holy Communion is offered to all who are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit and who recognize the Sacrament as the true body and blood of our Lord. Baptized children are also welcome to the Lord s table at St. David s with the guidance and consent of their parents or guardians. Please come forward by the center aisle. Pick up a communion glass from the trays at the end of the center aisle. Then move to the altar where you may kneel or stand. After receiving the elements the empty glass can be returned to the tray for empty glasses as you return to your pew by the side aisles. Be sure to fill out the pew pad. COMMUNION HYMN The assembly stands.
After all have returned to their places, the minister may say these or similar words. The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. POST-COMMUNION PRAYER Let us pray. Jesus Christ, host of this meal, you have given us not only this bread and cup, but your very self, that we may feast on your great love. Filled again by these signs of your grace, may we hunger for your reign of justice, may we thirst for your way of peace, for you are Lord forevermore. Silence for reflection. BLESSING The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. QUIET MEDITATION
SENDING HYMN DISMISSAL Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE GOSPEL MESSAGE Hungry for an Answer One Sunday morning in a little village church, a man, sitting in a corner alone at the far end of the last pew, shouted at the preacher. His log-splitter voice cracked the sermon into pieces like a steel blade brings shivers to dark grain in a white oak stump. I don t understand! What do you mean? Though many in the congregation thought it was a gimmick, planned for dramatic effect, the bewildered man in the pew was not a prop he was hungry for an answer. Today s gospel, the fifth and last in a series of episodes that dwell on Jesus as the living bread of life, finds Jesus no longer on a grassy hillside or on the stormy sea. He is teaching in the village synagogue at Capernaum. Reactions are not favorable. Some of the disciples, bewildered and offended, balk at his words with a protest question: Who can accept it? (John 6:60). They are hungry for a reasonable answer. But Jesus won t release the tension. He does not sort those who can from those who cannot accept it. Instead, he turns right back to the words he delivered, saying they are spirit and life. With that, he issues a challenge: Do you also wish to go away? (John 6:67). Those two questions hang like cobwebs, practically invisible in darkness yet shimmering in light, holding on, waiting. They stretch and cling from the wide branches of Jesus inexhaustible readiness to give his very self to anyone who dares to believe that what he offers is life itself. At the end, hungry for an answer, Simon Peter speaks for the twelve with one last and lasting question that broadcasts its own answer that had always been there; Lord, to whom can we go? (John 6:68).
Daily Readings for the Week August 26-31 Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 Psalm 34:15-22 Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69 Psalm 119:97-104 Nehemiah 9:1-15 Ephesians 5:21 6:9 Psalm 119:97-104 Nehemiah 9:16-31 Ephesians 6:21-24 Psalm 119:97-104 Isaiah 33:10-16 John 15:16-25 Psalm 15 Exodus 32:1-14 James 1:1-8 Psalm 15 Exodus 32:15-35 James 1:9-16 Psalm 15 Exodus 34:8-28 John 18:28-32 Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006303. 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.