The Bulletin is at: 09-16-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 09-16-2018 – Service
or the service is as follows:
SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
September 16, 2018
AS WE GATHER…Imagine if you were the father in today’s Gospel. Since childhood, his son has been plagued by an unclean spirit that makes him mute and throws him down, doing bodily harm. The dad brings his son to Jesus’ disciples, and they are of no help. The father comes before Jesus and asks him to help……….if He can. Jesus responds, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” To which the father cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24). This father, who is that the end of his rope, cries out with faith mixed with desperation. Thankfully, his worthiness, and our worthiness, does not depend on the greatness or smallness of faith. Instead, it depends on Jesus, the object of our faith. When we face desperate times, we, too, cry out in prayer and faith, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
CHOIR ANTHEM We Will Come to Praise the Lord
Music & Lyrics By…
We will come to praise the Lord…. He is our salvation.
Shout his praises evermore, Lord and King of every nation.
Brothers, sisters everywhere, we are God’s creation.
He gives us his love to share; come and join in celebration.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
WE CONFESS…
C: Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God is merciful.
P: Since we are gathered to our Lord Jesus in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people, let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
C: For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you; and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us Pray…Lord Jesus, at times we fear that You are far away from us.
C: Forgive us for doubting Your presence, and give us confidence that our redeemer and vindicator is always near;
P: for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Joseph is sold into slavery. Genesis 37:23-28
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels[a] of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
GOSPEL: Jesus casts out a spirit. Mark 9:14-29
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
SERMON “Down and Out, but Never Alone”
SERMON HYMN: ““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.
Chorus: 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. Chorus
.
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
The offerings gathered are a sign of our whole lives offered to God in humble gratitude for his greatest of all offerings, his Son offered for our salvation.
OFFERTORY
P: We come before our Lord in prayer, saying along with the psalmist, “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.”
P: Father in heaven, we remember Jesus’ great sacrifice on our behalf. In times of persecution for the sake of bearing Christ’s name, remind us that You are with us and Your grace sustains us. O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!
C: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
P: Father in heaven, James reminds us that the tongue is a powerful part of our body; and our words can do great harm or good. Give us Your Spirit that we would not lie, betray, slander, or hurt with our words; but instead use them to defend our neighbor and praise Your name. O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!
C: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
P: Father in heaven, Your Son cast out demons and bestowed healing with just His Word. According to Your will, restore and give wholeness to those who are suffering, (especially….). O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!
C: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
P: Father in heaven, You care for all of Your sheep. We thank You today that You have opened Your home for us to live eternally. We pray that this reality will fortify and strengthen us I the hard times of life today. O Lord, Pray, deliver my soul!
C: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
P: Heavenly Father, give us faithful hearts with which to receive Your Son’s body and blood at Your Table. Grant that it strengthen and sustain us in the one true faith. O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul! Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
Precious Lord take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Thru the storm, thru the night, Lead on the light,
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near;
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall;
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness”
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. – Refrain
Refrain – “Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!
- Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness mercy and love. – Refrain
- Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! – Refrain
“O, How I Love Jesus”
There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in my ear, The sweetest name on earth.
O, how I love Jesus, O, how I love Jesus,
O, how I love Jesus—Because He first loved me!
It tells me of a Savior’s love, Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea.
O, how I love Jesus, O, how I love Jesus,
O, how I love Jesus—Because He first loved me!
It tells of One whose loving heart Can feel my deepest woe,
Who in each sorrow bears a part That none can bear below.
O, how I love Jesus, O, how I love Jesus,
O, how I love Jesus—Because He first loved me!
“Jesus Loves Me”
- Jesus loves me –
this I know, For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong –
They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me –
loves me still, Though I’m very weak and ill;
That I might from sin be free,
Bled and died upon the tree.
Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me –
He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in!
Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me –
He will stay Close beside me all the way,
Though hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for the.
Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
CLOSING SONG: “Do, Lord: Psalm 27”
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue.
You’re my light and my salvation, I won’t be afraid!
You’re the stronghold of my life, by You all things were made.
Foes attack me, hassle me, but I will never fade,
For I move in the strength of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
Though a host encamp against me, I will never fear!
Even though a war surrounds me, You are always near.
One thing I have asked of you that I will seek for sure
Is to live in the house of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
You will hide me in Your shelter in the day of strife;
You’ll conceal me in Your tent or set me on the height.
Now my head is lifted up above the storms of night,
So I’ll sing to the name of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
Glory be to God the Father and to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit, ever Three in one.
As it was in the beginning, till our race is won
We can live in the light of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue