Pentecost 18 | World Communion Sunday | 10-6-24
10-06-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ We Gather in God’s Presence +
THE OPENING RITE
L Sisters and brothers from near and from far,
come to the altar, come to the font, come to the table, and let us be one!
C O God, we long for the healing you promise!
L Let us remember and celebrate that we are one kingdom of servants,
a global church with a global mission, in unity with our brothers and sisters!
C O God, we long for the justice you promise!
L Let us be ONE at the table, ONE in spirit, ONE in mission, and ONE in love,
for the sake of Christ, for the sake of the world, for the sake of our journey on earth and eternal life beyond!
C O God, we long for the renewal you promise!
L Let hearts be uplifted and burdens removed!
Let sins be confessed and mercy received!
Let peace be shared and hope renewed!
Let all the people of God be reconciled, revived, and recommitted!
C O God, we long to love as Jesus has loved us!
OPENING SONG: “GATHER US IN”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
O God of might and mercy,
You have created us with dust, breathed life and your spirit into us, and called us to live as your children.
We pray that we may be humble and grateful,
trusting and faithful,
responsible in our care for this earth
and truly loving in our relationships with one another. Amen.
+ We Proclaim God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: GENESIS 2:18-24
[Out of lonely isolation, God created companionship and love within humanity. And it was all good in the beginning… until our own sin and disobedience got in the way.]
2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”
2:19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
2:20 The man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every animal of the field, but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
2:21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
2:22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
2:23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.”
2:24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
THE PSALM: PSALM 8
[We are stirred with the awe and wonder of God’s creation and utterly stunned to realize the glory, the responsibility, and the love that God gives to humanity.]
8:1 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
8:2 Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
8:3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;
8:4 what are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
8:5 Yet you have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
8:6 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,
8:7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8:8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
8:9 O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
SECOND READING: HEBREWS 1:1-4; 2:5-12
[From an exalted position, Jesus stepped down to a position lower than the angels. He did this to bring “many children to glory.” He is the “pioneer” or “champion” of salvation who shares his own destiny with us. So we share not only Christ’s humanity, but also his glory.]
1:1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,
1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.
1:3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
1:4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
2:5 Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.
2:6 But someone has testified somewhere, “What are human that you are mindful of them or mortals that you care for them?
2:7 You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor,
2:8 subjecting all things under their feet.” Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,
2:9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
2:10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
2:11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
2:12 saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
GOSPEL VERSE:
“There is strength in the name of the Lord… There is power in the name of the Lord… There is hope in the name of the Lord… Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” [repeat]
THE HOLY GOSPEL: MARK 10:2-16
[Asked about divorce to test him, Jesus instead talks about what marriage is supposed to be, thus transforming the question from what is legal to what is right. He then extends that higher standard of love to include children, who were so vulnerable in his day.]
10:2 Some testing him, asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
10:3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?”
10:4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.”
10:5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.
10:6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
10:7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
10:8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.
10:9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10:10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.
10:11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
10:12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
10:13 People were bringing children to him in order that he might touch them, and the disciples spoke sternly to them.
10:14 But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
10:15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”
10:16 And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE”
- We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored…
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
- We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land…
- We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
- All ~ praise to the Father from ~ whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s ~ only ~ Son,
And all praise to the Spirit who ~ makes ~ us ~ one…
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH:
We confess our FAITH in the God who has given us life, love, and new life…
I trust in God who has made me his own. I know that God loves me. To God I am as precious as his own Son, Jesus Christ, who lived and died in obedience to his Father’s will. Jesus suffered our pain, and through his suffering and death has brought us into fellowship with God.
I believe that God through his Spirit will give me strength when I am oppressed and weary… will give me love when I am afraid and lonely… and will guide his Church to make people free at last.
I believe that God lives in the fellowship of those who trust him, and that God wants all people to be brought into that fellowship.
I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Share God’s Nourishing Meal +
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We faithfully accept the responsibility of OUR DISCIPLESHIP and GOD’S MISSION!
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: 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. 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! Today Christians all over the world are sharing Holy Communion. In truth, some Christian people and some churches will refuse to commune with or to include other Christian people or churches for theological reasons. We must keep reflecting upon and praying about whether this best represents the love and the will of Christ Jesus, the Lord of the entire Christian faith.
COMMUNION SONG: “WE’RE GONNA SIT AT THE WELCOME TABLE”
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- We’re gonna sit at the welcome table.
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We’re gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days, Hallelujah!
We’re gonna sit at the welcome table.
We’re gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days!
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- We’re gonna feast on milk and honey…
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- Jesus calls you to that table…
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- Peace and mercy ‘round that table…
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- Love and joy around that table…
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- All God’s children ‘round that table…
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COMMUNION SONG: “SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT”
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- There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
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There are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT, SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US, FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE.
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE;
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE!”
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- There are blessings you cannot receive till you know God in his fullness and believe.
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You’re the one to profit when you say, “I am going to walk with Jesus all the way!”
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Go Forth in Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… God sends us forth TO LIVE faithfully and TO LOVE fervently!
CLOSING SONG: “WE ARE MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD” Brown #63