PENTECOST 17 / World Communion Sunday – October 5, 2025

PENTECOST 17 / World Communion Sunday.
10-05-2025 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)

+ We Rejoice in God’s Spirit +

OPENING SONG: “GATHER US IN”
(1) Here in this place, new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away;
See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of the day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken… gather us in, the blind and the lame.
Call us to now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
(2) We are the young, our lives are a mystery, we are the old, who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty… gather us in, the proud and the strong.
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.
(3) Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt of the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion… give us to eat the bread that is you.
Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
(4) Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away –
here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in, and hold us forever… gather us in, and make us your own.
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
THE OPENING RITE:
L In the glory of the Creator God who has gifted us with life…
In the grace of Jesus (+) who has saved our lives, on earth and for haven…
In the glow of the Holy Spirit who lives within us and among us…
C Amen! God gathers us to worship with humble hearts, ready minds, and willing hands.
L Summon the nations, call every people, gather every race and tongue, let all be included, and let no one be excluded!
C The news is good: in his dying and rising, Christ Jesus has made each and all of us his very own.
L From the busyness of our lives, now is the time, here is the place, to rejoice in the Lord and to gather at his table!
C The meal is ready, and he invites us to come and share his broken body and shed blood.
L Let us remember and celebrate that we are one kingdom of servants, a global church with a global mission!
C Through this sacrament we will receive power to be faithful in our love and compassionate in our serving.
L Let us pray together:
C God of our salvation,
In a time when some people have forgotten their Christian faith…
let us rekindle the gift of God that is our heritage and is alive within us!
In a time when some people seem ashamed of their Christian faith…
let us not be afraid of testifying for the Lord or of suffering for the Gospel!
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and love and self-discipline.
AMEN today, and AMEN for the rest of my life.

+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +

FIRST READING: HABAKKUK 1:1-4; 2:1-4
[In a threatening, dangerous, and evil world – when even a good God seems not to care – the prophet Habakkuk is called to know
and to tell God’s promise that the righteous will live by faith.]
SECOND LESSON: 2 TIMOTHY 1:1-14

[Paul encourages Timothy to remember that his faith is a gift of God, to stay courageously faithful in the face of hardship and
persecution, and to trust in the help of the Holy Spirit.]
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 17:5-10
[On the way to Jerusalem to die, Jesus instructs his followers that a little faith goes a long way – if we humble our egos.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “TO GOD BE THE GLORY” Brown #272

To God be the glory, to God be the glory,
To God be the glory for the things he has done.
With his blood he has saved me; with his power he has raised me;
To God be the glory for the things he has done.

THE PRAYERS… We pray for the MISSION of the Church to the world and NEEDS of our lives and this world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +

OFFERING OF OUR TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… Before us is a world that is desperate, destructive, and in
despair. We are a people holding a great treasure – the good news of Jesus Christ Help make real God’s love and mercy!
SONG RESPONSE: “LORD, WHOSE LOVE IN HUMBLE SERVICE” Green #423
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 AND EUCHARISTIC WORDS AT THE TABLE:
L Brothers and sisters, 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!
L Holy God, You alone are holy; C You alone are God.
L The universe declares your praise: C Beyond the stars, beneath the sea…
L within each cell, with every breath. C WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD!

L Generations bless your faithfulness: C Out of exile, through the water…
L across the wilderness, by night and day, C into the land and time of promise…
L guiding us yesterday, today, and tomorrow. C WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD!
L We give thanks for your dear Son: C At the heart of human life, near to all who suffer…
L beside the sinner, among the poor, with us now, C showing life, offering life, promising life…
L wrapped up in endless love. C WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD!
L Coming to live with us in order to die… C dying for us in order to give us life…
L in the night in which he was betrayed… C our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
L He broke the bread and offered it, saying: C “TAKE AND EAT; THIS IS MY BODY, GIVEN FOR

YOU. DO THIS REMEMBERING ME.”
L Again, after supper, he took the cup… C He gave thanks to his Father in heaven…
L he offered it for all to drink… C the betrayer, the denier, deserters and doubters…
L He said, “THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT C IN MY BLOOD, SHED FOR YOU AND FOR ALL
TO FORGIVE. DO THIS REMEMBERING ME.”
L Remembering his love for us on the way… C at the table, and to the end, and even here…
L we proclaim the mystery of faith… C CHRIST HAS DIED… CHRIST IS RISEN…
L and the promise that sustains us – C CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!
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. 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: Brown #118 Brown #43
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: “WE ARE MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD” (Siyahamba) Brown #63