BETHANY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA You have a place here! Joyfully we profess our faith through God s unconditional love. Here and now God dwells in all of our lives, bears our sins on the cross, and forgives us all. TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE 18TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 8:30 am on Sunday, September 23, 2018 Holy Communion Worship Pr Dave Johnson, presiding Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to make it concrete, he puts in front of them an actual flesh-and-blood child. We are called to welcome the particular children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly. ALL ARE WELCOME The family of Bethany hopes that your worship experience is spiritually fulfilling and your day begins with our Lord s gifts of peace and joy. If you are visiting today, you are invited to the Communion Table. As Christians of the Reformation tradition, we believe that the Sacrament of the Altar is the Real Presence of Christ s body and blood, instituted by Christ Himself as a sign of unity. All baptized and confessing believers are welcome to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion by intinction the dipping of the wafer into the wine when the chalice is offered. Gluten-free wafers and grape juice are available. The assembly is to line up down center aisle and return to seats by side aisles.
2 ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR THE SEASON OF PENTECOST Minister/Leaders speak regular print Congregation speaks bold print Arrow directives indicate the following: stand if able be seated THE GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God Prelude Reflections for Meditation Welcome and Greeting Prayers and Praises Invocation We gather together in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Hymn of Gathering Children of the Heavenly Father vs 1-4 (page 14) Confession and Forgiveness Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, full of compassion and mercy, abounding in steadfast love. Trusting God s promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sin against God and one another. (Silence is kept for reflection) Eternal God our creator, in you we live and move and have our being. Look upon us, your children, the work of your hands. Forgive us all our offenses, and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires. By your grace draw us near to you, our refuge and our strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. In the mercy of almighty God, Christ died for us while we still were sinners; and for his sake, God forgives you all your sins. 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
4 Hymn of Praise Prayer of the Day O God, our teacher and guide, you draw us to yourself and welcome us as beloved children. Help us to lay aside all envy and selfish ambition, that we may walk in your ways of wisdom and understanding as servants of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
5 THE WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching and song God s Word from the Scriptures (NRSV) A reading from Jeremiah, Chapter 11, verses 18-20 It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered! But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. God s Word from the Psalms (NRSV) Let us read responsively Psalm 54 Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. Selah But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness, put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
6 God s Word from the Scriptures (NRSV) A reading from James, Chapter 3, verses 13: 4:3, 7-8a Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Children s Message Gospel Acclamation
God s Word from the Gospel (NRSV) The Holy Gospel according to Mark, Chapter 9, verses 30-37 Glory to you, O Lord. They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again. But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, What were you arguing about on the way? But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon God s Word Applied to Life Hymn of the Day Faith of Our Fathers (page 15) (Please stand for the last verse) The Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. 7
8 For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. 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, you gather congregations together by the power of your word. Bless leaders with the gifts of wisdom and discernment as they seek to make your church the community for which you long. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Creative God, blue whales and honeybees sing the goodness of the earth. Glaciers and deserts declare your greatness. Make us good stewards of our home for the generations to come. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
9 Loving God, you desire health and wholeness. Reconcile the conflicts and disputes among us. Teach us to heal the trauma of racism and poverty. Break our hearts open to all those who suffer and mourn. We ask your special blessings for... Tom & Dorothy Temple, Sarah Underhill, Kristin Underhill, Mike, Theresa, Erick Schultz, Tony Solda, Ron Arnold, Terry, Kierstin, Jen, Rosie Buteyn, Arlene Coulter, Debi Phelps, Dan Gyselinck, Paula Conery, Ryan Dedo, Blake Sternhagen, Jean Guldswog, Rodney Walter, Paula Reynolds, Danielle Kitz, Sandy Verbos, those who have received prayer shawls and are in need of comfort, those who have requested special prayers through our website, and others that we now name silently or aloud. (brief silence) In every situation help them to know you are with them always, let us pray. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Welcoming God, you place children among us. Teach us to honor the children in our midst and to pay attention to what they can teach us about who you are. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. We offer our own prayers to You, either silently or aloud. (other intercessions may be offered) You surround us with a cloud of witnesses who announce the good news of abundant life to a sad and needy world. Make us a pilgrim people, always telling the story of your lovingkindness. 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.
10 Sharing of the Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. Greet those seated near you with love and the sign of Christ s peace. THE MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ Offering and Presentation of the Gifts September-December Mission ~ Good Samaritan Fund Special envelopes available (make checks to Bethany Lutheran Church) Offertory 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. The Great Thanksgiving and Words of Institution 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. Fulfilling the promise of the resurrection, you pour out the fire of your Spirit, uniting in one body people of ev ry nation and tongue. And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
11 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, 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. The 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.
12 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Invitation To Communion Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread. Distribution of Communion and Canticle (Sung to the melody of O God Our Help in Ages Past ) Post Communion Blessing The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace until He comes again. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Post Communion Prayer 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. 13 THE SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world Hymn of Sending Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (page 16) 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. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Announcements Anyone is welcome to announce any upcoming events or share thoughts of interest Dismissal Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve. Thanks be to God.
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VOICES OF PEACE Sunday, September 30th, Voices of Peace will be here as part of our combined worship with Grace United Methodist Church. Service will begin at 10:00 am and there will be a Potluck following worship. Please mark your calendar and we hope you plan to attend. There is a sign up sheet for the potluck 17
18 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS FAMILY NIGHT Join us this afternoon for Family Night Blessing of the Pets, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Bring your pet leases are a MUST and your pet MUST be good with kids and other animals. PUB THEOLOGY We will meet at the Big 10 on Thursday nights, beginning at 6:30 pm and will discuss thoughts, questions, and theories about God. WORSHIP ASSISTANTS FOR OCTOBER 7 Lector John Aune Prayer Assistant Peggy Gattra Communion Assistant Dave Lofholm WWWJ AND CONFIRMATION STARTS SOON Wednesdays from 5:30 6:30 pm for WWWJ. This year s theme is Training Camp. All children Pre-K through 5th grade are welcome. Confirmation is also on Wednesday, September 19th from 5:30 6:30 pm for grades 6 & 7. If you are interested in helping, please contact Pr. Dave. VOICES OF PEACE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Mark your calendar for this event! NO 8:30 am worship Come at 10:00 am to hear Voices of Peace, their music, their message and fellowship. There will be a potluck following worship. This will be a combined service with Grace United Methodist. CROSSROADS CHOIR CHRISTMAS REHEARSAL Anyone interested in participating in the Advent Concert, rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, October 17 and continuing every Wednesday from 6:00 pm 6:30 pm. The Advent Concert is Sunday, December 2. Bethany Lutheran Church Financial Summary August 2018 Monthly Income Monthly Expenses +/- YTD Income YTD Expenses +/- Balance Sheet $8,701.03 $7,958.07 $742.96 $68,112.06 $70,011.87 -$1,899.81 $56,402.03
BETHANY CALENDAR OF SERVICES AND EVENTS Bethany meetings and events are posted on the homepage of www.norwaybethany.org 19 Sun, Sept 23 Mon, Sept 24 Tue, Sept 25 Wed, Sept 26 Thu, Sept 27 Sun, Sept 30 Mon, Oct 1 Tue, Oct 2 18th Sunday after Pentecost, Pr. Dave Johnson presiding 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Coffee Social 3:00 pm 5:00 pm Family Night Blessing of the Pets 10:30 am Prayer Shawl Sisters 4:00 pm Light at the Inn Meeting 5:15 pm Partnership Meeting 6:30 pm Crossroads Board 9:00 am Community Coffee 9:00 am Cover Girls 4:00 pm Evangelism/Stewardship Meeting 10:00 am Women s Bible Study 5:30 pm Confirmation 5:30 pm WWWJ 7:00 am Men s Breakfast & Bible Study 6:30 pm Pub Theology 19th Sunday after Pentecost Combined Worship Voices of Peace 10:00 am Potluck to Follow 10:30 am Prayer Shawl Sisters 9:00 am Community Coffee 9:00 am Cover Girls 5:30 pm Social Night at Maple Creek
20 BETHANY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA Ministers Church Address Pastor Pastor s Hours Emergency Phone Pastor s Email Office Secretaries Office Hours Office Phone Office Email Website All the members of this Body of Christ 130 O Dill Dr., Norway, MI 49870 Pr. David Johnson Mon & Thurs 9:30 am 12 pm and by appointment 651-769-3365 ftp565@yahoo.com Linda Hawkinson; Assistant Secretary-Andrea Anderson Mon & Thurs-9am-12pm; Tue & Wed flex time, call first 906-563-8472 bethanyoffice@norwaymi.com www.norwaybethany.org THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SERVE AS WORSHIP ASSISTANTS TODAY... Leader Greeters/Ushers Lector Prayer Assistant Communion Assistant Music Altar Guild ALTAR FLOWERS In Memory of my mom, Ruth Perkins By Vicki Underhill Pr. Dave Johnson Erv Sparapani Erv Sparapani Erv Sparapani Synthia (Barb Rice and/or Ray Anderson) Lori Manier Altar flower sign up forms at front entry - $15 per bouquet (checks: Bethany Ladies Guild) Copyright Permissions: From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46211 OneLicense.net License #A-722709 CCLI Christian Copyright Licensing #11270064 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.