Worship Order for 14th Sunday After Pentecost
14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
08-30-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice In God’s Presence +
OPENING SONG: “TO GOD BE THE GLORY” Brown #264
THE OPENING RITE OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS:
L Welcome to worship, brothers and sisters. We all want Jesus to be our Savior, and we all say that he is our Lord, but we
aren’t always willing and able to be his faithful followers. Our time of confession is an opportunity for us to be honest with
God and with each other. And so we say together…
C Gracious God,
I hear your call to follow, to “lose my life”, and to “take up my cross”, but I don’t always want to go there.
I confess that sometimes I look for an easier gospel, a lighter cross, a less demanding Savior, and a
cheaper ticket to heaven.
I confess that faithful living and fervent loving is not always who I am or try to become.
I confess that I am setting my mind not on divine things but on human things.
I confess what you already know, that I am a sinner, wrong and weak.
Today I am asking for the grace of forgiveness, for the power of your Holy Spirit, and for another chance.
Forgive me, renew me, and use me for your mission activity. Amen.
L What would it profit us to gain the whole world and lose our life? Our God is in the life-saving business! While we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us, and God raised him up from death so that we too might walk in the newness of life. My
sister, my brother, your sins are forgiven [+], and your future is as bright as the promises of God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
O Lord, let our love be genuine.
May we hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering,
persevere in prayer, and bless those who persecute us.
We ask that we may never be overcome by evil, but that we might overcome evil with good. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 15:15-21
[God’s abiding love is tough enough for your complaints. But is your faith humble and obedient enough for God’s commands?]
SONG SELECTION: Renee Hines
SECOND READING: ROMANS 12:12-91
[The Christian community is called to live lovingly in an unfriendly world of evil and rejection. It begins right here but reaches
out to all people.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”
HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 16:21-28
[Find your life by losing your life in Christ. You don’t have to go around looking for crosses to bear. Just start loving, serving,
and sacrificing right where you are!]
THE SERMON: Rev. Dr. Harold Evans, friend of St. Peter’s and a follower of Jesus
SONG RESPONSE: “MUST JESUS BEAR THE CROSS ALONE” Brown #237
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
THE PEACE GREETING… We offer words and signs of GOD’S LOVE alive and real among us!
OFFERING… In the shadow of a threatening cross, we hear Christ’s call to self-denial and sacrificial living. Will we respond?
In the Sanctuary, place your offering in the offering plate or scan the QR code on the screen.
At home, mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138 or scan the QR code on the screen. You can also contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select. Or you can text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for your contribution. Thank God, praise God, and serve God with your faithful giving.
SONG SELECTION: Renee Hines
OFFERING SONG: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O 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! [sing the chorus 2 times]
We are God’s people, we are Christ’s Church, called by God’s Spirit into the world.
We have God’s power from heaven above, we’ll share God’s justice, mercy and love!”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
Lord God, we thank you for making a way out of no way in our life! During this summer may we dedicate
our leisure and our work, our rest and our travel, our service and our spending, our health and our
wealth, our worship and our witness to glorify You and to extend your Kingdom to others.
Someone somewhere is in need of your Good News. Amen.
THE PREFACE AND THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS:
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 Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful… C … and set us on fire with your love! Alleluia!
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 Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! You may come up by the center aisle and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come up if you want wine from the chalice; we will also have a tray of pre-poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. CHRIST
OFFERS US PEACE, POWER, AND PROMISE FOR FAITHFUL LIVING AND FERVENT LOVING!
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #82 “OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME”
Brown #146 “I CAN HEAR MY SAVIOR CALLING”
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor…We are sent forth to be and become the BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “LEAD ME TO CALVARY” Brown #86