The Bulletin is at: 09-17-2017 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 09-17-2017 – Service
or the service is as follows:
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
September 17, 2017
AS WE GATHER…Our focus today is on the second of the five C’s: Community. In both of our readings we hear about how important it is to live well together. Joseph forgave his brothers, even though they had sold him into slavery. Jesus tells a parable about God’s overwhelming forgiveness and how such forgiveness leads us to forgive others. We learn today to practice such forgiveness, living together as the family of Christ.
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
RINGING OF THE BELL
After the ringing of the bell, we take a few moments in silence to prepare our 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
P: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
C: and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
P: Bless the Lord, O my soul,
C: and forget not all His benefits,
P: who forgives all your iniquity,
C: who heals all your diseases,
P: who redeems your life from the pit,
C: who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
P: who satisfies you with good
C: so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
WE CONFESS…
P: The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. Joseph’s brothers cast him into a pit, sold him into slavery, and then lied to their father about what had happened.
C: We, too, are guilty of sinning against our own families. We have harmed our brothers and sisters. We have lied to our parents. We have covered up our sins, hoping to get away with it without getting caught.
P: We turn to our Heavenly Father, who is merciful and gracious, and repent of our sins.
SONG OF CONFESSION “White as Snow”
White as snow, white as snow,
Though my sins were as scarlet
Lord, I know,
That I’m clean and forgiven.
Through the power of Your blood,
Through the wonder of Your love,
Through faith in You
I know that I can be white as snow.
White as snow
P: As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him. He showed compassion to us by sending His Son, Jesus, who died for our forgiveness and rose again to bring us new life. Because of Jesus, God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. Therefore, as called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, 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…O God, our righteousness, restore broken relationships, especially between family members. Provide reconciliation and peace where Satan has sown division and discord. We pray these things through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Genesis 50:15-21
Joseph and his brothers are reconciled.
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
The parable of the unforgiving servant
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servantfell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
CHOIR ANTHEM “Circle of Love” Words & Music by Pepper Choplin
SERMON “The Second C: Community”
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.
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
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
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.
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
P: Dear heavenly Father, look with favor upon the nations of the world, especially those suffering from war, conflict, disease, and famine. Be their peace and healer. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, You have made us the light of the world. Help us bring Your light and love to our workplaces. Direct us to treat our employers, employees, and co-workers with fairness and grace, forgiving wrongs as we have been forgiven in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, You have given us the wonderful gifts of families and friends. Look with favor upon our relationships. Bring reconciliation where there is division. Bring love where there is anger. Bring hope where there is despair. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, send Your forgiveness to all those who are weighted down by guilt. Bring Your resurrection hope to all those who hide their sins in shame. Remind them of their baptism, which gave them a new identity: child of God. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, we pray for all those who are sick, (especially…). Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: All these things we bring before You, O Lord.
C: Amen.
THE INVITATION
P: Welcome to the celebration! God who supplies our every need has given us this meal to share.
C: Lord, we thank You for the bread of eternal life.
P: We come to the table, acknowledging our shortcomings and our need to experience Your presence in bread and wine.
C: Lord, we thank You for the bread of eternal life.
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“Great is Thy Faithfulness” TOSB 55
1.“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!
2.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
3.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
“I’ve Got Peace Like a River” 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.
“Freely, Freely” TOSB 47
God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name,
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name;
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share His love as He told me to.
He said, “Freely, freely you have received:
Freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe,
Others will know that I live.”
All pow’r is giv’n in Jesus’ name,
In earth and heav’n in Jesus’ name
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share His pow’r as He told me to.
He said, “Freely, freely you have received:
Freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe,
Others will know that I live.”
CLOSING SONG – “This Is My Father’s World” LBW 554
This is my Father’s world, And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world; the birds their carols raise;
The morning light, the lily white, Declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world; He shines in all that’s fair.
In the rustling grass I hear him pass; He speaks to me ev’ry where.
This is my Father’s world; Oh, let me not forget
That, though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world, why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let the heavens ring; God reigns, let the earth be glad!
DISMISSAL