WELCOME TO CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH! A lovely transformation takes place in worship: As we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we become more open to others. Let God s loving presence flow from us now. Please fill out the information requested on the pew pad (at the end of each pew) and pass it to your neighbor to be signed until it reaches the end of that pew. Then pass it back to its point of origin. If there is someone sitting in your pew you do not know, be sure to greet them and invite them to worship with us again. Hospitality is contagious! All are invited to Christ s Table. For those who do not wish to share in the bread and wine today, a Christian blessing will be offered. If you are visiting and would like us to send a record of your communion to your home church, please write your home church s name and address on the pew pad. God bless you! 18th Sunday of Pentecost September 23, 2018-10:30 a.m Lutheran Book of Worship, Setting Two * = please stand Announcements & Prelude In the name of the Father, And of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. *Confession and Forgiveness Let us confess our sin, calling for God s transforming power. Silence for reflection and self-examination. 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. 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. *Peace God makes peace within us. Let us claim it. God makes peace between us. Let us share it. Let us greet each other as a sign of God s peace. *Gathering Hymn WOV #719 God is Here! *Apostolic 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. 2
*Hymn of Praise: 3
*Prayer of the Day Together let us pray: 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. First Reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20 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. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. Psalm 54(read responsively) Save me, O God, by your name; in your might, defend my cause. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen up against me, and the ruthless have sought my life, those who have no regard for God. Behold, God is my helper; it is the Lord who sustains my life. Render evil to those who spy on me; in your faithfulness, destroy them. I will offer you a freewill sacrifice 4
and praise your name, O LORD, for it is good. For you have rescued me from every trouble, and my eye looks down on my enemies. Second Reading: James 3:13 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. Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 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. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God! *Gospel Acclamation *Gospel Announcement The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark 9:30-37 Glory to you, O Lord. 5
Jesus and the disciples went on 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. Bringing the Message *Hymn of the Day ELW #641- see insert All Are Welcome God has made us his people through our baptism into Christ. Living together and trust and hope, we confess our faith through the 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. 6
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, 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. Sovereign God, you raise up governments to protect the widow and orphan. Bless citizens with wisdom and discernment as they choose leaders. Inspire leaders to always seek the common good. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 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, and who else and what else shall the people of Milton Lutheran Parish pray for(at this time we will pause for people to voice their prayers) 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. 7
We pray for the continued co-operation between the Upper Susquehanna Synod and the Lutheran Church in Liberia. May the Holy Spirit move among us so as to speak to the hearts of those who may be willing to visit Liberia and learn of ways to foster a closer relationship between our peoples. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 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. Offering Loose Offering to Crop Walk *Offertory 8
*Offering Prayer Together let us pray O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus 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 our thanks and praise. It is indeed right and salutary we praise your name and join their unending hymn *Words of Institution 9
*The Lord s Prayer Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; And 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. *Invitation: P: These are the gifts of God for the people of God. C: Thanks be to God! *Communion Song Distribution of Communion [As you are directed forward by the ushers, please pick up a cup and move to receive the bread. Then move to the server for wine (either left or right, depending on the side of the church in which you are seated). Children and others who do not yet commune are welcome to come forward for a Christian blessing. (If you are unable to come forward, please indicate your need to an usher, and you will be served at your seat.) 10
*The Post-Communion Blessing The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. *The Post-Communion Canticle *The Prayer after Communion P: Let us pray together. C: Your church is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is. It will be friendly, if I am. Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them. It will do great work, if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver. It will bring other people into its worship and fellowship, if I invite and bring them. It will be a church where people grow in faith and serve you, if I am open to such growth and service. Therefore, with your help Lord, we shall dedicate ourselves to the task of being all the things you want your church to be. 11
*Benediction The God of glory dwell in you richly, name you beloved, and shine brightly on your path; and the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. *Sending Hymn W/P #132-see insert Step By Step *Mission Statement & Dismissal And now, we join in claiming the mission God has given at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church: We are called by God to follow Christ s example and teachings through worshiping, witnessing, learning, supporting one another, and reaching out to others. Go in peace to Love and Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! *Postlude From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #32232. 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. 12
God s Work, Our Hands. Ways to Live Out God s Mission: September 23, 2018 Opportunities for Reaching Out to Others o Check your monthly Newsletter for foods requested by the Milton Food Bank and our own Food Pantry. You can place them in the cart in the narthex. o Choir Practice- Wednesdays @ 6:30pm Opportunities for Learning o Home Communion Team Mtng.-TODAY after service.(in the library.) o Divine Drama- Mon. Sept.24 th -7:00pm @ Christ o Divine Drama- Tues. Sept.25 th -9:30am @ Trinity o Bell Choir meets at 6:30pm on Wednesdays at Trinity and is open to everyone within the Parish. Sunday Sept. 30 th -9:00am- Joint service at Trinity! Immediately following the joint service at Trinity on Sunday, September 30 th there will be a cookie bar. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend to enjoy good food, fun, and fellowship with our fellow parish members. 13
Thank you to our worship participants: Acolyte Austin Mitch Lector Rose Handy Servers Rose Handy, Rich Handy Ushers Kim Mitch, Brent Mitch Prayer Team Minister Rose Handy Altar Guild Mae Jones, Kim Mitch, Nancy Mensch Offering Counters- Rose Handy, Kay Dunn Next week s worship participants: Joint Service at Trinity-9:30am Stewardship Snippet Sept. 23, 2018 (18 th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B) James 4:1, 2 Those conflicts and disputes among you do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. James puts his finger on the pulse of human misery. We drive ourselves crazy by craving the things we don t have and envying those who have more than we do! Spiritual maturity and practicing steward/discipleship help bring us sanity. 14