OUR SAVIOUR S Lutheran Church September 9, 2018
Building a Culture of Peace Rally around peacemaking! This fall, we will dig into understanding our calling to be peacemakers through a number of avenues. In our songs and prayers, in our learning and questioning, in our work and worship we discover what it means to follow Jesus way of peace. Today s readings from the bible embody both the tension and the healing that God s people feel when we walk the sometimes dangerous, often cloudy way of peace. Martin Luther King, Jr. tells us, Peace is not just about the absence of conflict; it s also about the presence of justice. It is about a revolution of love that is big enough to set both the oppressed and the oppressors free. Gathering The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God. Gathering Music Welcome
*Call to Worship We are here not because we have found God, but because God our Creator has called us here, Challenging us to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, and to be servants in the service of all creation. But the call is also God s promise: A promise of forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, and eternal life in that realm which has no end. Silence for reflection. Every act of love is a work of peace, no matter how small. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace. (Mother Teresa) *Opening Hymn "Gather Us In" #532 *Greeting The grace of our Savior 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. Gracious God, throughout the ages you transform sickness into health and death into life. Open us to the power of your presence, and make us a people ready to proclaim your promises to the whole world, through Jesus Christ, healer, peacemaker and friend. Amen. 4
Word God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song. -- Quiet reflection First Reading Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. Your God will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. God will come and save you. Isaiah 35:4-7a Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. Psalm 146 Refrain - All; Verses - Cantor 5
Second Reading James 2:1-17 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Savior Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, Have a seat here, please, while to the one who is poor you say, Stand there, or, Sit at my feet, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the dominion promised to those who love God? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. 6
*Gospel Acclamation #174 The holy gospel according to Mark, the 7 th chapter. Glory to you, O God. *Gospel Reading Mark 7:24-37 Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Jesus said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children s food and throw it to the dogs. But she answered him, Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children s crumbs. Then he said to her, For saying that, you may go the demon has left your daughter. So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 7
They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. This is the Good News. Praise to you, O Christ. Children s Sermon After the children s sermon, children may go with their teacher to children s church. Or, families may decide to keep children in worship. We love all ages in worship and leave it to the families to decide. Sermon *Hymn of the Day Light Dawns on a Weary World #726 *Prayers of the People (Each petition will conclude with, Gracious God, in your mercy and the congregation responds, you hear our prayer. ) Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. 8
Meal God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. *Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. (The people greet each other: Peace be with you. ) Gathering our Gifts All present, even those who contribute through automatic payments, are invited to lay hands upon the collection plate symbolizing their contributions. *Offertory Take My Life, That I May Be #583 *Offering Prayer Let us pray. 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 bring peace to the whole creation. Amen. *The 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 our duty and delight we praise your name and join their unending hymn: 9
*Sanctus *Eucharistic Proclamation and Prayer let us proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 10
*Lord s Prayer (adapted by Bret Hesla) Gracious Spirit, who loves us like a mother, whose realm is blooming among us now. And within. We pray that your compassion guide us in every action. Give us what we need for each day, and help us to be satisfied with the miracle of that alone. Forgiver, whose embrace brings us to wholeness without our asking, may we reconcile ourselves to one another in humility. And may we cancel the crushing debts that imprison our neighbors so that communities of joy and health may flourish. May we neither profit from nor ignore evil. But ever work to thwart it with nonviolence as we co-create the realm of peace in this world. Now and each day. Amen. Invitation to Communion Distribution All are welcome at the table. After you have received the bread, you may dip it into one of the cups: the dark liquid is wine, the light liquid is grape juice. Or, you may eat the bread and then drink from the last cup which is a common cup of wine. A gluten free wafer is also available. Those who do not yet commune may come forward for a blessing. One Bread, One Body #496 There Is a Balm in Gilead #614 This Is My Song #887 *Blessing 11
*Prayer *Post Communion Canticle Peace, Salaam, Shalom Sending God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. Announcements *Blessing *Sending Song Salaam Aleikum Peace Be With You 12
*Dismissal Go in peace. Bear the fruits of peace! Thanks be to God! Postlude Ministers: Presiding: Preaching: Assisting: Reader: Accompanist: Cantor: Altar Guild: Sept. Hospitality Leads: Today s Worship The Members of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church Laurie Eaton Martha Schwehn Bardwell Sandy Asklakson Mark Smith Tom Witt Mary Preus Karin Craven and Sheryll Mennicke Elaine Johnson and Elle Janss Ellerbee Portions of the liturgy and clip art are taken from Sundays and Seasons.com 2017 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission under license # 45191. Salaam Aleikum Ghanain traditional adapt. and arr by Mark Anderson and Marty Haugen. 2006 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission under OneLicense.net # A-704050. Scottish Sanctus used by permission. Setting of Psalm 146 by Tom Witt. Used by permission. Announcements Neighborhood Quilting Returns for the Fall Come and join a diverse group of people for Neighborhood Quilting on Wednesdays from 12-4:30. Meeting in the Hospitality Center, we will work in community to make quilts for Lutheran World Relief, Our Saviour s Housing and other good causes. Everyone is welcome and there is no need to bring anything but yourself and your enthusiasm- we will provide the sewing machines and other supplies needed to get the job done. We are in need of sheets for backing so if you have any extra sheets at home, please bring them in. 13
Mission of the Month: the English Learning Center (ELC) The ELC is one of the programs of Our Saviour s Community Services (OSCS). OSCS was originally created to administer two vital service programs begun by the church. Now a separate nonprofit organization, OSCS still reflects a mission and ministry of care for our neighbors on behalf of Our Saviour s Lutheran Church. The ELC welcomes the stranger first by teaching English to the newest immigrants and refugee adults in our community. Then, as they gain proficiency, the ELC provides a safe, supportive environment where they can develop new skills necessary to succeed here: reading, math, computers, citizenship, nutrition and cooking, and much more. Volunteers are vital! If you d like to learn more, visit www.oscs-mn.org or call 612-871-5900. To donate, please write ELC on your offering envelope or check and thank you for your faithful support and involvement. Wednesday Connections This Month; September 12 Please join us for Wednesday Connections this month on September 12! We will have a delicious dinner from 5:30 6:30, followed by Godly Play for kids ages 3-12 and Prayer Around the Cross for the rest of us. As we shift to having less Wednesday Connections time together, please pay attention to other opportunities to connect and be a Christian community together. Our Saviour s Lutheran Church Choir The new season of choir is almost upon us. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays at 7:30 and we meet on Sundays at 10:00 in the Sanctuary to rehearse for the 10:30 service. Please join us on Sunday even if you are not able to be there on Wednesday night. All ages are welcome to be part of the Our Saviour s Lutheran Church choir and come and make a joyful noise to God! Time to don your Aprons! Communion Bread Baking will be this coming Saturday, September 15. We will meet in the Kitchen and the Hospitality Center from 9-12pm. Come one, come all. No experience necessary. 14
Calendar Sunday, September 9 All day Rally Day 9 10am Education 9 10am Adult Forum 10 10:30am Hospitality (HC) 10:30am Worship (S) and Intro of LVC Vols 11:30 12pm God's Work Our Hands Sunday (HC) Monday, September 10 9 10:30am Anniversay Mtg (CR) 6 7:30pm OSCS Board Mtg (CR) 7 8:30pm Church Council (HC) Tuesday, September 11 12:30 2pm Staff Meeting (CR) Wednesday, September 12 10:15am 12pm Bible Study (CR) 12 4:30pm Neighborhood Quilting (HC) 5:30 7:30pm Wednesday Connections 6:30 7:30pm Godly Play (GP) 7:30 8:30pm Choir practice (S) Thursday, September 13 7 9am Women's Breakfast @ Birchwood 4:30 6pm Strings & Winds Rehearsal (S) Friday, September 14 All day Office Closed 10:30-11:30am PML Meeting (CR) Saturday, September 15 9am 12pm Communion Bread Baking (K, HC) Sunday, September 16 10 10:30am Hospitality (HC) 10:30 11:30am Worship (S) 15
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