An evening setting of Holy Communion St. David s Evangelical Lutheran Church Saturday, September 1, 2018 5:30 pm Liturgy of Word and Sacrament Pentecost 15 Interims: The Reverend Larry Hoover and Bishop Emeritus Gregory Pile 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 Jesus protests against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God s law is ignored. True uncleanness comes not from external things, but from the intentions of the human heart. Last week Jesus told us the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Now James says God has given us birth by the word of truth. We, having been washed in the word when we were born in the font, return to it every Sunday to ask God to create in us clean hearts. BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS The assembly stands. 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. 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. KYRIE In peace let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. O God our strength, without you we are weak and wayward creatures. Protect us from all dangers that attack us from the outside, and cleanse us from all evil that arises from within ourselves, that we may be preserved through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. The assembly is seated.
FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 A reading from Deuteronomy the 4 th chapter. {The Israelites believed the law was a divine gift that provided guidelines for living out the covenant. Moses commands the people to obey the law and to neither add to nor subtract from it. The Israelites are also to teach the law to their children and their children s children.} 1So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you. 6You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people! 7 For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? 8 And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? 9But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children s children. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 15 (read responsively) LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? (Ps. 15:1) 1LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? Who may abide upon your holy hill? 2Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right, who speak the truth from their heart; 3they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil to their friends; they do not cast discredit upon a neighbor. 4In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who fear the LORD. They have sworn upon their health and do not take back their word. 5They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be overthrown. All: LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? (Ps. 15:1)
SECOND READING: James 1:17-27 A reading from James the 1 st chapter. {The letter of James was intended to provide first-century Christians with instruction in godly behavior. Here, Christians are encouraged to listen carefully and to act on what they hear, especially by caring for those least able to care for themselves.} 17Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for your anger does not produce God s righteousness. 21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. 22But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. 23For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; 24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. 25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act they will be blessed in their doing. 26If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. The assembly stands.
GOSPEL: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 The holy gospel according to Mark the 7 th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. {Mark s gospel depicts Jesus as challenging traditional ways in which religious people determine what is pure or impure. For Jesus, the observance of religious practices cannot become a substitute for godly words or deeds that spring from a faithful heart.} 1Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) 5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands? 6 He said to them, Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines. 8You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. 14Then he called the crowd again and said to them, Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. 21For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON The assembly is seated. The assembly stands.
Together we confess our faith: 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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Freed by God in Christ to live and love and serve, we pray for the church, those in need, and all of God s beloved creation. A brief silence. Gracious God, we pray for all those who labor to bear your word into the world by welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, and caring for the orphan. Embolden your church to take up the cross against the powers of oppression and death. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Creative God, we pray for the earth. Keep watch over those who rescue endangered species and repair scorched landscapes. Make us good stewards of creation. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Sovereign God, we pray for the nations of the world, for governments, leaders, and citizens. Watch over refugees and immigrants. Inspire us to welcome them with glad hearts when they arrive on our shores and in our neighborhoods. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Loving God, you call us to serve our neighbors. Bless our vocations as we fill the cups of the thirsty, the plates of the hungry, and the hearts of the lonely. Make our presence your presence for all who sorrow (especially). Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Welcoming God, at tables around the world, through story and meal, strangers become guests and guests become friends. Embolden this congregation to always extend the wide-armed welcome you extend to us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Here other intercessions may be offered. With thanksgiving, we remember the cloud of witnesses whose lives inspire us to loving service (including Nikolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig, renewer of the church). Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Into your wide embrace, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your boundless mercy through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. The minister and congregation may greet one another in the name of the Lord. Peace be with you. Peace be with you. Please be seated, while the table is set. The assembly stands. 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.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER All glory to you, Almighty God, heavenly Father: out of Your great love for us You gave Your only Son Jesus, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. It was your Son Jesus who freely surrendered Himself to suffer death on the cross for us and for our salvation. There, on that cross, He willingly offered Himself up as a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. By that gift of love and grace we are your people, born of water and word, served, fed, and forgiven at your Holy Table and called together by Your Holy Spirit. Therefore we offer ourselves as disciples who follow as witnesses to the world and as living memory of His gift of grace. Pour out your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of your Son our Lord. Come, Lord Jesus. On 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 many for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me. With this bread and cup we remember our Lord's passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Send your Holy Spirit upon us: as grains scattered on the hillside become one bread, so let your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth, that all may be fed with the Bread of life, your Son our Lord. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. THE 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 Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace, grant us peace. The assembly is seated. The Holy Communion is distributed with these or similar words: The body of Christ, given for you The blood of Christ, shed for you Following the Holy Communion the congregation stands: 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. 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
DISMISSAL Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL MESSAGE What Matters Remember grammar lessons? Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and pronouns all had specific purposes in a sentence, specific placements, and specific punctuation to go with them. The lesson drilled into grammar students was that knowing the rules about how to use words correctly is extremely important. Using slang and profanity was rebellion against those rules. Certain words and phrases may evoke feelings in each of us. The misuse of your and you re and nonstandard words like irregardless can irritate; words that some consider gross, like moist and vomit, can cause physical reactions. Even though we are taught that it s sticks and stones that break our bones, some words can injure us more deeply than any rock. When some religious leaders are offended by how the disciples are eating, Jesus counters their complaints with one of his own: Isaiah was right; you like to talk big, but you care more about your traditions than you do about honoring God. He tells those listening that being grammatically correct following tradition isn t what is necessary. The motivation behind the words we chose to speak and the impact those words have on others is what matters. James, in today s second reading, takes Jesus message a step further and tells his readers to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves (James 1:22). We can t just listen, or only consider, or simply hear, then move on believing we did everything we were supposed to do. This is akin to caring more about whether a message is written with proper grammar than what the message actually says. James tells us that the word isn t just meant to evoke feelings in us, but to compel us to do the word. For James, the word was true belief in God and doing the word living that true belief was caring for those in need, especially those who were sidelined or invisible because they didn t conform to strict guidelines or customs.
Daily Readings for the Week September 2-8 Sunday: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 Psalm 15 James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Psalm 106:1-6, 13-23, 47-48 Deuteronomy 4:9-14 1 Timothy 4:6-16 Psalm 106:1-6, 13-23, 47-48 Deuteronomy 4:15-20 1 Peter 2:19-25 Psalm 106:1-6, 13-23, 47-48 Deuteronomy 4:21-40 Mark 7:9-23 Psalm 146 Isaiah 30:27-33 Romans 2:1-11 Psalm 146 Isaiah 32:1-8 Romans 2:12-16 Psalm 146 Isaiah 33:1-9 Matthew 15:21-31 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.