Blog

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”

Kathryn Keith, soloist

Gathering

Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

Please stand as you are able. The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P:  In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C:  Amen.

P:  Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

P:  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Please kneel or sit as you are able.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

P:  Most merciful God,

C:  we confess that we are in bondage 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. Amen.

The minister stands and addresses the congregation.

P:  Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, 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.

C:  Amen.

Please stand as you are able.

Opening Hymn #459 (green hymnal)

“O Holy Spirit, Enter In”

Greeting

P:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C:  And also with you.

Hymn of Praise: Hymn #539 (green hymnal)

“Praise the Almighty” v. 1, 4

1  Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore him!
Yes, I will laud him until death:
with songs and anthems I come before him
as long as he allows me breath.
From him my life and all things came;
Bless, O my soul, his holy name.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

4  Praise, all you people, the name so holy,
Of him who does such wondrous things!
All that has being, to praise him solely,
with happy heart its amen sings!
Children of God, with angel host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Prayer of the Day

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal. p. 82)

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Let us pray.
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without you nothing is strong, nothing is holy. Embrace us with your mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide, we may live through what is temporary without losing what is eternal, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C:  Amen.

The Word

Blessing of the Lector

P:  Let us pray.
Bless Sherry, O Lord, as she reads to us the scriptures. As rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return until the earth is watered, let your word not return empty, but accomplish your purpose and succeed in that for which it was sent; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

Please be seated.

First Reading: Malachi 4:1-2a

¹ See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ^2a But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Psalmody

“Sing a New Song Unto the Lord” (Psalm 98)
Dan Schutte

Refrain (Leader)
Sing a new song unto the Lord; let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord, singing alleluia.

Refrain (All)
Sing a new song unto the Lord; let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord, singing alleluia.

  Yahweh’s people dance for joy. O come before the Lord.
And play for him on glad tambourines, and let your trumpet sound.

Refrain (All)

  Rise, O children, from your sleep; your Savior now has come.
He has turned your sorrow to joy, and filled your soul with song.

Refrain (All)

  Glad my soul for I have seen the glory of the Lord.
The trumpet sounds; the dead shall be raised. I know my Savior lives.

Refrain (All)

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

⁶ Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. ⁹ This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. ¹² Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

  The word of the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Please stand as you are able.

Gospel Acclamation

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 83)

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 21:5-19

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 83)

P:  The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 21st chapter.

C:  Glory to you, O Lord.

⁵ When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, ⁶ “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
 ⁷ They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” ⁸ And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
 ⁹ “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; ¹¹ there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
 ¹² “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ This will give you an opportunity to testify. ¹⁴ So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; ¹⁵ for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all because of my name. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

P:  The Gospel of the Lord.

C:  Praise to you, O Christ.

Please be seated.

Children’s Sermon

Sermon

Silence for reflection and meditation.

Hymn of the Day #437 (green hymnal)

“Not Alone for Mighty Empire”

1  Not alone for mighty empire,
Stretching far o’er land and sea;
Not alone for bounteous harvests
Do we praise you gratefully.
Standing in the living present,
Memory and hope between,
Lord, we would with deep thanksgiving
Praise you most for things unseen.

2  Not for battleship and fortress,
Not for conquests of the sword;
But for conquests of the spirit
We give thanks to you, O Lord;
For the heritage of freedom,
For the home, the church, the school;
For the open door to justice
In a land the people rule.

3  For the armies of the faithful,
Those who passed and left no name;
For the glory that illumines
Patriot lives of deathless fame;
For our prophets and apostles,
Loyal to the living Word;
For the strong and free in spirit,
We give thanks to you, O Lord.

4  God of justice, save the people
From the clash of race and creed,
From the strife of class and faction:
Make our nation free indeed.
Keep its faith in simple justice
Strong as when its life began,
Till it find complete fruition
By the guiding of your hand.

Please stand as you are able.

The Apostles’ Creed

A:  Let us confess our common faith with all Christians throughout time and place, using the words of 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.
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. Amen.

The Prayers

A:  Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

After each petition:

A:  Lord, in your mercy,

C:  Hear our prayer.

After the last petition:

A:  Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

Peace

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:  And also with you.

The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace.

Offertory

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 86)

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offertory Prayer

A:  Let us pray.

C:  Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Meal

Dialogue

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 88)

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  And also with you.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  We lift them to the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P:  It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord; 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 the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Sanctus

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 89)

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

P:  Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign. You have filled all creation with light and life; heaven and earth are full of your glory. Through Abraham you promised to bless all nations. You rescued Israel, your chosen people. Through the prophets you renewed your promise; and, at this end of all the ages, you sent your Son, who in words and deeds proclaimed your kingdom and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.

  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, and 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.

  For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

C:  Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

P:  Therefore, gracious Father, with this bread and cup we remember the life our Lord offered for us. And, believing the witness of his resurrection, we await his coming in power to share with us the great and promised feast.

C:  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

P:  Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, the spirit of our Lord and of his resurrection, that we who receive the Lord’s body and blood may live to the praise of your glory and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light.

C:  Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

P:  Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place, and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all.

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 91)  

C:  Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

P:  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. Amen.

Please be seated.

Agnus Dei

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 92)

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.

Communion

P:  The Body of Christ, broken for you.

  The Blood of Christ, shed for you.

Those who wish to commune at the altar rail may either bring forward their individual Communion kit, or receive the wafer and wine/grape juice by intinction (dipping) from the Communion Ministers, when they are directed forward by the usher. Those who wish to commune in their seat with their individual Communion kit may remain seated.

Communion Hymn #205 (green hymnal)

“Now the Silence”

  Now the silence
Now the peace
Now the empty hands uplifted
Now the kneeling
Now the plea
Now the Father’s arms in welcome

  Now the hearing
Now the pow’r
Now the vessel brimmed for pouring
Now the body
Now the blood
Now the joyful celebration

  Now the wedding
Now the songs
Now the heart forgiven leaping
Now the Spirit’s visitation
Now the Son’s epiphany
Now the Father’s blessing
Now
Now
Now

Communion Hymn #210 (green hymnal)

“At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” v. 1-4

1  At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
praise to our victorious king,
who has washed us in the tide
flowing from his pierced side.
Alleluia!

2  Praise we him, whose love divine
gives his sacred blood for wine,
gives his body for the feast-
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Alleluia!

3  Where the paschal blood is poured
death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
through the wave that drowns the foe.
Alleluia!

4  Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
paschal victim, paschal bread;
with sincerity and love
eat we manna from above.
Alleluia!

Table Blessing

P:  The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

C:  Amen.

Post-Communion Canticle

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 92)

Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell ev’ryone what he has done.
Let ev’ryone who seeks the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name.
He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy
with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Post-Communion Prayer

A:  Let us pray.
We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

C:  Amen.

Sending

Announcements for God’s Mission in the World

Please stand as you are able.

Blessing

♫ LBW Setting II
(green hymnal, p. 94)

P:  Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

C:  Amen.

Closing Hymn #467 (green hymnal)

“Eternal Father, Strong to Save”

1  Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm has bound the restless wave,
who bade the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
oh, hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

2  O Savior, whose almighty word
the winds and waves submissive heard,
who walked upon the foaming deep,
and calm amid the storm didst sleep:
oh, hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

3  O Holy Spirit, who didst brood
upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease,
and give, for wild confusion, peace:
oh, hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

4  O Trinity of love and pow’r,
all trav’lers guard in danger’s hour
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe’er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee
glad hymns and praise from land and sea.

Dismissal

A:  Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God.

Postlude

“God of Our Fathers”

---

Worship Leaders

The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
Cindy Mayhugh, Assisting Minister
Sherry Bronner, Reader

Upcoming Events

Copyright Notices

O Holy Spirit, Enter In: Setting © 1952 Orgelchoralbuch.

Praise the Almighty: Tr. © 1941 Concordia Publishing House; setting © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

Sing a New Song: Text and music by Dan Schutte © 1972 OCP. All rights reserved.

Not Alone for Mighty Empire: Music by George H. Day © 1966 The Church Pension Fund.

Now the Silence: Text by Jaroslav J. Vajda and music by Carl F. Schalk © 1969 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing: Setting © 1969 Concordia Publishing House.

Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A‐726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.

Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.