The Bulletin is at: 10-01-2017 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 10-01-2017 – Service
or the service is as follows:
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
October 1, 2017
AS WE GATHER… “Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, ‘Who will go and work today?’” Each day Jesus calls us closer to Him and in service toward others. Is Jesus calling you closer so that you can witness to another person? Is Jesus calling you to lead little children to His “waiting arms?” We listen a little more intensely to Jesus’ calling. And at the end of day we join the prophet Isaiah in answering, “Here am I. Send me, send me!”
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, we prepare our minds and hearts in silence for today’s worship.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
WE CONFESS
P: Lord, we come to You as unworthy servants as we are by nature sinful and unclean.
Silence for reflection
C: We are by nature sinful. We have not always done what was our faithful duty. We have not loved You with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Often our service to others has been rooted in selfishness, and our motives have been impure. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.
P: We are unworthy servants, for we have sinned and deserve present and eternal punishment. For our sake, our Lord Jesus Christ came into this sinful and selfish world as the perfect Servant. He served us by His perfect life and by giving up His life on Calvary’s cross as payment for our sin. At the command and promise of our Lord Jesus Christ and as a called and ordained servant of His Word, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
HYMN OF PRAISE “Here I Am, Lord”
- I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin….my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?
Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
- I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Refrain
P: Let us Pray… Gracious God, You demonstrate Your authority most clearly in Your mercy toward sinners. Guide us by Your Spirit both to recognize and to submit to Your authority, so that, following our Lord Jesus, our lives are marked with humility and looking to the needs of others above our own. We pray these things through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord.
C: Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Philippians 2:1-18
Every knee should bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
The chief priests and elders question the authority of Jesus.
And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
CHORAL ANTHEM “I Am Your Servant, O Lord”
SERMON “The Fourth C: Calling”
SERMON HYMN – “Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling” LBW 381
Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, “Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the master calls you; Rich reward he offers free.
Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I. Send me, send me?”
If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus; You can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked With the judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms.
If you cannot be a watchman Standing high on Zion’s wall,
Pointing out the path to heaven, Off’ring life and peace to all,
With your prayers and with your bounties You can do what God demands;
You can be like faithful Aaron, Holding up the prophet’s hands.
Let none hear you idly saying “There is nothing I can do,”
While the multitudes are dying And the master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly; Let his work your pleasure be.
Answer quickly when he calls you, “Here am I. Send me, send me?”
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 power of 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
OFFERTORY
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord God, You have given us the promise that our faith is sustained by You and Your work. As we are often tempted to rely on faith in ourselves rather than in You, guide us with Your Spirit to trust confidently in You. In joyous duty as Your faithful servants, we pray,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Ever-present Lord, throughout time You spoke Your Word and used people to bring encouragement to those in need. Strengthen our faith to trust that You will answer our prayers and to wait patiently for Your will to be done. In joyous duty as Your servants, we pray,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Ever-comforting Lord, physician of body and soul, we lift up to You those who suffer in any way. Strengthen them with Your Spirit and keep them firm in their faith, (especially…). In joyous duty as Your servants, we pray,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Increase the generosity and sincerity of forgiveness among Your people, that we may enjoy an enriched fellowship marked not by dissension but by the righteousness of Christ. In fellowship at this altar, prepare our hearts and minds to receive what has been given and shed for us in the body and blood of Jesus, our Lord. In joyous duty as Your servants, we pray,
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: It is into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“Glorify Thy Name” TOSB 49
Father, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Jesus, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Spirit, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
“I’ve Got Peace” TOSB 108
- I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.
- I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean,
I’ve got love like an ocean in my soul.
- I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
“Bind Us Together” TOSB 14
Bind us together Lord, Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken,
Bind us together Lord, Bind us together
Bind us together with love.
There is only one God.
There is only one King.
There is only one body.
That is why I sing.
Bind us together Lord, Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken,
Bind us together Lord, Bind us together
Bind us together with love.
CLOSING HYMN “Here I Am, Lord”
- I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?
Refrain: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.