Pentecost Sixteen Worship Bulletin
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
PENTECOST 16.
09-25-2022 10:00AM Hybrid Worship
+ We Seek and Rejoice in the Spirit +
THE OPENING RITE:
L In the glory of the God who has gifted us with life,
In the grace of Jesus (+) who has saved our lives,
In the glow of the Holy Spirit who lives within us and among us,
C Amen! We gather to worship with humble hearts, ready minds, and willing hands.
L God has brought you here either to confront you or to comfort you. Today you will hear that God, who sits high but looks
low, has a heart for the poor, and that God expects the Church to put these four-letter words to use –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L In a community, nation, and world of haves and have-nots, of “us” and “them”, of the satisfied and the suffering –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L In a culture that pimps “the good life” as chasing after life’s fading treasures and fleeting pleasures for one’s own self –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L Agreeing with St. Paul’s truth that we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing from it, therefore –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L Not just with teary eyes, kind words, and cozy wishes, but with real concern and action –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L So that the gap of a gate here on earth doesn’t become the great chasm between hell and heaven in eternity –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L Delivered by the death and resurrection of Christ from our sinful selves into new lives of sacrificial sharing –
C LOVE. CARE. GIVE.
L Whatever our economic status, the poor are at our gate. There is always someone in need of help, in need of hope.
The call and the challenge of the Gospel is to pay attention, to have compassion, and to serve. As St. Paul instructs us, instead of wealth…
C “May you pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you are called.”
OPENING SONG: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” Green #551
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Let us pray. Dear God, while there is still time in my life, grant me mercy and the right perspective of what is really important in this life. Help me to wake up and change my values and my ways before it is too late.
Let us all truly be and continue to become the Church, the Body of Christ, in this broken and suffering world, both for the sake of the poor and for our own salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST LESSON: AMOS 6:1a, 4-7 [“Woe to the complacent and comfortable, who are drowning in personal pleasure!”]
6:1a Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.
6:4 Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall;
6:5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music;
6:6 who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
6:7 Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
WOMEN’S DAY TALK:
SONG SELECTION
SECOND READING: 1 TIMOTHY 6:6-19 [Hearses don’t pull U-Haul trailers, and some die rich in things and poor in soul.]
6:6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;
6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it;
6:8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
6:9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
6:11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.
6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
6:13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
6:14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
6:15 which he will bring about at the right time–he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
6:16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
6:17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,
6:19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
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 16:19-3 [When it’s too late to say, “Oops!”]
16:19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
16:20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
16:21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
16:22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
16:23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.
16:24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’
16:25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
16:26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’
16:27 He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house–
16:28 for I have five brothers–that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’
16:29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
16:30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
16:31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service” Green #423
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 Saving Waters +
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM page 64 in front of Brown Hymnal
[This morning Karl Liam Maddox Davis receives the new beginning and new life that God has given in Jesus Christ – the forgiveness of sin… the gift of the Holy Spirit… membership in the Church, which is Christ’s Body… the call to a life of obedient faith… and the promise of eternal life. This Order includes promises of commitment, affirmation of faith, baptism with water, anointing with oil, a lighted candle, and a welcome. BAPTISM IS MORE THAN A SOLITARY MOMENT… THIS IS A LIFE’S RESPONSE TO THE FREE GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE IN JESUS CHRIST! Hallelujah, we praise God for reaching out with grace and love through Jesus Christ! We also celebrate these new additions to our family of faith, and embrace THEM with our love, prayers, and support.]
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
OFFERING OF TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS… We bring nothing into this world, and when we depart from this life we will take nothing from it. God calls us to use the time, the abilities, and the possessions to love, to care, and to give.
SONG SELECTION
THE OFFERTORY SONG: (Tan #565)
“More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show,
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 (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 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 (together)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous distribution” with wafers and wine or grape juice. Praise the Lord for this community meal that renews our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us!
COMMUNION SONG: “Kum Ba Yah, My Lord” (tune Brown #42)
(1) Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah. Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah. Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah.
O Lord – kum ba yah.
(2) Someone’s crying, Lord… (3) Someone’s hungry, Lord… (4) Someone’s dying, Lord…
(5) Someone’s praying, Lord… (6) We will serve You, Lord…
COMMUNION SONG: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” Green #293
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: “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” Green #332