Sunday, November 15, 2015

HoseaHoly Communion

Thankoffering 

 

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity,   one God, the ☩creator of wind and rain, field and ocean, the bread of life coming down from above, the power at work within us and this world.Amen.

LITANY FOR GATHERING

This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today brings the gift of life. Creator, you make us in your image. Today brings all we need to live with purpose. Inviter, you call us to discipleship in Jesus Christ.

 

 

Today brings the strength to live more fully. Inspiring one, you empower us by the Holy Spirit. Today brings many generations who grow together in faith and affirm and support one another. Companion, you embolden us with community. Today brings a world in need of healing and wholeness. 

 

 

Healer, you encourage and engage us in ministry and action. For the church, the society, and the world, God, we humbly enter this worship. Prepare our hearts. We hear you calling, O God. Make us bold to listen and to follow. Amen.

 

 

PEACEThe peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.

 ~~~~~~~~~~GATHERING SONG: THE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE!

~~~~~~~~~~GREETINGThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  And also with you.

KYRIE (Red Hymnal p. 147)

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, have mercy. 

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE (Red Hymnal p. 148)

This is the feast of victory for our God.  Alleluia.Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF THE DAYLet us pray.  Creator God, you call us into relationship with you and with all of creation. Through Jesus you gave us compassion beyond our understanding and showed us how to live with grace toward each other. Your blessings are like the dew in the morning and the stars in the heavens, not to be counted, but received with thanksgiving and generously shared. Keep us moving always toward you and our neighbor, eager to share and receive. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

NARRATIVE READING: Hosea 11:1-9

A reading from Hosea.1When Israel was a child, I loved him,  and out of Egypt I called my son.  2The more I called them,  the more they went from me;  they kept sacrificing to the Baals,  and offering incense to idols. 3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms;  but they did not know that I healed them.    

4I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.   I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks.   I bent down to them and fed them. 5They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.   6The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes.   7My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, 

 but he does not raise them up at all.  8How can I give you up, Ephraim?   How can I hand you over, O Israel?   How can I make you like Admah?   How can I treat you like Zeboiim?   My heart recoils within me;  my compassion grows warm and tender.  9I will not execute my fierce anger;  I will not again destroy Ephraim;  for I am God and no mortal,  the Holy One in your midst,  and I will not come in wrath.The word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 651You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; to you shall vows be fulfilled.2To you, the one who answers prayer, to you all flesh shall come.3Our sins are stronger than we are, but you blot out our transgressions.4Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there! They will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple.

5Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation, O hope of all the ends of the earth and of the oceans far away.

6You make firm the mountains by your power; you are girded about with might.

7You still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the clamor of the peoples.

8Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.

9You visit the earth and water it abundantly; you make it very plenteous; the river of God is full of water.  You prepare the grain, for so you provide for the earth.10You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.

11You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty.

12May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, and the hills be clothed with joy.

13May the meadows cover themselves with flocks, and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; let them shout for joy and sing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – FAITHCeltic Alleluia (Red Hymnal # 174)

Alleluia, alleluia.  Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL: Mark 10:13-14

The holy gospel according to Mark.Glory to you, O Lord. 13People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.  The gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

 

 

CHILDREN’S SERMON

 

 

SERMON

Pastor Michael Peuse

HYMN OF THE DAY Praise and Thanksgiving (Red Hymnal # 689)

1 Praise and thanksgiving, God, we would offer for all things living, you have made good:  harvest of sown fields, fruits of the orchard,  hay from the mown fields, blossom and wood.

2 God, bless the labor we bring to serve you, that with our neighbor we may be fed.     Sowing or tilling, we would work with you, harvesting, milling for daily bread.

3 Father, providing food for your children,by Wisdom's guiding teach us to shareone with another, so that, rejoicingwith us, all others may know your care.

4 Then will your blessing reach ev'ry people,freely confessing your gracious hand.Where you are reigning, no one will hunger;your love sustaining showers the land.

CREEDI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONWith the whole people of Christ Jesus, let us call upon God for the sake of the church, the world and all in need of prayer. 

God who made all things good, you create us to be caretakers and stewards of your creation. You equip us to provide for the people, places and ministries that you have entrusted to our care. Draw us together in the light of faith and hope so that we may recognize our calling to this work. We pray in abundance, Creator, draw us in. 

God who blesses our labor, you light our paths with the histories of women who acted boldly on their faith to change the world. . . . . Bring their influence to our attention and their stories to our lips and ears. May we see in them our own potential to live boldly. We pray in abundance, Creator, draw us in. God who provides, you endow us with all we need to nurture, harvest and share the fruits of creation. In this abundance, direct our eyes and feet to our neighbors who are on the margins, both near and far. Give us curiosity and courage to live into the fullness of our communities. We pray in abundance, Creator, draw us in. 

God who was and is and will be, through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Women of the ELCA, you have called us more deeply into relationship with you and the world. Bless every church, everywhere, that through our work, all may know your grace and accept your call to love one another. We pray in abundance, Creator, draw us in.  

God who reaches every people, turn our hearts to see those with us now, gathered at this Thankoffering service to give thanks and praise to you. Urge us on to the fullness of life, in the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

OFFERING

As we collect the Thankoffering today, we share in a tradition dating back to the 1800s, when Christian women formed “mite” or “cent” societies to fund mission. When others in the church said there was not enough money to carry out these projects, the women believed otherwise. In these societies, each woman collected offerings at home. On occasion, they would gather as we do today to worship and combine their offerings and offer them up with thanks and praise. 

 

 

When Women of the ELCA was formed nearly 30 years ago, we committed to continue this tradition of giving in gratitude for blessings. Each year, in thousands of congregations, Thankofferings are collected and sent to support the life-changing ministries of Women of the ELCA. Together, we do more than we could ever do apart. In gratitude for all God has given to us, and with hope for all that is to come, we now collect our Thankoffering.

 

 

OFFERTORY RESPONSE: Create in Me a Clean Heart

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.

OFFERING PRAYERGod of grace, you have showered us with abundance and entrusted to us the ministries of your church. Accept these offerings to further your mission. Help us to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world. Accept these gifts and this prayer that, nurtured by your Word, filled with your spirit and fed at your table, we may share with gladness all that you have shared with us until all creation is satisfied. Amen. 

DIALOGUE (Red Hymnal p. 152)The Lord be with you.  And also with you.Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.  And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

 

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

(Red Hymnal p. 153)

Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow’r and might: Heav’n and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

 

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

In the night in which he was betrayed, 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. Again, 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 forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.

 

 

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.

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. 

INVITATION TO COMMUNIONJesus said, “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

COMMUNIONThe body of Christ, given for you.The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIONWise and generous God, we thank you that at this holy table you have fed us again with the food of everlasting life. Send us with your blessing to seek the good of our neighbor and call others to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 BLESSINGAlmighty and merciful God, Father,   Son, and ☩Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you this day and forevermore.  Amen.

1 Lord of light, your name outshiningall the stars and suns of space,use our talents in your kingdomas the servants of your grace;use us to fulfill your purposein the gift of Christ your Son:

RefrainFather, as in highest heaven,so on earth your will be done.

2 By the toil of faithful workersin some far outlying field,by the courage where the radianceof the cross is still revealed,by the victories of meekness,through reproach and suff'ring won:

RefrainFather, as in highest heaven,so on earth your will be done.

3 Grant that knowledge, still increasing,at your feet may lowly kneel;with your grace our triumphs hallow,with your charity our zeal;lift the nations from the shadowsto the gladness of the sun: RefrainFather, as in highest heaven,so on earth your will be done.

4 By the prayers of faithful watchers,never silent day or night;by the cross of Jesus, bringingpeace to all and healing light;by the love that passes knowledge,making all your children one:

RefrainFather, as in highest heaven,so on earth your will be done.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Live in love, as Christ loved us.Thanks be to God.

 

 

• From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

• Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #25422.

 • New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.