Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost | 9-15-24

09-15-2024     10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship

 

+ We Rejoice in God’s Glory +        

THE OPENING RITE:

L   Today we will hear Jesus say, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

C Wait a minute, Jesus! Those words are a little too harsh, too limiting, and also pretty scary.

Am I not free to do just what I want to do, to have it my way, to follow my personal desires and dreams?   

When it comes to Christianity – I sometimes prefer an easier gospel, a lighter cross, a less demanding Savior, and a cheaper ticket to heaven.

I like you, Jesus, I really do.

But am I wrong to want to live my life to the max?

Forget the cross. Here’s the world right at my feet – without thorns and nails.

L   Today we will hear Jesus ask, “For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?”

C Dear God, I truly don’t always understand… and I’m not always willing… and sometimes I fail and I fall.

But I’m here today seeking your mercy, thirsty for your love, willing to try again to live as your child.  

 

OPENING SONG: “AT THE CROSS”                                         Brown #71

THE APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):

O God, through the presence and the power and the promises of Jesus, reach out to me.

Give me wisdom and insight into my own life and the lives of others.

Show me what to think, what and when to say and do, and in all things how to love as you love.

Teach me again the meaning of cross and resurrection.

Give me the courage and conviction of cross-bearing discipleship.   Amen.

 

+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +

FIRST READING:   ISAIAH 50:4-9a
[The Suffering Servant – Is it Old Testament Israel? The prophet Isaiah? Some other prophet or person? The still-to-be-born Jesus? – trusts in God and remains faithful throughout all trials and in spite of pain and rejection.]

50:4 The Lord GOD has given me a trained tongue, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens, wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.

50:5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I did not turn backward.

50:6 I gave my back to those who struck me and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

50:7 The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

50:8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand in court together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

50:9a It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

SECOND READING:   JAMES 3:1-12
[With our mouths and what our actions say, we have the capacity both to bless God and to curse, to teach others and also to harm them. Always be careful about what you are saying and doing!] 

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will face stricter judgment.

3:2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is mature, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.

3:3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

3:4 Or look at ships: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

3:5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

3:6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.

3:7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,

3:8 but no one can tame the tongue–a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in the likeness of God.

3:10 From the same mouth comes a blessing and a cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.

3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?

3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

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 8:27-38
[Like Peter and the earliest disciples, we must first answer the fundamental question for ourselves: “WHO IS JESUS?” Then we must face the reality of our answer by asking: “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW CHRIST?” Then we must decide to act.]

8:27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

8:28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

8:29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”

8:30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

8:31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again.

8:32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

8:33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

8:34 He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

8:35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

8:36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?

8:37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?

8:38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR  

THE SERMON:    Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil

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 +

OFFERING[We are either a bridge or a barrier to others receiving help and hope, life and love in a suffering, lonely world. Set your heart and mind on what Christ Jesus has done. Take up your cross and follow Jesus.]  

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:   (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 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 BLESSINGSAll 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 #128               Brown #150                  

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: “WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!”                                              Brown #295