Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Confession and Forgiveness:
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, whose steadfast love endures forever.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Merciful God,
we confess that we have not followed your path, but have chosen our own way.  Instead of putting others before ourselves, we long to take the best seats at the table.  When met by those in need, we have too often passed by on the other side.  Set us again on the path of life.  Save us from ourselves and free us to love our neighbors.  Amen.

Hear the good news! God does not deal with us according to our sins, but delights in granting pardon and mercy. In the name of + Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. You are free to love as God loves.
Amen.

Opening Hymn:  ELW 812  “Faith of Our Fathers”
Faith of our fathers, living still in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword.
Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy whene’er we hear that glorious word.

Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee till death.

The martyrs, chained in prisons dark, were still in heart and conscience free;
and blest would be their children’s fate if they, like them, should die for thee. 

Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers! We will love both friend and foe in all our strife;
proclaim thee too, as love knows how, by saving word and faithful life. 

Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee till death.

Apostolic 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.

Hymn of Praise:
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest;
glory to God, glory to God, and peach to God’s people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest;
glory to God, glory to God, and peach to God’s people on earth.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest;
glory to God, glory to God, and peach to God’s people on earth.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father, Amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest;
glory to God, glory to God, and peach to God’s people on earth,
and peach to God’s people on earth.

Prayer of the Day:
Let us pray.
O God, judge eternal, you love justice and hate oppression, and you call us to share your zeal for truth. Give us courage to take our stand with all victims of bloodshed and greed, and, following your servants and prophets, to look to the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

First Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29
²³Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off? ²⁴Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD. ²⁵I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed!” ²⁶How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? ²⁷They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. ²⁸Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD. ²⁹Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia.  Lord, to whom shall we go?
Alleluia.  You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 12:49-56
This is the Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 12th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

⁴⁹“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! ⁵¹Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵²From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; ⁵³they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

⁵⁴He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. ⁵⁵And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Message

Sermon

Hymn of the Day:  ELW 758 “You Are the Way”
You are the way; to you alone from sin and death we flee;
all those who search for God, you find and by your grace set free.

You are the truth; your word alone true wisdom can impart;
you only can inform the mind and purify the heart.

You are the life; the rending tomb proclaims your conqu’ring arm;
and those who put their trust in you not death nor hell shall harm.

You are the way, the truth, the life; grant us that way to know,
that truth to keep, that life to win, whose joys eternal flow.

Apostle’s Creed:
Let us confess our faith using the Apostle’s Creed:
I 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.

Prayers of Intercession:
Trusting in God’s extraordinary love, let us come near to the Holy One in prayer.

Prayers continue with each petition ending:

Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Receive the prayers of your children, merciful God, and hold us forever in your steadfast love; through Jesus Christ, our holy Wisdom.
Amen.

Sharing of the Peace:
May the peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

The minister and congregation greet one another in the name of the Lord. Please share the peace at whatever level of physical contact with which you are comfortable.

Offering:
https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/468062

Offertory Hymn:
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord, and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown, that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and dreams of all; united them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with your presence, Lord, and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

Offering Prayer:
Let us pray.
God of abundance: you have set before us a plentiful harvest. As we feast on your goodness, strengthen us to labor in your field, and equip us to bear fruit for the good of all, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving:
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.

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 Lord, God of power and might,
heaven 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.  Hosanna in the highest.

Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

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.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.

Lord’s Prayer:
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us saying:
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.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace, grant us peace.

Communion

Table Blessing:
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.

Thankful hearts and voices raise; tell everyone what God has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and bear Christ’s holy name.
Send us with your promises, O God, and lead us forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving.  Alleluia

Post-Communion Prayer:
Let us pray.
Life-giving God, through this meal you have bandaged our wounds and fed us with your mercy. Now send us forth to live for others, both friend and stranger, that all may come to know your love. This we pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

Blessing of Backpacks:
God of Wisdom, we give you thanks for schools and classrooms and for the teachers and students who fill them each day. We thank you for this new beginning, for new books and new ideas. We thank you for sharpened pencils, pointy crayons, and crisp blank pages waiting to be filled. We thank you for the gift of making mistakes and trying again.

Help us to remember that asking the right questions is often as important as giving the right answers. Help us remember to show our thanks for your gifts of learning by doing our best every day.

We ask that you bless our schools, teachers, classmates and friends.

We ask that you bless those who prepare our lunches, those who drive us to school, and those who keep our schools clean and safe. We ask your blessing on this new school year, that it may be a time when we appreciate and fully use your gift of learning.

May these backpacks be a sign to those who carry them that they have everything they need to learn and grow this year in school and in Sunday School. May they be guided by your love.

In places where love feels troubled or strained Lord, grant comfort to children who are scared or alone. We ask that you bless caretakers and social workers. We ask that you bless those who seek our children’s well-being and those who coordinate their care. In times when good care requires disruption, we ask that these comfort bags might be a provision and sign of grace to children who need.

All this we ask in the name of Jesus, who as a child in the temple showed his longing to learn about you, and as an adult comforted by story and example your great love for us.
Amen.

Benediction:
The God of peace, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you, comfort you, and show you the path of life this day and always.
Amen.

Sending Hymn:  ELW 823  “Praise the Lord O Heavens”
Praise the Lord! O heav’ns, adore him; praise him, angels, in the height;
sun and moon, rejoice before him; praise him, gleaming stars of light.
Praise the Lord, for he has spoken; worlds his mighty voice obeyed:
laws which never shall be broken for their guidance he has made.

Praise the Lord, for he is gracious; never shall his promise fail.
God has made his saints victorious; sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation; hosts on high, his pow’r proclaim;
heav’n and earth, and all creation, laud and magnify his name!

Dismissal:
Go in peace. Love your neighbor.
Thanks be to God!

Postlude

 

Prayer Requests:
Melody Erb, Larry Erb, family and friends of Colin, family and friends of Grace Yost, Bud Hoover, Kim Pham, Walt Bingaman, Mark Rabuck, Shirley Russell, Russ Wynn, Viv Marsh, Gladys Fawcett,  Alice Snyder, Marie Tanner, Grace Yost, Peg Swinehart, Martha Ketchem, Bob Keifer.

 

 

Portions reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, copyright 2006.  Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress, license #SBL09796L.  Music reprinted from the ELW, by permission of OneLicense, license #A712349.  Scripture quotations are from the 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.