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Sunday, September 20, 2020

16th Sunday of Pentecost

Now the Feast and Celebration with Communion

GATHERING

Introduction

In our first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people that it was God who provided for them in their forty years in the wilderness. The people are challenged not to forget God, in time of need or in time of plenty, but to trust and obey the Lord their God. In our gospel reading, Jesus re-minds us that the source of all good things is God, who feeds the birds and clothes the grass of the field. Jesus encourages us not to worry, because we are loved by God and he knows what we need. We are called to trust that we are held in the palm of God’s hand, God has not forgotten us. At the communion table, we are fed with the very presence of our Lord and sent to share his love with those who are anxious, hungry, poor, or in any kind of need.

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

(Please Stand)

Gathering Hymn: (cranberry) #858 Praise to thee Lord, the Almighty

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!

Let all who hear now to his temple draw near, joining in glad adoration!

2. Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning

and, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.

Have you not seen all that is needful has been sent by his gracious ordaining?

3. Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;

surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do if with his love he befriend you.

4. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!

Let the amen sound from his people again. Gladly forever adore him!

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Prayer of the Day

P: The Lord be with you!

C: And also with you!

P: Let us pray:

C: God of tender care, like a mother, like a father, you never forget your children, and you know already what we need. In all our anxiety give us trusting and faithful hearts, that in confidence we may embody the peace and justice of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

(Please be seated)

WE HEAR GOD'S WORD

First Reading: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 7-18

Times of abundance tempt us to forget God and rely on our own power and resources. But God is the one who took Israel out of Egypt, led and fed them in the wilderness, brought them into the land, and gave them power to be productive. To thank this God is to remember and proclaim God’s deeds.

2Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. 3He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

7For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. 10You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has giv-en you. 11Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. 12When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, 13and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, 14then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slav-ery, 15who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, 16and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. 17Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.” 18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.

R The Word of God, word of life.

C Thanks be to God.

please stand)

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Gospel Acclamation (cranberry) pg 216

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? Alleluia

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia

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P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke the twelfth chapter.

C Glory to you, O Lord.

Gospel: Luke 12:22-32

Jesus taught his disciples about the providence of God so that they would regard life with thanks-giving and trust rather than anxiety.

22He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than cloth-ing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 26If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? 27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you — you of little faith! 29And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

P: The Gospel of the Lord

C: Praise to you, O Christ

(Please be seated)

Children’s Message – see our St. John Facebook page

Message Passing and Failing Pastor John Omans

Message Song (cranberry) #764 Have No Fear, Little Flock

1. Have no fear, little flock; have no fear, little flock,

for the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom; have no fear, little flock!

2. Have good cheer, little flock; have good cheer, little flock,

for the Father will keep you in his love forever; have good cheer, little flock!

3. Praise the Lord high above; praise the Lord high above,

for he stoops down to heal you, up-lift and restore you; praise the Lord high above!

4. Thankful hearts raise to God; thankful hearts raise to God,

for he stays close beside you, in all things work with you; thankful hearts raise to God!

(Please Stand)

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NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,

The Father, the Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,

Of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in on Lord, Jesus Christ,

The only Son of God,

Eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

True God from true God,

Begotten, not made,

Of one Being with the Father;

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven,

Was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary

And became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

In accordance with the scriptures;

He ascended into heaven

And is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

Who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,

Who was spoken through the prophets.

We believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

And the life of the world to come. Amen.

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The Prayers

P: Lord, in your mercy

C: Hear our prayer

Peace

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C And also with you.

P We share Christ's peace with each other.

Offering Invitation (spoken by Pastor)

(please be seated)

THANKSGIVING

Stewardship Minute

P Thank you to all who helped assembling our Lutheran World Relief school kits this past Sunday. 140 were assembled! Thank you for all who donated! The giving of your time,

talents and treasures makes a great difference.

Offering Prayer

P: Let us pray:

P: Merciful God,

C: we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us – ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

The Great Thanksgiving

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P It is our duty and delight…. We praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Sanctus (cranberry) page 191 Holy, Holy, Holy

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Words of Institution

P: You are indeed holy, gracious and merciful God; everything is filled with your glory. We

give you thanks for your promise and presence which have sustained the faithful in this

and every generation. Above all, we give you thanks for Jesus, born of Mary, who in word

and deed announced your gentle rule of justice, reconciliation and peace.

On the night of his betrayal our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; broke it, and

gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat: this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

After supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the for-

giveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. Remembering his command to love

one another, his life and death, his resurrection and ascension we pray for his coming

again, even as we cry: Amen! Come Lord, Jesus!

P: Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, that all of your promises may come to us and your

whole creation. Amen! Come, Holy Spirit!

P: This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our friend.

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P Make us bold, merciful God, to address you as our Abba as we pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

C Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Communion (All baptized Christians are invited to come to the Lord's Table. All Children who haven't had in-

struction are invited to come for a blessing. They're asked to fold their hands. Children who are

receiving communion please extend your hands. Grape juice is available. Please say “grape juice”

to the server).

Gluten Free wafers are available upon request.

COVID-19 instructions: Please come down the center aisle, pulpit side first, then lectern side.

Please maintain social distancing. Receive the bread and wine and proceed to the side aisle, where

you may remove your mask and eat/drink the bread and wine. For those with mobility issues, the

bread and wine will be available at a side station near the side aisle.

Hymns During Communion Lamb of God

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Hymns : #781 Children of the Heavenly Father

1. Children of the heav’nly Father safely in his bosom gather;

nestling bird nor star in heaven such a refuge e’er was given.

2. God his own doth tend and nourish, in his holy courts they flourish.

From all evil things he spares them, in his mighty arms he bears them.

3. Neither life nor death shall ever from the Lord his children sever;

unto them his grace he showeth, and their sorrows all he knoweth.

4. Though he giveth or he taketh, God his children ne’er forsaketh;

his the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure and holy.

Hymn (cranberry) #789 Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us

1. Savior like a shepherd lead us; much we need your tender care.

In your pleasant pastures feed us, for our use your fold prepare.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have bought us; we are yours. (Repeat line)

2. We are yours; in love befriend us, be the guardian of our way;

keep your flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear us children when we pray. (Repeat line)

3. You have promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;

you have mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to you. (Repeat line)

4. Early let us seek your favor, early let us do your will;

blessed Lord and only Savior, with your love our spirits fill.

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have loved us, love us still. (Repeat line)

Post Communion Blessing and Prayer

P We thank you, O God, that you have fed us at your banqueting table

with bread and wine beyond compare, the very life of Christ for us.

Send your Spirit with us now, that we may set the captive free,

use your gifts to build one another up, and in everything reflect your glory

revealed in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C Amen.

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Blessing

P The God of glory dwell in you richly,

name you beloved,

and shine brightly on your path;

and the blessing of almighty God,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be upon you and remain with you always.

C Amen.

(Please stand)

Sending Hymn (cranberry) #790 Day by Day

1. Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me, bring comfort to my anxious soul.

Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal.

Love divine, beyond all mortal measure, brings to naught the burdens of my quest;

Savior, lead me to the home I treasure, where at last I’ll find eternal rest.

2. Day by day, I know you will provide me strength to serve and wisdom to obey;

I will seek your loving will to guide me o’er the paths I struggle day by day.

I will fear no evil of the morrow, I will trust in your enduring grace.

Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow till in glory I behold your face.

3. Oh, what joy to know that you are near me when my burdens grow too great to bear;

oh, what joy to know that you will hear me when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer.

Day by day, no matter what betide me, you will hold me ever in your hand.

Savior, with your presence here to guide me, I will reach at last the promised land.

Sending

P Go in peace. Christ is your light.

C Thanks be to God.

Postlude

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PLEASE WAIT FOR USHERS TO EXIT YOU OUT OF PEWS.

Leaders in the Service

Pastor: John Omans

Organist: Al Tonn

Cantor: Mike Harvey

Council Person: Ann Ruedy

Reader: Rodney Born

Ushers: Angela Barbknecht,

Rodney & Lori Born

Communion Prep: Jody & Teri Wilker

Videographer: Gyles Randall

Thank you to all these members of St. John for offering their time and talents

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