Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit 3461 Cedar Crest Blvd. EMAIL Info@holyspirit-emmaus.org Emmaus, PA 18049-1599 www.lchsemmaus.org PHONE 610.967.2220 www.facebook.com/lchsemmaus FAX 610.966.3021 17th Sunday after Pentecost Sunday, September 16, 2018 7:30 am The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for Ministry in Daily Life Gathered by God s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we invite and welcome all people to join us on our journey to become more faithful ministers of Jesus Christ in our homes, our communities, and the world.
ELW refers to the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the red worship book. Page numbers are in the front of the book with hymn numbers following in the middle & end. During worship, please silence all communication devices. *Please stand as you are able. GATHERING Gathering Music Adagio in F Major Andre Welcome/Theme of the Day We hear Mark s version of Peter s confession of faith, when Peter says, You are the Messiah. In John, the stumbling block is Jesus invitation to eat his flesh, given for the life of the world. In Mark too the scandal has to do with Jesus words about his own coming death, and here Peter himself stumbles over Jesus words. But Jesus is anointed (the meaning of messiah ) in Mark only on the way to the cross (14:3); so we are anointed in baptism with the sign of the cross. *Confession and Forgiveness + All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism. 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. 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. 2
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 Song Be thou My Vision ELW Hymn 793 *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 Glory to God ELW, Setting 10 3
*Prayer of the Day Let us pray. O God, through suffering and rejection you bring forth our salvation, and by the glory of the cross you transform our lives. For the sake of the gospel may we turn from the lure of evil, take up our cross, and follow your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. WORD First Reading A Reading from Isaiah 50:4-9a. NRSV, page 594 The image of the servant of the Lord is one of the notable motifs in the book of Isaiah. Today s reading describes the mission of the servant, whom early Christians associated with Jesus. Like Jesus, the servant does not strike back at his detractors but trusts in God s steadfast love. After the reading, Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God. Psalm 116:1-9 The assembly reads responsively. I love the LORD, who has heard my voice, and listened to my supplication, for the LORD has given ear to me whenever I called. The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave came upon me; I came to grief and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: O LORD, I pray you, save my life. Gracious is the LORD and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD watches over the innocent; I was brought low, and God saved me. Turn again to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt well with you. For you have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling; I will walk in the presence of the LORD in the land of the living. 4
Second Reading A Reading from James 3:1-12. NRSV, page 981 This text uses various images to illustrate how damaging and hurtful the way we speak to and about others can be. Not only are we to control our speech, but what we say and how we say it are to reflect our faith. After the reading, Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God. *Gospel Acclamation ELW setting 10 *Gospel The Holy Gospel according to Mark 8:27-38. NRSV, page 820 Glory to you, O Lord. This story provides the turning point in Mark s gospel. Peter is the first human being in the narrative to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, but he cannot accept that as the Messiah Jesus will have to suffer. Moreover, Jesus issues a strong challenge to all by connecting discipleship and the cross. After the reading of the gospel, The Gospel of Our Lord! Praise to You, O Christ! Sermon Pr. Ric Elliott *Hymn of the Day O Master, Let Me Walk with You ELW Hymn 818 5
*Affirmation Let us affirm our mission. Gathered by God s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we invite and welcome all people to join us on our journey to become more faithful ministers of Jesus Christ in our homes, our communities, and the world. *Prayers of the People 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. After each petition: 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. Amen. *Share the Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The people greet one another with the peace of Christ. Offering Song This Little Light of Mine ELW Hymn 677 The assembly stands on the last verse. The assembly responds to the Word of God by giving an offering for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. You may give your offering in the offering plate located on the small table when you enter the worship space, or by using a credit or debit card at the Giving Kiosk, or Give by Text (610-981-1312), or through Simply Giving, or by sending it to the church office. 6
MEAL *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 our thanks and praise. 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 you, God, the Holy Spirit. Blessed are you, Lord our God, for creating us to live together in unity and for forgiving our failures in following your call. and for adopting us to be your family of sisters and brothers. Lord, we receive this good news. Blessed are you, God of mercy, for establishing your kingdom in Jesus the Messiah. He healed the sick, and welcomed women and men, and taught the commandments. Blessed is he, the Son of Man, who became a servant of all, Lord, we believe this good news. Words of Institution We remember the good news of his life given for us, his death on the cross, and his rising from the tomb, and together we say, Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. By the power of your Spirit, reveal yourself to us here in this bread and cup. By this mystery of Christ s body and blood, cleanse our hearts. Lord, strengthen our service to all in need. To you, Lord God, the Blessed One, and to your Son, coming at the end in glory, and to the Holy Spirit, descending on us now like a dove, be all our praise and thanksgiving, now and forever. Amen. 7
*Lord s Prayer Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. *Invitation to Communion Speak to us, Lord, in the breaking of the bread, and make us one with you. Amen. Sacrament of Holy Communion All who are baptized and believe in the presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion are welcome to receive the Sacrament. The people come forward, using the center aisle, and may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Gluten free wafers are available. Our wine is grape juice so that all may freely receive and is served by intinction, dipping the bread into the chalice. Please return to your seat using the side aisles. Children may receive the sacrament if they have completed instruction with a pastor. Children who do not commune may come forward for a blessing. *Prayer Let us pray. 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. 8
SENDING *Blessing 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 Song Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing ELW Hymn 545 *Dismissal The assisting minister sends the assembly into mission. Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve. Thanks be to God! Postlude Cornet Voluntary Travers CCLI #678084 One License A-701076 HymnPrint.net License #11804. The Toolkit all content Changing Church Forum, Inc. Reproducible for church use only. Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20593. 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. Some liturgy reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2014. Used by permission. Baptismal liturgy [from Holy Baptism and Related Rites. Renewing Worship, Volume 3. Holy Baptism. Pages 5-10 Used by permission. [From Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: A Collection of Litanies, Laments, and Thanksgivings at Font and Table by Gail Ramshaw, copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. The liturgical text in this file is intended for corporate worship and may be reproduced by the purchaser of Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks for local use only, but not for sale, provided all copies carry this copyright notice: Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission. ] 9
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