Order of Worship – Pentecost 19 October 19, 2025
PENTECOST 19
10-19-2025 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in God’s Spirit +
THE OPENING RITE:
L God, whose love is everlasting, welcomes heartless “saints” and hopeless “sinners” into new faith and new life.
In humility and trust, let us dare to tell the truth about our lives. Gracious God…
C Forgive us if and when we have prayed too little and believed even less.
Forgive us if and when we have prayed too much and expected only exactly just as we asked.
Forgive us if and when we have neglected to pray, speak, seek, serve, and to live out justice and
compassion for all who suffer in this troubled world.
L Sisters and brothers, God loves us too much to ever let us go. God loves us too much to ever abandon us.
And God loves us enough that he gave us his Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, to die for us, and to bring us not just
forgiveness but a second chance, not just a second chance but a new beginning.
This is a blessing worth believing!
This is a blessing worth a changed life! Amen.
OPENING SONG: “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS” Tan #431
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
O God who watches over us, who listens to our cries, and who gives us strength to press on in faith,
Make us PERSISTENT in our praying,
CONSISTENT in our living and our loving, and
RESISTANT to giving in and giving up,
NO MATTER WHAT the circumstances and the challenges we encounter in our world. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: GENESIS 32:22-31
[Wrestling for a blessing… limping into a better new future changed by God.]
SECOND LESSON: 2 TIMOTHY 3:14 – 4:5
[Paul encourages Timothy toward persistent, patient, passionate proclamation of Jesus Christ – no matter what.]
TEMPLE TALK: “Angel Tree Program” Rashidah Perkins
GOSPEL VERSE: “I really love the Lord… I really love the Lord!
You don’t know what He’s done for me, gave me the victory.
I love Him, I love Him… I really love the Lord!” (repeat)
THE HOLY GOSPEL: LUKE 18:1-8
[On not losing heart – toward God… toward justice.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Rev. Gwendolyn King, showing and telling God’s love in Jesus Christ!
SONG RESPONSE: “I FEEL LIKE GOING ON”
(1) I feel like going on… I feel like going on…
Though trials come on ev’ry hand, I feel like going on.
(2) I feel like praying on… (4) We’ve come this far by faith…
(3) I feel like singing on… (5) I feel like going on…
A PROCLAMATION OF OUR FAITH (using PSALM 121):
L With the Psalmist let us declare our trust in the One who watches over us…
C I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
God will not let your foot be moved – the One who watches over you will not fall asleep;
Behold, God who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, not the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil – the Lord will keep your life;
The Lord will watch over your going out your coming in, both now and forevermore. Amen.
THE PRAYERS… We pray for the MISSION of the Church and the NEEDS of our lives and this world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
OFFERING OF OUR TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… Transformed by God’s loving grace, we no longer think only of ourselves. Instead, we learn to give of ourselves on behalf of others. Help make real God’s love and mercy!
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and
their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those farther away might: mail a check or money
order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a
recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. Give gratefully. Give generously.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show, (Tan #565)
More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.
MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS… MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS…
MORE OF HIS SAVING FULLNESS SEE, MORE OF HIS LOVE WHO DIED FOR ME.
More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant: [see PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11]
Dear God, I want to know Christ inside and out. I want to experience the power of his resurrection and join him
in his suffering. I want to be like him in his death and be raised like him from death. As I grow in the grace of
Christ, make me strong in my faith, bold in my witness, and fervent in my servant-love. There is no better life
than life in Christ! Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L We are the Body of Christ! C His Spirit is in us! Alleluia
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! The wine may be received from the pouring chalice; we also have grape juice on the tray.
COMMUNION SONGS: “STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER” Tan #441
“GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU” Tan #137
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… We are sent forth to be and become and BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME” ( Brown #66 )
(1) I want Jesus to walk with me… I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
(2) In my trials, Lord, walk with me… In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When my heart is almost breaking, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.
(3) When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me… When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me.
When my head is bowed in sorrow, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me