The Bulletin is at: 10-08-2017 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 10-08-2017 – Service
or the service is as follows:
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
October 8, 2017
AS WE GATHER…What a blessing it is to have the children and youth lead us in worship today! Psalm 8:2 says, “Out of the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” We follow the children’s example today and give the Lord praise. We are also reminded today to continue to develop and grow our skills, talents and passions for the Lord’s Kingdom and His use.
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, the congregation is invited to take a moment of silence to prepare their hearts and minds for today’s worship.
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
OPENING PSALM
P: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
C: Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
P: Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
C: Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
P: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
C: The holy habitation of the Most High
P: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
C: God will help her when morning dawns.
P: The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
C: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress!
OPENING UP TO GOD…
P: If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
C: Restore us, O God of hosts; let Your face shine, that we may be saved!
Silence for reflection
P: God, our heavenly Creator, hears the prayers of all people and answers those prayers. Our prayer for forgiveness is answered in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who died for our sin that we might have new life. The distance between God and ourselves has been brought together by love made perfect in the sacrifice of Jesus. To those who believe God’s word of truth comes power to be the people of God. Praise God for the gift of love to us.
C: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE – “You are My All in All”
You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the treasure that I seek.
You are my all in all.
Seeking you as a precious jewel,
Lord, to give up, I’d be a fool,
You are my all in all.
Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name
Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame.
Rising again, I bless Your name.
You are my all in all.
When I fall down, You pick me up.
When I am dry, You fill my cup.
You are my all in all.
Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name
Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your Name
P: The Lord be with you!
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Lord God, owner of the vineyard that is Your people, whose Son paid with His life that we might live with You forever, grant that each day we give You the fruits of love and the praise You seek until Your Son returns for the final harvest. We pray this through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord,
C: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 5:1-7
Israel, God’s vineyard, is producing wild grapes.
Let me sing for my beloved
my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard
on a very fertile hill.
He dug it and cleared it of stones,
and planted it with choice vines;
he built a watchtower in the midst of it,
and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes,
but it yielded wild grapes.
And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it?
When I looked for it to yield grapes,
why did it yield wild grapes?
And now I will tell you
what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge,
and it shall be devoured;[a]
I will break down its wall,
and it shall be trampled down.
I will make it a waste;
it shall not be pruned or hoed,
and briers and thorns shall grow up;
I will also command the clouds
that they rain no rain upon it.
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are his pleasant planting;
and he looked for justice,
but behold, bloodshed;[b]
for righteousness,
but behold, an outcry![c]
Nothing compares to knowing Christ and the resurrection.
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[a]blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
CHILDREN’S SONG – “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
- He’s got the whole world in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
- He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands
He’s got the little bitty baby in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
- He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands
He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands
He’s got the wind and the rain in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
- He’s got everybody here in His hands
He’s got everybody here in His hands
He’s got everybody here in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
The parable of the vineyard
“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants[a] to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone”
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
SERMON HYMN – “Amazing Grace” LBW 448
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has bought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me;
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
SERMON – “The Fifth C: Competency”
C: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life + everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
Knowing that God has been good to us in giving us all that we need and knowing that God promises to continue to care for us, we respond with the giving of our gifts.
P: Gracious God, You have planted us here, providing talents and abilities, spiritual strengths, and financial resources. By Your Holy Spirit, move us to bring Your Word of grace and mercy beyond what we would think would be possible. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, You desire justice and righteousness across society. Give courage, compassion, and direction to all who lead our community. Bring direction too to all who make and administer our laws. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Gracious Father, giver of all that is good, bless the efforts of all who labor in their various callings. Give them health and strength so that we may live in peace, prosperity may increase, and everyone may enjoy nourishing food, ample clothing, and sturdy shelter. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Compassionate God, surround those with long-term distress and sudden alarms with caring and skillful health professionals. As fits Your plans for them, bring them healing, comfort and relief. We remember today especially (Names…). Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Gracious Father, out of the lips of infants and children You have ordained Your praise. We give You thanks today for our children and youth, who are serving today. Give us skill and passion at Peace Lutheran Church to do everything we can to encourage them to further develop their faith in You. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN – “I Have the Joy” TOSB 150
I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the joy, joy,
Joy, joy, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.
I have the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the peace that passes
Understanding, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.
I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart,
Down in my heart, down in my heart; I have the love of Jesus,
Love of Jesus, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay.
DISMISSAL