Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost | 8-25-24
08-25-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ We Rejoice in God’s Glory +
THE OPENING RITE:
L My brothers and sisters, life is all about making decisions. Choices are being made every day by each of us, many of them simple and without apparent serious impact. We make frequent decisions without much thought –
C Black pants or blue… soup or salad… read a book or watch a show.
L Then there are the literal and figurative forks in the road that require more deliberation because we understand that the paths lead in different directions and might change the course of our life –
C Move in with my romantic sweetheart this summer or go away in the autumn to college… have the back surgery or forget it… change my career or stay where I am.
L Finally, there are those vital choices along the way of our life’s journey that are of ultimate importance and have eternal impact –
C Will I choose right or wrong?
Will I choose life or death?
Will I choose to believe in God?
Will I choose to follow Jesus?
When my discipleship gets difficult, disappointing, or even just boring, will I desert Jesus?
L Jesus reaches out to us with mercy and love this morning.
He promises that He is the answer to our deepest hungers, that He will quench our greatest thirst.
He invites us to feed upon him and be filled.
And He assures us that He is more to us then food and drink – He is the BREAD OF LIFE.
But the decision is ours. And so Jesus asks this morning the question he asked his first disciples,
C “Do you also wish to go away?”
OPENING SONG: “I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME” Tan #563
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.
A SONG OF PRAISE: “I LOVE YOU, LORD” Tan #573
I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You, O my soul, rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what You hear – May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear. [repeat]
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Dear Lord Jesus, our answer to you is the same as Peter’s in today’s Gospel –
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!
We have come to believe that you are the Holy One of God.”
Be our life-source, be our love-source for now and for always!
Help us to be strong in Christ Jesus and to put on the whole armor of God for faithful discipleship. AMEN.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: JOSHUA 24:1-2a, 14-18
[You must decide. Make the right choice. Choose God.]
24:1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
24:2a And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors–Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor–lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.
24:14 “Now, therefore, revere the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt and serve the LORD.
24:15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
24:16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,
24:17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went and among all the peoples through whom we passed,
24:18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”
SECOND READING: EPHESIANS 6:10-20
[Put on Christ as your armor. Fight the good fight against evil forces.]
6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power;
6:11 put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,
6:12 for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.
6:14 Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness
6:15 and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace.
6:16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
6:19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
SONG SELECTION
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.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 6:56-59
[Discipleship is a daily decision. Stay or quit?]
6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.
6:57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.
6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
6:59 He said these things while he was teaching in a synagogue at Capernaum.
6:60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?”
6:61 But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you?
6:62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
6:64 But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who were the ones who did not believe and who was the one who would betray him.
6:65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
6:66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.
6:67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”
6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.
6:69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen!
SONG RESPONSE:
“EWE THINA (We Walk His Way)”
Chorus soprano Ewe thina — Ewe thina Ewe thina — Ewe thina
Chorus A-T-B Ewe thina, Ewe thina, Ewe thina, Ewe thina, Ewe thina, Ewe thina, Ewe thina, Ewe thina
Chorus soprano We walk His way — We walk His way We walk His Way — We walk His way.
Chorus A-T-B We walk His Way, We walk His Way, We walk His Way, We walk His way.
-
- Unarmed He faces forces of demons and death — We walk His way. (repeat)
-
- He breaks the bonds of hell dying on His cross — We walk His way. (repeat)
-
- The tree of freedom blooms by His empty grave — We walk His way. (repeat)
BLESSING OF SCHOOL BACKPACKS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, PARENTS
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 +
OFFERING… [Some people, past and present, have been offended by the words of Jesus and walked away. WHO CAN ACCEPT THE WORDS OF JESUS? WHO DARES TO FOLLOW? What about you? Will you decide to remain?]
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 who are 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. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
SONG SELECTION
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, I thank you for your mighty mercy and your generous grace in my life. Help me to think right, say right, do right, and be right with all that I am and all that I seek to become. May others experience healing and wholeness, guidance and blessing through the love of Christ that is in me… that is in us. 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 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
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. . Praise the Lord for this community meal that unites us together, renews our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us!
COMMUNION SONGS: Tan #463 Tan #137
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: ” I AM ON THE BATTLEFIELD” Tan #480
I am on the battlefield for my Lord, I am on the battlefield for my Lord.
And I promised Him that I would serve Him till I die. I am on the battlefield for my Lord.
- I was alone and idle, I was a sinner too, I heard a vice from God say there is work to do.
I took my Master’s hand and I joined the Christian band, I’m on the battlefield for my Lord!
- I left my friends and kindred bound for the Promised Land, the grace of God upon me, the Bible in my hand.
In distant lands I trod, crying, “Sinner, come to God!” I’m on the battlefield for my Lord!
- Now when I met my Savior, I met Him with a smile, He healed my wounded spirit, and owned me as His child. Around the throne of grace He appoints my soul a place, I’m on the battlefield for my Lord!