The Service in PDF format is at: October 11,2020 Service

Video of service is at: Facebook Video

Peace Lutheran Church

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost

October 11, 2020

As We Gather: Mark Batterson, author of Draw the Circle, writes:

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been dreaming big, praying hard, and thinking long. We’ve been circling people and problems and promises. But the goal wasn’t just circling for forty days—it was also to still be praying on day forty-one. Every prayer you pray has a chain reaction, and those chain reactions set off a thousand other chain reactions. Every prayer you pray ripples all the way into eternity!

Today we are encouraged by God’s active work to answer our prayers in surprising ways.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPENING SONG: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

(recorded on Saturday, September 12)

By: Joseph Scriven & Charles C. Converse © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations, is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who with all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In his arms he’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.

INVOCATION                      Psalm 9:2; 33:20-22; 122:1

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

C:   Amen.

P:    I was glad when they said to me,

C:   “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

P:    I will be glad and exult in You;

C:   I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.  

P:    Our soul waits for the Lord;

C:   He is our help and our shield.                                    

P:    For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name.

C:   Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.

P:    I was glad when they said to me,

C:   “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”         

                   

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

P:    Let us now make confession of our sins to God, our heavenly Father,  

C:   O God our Father, we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. We have transgressed Your law and have brought injury to others. We have not always shown forth our faith in every aspect of our lives. We repent of our sins. Have mercy on us and hear this, our confession, O Lord. Grant us Your grace and forgiveness in Jesus. By the renewing work of the Holy Spirit within us, lead us to amend our sinful lives that each day we grow in righteousness and godly living to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:    The Lord hears our pleas and accepts our prayers. To each of us our Lord promises forgiveness, life, and salvation. As a called and ordained servant of Jesus, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT                                                    Joshua 4:1-7

Reader:  When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

HOLY GOSPEL                                                 Matthew 22:1-14

Reader:  And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants[a] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business,while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” 

Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise to You, O Christ!

MESSAGE “The Ripple Effect”

CREED

ALL:         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 Christian Church, the communion of saints,

The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

And the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYER

P:    With full confidence that our prayers will be heard by our loving God, we offer our petitions for the Church, the world, and all people in need. O Lord, in Your mercy,

C:   Hear our prayer.

P:    With hope-filled hearts we pray for the community of world nations, especially remembering the people Canada as they observe their country’s National Day of Thanksgiving. O Lord, in Your mercy,

C:   Hear our prayer.

P:    We pray for the well-being of creation in our land and every land, for all coastlands and water and for all fields and forests. Grant that we be proper stewards of all the of the gifts we have received. O Lord, in Your mercy,

C:   Hear our prayer.

P:    We pray for those who are in need of special petitions this day, including the injured or ill, people in hospitals or other care centers, those dealing with special challenges, the shut-in, the unemployed, and those who are grieving this day, (especially…). Be the support of those in need and the comfort of those who are burdened. O Lord, in Your mercy,

C:   Hear our prayer.

P:    Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C:   Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

P:    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.

C:   Amen.

CLOSING SONG: “Amazing Grace” (recording from April 18, 2020)

Edwin Othello Excell, John Newton, John P. Rees, William W. Walker © Words: Public Domain Music: Public Domain

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.

DISMISSAL