The Bulletin is at: 09-02-2018 – Bulletin
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FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
September 2, 2018
THEME: It has been said, “The Church is never more than one generation away from extinction.” This bold statement perhaps finds support in the admonition found in today’s Old Testament Reading. There Moses writes this concerning the works of the Lord, “Make them known to your children and your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4:9). Each generation has the responsibility, and privilege, of passing on the works of God to the next generation. While much of this teaching happens in the setting of a local congregation, the Christian instruction that happens in the home, in our own family, is key. This teaching is always centered in Jesus, the one through whom our Lord has worked the mightiest work of all—our salvation! That same Savior promises that even the gates of hell will not prevail against His Church!
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
~Silence for reflection~
P: Most merciful God,
C: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P: God, our heavenly Creator, hears the prayers of all people and answers those prayers. Our prayer for forgiveness is answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who died for our sin that we might have new life. By the command of Jesus, I forgive you all of your sins—in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen
THE HYMN OF PRAISE LBW pg. 81-82
P: This is the feast of victory for our God Alleluia.
C: Worthy is Chris, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia. Alleluia.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray. O God, the source of all that is just and good, nourish in us every virtue and bring to completion every good intent,
C: that we may grow in grace and bring forth the fruit of good works;
P: through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Listen to the statues and just decrees that I am teaching you.
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—
What comes out of man is what makes him “unclean.”
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
SERMON HYMN: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God, A sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe Has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might He arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match his might! We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight, Whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
Though hordes of devils fill the land All threat’ning to devour us,
We tremble not, unmoved we stand; They cannot over pow’r us.
Let this world’s tyrant rage; In battle we’ll engage!
His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
God’s Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes, who fear it;
For God himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!
SERMON Pastor Jeremy Lucke
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 to the dead.
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.
OFFERINGS GATHERED
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
P: O Lord, You spoke through Your servant Moses, instructing us to teach Your Word to future generations. Grant us diligence in sharing Christ with our children and our children’s children. That they may know Him as their Savior. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: O Lord, the apostle Paul warns us of Satan and his schemes. We thank You that You do not leave us defenseless but give us Your armor to guard and defend us. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: O Lord, You have the power to heal and to restore, and so we humbly ask that You look with favor upon the sick and hurting in body, mind, or spirit, (especially…). Give to them strength and restoration according to Your perfect will. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: O Lord, we thank You for those who serve on behalf of others, including teachers, first responders, and those in the armed forces of our land. Watch over and bless these individuals as they fulfill these vocations with selflessness and honor. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands, O God our faithful Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy.
C: Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING LBW pg. 88
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
PREFACE LBW pg. 88
SANCTUS LBW pg. 89
P: It is indeed right and salutary …. We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C: Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might: Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
”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.
“Blessed Assurance”
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
- Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
- Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, This is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
“He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought”
He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where-e’er I be,
Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content whatever lot I see,
Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Still God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
P: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: “On Our Way Rejoicing”
On our way rejoicing Gladly let us go.
Christ our Lord has conquered; Vanquished is the foe.
Christ without our safety; Christ within our joy;
Who, if we be faithful, Can our hope destroy?
On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,
Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!
Unto God the Father Joyful songs we sing;
Unto God the Savior Thankful hearts we bring;
Unto God the Spirit Bow we and adore,
On our way rejoicing Now and evermore.
On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,
Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!