August 16, 2020 Time after Pentecost

Daniel G. Mershon, Pastor

Becky Hootman, Choir Director

Joel Hootman, Organist

Worship 10:30 a.m.

WELCOME TO WORSHIP

RINGING OF THE BELL PRELUDE “Song” Gordon Young

ANNOUNCEMENTS Please stand as you are able CONGREGATIONAL CALL TO WORSHIP

“Surely Goodness and Mercy”

PSALM: Psalm 145:1-21

P: I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

C: 2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and

ever.

P: 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is

unsearchable.

C: 4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall

declare your mighty acts.

P: 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

C: 6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I

will declare your greatness.

P: 7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

C: 8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and

abounding in steadfast love.

P: 9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

C: 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your

faithful shall bless you.

P: 11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, 12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

C: 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all

his words, and gracious in all his deeds.

P: 14 The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

C: 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in

due season.

P: 16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.

C: 17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

P: 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

C: 19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their

cry, and saves them.

P: 20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

C: 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever. HYMN “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” No. 439 BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen

P Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will for-give our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection and self-examination. P Most merciful God,

C we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free

ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen

P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for His sake God forgives you all your sins. To those who be-lieve in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.

C Amen PEACE

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C And also with you.

Please share the peace of God with one another. GREETING

P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C And also with you. KYRIE

HYMN OF PRAISE

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P Let us pray. . . .

Do good in your good pleasure unto us, O Lord. Act toward us not as we deserve but as it becomes You, being the God You are. So shall we have nothing to fear in this world or in that which is to come.

C Amen Please be seated SPECIAL MUSIC FIRST LESSON: Exodus 34:6-8 The First Lesson is written in the thirty-fourth chapter of Exodus. 76 The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for the thou-sandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth gen-eration." 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.

A Here ends the reading.

SECOND LESSON: Titus 3:4-7 and 2 Peter 1:3-8 The Second Lesson is written in chapters from Titus and 2 Peter.

Titus 3:4-7 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteous-ness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2 Peter 1:3-8 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with en-durance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual af-fection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Here ends the reading.

Please stand as you are able

GOSPEL: Matthew 7:8-11

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the seventh chapter.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10 Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

P The Gospel of the Lord.

Please be seated CHILDRENS SERMON SERMON The Nature of God: His Moral Attributes

(Justice, Faithfulness, Goodness, Mercy)

Pastor Mershon

Please stand as you are able HYMN “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” back of bulletin APOSTLES’ CREED

C I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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

PRAYERS

PETITIONS WILL END WITH THE WORDS: Hear us when we cannot cry:

CONGREGATION RESPONDS:

Troubled, trembling before Your cross.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

PREFACE It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glori-ous resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: SANCTUS

THANKSGIVING

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.

C Amen 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

Please be seated COMMUNION

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

The communicant may say: Amen. COMMUNION HYMN “Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spake” No. 455 Please stand as you are able P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

C Amen

POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

P Let us pray... Pour out upon us the spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. HYMN “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” No. 456

DISMISSAL

P Go in peace. C Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE “Allegretto Pomposo” Charles Vincent

Portions from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #42215. OneLicense Reprint Permission, License A-713654 and CCLI License

#11117383. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God. If you would like to provide flowers there is a sign up sheet in the

library and a box for your payment. Prices for flowers: Altar $30.00 Niche $15.00 Piano/organ $15.00

SPECIAL OFFERING The special offering for August has been designated by the Fi-nance Committee to be sent to WACOCA to help with community needs. DONATION OF SUPPLIES FOR NALC DISASTER RESPONSE

What: Donations for Flood Buckets, Blankets and Bibles Who: for the NALC Disaster Response Team When: Donations of Supplies and/or Money will be taken now through Sunday August 30, 2020.

FLYERS LISTING ALL NEEDED ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CHURCH ENTRANCES.

SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALL DINNER The West Alexandria Police Association is sponsoring a spaghetti dinner on August 29th between 5:00 and 6:00 pm.

Dinner includes: Spaghetti & meatballs with tomato or Alfredo sauce,

garlic bread, green beans, applesauce chocolate or white cake.

Call 937-839-5245 to reserve dinners.

$8.00 per Dinner with Tomato Sauce $9.00 per Dinner with Alfredo Sauce

Kid’s Meal is $6.00 (under 10)

Pick up only at: West Alexandria Police Department - 16 N. Main Street

This Week at Salem

Today 8/16 Worship/Communion

High School Ministry at the Parsonage

10:30 am 6:30 pm

Mon. 8/17 SWANALC FH 7:00 pm

Wed. 8/19 Pastor’s Bible Study

L &/or Zoom 6:30 pm

Sun. 8/23 Worship

High School Ministry at the Parsonage

10:30 am 6:30 pm

Music at Salem

Tentative plans are under way for this year’s choir season. Clearly, due to Covid-19, we are wanting to be cautious, but also feel the desire to worship with our music as much as we can. We feel we need to make plans, although we realize they may need to change. We welcome feedback and any ideas you may have.

Our tentative plans look like this:

Bell Choir: Practices on Wednesday @ 6:30 PM. We are looking at ways we can make Bell Choir safe and distance eve-ryone.

Adult Choir: Practices on Wednesday @ 7:30. Our thoughts on Choir would be to practice, spread out in the sanctuary pews. On Sundays, the choir will continue to sit with their fami-lies, walking to the front to sing our anthem distancing as much as possible.

Currently, Choir Practices are set to begin on Wednesday, September 9th.

While we look forward to seeing you, we also want to encourage you to be safe and understand if you make the decision to not join us for a while! Please let us know your intentions so we can plan.

Please feel free to contact us any time. (Becky cell) 937-467-9259. (Joel cell) 937-467-9427 or

email:hootmanmusic@gmail.com

8/9/2020 ATTENDANCE: 69 OFFERING: $3,418.87

70 East Dayton Street

West Alexandria, Oh 45381

937/839-4210

Email: wasalemlutheran@gmail.com

Contact Information

Church Office

937/839-4210 or wasalemlutheran@gmail.com

Pastor Daniel G. Mershon

cell 937/823-5575 pastor.mershon@gmail.com

Office Assistant Jean Deleranko Office: 937-839-4210 Cell: 937-620-7394

Council President

Laini Ferriell cell 937/533-9854

ebferriell@gmail.com

Prayer Chain Requests

Joyce Tuthill 937/839-5341 or

contact Pastor Mershon

SWNALC President

Brenda Wright 937/456-3018

cell 937/336-6090

Salem Custodian

Laura Unger cell 937/689-5083

l.l.unger@hotmail.com

Organist Choir Director

Joel Hootman Becky Hootman

937/467-9427 937/467-9259

hootmanmusic@gmail.com

Pastor Emeritus Rev. Daniel Snider

Helpers Today Next Sun.

Head Usher Charlie Voge

Lay Reader Bill Deleranko

Altar Guild Joyce Tuthill

Communion TBD

TBD

Counters