GATHERING
WELCOME
For the Fruit of All Creation ELW 679
1 For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
For these gifts to ev’ry nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safekeeping,
thanks be to God.
2 In the just reward of labor,
God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God’s will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God’s will is done.
3 For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000
Text © 1970 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
whose compassion endures forever. Amen.
Jesus says, “Come to me,
all you who are weary
and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
In the name of God;
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
Creator, ☩ Christ, and Charism Giver,
Source, ☩ Savior, and Sustainer,
our sins are forgiven.
Rest in God’s love.
Receiving this blessing, we dare to confess our sin to God, who loves us.
Silence is kept for reflection.
We pray… Compassionate God,
we confess to you all our sins.
Our burden is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves.
In your mercy, call us back to you.
Your yoke is easy and your burden is light.
Restore us to dwell in peace in you,
having received the forgiveness only you can give.
In the name and hope of Christ we pray,
Amen.
GREETING
The 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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
We pray together:
Lord of all the universe, guide this nation and all nations by your Spirit to go forward in justice and freedom. Give to all living in our lands the blessings of well-being and harmony, but above all things, give us faith in you, that we and our nation may bring glory to your name and blessings to all peoples, through Jesus the Christ, our Savior. Amen.
WORD
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Goodness Is Stronger than Evil ELW 721
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death;
vict’ry is ours, vict’ry is ours,
through God who loves us.
Vict’ry is ours, vict’ry is ours,
through God who loves us.
Text from An African Prayer Book selected by Desmond Tutu, © 1995 by Desmond Tutu. Used by permission of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc., and Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd.
1 CORINTHIANS 4:11-14
Paul explains his strategy for making friends, building trust, and deescalating conflict so the focus can always be on the Lord’s work.
SERMON Pastor Karla
What Wondrous Love Is This
1 What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
2 When I was sinking down,
sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down
beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown
for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
3 To God and to the Lamb
I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb,
who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
4 And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing God’s love for me,
and through eternity
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and through eternity I’ll sing on.
Text: North American folk hymn, 19th cent., alt.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord, you are gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
All your works shall praise you, O Lord, and we shall bless you. (Psalm 145:8, 10)
MEAL
OFFERING OUR GIFTS FOR THE MISSION
AND MINISTRY OF GOD’S CHURCH
We have prayed. We have sung. We have heard the Word. Now, being thankful for the ministry we are called to do, we are invited to offer ourselves; our time, talents and treasure in faithful witness of the good things God has done for us and in confidence that our worship extends beyond this place and time. Your financial contributions are gratefully accepted to further the life and ministry of Gethsemane Lutheran. Thank you.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
AND WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
And now, join me in praying as Jesus taught us…
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
DISTRIBUTION
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
SENDING
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
BLESSING
O Beautiful for Spacious Skies ELW 888
1 O beautiful for spacious skies,
for amber waves of grain,
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain:
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.
2 O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life:
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness,
and ev’ry gain divine.
3 O beautiful for patriot dream
that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam,
undimmed by human tears:
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control,
thy liberty in law.
Text: Katherine L. Bates, 1859-1929
OUR DECLARATION OF MISSION
You are the body of Christ.
We are the body of Christ in the world!
So go in peace
To explore the faith
Live in peace
To express our faith to others
Share the peace
By inviting others to join us on this journey.
WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, SO LET’S TELL EVERYBODY: WE HAVE GOOD NEWS! HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR! THANKS BE TO GOD.
Confession and Forgiveness, Reading synopsis, Prayer of the Day, and cover art from Sundays and Seasons. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Please visit their Web site at www.augsburgfortress.org. All music is used with permission under CCLI #3225965.
LECTIONARY READINGS FOR TODAY
The king will come in humility and peace
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. (Ps. 145:8)
The struggle within the self
The yoke of discipleship
Prayer is important to us. We are a people of prayer, and our prayer leads us to know God more completely. Knowing God reassures us that God’s love is sufficient for all we need. Knowing God leads us to action, to working for justice and peace. We dedicate ourselves to making our little corner of the world a better place. We dedicate ourselves to welcoming all of God’s people. We dedicate ourselves to trusting God in all phases of life.
