Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost Worship Bulletin | 9-8-24
09-08-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ We Rejoice in God’s Glory +
THE OPENING RITE:
L We do well if we fulfill the great command, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
C But we know that some people receive prestige, privilege, and priority while others count for nothing.
L As long as sisters and brothers near and far are in great need of basic living, we know we have a task to do.
C As long as some have not heard the good news of God’s love, we are called to share it.
L Now is the time to celebrate God’s love! Now is the time to grow in God’s grace!
C Now is the time to share in the Word of life! Now is the time to offer Good News to others!
L Through Jesus Christ, let ears be opened and tongues released…
let hearts be opened and lives transformed…
let minds be opened and “outsiders” embraced!
C And let the people of God SEE Jesus, HEAR Jesus, SPEAK Jesus, LIVE Jesus, and DO Jesus!
Now is the time of living faithfully and loving fervently!
Now is the time of Jesus Christ! ALLELUIA!
OPENING SONG: “OH, SING TO THE LORD” (Cantad al Señor) Brown #274
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
O God, throughout the ages you transform sickness into health, death into life, and want into blessing.
Of all people, we know better than to show favoritism only to the popular and the privileged.
Of all people, we should have compassion, offer mercy, and overflow with love toward those in need.
If Jesus can learn this and do it, then let us also learn this and do it. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 35:4-7a [Real hope hovers above distress and despair.]
35:4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened;
35:6 then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert;
35:7a the burning sand shall become a pool and the thirsty ground springs of water.
SECOND READING: JAMES 2:1-17 [True love breaks down petty partiality.]
2:1 My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality.
2:2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,
2:3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here in a good place, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit by my footstool,”
2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor person. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?
2:7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well.
2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.
2:11 For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
2:13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it?
2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food
2:16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?
2:17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
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]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE HOLY GOSPEL: MARK 7:24-37 [Open hearts pulse love through open hands.]
7:24 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice,
7:25 but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet.
7:26 Now the woman was a gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
7:27 He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
7:28 But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
7:29 Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go–the demon has left your daughter.”
7:30 And when she went home, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.
7:31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went by way of Sidon toward the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.
7:32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.
7:33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.
7:34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”
7:35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
7:36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
7:37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG SELECTION: “OPEN OUR EYES, LORD” ( Brown #98 )
-
- Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
-
- Open our lips, Lord, we want to serve Jesus,
to reach out to others, invite them to love Him.
Open our hands, Lord, and guide us in mission.
Open our hearts, Lord, we want to serve Jesus.
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… [Because God has blessed us in Jesus Christ, let us reach out with grateful hearts and willing hands.]
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 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 #247 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: “I, THE LORD OF SKY AND SEA” Brown #230